Allegheny Health Network names James Benedict as president

Allegheny Health Network (AHN) recently appointed Chief Operating Officer James Benedict as president, effective immediately.

In 2017, Benedict joined AHN as executive vice president and COO. In 2020, Benedict became executive vice president of Living Health Partnerships and Operations at AHN’s parent company Highmark Health. He returned to AHN as COO in 2022.

Benedict has three decades of experience in the healthcare industry. He previously served as executive vice president of anesthesia for U.S. operations for TeamHealth and held various roles at the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals of Cleveland.

“It is an incredible honor and privilege to lead AHN and be part of this unique journey with Highmark Health to create a more effective, patient-centric, and economically sustainable health and wellness model for the country,” Benedict said. “The challenges we face in our industry have been an inspiration to all of us who have spent the last several years building AHN’s foundation, improving the health experiences of our patients, and making Western Pennsylvania a healthier place to live.”

Benedict has a master’s degree in accountancy and a law degree and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

AHN is the Western Pennsylvania provider arm of Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health, a health and wellness organization.