Highmark's Integrated Delivery System adds one of the nation's leading interventional radiologists

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Highmark Inc. announced today that Mark H. Wholey, M.D., one of the nation's leading interventional radiologists, is joining its growing Integrated Delivery System. Dr. Wholey, who was previously affiliated with UPMC, will be located at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), where he has been appointed director of the hospital's Center for Vascular and Neurovascular Interventions.

"Having Dr. Wholey bring his world-renowned expertise to Highmark is an honor for our company and a great benefit to our members," said John W. Paul, who leads Highmark's Integrated Delivery System. "Hiring Dr. Wholey is another example of our commitment to offering high-quality and convenient health care to our community." 

Dr. Wholey joins the Highmark provider staff after having served as a board-certified interventional radiologist for 53 years in Pittsburgh. He specializes in peripheral vascular procedures and is considered a pioneer in his field, having founded medical technology companies, developed popular medical devices and treated thousands of patients.

"I am pleased to join Highmark during this exciting time, as its vision of transforming health care to better serve patients comes to fruition," said Dr. Wholey. "Highmark has the leadership ability to be the center of excellence for comprehensive care in Western Pennsylvania, and I am looking forward to adding my expertise in interventional radiology to this growing system."

Continuing, Dr. Wholey said he is also excited to assume a leadership role at AGH's nationally recognized Cardiovascular Institute, where he will join a multi-disciplinary group of specialists dedicated to providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art care for patients with peripheral and neurovascular disease.

Dr. Wholey was co-founder of MEDRAD Inc., a company that distributed the angiographic injector system he helped invent. He is also responsible for creating the Wholey Wire, which is used in vascular procedures. In addition, he helped form Endotex, where he collaborated to create the first dedicated carotid stent. Dr. Wholey and his son, Michael Wholey, M.D., worked to develop Attache, the carotid balloon delivery system.

Throughout his career, Dr. Wholey has received many honors, most recently receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Board of Radiology in 2009, the VIVA Live Award in 2011 and the SCAI Distinguished Service Award in 2012.

He has also been the recipient of awards from the Pittsburgh Academy of Medicine, the Argentinean Society of Cardiology, the Pennsylvania Radiological Society, the American Board of Radiology, the ISET Distinguished Career Award and the Society of Interventional Radiology.

Dr. Wholey received his bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1949, and his medical degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in 1953. After completing his medical degree, he performed a residency at the Mayo Clinic and then completed a two-year, NIH-sponsored interventional fellowship at University Hospital in Lund, Sweden. Since then, Dr. Wholey has taught at University Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Carnegie Mellon University, and he has practiced at Allegheny General, Veterans Administration, St. Margaret, Montefiore and Shadyside hospitals.

Highmark is committed to building a world-class health care system that creates value for patients and the community. Highmark's delivery system has several core components: to have a patient-centric, physician-led system with high levels of patient engagement; to deliver high-quality services affordable to those in need of care; to realign health care provider incentives and focus more resources on wellness and prevention; to focus on providing care in the most convenient and economical setting; and to base the system on innovative research and advanced academics.

This delivery system will provide differentiated services, experiences and improved health outcomes, while lowering costs for our health plan members and our patients.  

This commitment means creating a vibrant network of independent community hospitals; an aligned network of physicians, both primary care and specialists; broader choice in health care services; and more convenient access to innovative ambulatory services.

About Highmark Inc.
Highmark Inc., based in Pittsburgh, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Highmark serves 4.9 million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware through the company's health care benefits business, and is one of the largest Blue plans in the nation. Highmark has 20,000 employees across the country and provides a broad range of health and wellness-related services through subsidiary and affiliate companies.

In June of 2011, Highmark announced its affiliation with the West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS), and its commitment to assuring that the health system stands as a high-quality choice for health care services to millions of Western Pennsylvanians. The affiliation is the first step in a broader Highmark strategy to develop alternative health care options that offer high-quality care at a lower price, with more coordinated and patient-driven delivery of medical care. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.

SOURCE Highmark Inc.