Worthy brings policy expertise and industry acumen, uniting communities and leaders to transform healthcare together.
Paul Markovich is Chief Executive Officer and President of Ascendiun, the nonprofit parent company of Blue Shield of California, Blue Shield Promise Health Plan, Altais, and Stellarus.
In his 25 years at Blue Shield, Paul served as President and CEO from 2013 to 2024, leading a nonprofit health plan with more than 6 million members, 7,500 employees, and over $25 billion in annual revenue across California’s commercial, individual, and government markets.
Throughout his career, Paul has launched initiatives to improve healthcare, including a statewide provider directory and a health information network for patient records. He also partnered with the California Medical Association to help physicians pilot new care models and technology.
A North Dakota native and Rhodes Scholar, Paul earned his master’s degree from Oxford University. He brings both strategic vision and moral conviction to the goal of creating a healthcare system worthy of every human being.