Alan Levine is UVA Wise Commencement 2021 speaker

Alan Levine, executive chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Ballad Health, will deliver the Commencement Address to the UVA Wise Class of 2021 at Commencement 2021 ceremonies on May 8 at 11 a.m. in Carl Smith Stadium in Wise.

“The Class of 2021 has lived and studied under the rigors of a global pandemic for more than a year now,” said Chancellor Donna P. Henry in announcing the commencement speaker. “It seemed fitting that Alan Levine serve as Commencement Speaker since he and the heroes at Ballad Health have been on the frontlines during in the fight against the Covid-19 virus. I could think of no one more appropriate.”

With more than 25 years of hospital operations experience, Levine has served as chief executive officer of hospitals and health systems ranging from a small rural hospital to one of the largest public systems in America. Prior to his role at Ballad Health, Levine was the president and chief executive officer of Mountain States Health Alliance.

He served on Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal's cabinet as secretary of Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals and as Governor Jindal's senior health policy advisor. He also served as deputy chief of staff and senior health policy advisor to Florida governor Jeb Bush prior to his appointment by Governor Bush to serve as secretary of Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration, an agency responsible for administering a $17 billion budget. In these roles, Levine oversaw the health care response to 12 major hurricanes making landfall in Florida and Louisiana, managed Louisiana’s response to the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic, led Louisiana’s effort to improve child immunization rates from ranking 48th in the nation to 2nd, successfully advocated the passage of major and historic health care reforms in both states and was recognized for his efforts in combating fraud and abuse in public health care programs.

He currently serves on the board of governors of the State University System of Florida, the governing body of Florida’s 12 state universities. He serves as chair of research and academic excellence and has served as chair of Audit and Compliance. He serves as an appointee of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on the Tennessee Charter School Commission, the body overseeing the approval and governance of public charter schools statewide. Levine has also served as the Chair of the Florida Higher Education Coordinating Council, a policy-setting body for public and private education in Florida.

Recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine as one of the 30 Americans likely to have a powerful impact on health care in the next 30 years, and as an up-and-comer in the health care industry, he is widely recognized in the health care industry. Most recently, Levine was recognized as a Junior Achievement Laureate and named to the Business Hall of Fame in upper East Tennessee. 

He received a bachelor’s degree in health sciences, a master’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in health sciences from the University of Florida, where he is recognized as a member of the University of Florida Hall of Fame. He is married to his wife, Laura, a nurse, and they have two grown children, both with careers in health care.

Covid-19 safety measures are in place and graduates will receive tickets to invite three guests to the ceremony.