Executive Leadership

Senior Management

Nancy Feldman President and Chief Executive Officer

Nancy Feldman is President and Chief Executive Officer of UCare. Before joining UCare in September 1995, she was Director of State Public Programs for Medica, another Minnesota-based health plan. Prior to that, she held a number of management and health-related positions with Minnesota state government. She served three years as Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health, where she was responsible for a variety of programs including long term care and managed care policy and regulation, community health services, and maternal and child health.

Before that, she was in charge of budget development and oversight for the state’s health and human services agencies at the Minnesota Department of Finance. She also worked for 10 years at the Minnesota Department of Human Services, where she was responsible for many aspects of the state’s Medical Assistance Program, including development of Minnesota’s Medicaid managed care program.

Ms. Feldman is currently a member of the boards of the Center for Victims of Torture, Volunteers of America National Services, the Minnesota Council of Health Plans, Stratis Health, the National Institute of Health Policy, and the Alliance of Community Health Plans. She is also a member of the Women’s Health Leadership Trust and the Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota Advisory Committee. In 2001, she was named one of the 25 Most Innovative Women in Business by CityBusiness magazine. In 2008, Feldman was named one of Minnesota’s 100 Influential Health Care Leaders by Minnesota Physician.

Feldman earned her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and in 2009 she was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Barry Baines, M.D. Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Baines joined UCare in 2001 as Medical Director, Medicare Programs, and became Chief Medical Officer in 2004. In this role, he provides leadership to the Clinical Services and Quality Management Department. His work at UCare enhances the organization’s ability to provide high-quality health outcomes for members and strengthens relationships with providers.

In addition to his duties at UCare, Dr. Baines serves as Associate Medical Director for Hospice of the Twin Cities. Dr. Baines was one of the founding members of the Minnesota Partnership to Improve End of Life Care, and co-chaired the Minnesota Commission on End of Life Care. He is a leading authority on the use of ethical wills, written documents meant to preserve our legacies and values. He wrote a book on the topic, Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper, 2nd Edition, Da Capo Press, 2006.

Dr. Baines has a bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is board certified in Family Practice and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and has practiced in Minnesota in various capacities since 1978.

Terry Chism Senior Vice President, Administration

Terry Chism is responsible for human resources strategy and policy, including employee relations, compensation and benefits, performance management, and facility management.

She was Director of Human Resources for University Affiliated Family Physicians prior to being named VP of Human Resources for UCare. Prior to that, Chism held human resources leadership positions at the Minnesota Department of Employee Relations, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Chism has a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn., and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She is a fellow in the Academy for Healthcare Management.

Laurie Dean Senior Vice President, Operations

Laurie Dean provides leadership to the organization’s Claims, Customer Services, Delegated Business Services, and Provider Network Management departments. As a member of the Senior Management Team, she helps guide the strategic direction of UCare to achieve organizational goals.

Dean brings nearly 20 years of managed health care experience to the organization. Before joining UCare, Dean was Senior Vice President at M-Care, a health plan operated by the University of Michigan Health System where she was responsible for all internal health plan operations. Prior to joining M-Care in 1998, Dean was Director of Provider Relations at SelectCare, a managed care plan based in Troy, Mich.

Dean has a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Health Education from Luther College in Decorah, Ia.

Beth Monsrud Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Beth Monsrud joined UCare in 2001 as Controller, and was named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2008. She provides executive leadership and oversight for all fiscal operations, and is responsible for the strategic direction for UCare’s accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting and information systems, among other key financial functions. This position also serves as Treasurer.

UCare benefits from Monsrud’s more than 20 years of experience in the financial management field. She came to UCare from the position of Controller-Corporate Operations for CIGNA Behavioral Health, and previous duties as Director of Accounting at United Healthcare Corp., and Audit Manager at Deloitte & Touche.

Monsrud graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of North Dakota-Grand Forks, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rochester Community College with an Associate of Arts: Business Transfer Program degree.

Thomas Mahowald Senior Vice President, Product Management

Thomas Mahowald provides executive oversight for all UCare products. As a member of the Senior Management Team, he manages UCare’s business development activities and provides leadership in growing the organization’s strong market position in Medicare and Minnesota health care programs.

Mahowald has more than 20 years of senior level experience with managed care, pharmacy, and physician organizations. Prior to joining UCare, Mahowald was Vice President and General Manager of the Public Sector Division at Express Scripts, Inc. where he led pharmacy benefit sales, account management, and clinical activities in the large-group government market. Previously, Mahowald was Vice President, Public and Government Affairs, at UnitedHealth Group, Inc. and Executive Director of the Ramsey Medical Society.

Mahowald has a Master of Arts degree in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Government from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn.

Mark Traynor Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Mark Traynor joined UCare as Compliance Director in 1999 and began his role as General Counsel in 2002. In this role, he serves as legal counsel for the organization, which includes drafting and negotiating contracts and providing advice on corporate and regulatory matters. He also oversees antifraud and compliance activities.

Before joining UCare, Traynor was an attorney at the Minnesota Department of Human Services and also served as Assistant Attorney General for the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. He is active in the community as a member of the Roseville Planning Commission, a Board Member and past Chair of the Roseville and Como Park Living at Home/Block Nurse programs, and a tutor and e-mentor for Tuttle Community School in Minneapolis.

Traynor has a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., and earned a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Law School and is a member of the Minnesota Bar Association’s Health Law Section.

Ghita Worcester Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Marketing

Ghita Worcester brings more than 30 years of health care management experience to her role as Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Marketing. Since 1995, she has led the firm’s business development, marketing, government programs, legislative affairs, community relations, and provider relations functions. She also has been instrumental in the development and implementation of UCare’s strategic and operational plans.

Before joining UCare, Worcester served as Director of Policy and Operations for Minneapolis-based University Affiliated Family Physicians (UAFP), the management company that started UCare in 1984. In that role, she directed the development of new HMO products and policies, and helped develop and implement HMO strategic and operational plans. Before that, she worked for 13 years in a community-based family medicine residency program operated by the University of Minnesota Department of Family Practice.

Worcester has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has served on several community boards and committees, and is past president of the Minnesota Council of Health Plans.