John J. Dunn is a seasoned healthcare executive, board advisor, and actuarial strategist whose 35-year career spans the forefront of payer-side healthcare innovation, strategic financial leadership, and transformative value-based care initiatives. A former Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, John has earned a reputation as a mission-driven leader who combines rigorous financial expertise with a visionary approach to healthcare transformation. Today, he serves as a trusted advisor, university instructor, and board director—driven by his lifelong belief in giving back and shaping a sustainable, equitable future for the healthcare ecosystem.
John’s career took root in the heart of healthcare finance, where he became a driving force behind the actuarial and strategic planning functions at one of the nation’s leading health insurers. Beginning his journey with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in 1990, John steadily climbed the leadership ranks, bringing deep insights into capital planning, market strategy, and regulatory adaptation. His early work as Corporate Actuary included co-leading the development of the Enterprise Capital Plan and playing a key role in pivotal federal regulatory reforms, such as the landmark introduction of the Medicare market post-2003’s Medicare Modernization Act.
In 2007, John was tapped to lead a cross-functional executive team charged with delivering organizational transformation. Under his leadership, the team’s work yielded hundreds of millions in cost efficiencies and measurable enterprise value. These foundational achievements demonstrated not only John’s financial acumen but also his capacity to inspire alignment across complex stakeholder groups—including C-suite executives, regulators, and provider networks.
By 2010, John had transitioned into the role of Vice President for the Middle and Small Group market—overseeing $5 billion in revenue and steering a critical segment of the enterprise through transformative change. Amid the sweeping impacts of the Affordable Care Act, John engineered comprehensive market strategies, introduced products that reduced premiums by more than 10%, and restructured distribution channels—resulting in savings of over $50 million. The result: a thriving portfolio marked by significant profitability and substantial market share gains.
Promoted to Chief Actuary in 2016 and ultimately to Senior Vice President, John led a team of over 225 professionals, including 70 actuaries. His purview encompassed pricing, forecasting, reserving, value-based contracting, and actuarial oversight for a $30 billion business. At the enterprise level, John played a pivotal role in capital planning, enterprise risk management, and provider strategy, helping design and execute innovative provider risk contracts that realigned incentives, reduced costs, and improved care outcomes across diverse populations.
In 2023, John extended his passion for value-based care to the startup space as Chief Actuary at Cityblock Health, a growth-stage company focused on Medicaid and Medicare delivery. There, he applied his deep knowledge of healthcare finance to a nimble, mission-driven organization working to reach vulnerable populations with high-touch, coordinated care. His tenure reflected a full-circle commitment to both financial rigor and human impact—a hallmark of his leadership style.
John’s influence extends beyond the boardroom into academia, where he serves as an instructor in healthcare economics at Michigan State and Oakland University. Through his teaching, John is shaping the next generation of healthcare leaders with insights born from real-world complexity and decades of practical wisdom. His pedagogical approach blends theoretical frameworks with applied strategy, helping students understand how financial decisions drive healthcare outcomes at scale.
Equally dedicated to his community, John has been an active nonprofit leader for more than two decades. He has served on the board of The Children’s Center of Wayne County since 2004, including as Board Chair and Chair of the Finance and Strategy Committees. His philanthropic work also includes supporting the Grace Centers of Hope and providing advisory input to United Way of Southeast Michigan. His contributions reflect his deeply held belief that professionals have a responsibility to reinvest their skills in causes that uplift underserved populations and build resilient communities.
Today, John serves as a strategic advisor to value-based care providers and continues his pursuit of meaningful board roles where he can offer a blend of actuarial expertise, operational insight, and principled leadership. He is actively seeking to contribute to purpose-driven organizations in healthcare—particularly on the payer side—where he can remain engaged, collaborative, and impactful. John is especially energized by opportunities where strategic planning, financial stewardship, and innovative care delivery intersect.
Personally, John values balance and lifelong learning. He has been married for 27 years and enjoys hiking through national parks with his family, traveling throughout the United States and Europe, and reading about world history. These passions reflect the thoughtful, curious nature that he brings to every facet of his life—from boardrooms to classrooms to family vacations.
Character:
John leads with humility, authenticity, and a commitment to paying it forward, which has guided his career and community work alike. He brings integrity and purpose to every relationship, rooted in decades of service and responsibility.
Knowledge:
With over three decades of actuarial, financial, and healthcare strategy experience, John possesses a rare breadth and depth of insight. His expertise is both technically rigorous and adaptable across legacy enterprises and growth-stage disruptors.
Strategic:
John is a visionary leader who consistently translates complex challenges into executable strategies that deliver long-term value. Whether through capital planning, product development, or value-based care models, his work drives scalable transformation.
Communication:
A gifted communicator, John bridges the worlds of finance, operations, and policy with clarity and credibility. Whether addressing boards, students, or senior executives, he fosters understanding and alignment with poise and purpose.
