UPMC: UPMC Government Affairs Vice President to Retire, New Leader Named
UPMC’s longtime Vice President of Government Affairs and Chief Government Relations Officer, Scott Baker, has announced his intention to retire June 30, 2022. Baker joined the UPMC leadership team in 2012 after 32 years of government service and government affairs in both the public and private sectors at the state and federal levels.
Scott_BakerPrior to joining UPMC, Baker served in top legislative affairs and congressional staff roles as secretary of legislative affairs for former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and held senior positions with U.S. Senator John Heinz and U.S. Congressman Tom Ridge.
Baker also served as director of congressional affairs with the Federal Housing Finance Board and as senior legislative advisor with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Following his government service, Baker was vice president of public affairs for the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance supporting the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
Prior to joining UPMC, Baker was a preeminent government affairs representative for the law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney for 14 years.
During his 10 years with UPMC, Baker has helped to shape policy development of key and emerging health care priorities. To assist in the transition, Baker will continue to support UPMC in an advisory role until the end of the year.
“Scott’s understanding of the nuances of government have offered important insight and perspective and provided leadership on the critical issues confronting health care at the local, state and federal levels,” said Leslie C. Davis, president and CEO, UPMC.
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Alison Beam, who has most recently served as acting secretary of health, Pennsylvania Department of Health, will succeed Baker. “It is an honor to take on this role, as I have experienced first-hand UPMC’s firm commitment to serving the community and advocating for optimal health care for citizens of the state and beyond. My deepest gratitude to Scott for his service to the organization, his guidance, and his consistent acumen and in-depth understanding of essential health care issues,” said Beam.
In January 2021, Beam took on the role of acting secretary of health with the primary responsibility of improving the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Prior to that role, Beam served as deputy chief of staff in the office of Governor Tom Wolf, coordinating policy development across Pennsylvania’s departments of Health, Human Services, Drug and Alcohol Programs, Aging and Insurance. Previously, Beam worked to increase access to health care as chief of staff for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department through the development of the state-based health insurance exchange. Beam also was director of public policy and associate counsel for Independence Blue Cross.
Beam earned a law degree from Drexel University and an undergraduate degree in health policy and administration from Penn State.