Anthem
President
Monica Schmude serves as President for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Virginia which serves over 3million customers and employs more than 9,000 associates in the Commonwealth. She is responsible for the strategic direction, performance, and growth of Anthem’s commercial business in Virginia. She also partners with healthcare providers to fulfill the company’s mission of improving the lives and communities served across the state.
Monica joined Anthem in April 2023 and previously served as the Market President for Cigna Healthcare in the Mid-Atlantic Region, which included the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Her prior roles during her 13-year tenure with Cigna included President of the Liberty Valley market and a series of progressively responsible roles in the Mid-Atlantic market.
Before joining Cigna, Monica was with Aetna as the manager of sales and business services for its middle market segment business in Chicago and additionally served as the business services leader in the Mid- Atlantic. She began her career for Guardian Insurance Company as a claims examiner and has more than 30 years of industry experience.
Monica earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology with a concentration in women’s studies from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Virginia Association of Health Plans (VAHP) and is a member of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Marymount University Board of Trustees, Choral Arts Society of Washington, and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) National Advisory Council. She previously served on the Dean’s Council University of Maryland School of Public Health, Mid-Atlantic Business Group on Health, Greater Washington Board of Trade Board of Directors, and Girls on the Run Northern Virginia. She is a member of The Economic Club of Washington DC and Leadership Greater Washington Class of 2020. She was named to the 2019 Most Powerful Women in Washington (Washingtonian Magazine), recipient of the 2019 March of Dimes Heroine of Washington Award, served as the 2019 Program Chair for the Mid-Maryland Mission of Mercy, was named one of the 2021 Most Powerful Women in Washington (Washingtonian Magazine), and was named an honoree for the Washington Business Journals 2021 Women Who Mean Business awards.