Dr. Amy Flaster, chief medical officer of The Cigna Group, was named among Modern Healthcare’s list of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives, a recognition that reflects both her national leadership and her patient-centered approach to care. Her years of working directly with patients continue to guide how she approaches improving health outcomes, access, and the overall care experience for the people the organization serves.

As Dr. Flaster leads The Cigna Group’s work to advance clinical excellence, introduce innovative care models, strengthen clinical teams, and use technology to simplify health care – she continues to treat patients as a primary care physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She is also a faculty member at Harvard Medical School.

“Patients want to feel supported, understood, and confident that the system around them is working on their behalf,” Dr. Flaster said. “As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand how overwhelming health care can feel for people facing a serious diagnosis, making time-sensitive decisions, or caring for a loved one.”

Her dual perspective as a physician and an enterprise leader shapes Dr. Flaster’s leadership as The Cigna Group has committed to taking tangible actions to deliver patient-centered experiences, reduce friction, improve transparency, and take responsibility to lead and drive systemic change in health care. In this environment, Dr. Flaster has centered her approach on a simple question: How should a health organization show up for patients at their most critical moments, and how can The Cigna Group move closer to that ideal?

Driving meaningful change through innovation and accountability

In her role at The Cigna Group, Dr. Flaster has helped to advance a range of efforts designed to improve both the customer and provider experience, bringing together clinical insight, data, technology, and a strong focus on continuous improvement.

Under her leadership, The Cigna Group has advanced digital and AI-enabled tools that reduce friction, and simplify processes such as prior authorization, helping reduce administrative burden and support faster care decisions. The Cigna Group removed prior authorization requirements for 345 tests, procedures, and services this year, decreasing the volume of medical prior authorizations by approximately 15%. The Cigna Group has also expanded high-touch prior authorization support and formed a new post-care claims advocacy team, which supported approximately 155,000 customers in 2025. The company also joined leading health plans in a commitment to standardize prior authorization submission requirements for commonly reviewed medical services, a step intended to accelerate access to care for patients and simplify administrative work for providers and their teams.

“Improving the experience for providers is essential to delivering better care overall,” Dr. Flaster said. “When we work with providers to reduce unnecessary administrative burden and create greater clarity and consistency, we enable clinicians to focus on what matters most – their patients. That’s how we become stronger partners and, together, better serve patients and customers.”

The Cigna Group has also expanded personalized, proactive support for patients facing the most challenging or complex health conditions. For example, through the My Personal Champion program, Cigna Healthcare expanded its team of dedicated advocates that deliver personalized guidance and support across customers’ entire health care journey –  earning a 98% customer satisfaction rating in 2025. The company also expanded tools like Accredo Smart Path, which uses real-time analytics to identify at-risk patients who needed additional support earlier, reducing Accredo customer service escalations by 16% since launch.

Advancing a more connected care experience

Dr. Flaster’s inclusion on Modern Healthcare’s list reflects more than individual achievement – it highlights the role clinical leaders can play in improving how people experience health care,  driving meaningful progress at a time of significant change for the industry.

Before joining The Cigna Group, Dr. Flaster served as chief medical officer for ConcertoCare, led the population health team at Health Catalyst, and held hospital leadership roles at Mass General Brigham. That breadth of experience now helps guide her work at The Cigna Group, where clinical expertise, technology, and operational change continue to drive a more connected, responsive care experience for patients and providers.                      

For Dr. Flaster, patients deserve a clearer understanding of the systems supporting their care. Health care can be complex, and when people don’t understand how different parts of the system work together, it can create frustration and mistrust even when the care itself is clinically sound.                                                                                                   
“We are at a turning point and have a responsibility to make care easier to receive, easier to deliver, and more supportive for the people who rely on it every day,” Dr. Flaster said.