John H. Austin, M.D. 1944 – 2009
On the morning of Friday, May 29, 2009, John H. Austin, M.D., Founder, Executive Chairman and Chief Medical Officer of Arcadian Management Services, was killed in an airplane accident. The management and employees of Arcadian deeply mourn the loss of Dr. Austin and wish to convey their condolences to his family.
About Dr. Austin
Dr. Austin’s legacy includes leading Arcadian Management Services, a provider of high-quality, cost-effective administrative infrastructure and management services to health care provider groups, hospitals and health plans, which he founded in 1996. In 2005, he grew the company to offer Arcadian Health plan, a contracted Medicare Advantage health plan. Through state or locally-branded health plans, the plan offers Medicare health plan options to Medicare beneficiaries who reside in secondary metropolitan and non-urban communities. With over 46,000 members in 11 states, Arcadian Health plan continues to live his vision to serve the health care needs of traditionally under-served members of rural communities in a high quality and cost efficient manner.
Prior to founding Arcadian, Dr. Austin was President and CEO of UniMed, a physician management company based in Southern California. From 1987 until 1992, Dr. Austin was Executive Vice President for Health Plan of America, a California HMO. From 1982 until 1987, he was with HealthAmerica, a Nashville based HMO with over one million members, ultimately, as Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Austin was the Chairman of the Board of Coventry Health Care until January 1, 2005, a public managed care company with over 2 million members and $7 billion in revenues, and most currently was a Coventry Board member. Dr. Austin received his undergraduate degree and M.D. degree from the University of California in San Francisco, his Masters in Public Health from Harvard University, and was Board Certified in Internal Medicine.
Philanthropic Works
Health Care
In addition to his pioneering work bringing high-quality health care services to rural communities,Dr. Austin also dedicated a significant amount of his personal time to bringing health care to those who would otherwise not have a choice. As a young doctor, Dr. Austin worked in the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic in San Francisco, and, later, was instrumental in developing the Rockridge Clinic, one of the early community health plans in the Bay Area.
Conservation Dr. Austin was also a dedicated conservationist. His most recent passion was his Boulder Creek Canyon Ranch and his recent work in getting the ranch placed under conservation easement. Ultimately encompassing about 400 acres, John preserved one of the most historic and pristine ranches in Utah. John and his wife Jacqui lovingly restored the ranch, including two historic barns, which were shored up and restored as closely as possible to their original condition. Boulder Creek, the primary tributary flowing off Boulder Mountain, traverses the entire length of the ranch. Due to the importance of this stream, the soils and the historic nature of the ranch, The Nature Conservancy of Utah stewarded the project through the process and the necessary fund raising steps. The ranch is now preserved in perpetuity as an organic working ranch with additional protections for the fishery and native habitat. It will never be divided or developed and will forever remain a keystone property in Boulder, Utah.
Quotations
Robert Fahlman, Chief Executive Officer of Arcadian
“John passionately believed in the critical mission Arcadian provides to all of our members – that is to provide quality health care services to the underserved populations in many of our country’s most needed rural areas. It is through his vision, diligence and commitment to this mission that has brought Arcadian to where it is today. His background as a physician, spirit of compassion and critical focus on providing further opportunities to medical choices for our members serve as his remarkable legacy. We are all deeply saddened by his passing and will carry on his mission in testament to him because we are committed to serving our members and clients with respect and care.”
Ed Blumenstock, Friend of Dr. Austin
“John is the person who has always been the true Renaissance man amongst my friends. He not only excelled in his professions (medicine and medical, business management) but was good at most trades--mechanic, carpenter, electrician, plumber, airplane mechanic-- was extremely well read and found the time to continue to read and accrue knowledge deeply and broadly. His generosity was felt throughout a broad spectrum of friends and communities. His loss to us is huge.”
About Arcadian Management Services
Arcadian Management Services provides high-quality, cost-effective administrative infrastructure and management services to health care provider groups, hospitals and health plans. For more information about Arcadian Management Services, please visit our Web site at http://www.arcadianmgt.com/.
About Arcadian Health plan
Founded in 1996 by John Austin, M.D., Chairman, Arcadian Health plan, Inc. is a national Medicare Advantage health plan provider in 11 states. Arcadian's locally operated Medicare health plans are currently offered in the following service areas: Austin, East Texas, and El Paso in Texas; Spokane and the Tri-Cities area of Washington state; northern Arizona; central, northwest, Hot Springs, Fort Smith and Texarkana in Arkansas; Oklahoma regions of Fayetteville, Fort Smith, and Texarkana; Lake Charles, Shreveport and Monroe in Louisiana; Savannah, Athens, Columbus, and Macon areas of Georgia; Charleston, Greenville and Allendale of South Carolina; Eastern North Carolina; Onondaga in New York; and Maine. The plans are offered under the following local product names: * Columbia Community Care * Spokane Community Care * Desert Canyon Community Care * Texas Community Care * Arkansas Community Care * Texarkana Community care * Southeast Community care * Northeast Community Care * Arcadian Health plan (Oklahoma residents). For more information, visit http://www.arcadianhp.com.
Memorial Service Information
A public memorial service to honor the memory of Dr. Austin will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2009 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Claremont Country Club, 5295 Broadway Terrace, Oakland, California. To reach the Claremont Country Club by phone, please dial 510-653-6789.
Donations in Dr. Austin’s Memory
At the family’s request, anyone wishing to offer expressions of sympathy may do so by making a donation in the name of Dr. Austin to:
Boulder Community Foundation
PO Box 1351
Boulder, UT 84716
http://www.bouldercommunityalliance.org/happenings/happenings.html
Please make the check payable to “Boulder Community Foundation.”
For More Information, Contact
Nilsa Lennig, Director of Marketing, Arcadian Health
Office: 510-817-1016
Mobile: 415-298-8248
Email: nlennig@arcadianhealth.com
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