Walker named UnitedHealthcare Gulf States market medical director

Penny Walker, M.D., MBA, a board certified Emergency Medicine Physician, has been named UnitedHealthcare market medical director of the Gulf States region.

Walker is responsible for clinical leadership and execution of all healthcare initiatives and clinical quality for the Gulf States region, which encompasses Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

During her career, Walker has worked as an emergency room physician and in urgent care. She has served as medical director for BlueCross of Illinois, and most recently as market medical officer/vice president of Humana of Louisiana.

Walker earned her medical degree from Loyola University in Maywood, Ill., and completed an emergency medicine residency at the University of Illinois at Christ Hospital. In addition, she completed her MBA at the University of Phoenix in health care management.

“Dr. Walker’s experience and knowledge of the region will be a valuable resource for improving the health and well-being of nearly 800,000 UnitedHealthcare customers in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi,” said Glen Golemi, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Gulf States.