Dr. Kipa to retire after 25 years with Blue Cross

Dr. S. George Kipa, deputy chief medical officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, will be retiring at the end of the year.

Kipa has served as the co-publisher of Hospital and Physician Update, along with Steve Anderson, vice president of Hospital Contracting and Network Administration, for the past several years. And he’s written nearly 50 columns for this newsletter and its predecessor, Physician Update, since 1994.

Kipa joined Blue Cross in 1996 as executive medical director of two areas: National Services and Managed Care, and Central Review Organization. He was named deputy corporate medical director in 2001.

Prior to joining Blue Cross, he was medical director at St. Joseph Macomb (now Henry Ford Macomb). A primary area of focus was helping plan the hospital’s original electronic medical record system.

Asked about the highlights of his career at Blue Cross, he mentioned four things:

• Helping engage physicians at Blue Cross, early in his tenure, to use computerized tools for greater efficiency and effectiveness
• Serving as spokesman, author, reviewer and adviser for our Media Relations and Communications areas
• Helping our previous chief medical officer, Dr. Thomas Simmer, pave the way for the Physician Group Incentive Program and Value Partnerships
• Applying his background in immunology, communications and medical technology, including telemedicine, to contribute to Blue Cross’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic

After retirement, he looks forward to spending summers with his wife at their cottage on Prince Edward Island, continuing to teach part time as a volunteer faculty member at Wayne State’s School of Medicine and pursue his many hobbies, including ham radio, constructing open-source electronic and computer projects, playing the violin and mandolin, and reading history and philosophy.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.