GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 12, 2024--
Praveen Thadani, president of Priority Health, a nationally recognized nonprofit health plan serving more than 1.3 million members, has received national recognition for his efforts to advance equity and inclusion.
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Thadani has been named as one of Modern Healthcare’s Diversity Leaders for 2024. The Diversity Leaders Award program honors health care executives and organizations working to further equity and inclusion at their organizations and in the overall industry. This year, 25 executives from across the country were selected.
“Integrating DEI principles into our operations ensures a more inclusive and culturally competent approach to health care and we know the impact of this work positively affects our members and the communities we serve,” said Thadani. “I am deeply humbled and honored to be included alongside so many outstanding leaders and organizations.”
Thadani is being recognized for several initiatives, including:
“Praveen has championed DEI and health equity initiatives throughout his 25+ years in the health care industry to reduce health inequities and address systemic societal issues that impact individual and community health,” said Joyce Chan Russell, senior vice president of government markets at Priority Health. “Priority Health is a sought-after health plan because it is driven by a responsibility to ensure good health is within everyone’s reach.”
In 2022, Thadani received the Bernard J. Tyson Health Equity Award from the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) for promoting and advancing health equity.
For the latest news from Priority Health, visit our newsroom.
See how Priority Health is making an impact across Michigan in the 2023 Community Impact Report.
About Priority Health:
With over 30 years in business, Priority Health is the second largest health plan in Michigan, offering an extensive portfolio of health benefits options for employer groups and individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid plans. Serving more than one million members each year and offering a broad network of primary care physicians in Michigan, Priority Health continues to be recognized as a leader for quality, customer service, transparency and product innovation. Learn more about affordable, quality health coverage options from Priority Health.
Praveen Thadani, president of Priority Health. (Photo: Business Wire)
NEW YORK (AP) — The longtime host of “The Late Show with David Letterman” found himself answering questions rather than asking them when a federal judge in New York City put the entertainer through an audition of sorts on Monday for a possible role as a juror in a criminal trial.
It was the serious setting of a criminal trial over a cryptocurrency fraud when Judge P. Kevin Castel confronted the famous bearded comedian, identified in court only as “Juror 16,” with questions just as he did three dozen other potential jurors to determine who would be on a panel of 12 jurors and four alternates.
The prospective jurors had already survived a general round of questioning in which individuals are dismissed for hardship reasons, such as medical issues or jobs from which they cannot be spared. The trial is expected to last less than two weeks.
When Letterman, who stepped down from his show in 2015, made it to what could be the final round for admittance on the jury, the judge lobbed a softball: “Where do you live?”
“Hartford,” Letterman responded, proving that he couldn't make it through a single word without delivering a joke.
“No, it's a joke,” Letterman quickly let the judge know. Hartford is in Connecticut, which would have disqualified him from the jury because it is outside the area where jurors are drawn from.
“Nice try,” the judge responded, adding, “You figured you would forgo Queens,” another location outside the area covered by the Southern District of New York. Queens is located in the Eastern District of New York.
After Letterman revealed his true area of residence — Westchester County — the pair began a volley of questions and answers totaling nearly three dozen exchanges.
Along the way, the judge, lawyers and three dozen or so prospective jurors learned a lot that the world already knows about Letterman. He was born in Indianapolis, obtained a degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and has a 20-year-old son in college in Massachusetts.
Asked what he does for a living, Letterman said he was currently “working for a company called Netflix.”
“Spouse or significant other?” Castel asked.
“I've had both. Currently I just have the spouse,” Letterman responded.
Asked how he gets his news, Letterman gave a nod to the past, saying: “Every morning I used to pick up the paper off the front porch. Now, I turn on the computer and it's an aggregation of news sources from all over the United States and around the world.”
Asked what he likes to watch besides any Netflix programs he's involved with, Letterman said, “I like sports.”
“I'm happy football is here. I'm happy it's this time in the baseball season. I like motor sports. I like pretty much what most Americans watch on TV,” he said.
The judge asked him if he's an Indianapolis Colts football fan.
“Big Colts fan. 0 and 2, but still a fan,” he said, referring to the fact that the Colts have lost their first two games this season.
For hobbies, Letterman said he likes to fish, ski and be outdoors.
“Ever called as a juror?” the judge asked.
“Been called many times. Just couldn't make it happen,” Letterman answered.
“You know, this may be the charm,” Castel said, aware that Letterman had a 50-50 chance to make it onto the panel.
“It would be a pleasure,” Letterman said.
In the end, shortly before the jury was sworn in, Letterman was ejected when a prosecutor exercised what is known as a “strike,” which allows lawyers on either side to release a certain number of potential jurors from the panel for any reason at all. It was the third of four strikes exercised by prosecutors. No reason was given.
David Letterman arrives at federal court in New York, Monday Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
David Letterman arrives at federal court in New York, Monday Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
David Letterman arrives at federal court in New York, Monday Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
David Letterman arrives at federal court in New York, Monday Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
David Letterman arrives at federal court in New York, Monday Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
