Michael Daniels: Driving Healthcare Innovation and Community Empowerment

Michael Daniels is an exceptional problem solver. Just ask his colleagues who recently presented him with their "Problem-Solving Maestro" award. His strategic, analytic, and leadership skills align perfectly with his work. Daniels is portfolio director for clinical and digital innovation, a role he calls rewarding.

“Every day I get to work with clinical practitioners, as well as IT and business industry leaders, to solve problems and create new opportunities in the healthcare system,” Daniels said. “By getting healthcare resources to members where they are, and when they need it most, I am making it easier for them to manage their healthcare journey and improve their health outcomes – often during some of the most challenging periods in their lives.”

Daniels is dedicated to improving lives, both professionally and within his community. At Elevance Health, he’s a leader in the African American Professional Exchange (APEX) Business Resource Group (BRG). Beyond his work, he’s paving paths in local education.
 

Tell us about your community service and why it’s meaningful to you.

I am a founding board member of Resurgence Hall Charter School. Located in East Point, Georgia, our mission is to provide every student with a high-quality, college preparatory education that will prepare them for success in high school, college, and life, regardless of economic circumstances, zip code, race, or home language. That work is especially meaningful to me because I believe access to quality education is foundational to a more just society and ultimately a better world.
 

What hobbies or activities do you enjoy? 

I just started adult swim lessons. I also enjoy driving sports cars and attending car shows and races. I like trying new restaurants and revisiting really good old restaurants, as well as attending live sporting and live music events, and house gatherings and "get togethers" with family and friends.
 

How does your role advance Elevance Health’s purpose to improve the health of humanity?

I am responsible for strategy development and execution of various projects and initiatives supporting digitization of care and disease management programs. I help create new digital channels that enable more efficient and effective methods of delivering care to members. My role helps bridge the gap between access and accessibility to healthcare by using technology to breakdown traditional barriers to healthcare resources.
 

Can you share a work achievement, recognition, or award that you hold in high regard?

I helped manage the multi-faceted creation and launch of the maternity concierge care program — a Medicaid digital program for mothers, that offers a tailored experience complete with educational content, options to connect with a live, dedicated care manager, and tools to monitor members’ progress through and post-pregnancy.

I am also proud of the "Problem-Solving Maestro" award I recently received from my colleagues. It’s awarded to the team member with a "knack for identifying and resolving complex problems with ingenuity and efficiency." This award is particularly special to me because it comes from members of my team, for whom I have a great deal of respect.
 

Which of our company values (community, diversity, integrity, agility, leadership) is especially meaningful to you and why?

The work that I do could not be done without a diverse group of talented individuals that are all committed to the goal of decreasing barriers to healthcare access and improving the lives of our members. Elevance Health values diversity to ensure we have representation on behalf of the member and associate communities we serve. My personal commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace has led me to step into the role of leader of the Georgia chapter of our African American Professional Exchange (APEX) Business Resource Group.