PacificSource Health Plans Announces John Espinola M.D. As President And CEO

(SPRINGFIELD, Ore.) January 24, 2023 — PacificSource is pleased to announce Dr. John “Espi” Espinola as the organization’s new president and CEO, effective April 3, 2023. In this role, Espinola will provide leadership, strategic guidance, and direction for PacificSource’s overall operations and will hold primary responsibility for profit and loss and fulfilling the organization’s commitment to its mission, vision and values.  

Espinola comes to PacificSource with more than 20 years of leadership experience in healthcare. He most recently served in a dual role as executive vice president, chief strategy and product officer with Premera Blue Cross and as CEO of Kinwell Physician Network, a wholly owned subsidiary of Premera. Prior to his 12 years spent with Premera, he served as the national medical director for Essence Healthcare and before that as executive director and medical director of Evercare, a division of UnitedHealth Group. 

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Espi to the PacificSource family,” said PacificSource Board Chair Jack Friedman. “His extraordinary leadership experience and lifelong dedication to improving health outcomes is a perfect fit for PacificSource’s ongoing mission to be a lifelong trusted partner of our members and communities, now and well into the future.” 

“PacificSource was founded by a small group of physicians 90 years ago and as a doctor, it is a great honor to carry on their legacy,” said Dr. Espinola. “I look forward to working with the outstanding group of people that make up PacificSource and being a part of their incredible teamwork and dedication to helping others.”  

Espinola received his bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA), his medical degree and master of public health from Tufts University School of Medicine (Boston, MA), and his master of business administration from the University of Washington (Seattle). 

Espinola will replace Ken Provencher, who has served as PacificSource’s president and CEO for 21 years. Provencher announced his retirement in late 2022 after a total of 28 years dedicated to PacificSource. During his tenure, he was consistently recognized for providing exemplary leadership and greatly expanded the health plan’s membership to more than 600,000 members in four states. He will continue to serve as president and CEO until March 31, 2023.  

About PacificSource Health Plans:

PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. Founded in 1933, PacificSource has local offices throughout Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington. The PacificSource family of companies employs more than 1,700 people and serves over 600,000 individuals throughout the Greater Northwest. For more information, visit PacificSource.com.