AscellaHealth Launches Strategic Advisory Council to Advance Pharmacy Benefits Ecosystem

Founding members bring expertise in healthcare leadership, payer strategy, and innovation to support technology-driven service innovation.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:05pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of medical prescription bottles, a tablet device, and a stethoscope arranged elegantly on a clean, white seamless background, conveying the abstract concepts of healthcare innovation and patient-centric pharmacy benefits management.A conceptual still life captures the intersection of technology, healthcare, and patient-centered pharmacy benefits solutions.Berwyn Today

AscellaHealth, a global partner delivering customizable solutions to support the specialty pharmaceutical industry, has announced the formation of its Strategic Advisory Council (ASAC). The initial founding members represent key areas of the payer landscape, with additional members to be announced as the council expands. ASAC will serve as a strategic thought partner to the AscellaHealth leadership team, enhancing the company's market reach and ability to bring trailblazing payer solutions that successfully deliver on the full spectrum of pharmacy benefit needs.

Why it matters

The establishment of the ASAC demonstrates AscellaHealth's commitment to strategic innovation and a continued focus on transparent, patient-centric healthcare benefit solutions. As therapies become more targeted and transformative, representing some of the most clinically advanced and financially complex areas in healthcare today, there is an urgent need for sustainable access models that align patients, providers, and payers.

The details

The ASAC founding members bring expertise across healthcare leadership, payer strategy, and innovation. Bill Winkenwerder, Chairman and CEO of Winkenwerder Strategies, has deep experience in healthcare leadership, policy, technology, and innovation. Denise Napier, CEO of VitalGain, has extensive experience from senior leadership roles across major government and commercial health plans.

  • AscellaHealth announced the formation of the Strategic Advisory Council on April 14, 2026.

The players

AscellaHealth

A global partner that delivers proven end-to-end solutions to both life sciences and healthcare companies to enhance the quality of life for patients with complex, chronic conditions.

Bill Winkenwerder

The Chairman and CEO of Winkenwerder Strategies, bringing deep experience in healthcare leadership, policy, technology, and innovation to support CEOs, senior leaders, private equity firms, and high-growth companies in achieving their strategic goals.

Denise Napier

The CEO of VitalGain, where she delivers innovative solutions that accelerate revenue growth, streamline operations, and strengthen financial performance for healthcare organizations. She has extensive experience from senior leadership roles across major government and commercial health plans.

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What they’re saying

“We are fortunate to welcome this exceptional team of advisers whose expertise strengthens our ability to advance beyond traditional pharmacy benefit models. Their collective backgrounds, including commercial and government health plans, will be invaluable as we continue to grow AscellaOne™, our newly launched pharmacy benefits marketplace designed to enable more transparent access and affordability.”

— Bill Oldham, Chairman and President, AscellaHealth

“Drawing on the expertise of its founding members, AscellaHealth reinforces its ability to anticipate change, respond proactively and design solutions that align patients, providers and payers. As therapies become more targeted and transformative, representing some of the most clinically advanced and financially complex areas in healthcare today, there is an urgent need for sustainable access models. The establishment of the ASAC demonstrates our commitment to strategic innovation and a continued focus on transparent, patient-centric healthcare benefit solutions.”

— Dea Belazi, Chief Executive Officer, AscellaHealth

What’s next

AscellaHealth plans to announce additional members to the Strategic Advisory Council as the council expands.

The takeaway

The formation of the Strategic Advisory Council at AscellaHealth underscores the company's commitment to driving innovation in the pharmacy benefits ecosystem. By tapping into the expertise of industry leaders in healthcare, payer strategy, and technology, AscellaHealth aims to develop sustainable access models and transparent, patient-centric solutions that address the growing complexity and cost of specialty therapies.