Terence Byrd Joins Ultimate Medical Academy Board of Trustees

Tampa, Fla. – February 22, 2023 – Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) today announced that the seasoned healthcare insurance leader Terence Byrd is joining the UMA Board of Trustees. Byrd comes to UMA with more than three decades of experience in the healthcare field, both in operations as well as top leadership roles.

Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) is an accredited, nonprofit educational institution that helps to meet the urgent need for more healthcare workers by equipping and empowering learners to do vital work at the heart of healthcare. In addition to offering degree and diploma programs, UMA works closely with healthcare companies to connect students directly to job opportunities.

“Terence’s ability to ascend to the highest leadership position within several of the nation’s largest healthcare insurance companies is extraordinary and impressive,” said UMA Board Chair Darlyne Bailey. “We look forward to benefitting from his vast experience and deep knowledge as the UMA team strives to help address the historic staffing challenges faced by hospitals, physicians’ offices and pharmacies today.”

Byrd has served in numerous leadership roles in healthcare, including recently as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Aetna Better Health Kentucky, one of the largest Medicaid and Medicare health plans in the state. There, Byrd led the strategic, operational, and technological initiatives responsible for driving the company’s profitability and market expansion while strengthening its alliances.

Before that, Byrd held senior leadership positions with Healthfirst, Mercy Health Plan in New Jersey, Total Plan Administrators (TPA), a Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Subsidiary, AmeriChoice/United Healthcare of New Jersey and more. Byrd holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Lafayette College.

Byrd joins the Board of Trustees of UMA at an important time in healthcare, as the industry faces a historic shortage of skilled and certified healthcare workers, particularly in supporting roles in hospitals, physician’s offices, pharmacies and more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare field is projected to add two million new jobs between 2021 and 2031. Increasingly, healthcare organizations are turning to institutions such as UMA to train workers in the specific skills that directly prepare them for the most-urgent job opening.

UMA is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES, www.ABHES.org) and is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).