Delaware Department of Insurance welcomed Cristine Vogel as director of Value-Based Health Care Delivery. In her role, Vogel will lead efforts that relate to value-based care, primary care, pharmaceuticals and pharmacy benefit managers, affordability, and other health-policy initiatives including grant programs.

Director Vogel has been involved with healthcare management for over 25 years, with experience in hospitals and medical practices, state government, insurance, and consulting. She will establish, implement, and monitor Affordability Standards such as those to increase primary care investment, and manage the reporting of carrier investments in health care. This will include assessing commercial reimbursement rates for primary and chronic care services, the role of price and utilization in healthcare spending, and prescription drug spending as a driver of total cost of care.

Vogel most recently served as the director of Population Health Initiatives for Nuvance Health System in Connecticut, where she developed solutions to improve clinical outcomes, increase quality of care, and control healthcare costs through implementing a nurse care management program, a clinical pharmacy program, and through integrating behavioral health within primary care practices. Her experience in healthcare reform also includes leading the State of Connecticut’s Office of Healthcare Access and evaluating Certificates of Need. The position, funded by the department, was made necessary by several legislative mandates related to healthcare affordability and pharmacy benefits.

OperaDelaware inducted Cynthia Du Pont Tobias, Nina Worthington, and Bob Parker to the Hall of Fame which celebrates those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the magic at the opera house possible.

Cynthia’s history with OperaDelaware spans decades and specialties, beginning with working as a set designer for La traviata in 1975. She has since been involved in 14 additional OperaDelaware productions as a set designer, artist, or director. She began serving on the board in 1991 and has been on the board almost continuously since 2012, including five consecutive seasons as vice president of the executive committee. In 2016, she was recognized nationally by OPERA America as one of five recipients of the National Opera Trustee Recognition Award. Because of her service not only to OperaDelaware, but also to the Opera Company of Boston and Santa Fe Opera, she was recognized for “generosity in the passion for the art form, vision, and support of opera companies.”

Worthington's career has spanned more than 25 years, as a board member, officer, financial supporter, and fan. Worthington first joined the OperaDelaware board in 1995 and served almost continuously beginning in 2005, including 8 consecutive years as secretary. Worthington's expertise in estate planning brought integrity and invaluable perspective to OperaDelaware’s stewardship, and her keen intellect and attention to detail made her an irreplaceable asset to the team.

Parker’s history with OperaDelaware reaches back to 1989 when he first worked as a set builder. He has since lent his expertise and leadership as a builder, technical director, and advisor to nearly 40 OperaDelaware productions. He was recalled by former OperaDelaware general director Lee Kimball as being a “master of making the impossible possible.” Whether with challenges of spaces, lighting, or technology, Parker moves mountains to transform simple materials into world-class sets.