Insurer Argus Group has appointed Melissa Butler as head of population health.

In this newly created role, Dr Butler will report to the executive vice-president of Group Insurance to plan, coordinate, implement, promote and evaluate population health initiatives. This will incorporate newly developed disease management programmes as well as preventative care through continued growth of the Argus Wellness Programme.

Dr Butler was a pharmacist at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and has extensive international experience. She joins Argus from the Center for Health Research – Southeast at Kaiser Permanente in Atlanta.

Kaiser Permanente is one of the leading US institutions that focuses on prevention and population health. While there, she has been working as an assistant investigator and pharmacy residency preceptor. Other positions held by Dr Butler include diabetes educator, research consultant, clinical associate, instructor and medical writer.

Population health management is a complex concept that aims to improve the health of the population through care management for people with high health risks — typically resulting from complex health conditions and disease — and preventative health management for the general population at lower risk.

Argus CEO Alison Hill said: “The Argus Group is very pleased to create this new role and to welcome someone with Dr Butler’s experience and passion for community health. As a Bermudian, she inherently understands the local culture towards health, and as a professional she can apply proven strategies designed specifically for the community.

“New initiatives in population health as well as new leadership of the Argus Wellness Programme will directly benefit not only the interests of our clients, but also the population of Bermuda as a whole. We are eager for Dr Butler to get started.”

Dr Butler has served on many healthcare committees and is the author of a long list of industry articles and reports, many of which have been published in prominent peer-reviewed journals. She has presented the findings of her work at professional and think tank meetings.

Dr Butler graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Science, Pharmacy, as well as a Doctor of Pharmacy. She then earned a Master’s in Public Health in health policy and administration from the School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences with specialisation in pharmaceutical outcomes and policy from the Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.