Board Spotlight: Ellen Duffield | CEO, Highmark Wholecare

As CEO of Highmark Wholecare and a current board member of Literacy Pittsburgh, Ellen Duffield sees firsthand how literacy and education shape economic opportunities, workforce readiness, and even community health. 

“It is critically important to the success of organizations like Highmark Wholecare that we have a skilled, literate workforce,” Ellen says. “We serve diverse populations with complex health and social needs. Strong language skills, including multilingual capacity, are essential for our teams to engage productively and compassionately with our members.” 

In healthcare, clear communication is essential for members, patients, their advocates, and employees. For members and patients, it determines whether someone understands their coverage, follows treatment instructions, or feels confident about navigating systems that can often feel overwhelming. While employees must have the language skills to communicate effectively with the people their serving and in the workplace. Literacy Pittsburgh addresses both angles through its free classes and tutoring. This alignment is what drew Ellen to Literacy Pittsburgh’s board in 2022.  

She was particularly struck by the organization’s focus on digital literacy. As services, job applications, healthcare systems, and daily life increasingly move online, digital skills have become a baseline requirement for the workforce. “Digital literacy is no longer optional,” she notes. “It’s a foundational competency and its importance will only grow.” 

For Ellen, the commitment is also personal. She believes language and education open doors; economically, socially, and culturally. Literacy, she says, is about dignity, independence, and opportunity. That belief makes her board service more than professional alignment; it is a reflection of her own values. 

Partnership in Action 
Highmark Wholecare remains one of Literacy Pittsburgh’s biggest event sponsors, displaying its shared commitment to our work and the local community. For Highmark, these events reinforce its role as a community-focused leader and create meaningful opportunities for team members to engage, Ellen explains. For Literacy Pittsburgh, events raise awareness, build connections, and generate resources that directly support learners.
 
Additionally, Highmark Wholecare’s partnership with Literacy Pittsburgh extends well beyond financial support. As a senior executive at one of the region’s largest employers, Ellen provides Literacy Pittsburgh with strategic insight into workforce needs and opportunities, governance expertise, and visibility that strengthen the organization’s long-term sustainability. 

Investing in Community Health 

For Ellen, supporting nonprofits like Literacy Pittsburgh is an important way to improve the health of our region’s residents. 
Literacy Pittsburgh addresses social determinants of health that directly influence health outcomes and long-term healthcare costs. Literacy, workforce readiness, and economic stability are not abstract concepts. They shape whether individuals can access care, secure employment, and build stable futures. 

As a board member, Ellen sees Literacy Pittsburgh’s strengths as its proven mission, stable leadership, policy expertise, and deeply committed team. The organization’s collaborative spirit and focus on measurable outcomes position it for continued growth, Ellen explains. 

Through strategic partnership and shared purposes, Highmark Wholecare and Literacy Pittsburgh are working together to expand opportunities, strengthen the workforce, and build a healthier, more inclusive region.