Rockledge, FL - Katie Fleming and Linda Wheeler with Health First Health Plans (HFHP) have received certification from the American Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Executive Leadership Program (ELP).

Wheeler and Fleming achieved their Certified Health Insurance Executives (CHIEs) after participating in three intensive academic sessions during the year-long program. They will officially receive their CHIE designations at the AHIP Commencement and Awards Ceremony held this year in Las Vegas, NV.

Hired by HFHP in 2001 as corporate director of Provider Relations and Physician Recruiting, Fleming has more than 15 years experience specializing in the managed care insurance industry. With more than 16 years of insurance industry experience, Wheeler joined HFHP in 2004 and today serves the company as director of Sales and Marketing.

Mentoring, academic sessions, and site visits were part of the CHIE curriculum with a focal point on strategic management practices needed to lead health insurance plans. Limited to 50 candidates nationwide, Fleming and Wheeler were selected based on their high level of professionalism, excellent performance in their current positions, and a commitment to the health insurance industry.

Filled with the industry's most dynamic senior-level professionals, AHIP designed the ELP for rising executives to engage in meaningful dialog with other healthcare leaders across the nation. Fleming and Wheeler were also awarded Certificates of Professional Achievement from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

About Health First Health Plans:

Centrally located in the Suntree area, HFHP currently has nearly 60,000 members, including 23,000 Medicare members. Serving residents of Brevard County and part of Sebastian in Indian River County for 14 years, HFHP was founded as part of Health First, a not-for-profit family of healthcare services that includes Cape Canaveral Hospital, Holmes Regional Medical Center, Palm Bay Hospital, Viera Hospital, and Health First Physicians. For more information, visit www.HealthFirstHealthPlans.org or call 321-434-5665.