Michael Warfel, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Highmark named 2025 Health Care Hero by Central Penn Business Journal

Camp Hill, Pa. (February 19, 2025) — Central Penn Business Journal has selected Michael Warfel, senior vice president of Government Affairs at Highmark as a 2024 Health Care Heroes recipient.

Health Care Heroes recognizes individuals and organizations for making significant contributions to improving health care in Central Pennsylvania. To be eligible, honorees must live in or work in Central Pennsylvania. The honorees were selected by the editors of Central Penn Business Journal.

Michael Warfel is responsible for state and federal legislative public policy and regulatory issues and has worked in government affairs at Highmark since 1995. Michael also serves on several Highmark boards of directors including Highmark BCBSD Inc., Highmark West Virginia, Highmark Senior Solutions Company, First Priority Health and First Priority Life Insurance Company, Inc.

Outside of the organization, Warfel is the chairman of the Millersville University Council of Trustees, serves on the Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education, is a member of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber’s Policy Advisory Council and is past chairman and member of the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children board of directors.

The awards will be presented at the Health Care Heroes Awards & Summit, which recognizes excellence and innovation, educates the region on health care issues and honors the efforts of organizations and individuals making a significant impact on the quality of health care in Central Pennsylvania.

Health Care Heroes are presented in the following categories: Acupuncture Specialist, Advancements and Innovation in Health Care, Allied Health Hero, Community Outreach/Education Hero, Dental Specialist, Lifetime Achievement, Management, Massage Therapist, Mental Health Care Hero, Nurse of the Year, Nurse Practitioner of the Year, Physician of the Year, Special Needs Hero, Volunteer of the Year and Workplace Wellness Program of the Year.

Michael was recognized as a Health Care Hero in the Community Outreach/Education Hero category. In 2024, Warfel advocated for and helped to establish a Penn State Health Medical Group practice near Millersville University, serving students and the Millersville community by providing accessible primary care, sports medicine and on-site laboratory services. This is part of the Highmark and Penn State Health long-term goal of ensuring that everyone in the communities it serves is within 10 minutes of a Penn State Health primary care provider.

“The 2025 Health Care Heroes really are heroes. They are innovators, caregivers, listeners, administrators and healers who are often described as miracle workers. They advance both health care in Central Pennsylvania and beyond,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Central Penn Business Journal. “The accomplishments of this year’s honorees are incredibly noteworthy, and we at the Central Penn Business Journal are honored to recognize their achievements.”

For more information on the 2025 Health Care Heroes, visit cpbj.com/event/health-care-heroes-awards-and-summit/.