Cassandra Willis-Abner

Cassandra Willis-Abner is the Associate Hospital Director of Operations & Corporate Director of Service Excellence at the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). UMHS is ranked #1 in Michigan and among the nation’s best hospitals according to U.S. News & World Report. UMHS is one of the largest healthcare systems in Michigan and a premier academic medical center made up of 3 hospitals, over 40 health centers with over 120 Clinics and home care operation with 2.1 million visits and more than 46,000 hospital stays in over 1,000 beds. UMHS is also comprised of the highly ranked UM Medical School and its Faculty Group Practice as well as clinical activities of the UM School of Nursing. UMHS’ $466M research budget is one of the largest in the nation. UMHS is a community of over 30,000 faculty, staff, students, trainees & volunteers with a total operating budget of more than $3.3 billion.

Cassandra is responsible for designing, implementing and directing transformational strategies to achieve ideal experiences for patient, family and employee stakeholder groups. Cassandra is a Corporate Officer at UMHS where she leads Service Excellence (a department of performance consultants and skilled trainers), Retail Contract Services, UMHS Security/Public Safety Services, Entrance Services, Valet, Parking & Transportation Services, Gifts of Art, Comprehensive Music Therapy Program, Hospital Communications and Information Services and lead for the House Officers Association, the bargaining unit for over 1,200 medical residents.

In her previous role as Administrative Director of Managed Care Operations, Cassandra was responsible for the operational and administrative activities associated with U of M’s Hospitals and Health Center’s managed care contractual agreements, related to professional and facility charges.  Cassandra led a department of four divisions: Enrollment Services, Provider Network Development, Referrals and Authorization Services and Training and Education. 

Prior to joining UMHS, Cassandra led the claims processing, enrollment process, claims inquiry and coordination of benefits departments in a 120,000 member health plan.  She has also been the senior leader for Medical Practices for an urban hospital system and has experience in Strategic Planning.

Cassandra is maize and blue through and through. She earned her Bachelors Degree (in Organization Psychology) from the University of Michigan and also her Masters Degree in Health Services Administration from UM’s School of Public Health.

She is on the board of several community based organizations in the metro Detroit area to include a Federally Qualified Community Health Center-- The Wellness Plan Health Centers and New Center Community Mental Health Services. 

She is married to Lawrence Abner and is the mother of Jay and Kelsey.