Healthcare executive and advocate for women's leadership to be honored at Alvernia Women’s Council luncheon
Alvernia University’s Women’s Council will recognize Kat Ketter ’05, associate vice president of member experience at Jefferson Health Plans and founder and CEO of Kat Ketter Coaching, with the 2025 Bernardine Legacy Award at its annual luncheon on Wednesday, June 11 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading. The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Registration is available through May 28 at alvernia.edu.
Established to honor the legacy of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, the Bernardine Legacy Award recognizes Alvernia alumni and community leaders whose lives reflect a deep commitment to Franciscan values through service, leadership and community impact. Ketter was selected for her tireless advocacy on behalf of women, her visionary leadership in healthcare, and her commitment to empowering underserved communities.
“Kat embodies the very best of what we hope for in our alumni—a servant leader committed to equity, wellness and transformational impact,” said Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Meggan Kerber ‘06, MBA ‘01. “She not only uplifts others through her professional work, but she also creates pathways for women to lead and thrive.”
Ketter, a Reading native, earned her bachelor’s degree from Alvernia in 2005 and a master’s in public health from Liberty University. Over her two-decade career, she has launched groundbreaking mentorship and wellness programs that center on whole-person care and health equity. At Jefferson Health Plans, she leads member engagement strategy across Medicaid and CHIP populations, and she is the architect of the organization’s first diversity mentorship initiative, benefiting over 150 emerging leaders, more than half of whom are women and people of color.
“Receiving the Bernadine Legacy Award is truly humbling. I’ve always believed in the importance of giving back and making a difference, not for recognition, but because it’s the right thing to do,” said Ketter. “To be acknowledged in this way is incredibly meaningful – it reaffirms the power of compassion, community, and purpose. I’m grateful to be part of a community that values services as a way of life. Knowing that the award is coming from Alvernia University is a deep honor that reflects a shared commitment to the community, servant-driven leadership, and the Franciscan values that are the cornerstones of my education. I am deeply grateful to the University whose mission inspires us to lead with purpose and compassion in all that we do.”
Beyond her corporate leadership, Ketter serves on the board of TLC Fore Reading Pa., supports local health access initiatives, and offers pro bono career coaching for early- to mid-career women through her business, Kat Ketter Coaching.
“My education at Alvernia University as a young woman was instrumental in the leader that I am today,” said Ketter. “Valuing the whole person and fostering a caring and inclusive community is reflected in the way that I view service. It has also been woven into the fabric of my very being – deeply committed to serving others, valuing collaborating and teamwork, and dedicated to addressing issues of social justice and health equity.”
The annual luncheon serves as a key event for the Alvernia Women’s Council, whose mission is to cultivate mentorship, leadership and philanthropy among women connected to the university and the greater Reading community.
To learn more or register for the event, click here.
