# Cristal Gary

> Cristal Gary is the Chicago-based president and CEO of Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, appointed July 31, 2023. Her career includes Illinois deputy governor, federal regional leadership, university civic engagement, consulting and advocacy. She is a founding member of Chicago Foundation for Women’s South Side Giving Circle and serves as secretary of CommunityHealth’s board.

- **Role:** Plan President and CEO at Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, a Centene company
- **Organizations:** Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Centene Corporation, Ascension Illinois, Leavitt Partners, University of Chicago, State of Illinois, State of Ohio, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, South Side Giving Circle, Chicago Foundation for Women, CommunityHealth, Economic Club of Chicago
- **Education:** Undergraduate degree in molecular genetics, The Ohio State University, Master of Public Policy, University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy
- **Known for:** Founding member of the South Side Giving Circle., Named among Crain’s 2024 Notable Black Leaders, as recognized by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce., Serves as secretary of CommunityHealth’s board of directors.

## Career timeline

- **—** — Began her career as a policy analyst at the federal Office of Management and Budget.
- **Before 2011** — Held state leadership roles in Illinois and Ohio and served as a federal Region V director.
- **2011-2015** — Served as deputy governor of Illinois under Pat Quinn; earlier public records identify her as Cristal Thomas.
- **2015** — Joined the University of Chicago in a vice-presidential role and as a senior adviser for civic engagement, beginning February 2.
- **2018** — Identified as a Leavitt Partners principal in the Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys symposium agenda.
- **2018** — Listed among the South Side Giving Circle’s founding leadership.
- **2023** — Moved from chief advocacy officer at Ascension Illinois to Meridian Illinois president and CEO, effective July 31.
- **2024** — Became a member of the Economic Club of Chicago in January, according to her public LinkedIn profile.

## Achievements

- Founding member of the South Side Giving Circle.
- Named among Crain’s 2024 Notable Black Leaders, as recognized by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
- Serves as secretary of CommunityHealth’s board of directors.
- Completed service on the CDC Advisory Committee to the Director in May 2023; meeting minutes credit her contributions to reconstituting the committee.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Appeared with Chicago Fire Foundation executive director Jessica Yavitz in a WGN segment about the P.L.A.Y.S. school soccer program.
- **2026-05** — Listed as a presenter for a May 19 Becker’s webinar.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristalgary

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/cristal-gary
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21