Kat Marie Alvarez

Kat Marie Alvarez (born Marie Denise Auguste; November 25, 1969) is an American healthcare executive, entrepreneur, and strategist. She was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, to Haitian immigrant parents who arrived in the United States in the 1960s. Alvarez is the youngest of six siblings.

Her given name was chosen at birth, but a delayed letter from her siblings in Haiti requested she be named Katia. Although her legal name remained Marie Denise, her family and friends have called her Katia or Kat throughout her life.

Career

Early Career

Alvarez began her career as a registered nurse in 1995, working in medical-surgical, telemetry, and critical care units before transitioning to psychiatric nursing. Within two years, she moved into healthcare management, joining Humana in roles that included utilization management, referral management, quality management, and provider appeals, eventually serving as Senior Director.

She later worked in corporate compliance advisory for Catholic Health East during its Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) period and served as National Director of Quality and Compliance for Vitas Healthcare, overseeing operations in more than 20 states.

Alvarez earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida International University, where she served as Class President, and a Master of Business Administration from the Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University.

Payer and Provider Leadership

Alvarez served as Vice President of Utilization Management for Centene Corporation’s Florida market, overseeing prior authorization and concurrent review operations. She also held C-suite and senior leadership positions in major provider organizations, including WellMed Medical Management (acquired by Optum), Cano Health, IMC Health (now CareMax), and Innovacare Health, where she served as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Interim CEO, and Market President.

Entrepreneurship

In August 2018, Alvarez founded Katalyst Health, which later became part of Katalyst & Co., a healthcare growth platform providing advisory services, operational support, and value-based care strategies to payers, providers, and investors.

Contributions and Achievement

Over 25 years of leadership experience across payers, providers, and health systems. Led initiatives totaling over $5 billion in healthcare value. Oversaw programs impacting more than 12 million Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and ACA exchange members. Delivered measurable improvements in retention, Stars, HEDIS, and Medical Loss Ratio. Selected by NCQA and CMS to contribute to the Hospice Conditions of Participation Regulatory Panel, with input that remains part of current compliance standards. Professional Memberships and AffiliationS

Member, Forbes Business Council Contributing writer, Forbes Member, Chief Alumni, Florida International University Alumni Board Member, Nova Southeastern University Community Involvement

Alvarez serves on the Community Board of the Young At Art Museum, supporting fundraising initiatives that provide art and music programs to underserved children.

Personal Life

She lives in Palm Beach, Florida, with her husband of 20 years, Joseph, and their two children. Alvarez is an avid traveler, reader, and history enthusiast. She is motivated by the belief that access to quality healthcare is a basic human right