AXA Health International appoints Melissa Castro to lead clinical strategy

AXA Health International has appointed Dr Melissa Castro as Head Medical Adviser, strengthening senior clinical oversight across its international healthcare business.

Dr Castro will work with AXA teams and healthcare providers globally on clinical governance, complex medical case management, and the development of its international health services.

The role includes providing medical guidance on complex cases and supporting efforts to strengthen quality standards and patient outcomes across AXA Health International’s operations.

Dr Castro joins from Allianz Partners, where she spent almost nine years in roles spanning clinical practice, medical assistance, health insurance, and operational leadership. Originally from Mexico and now based in the UK, she has experience working across different healthcare systems and with internationally mobile patients.

“I look forward to working with colleagues across the business and our healthcare partners to continue developing a proposition that is clinically robust, customer-focused, and ready to meet the changing needs of internationally mobile customers,” Dr Castro said.

Sebastian Judez, Global Head of Proposition and Medical at AXA Health International, said her clinical and operational experience would help strengthen the medical foundations of the company’s international healthcare offering.

AXA Global Healthcare, part of AXA Health International, works with a medical network of approximately 2.1 million healthcare providers and offers services such as virtual consultations, second medical opinions, case management, evacuation, and repatriation.

In other industry news, Southern Cross Health Society appointed Australian health insurance executive Jan O’Keefe as its next CEO, selecting a leader with experience across health insurance, healthcare delivery, and customer strategy.