The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Chicago, has named Dr. Trent Haywood its new chief medical officer.

Haywood, whose age wasn't provided, will replace Dr. Allan Korn, who retires at the end of the year.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Haywood to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association," BCBSA President and CEO Scott Serota said in the release. "The Blues are leaders across the country in transforming healthcare by rewarding quality, reining in costs and improving outcomes for patients. Though we are sorry to say goodbye to Dr. Allan Korn, we wish him well in his retirement and we are certain that Dr. Haywood's experience will help us to continue our record of innovation in communities around the country."

Haywood served as senior VP and CMO for VHA, an Irving, Texas-based healthcare consulting firm.