Lyn Carter is a seasoned healthcare leader with a diverse background spanning payers, providers, brokers, and TPAs. With roles at organizations like Molina Health, Trinity Health, and Access Health, Lyn has developed a deep understanding of how healthcare systems operate—and where they fall short. Now working with Tendo, she’s rethinking how care is accessed and delivered, with a focus on simplifying processes and putting patients first. Lyn’s mission is rooted in creating patient-centered care that eliminates complexity and prioritizes health outcomes.
Your career in healthcare leadership has taken you across different roles, including operations, strategy, and clinical integration. What first inspired you to work in healthcare, and how has your path evolved over time?
We can all agree that our healthcare system is broken, and we love to point blame in different directions. I’ve always wanted to better understand how the components of healthcare (payer, provider, broker, etc.) fit together to create the machine of a system we know today. During my MPH studies, I learned a very simple yet concise theory: the Willie Sutton Rule. When asked why he robbed banks in 1952, Willie Sutton replied: “Because that’s where the money is.”
My career has taken me through roles at a payer (Molina Health), a provider (Trinity Health), a TPA (Access Health), a broker (Edify North), and a certificate of need organization (Alliance for Health). Each experience deepened my understanding of how healthcare ecosystems operate financially—and where they fall short. Now, I’m excited to be working in the free-market space with Tendo, where there’s an opportunity to rethink how care is accessed, coordinated, and ultimately delivered to better serve patients.
What’s the most memorable thing that’s happened to you in your career so far?
The vast majority of my life, I’ve been a rule-following, punctual, annoyingly detailed good girl scout. I would attend every session at conferences and take notes, including the award ceremonies. About 10 years ago, I was encouraged by my leadership to “enjoy the afternoon” in San Diego and skip the final awards ceremony. I went paddleboarding at the resort. Just as I paddled by, I won an award, and the audience searched for my face. From my paddleboard, I could see laughing faces and people pointing in my direction through the windows.
The end result? I still skip the awards ceremonies sometimes, and I’ve learned to laugh at myself for it.
Decent’s mission centers around accessible, patient-centered care. What does “patient-centered” mean to you, and how can the industry work to better meet this goal?
To me, patient-centered care means creating a healthcare experience that is straightforward and supportive, eliminating the need for patients to become experts in navigating a complicated system. Accessing and paying for care shouldn’t feel like solving a puzzle. In a world where ordering tacos to your exact location is seamless, it’s frustrating that healthcare still requires patients to navigate layers of complexity—prior authorizations, step therapies, preventive vs. diagnostic care, surgical privileges, claim audits, the list goes on.
These systemic hurdles work against the very people the system is meant to serve. Patient-centered care should proactively guide patients through their healthcare journey, with both payers and providers taking an active role in simplifying processes, offering support, and focusing on what truly matters: delivering health care.
What’s one thing that always makes you laugh or keeps you going on tough days?
Our family is wonderfully quirky. My husband has no end to his dad jokes and witty puns. My 5-year-old son is desperate to both act and speak like an adult, which often results in snort-giggle-worthy conversations. My 3-year-old daughter is convinced she’s a kitten, complete with a high-pitched kitty voice. They are my kind of weird, and I deeply love every minute of it.
Who else in healthcare inspires you, and why?
I have several healthcare heroes I’ve looked up to for some time:
- Dee Edington: He was one of the first to demonstrate the concept of zero trend. I believe population health is critical, and his early books inspired me to ask tough questions.
- Seth Denson: Seth is a dynamic personality who isn’t afraid to speak against the crowd in an industry that’s often controlled by commissions. I deeply respect his integrity and impact on the health insurance industry.
- Dr. Fred Reyelts: Dr. Reyelts focuses on changing the model in which primary care is delivered from both a cost and quality perspective. He’s a “poorly-behaved” PCP who isn’t afraid to be an advocate for his patients and system reform.
- Shaun Raleigh: Shaun is a powerhouse dedicated to making a positive impact on healthcare. She’s fiercely dedicated to caring for the Medicaid population and system reform. Her tenacity to do the right thing inspires me.
