Aetna Honors African American Physicians Working to Close the Health Care Gap
Government, business, and medical community leaders salute the accomplishments of prominent African American physicians
NEW YORK, May 10, 2002 — At a reception recently held at the Studio Museum in Harlem, Aetna (NYSE: ΑET) honored the contributions of leading African American physicians working to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care.
The evening's featured speakers included: Ambassador Andrew Young, Jr., the Honorable Charles B. Rangel, (D-N.Y.), Earl G. Graves, publisher,
Black Enterprise magazine, Merville C. Marshall, M.D., president, Endocrine Institute, and John W. Rowe, M.D., chairman, president and CEO of Aetna along with master of ceremonies, Dr. Ian K. Smith, medical correspondent for NBC News and author of
"The Take Control Diet."
The occasion marked the 21st consecutive year that Aetna has recognized the achievements of African Americans in the fields of business, government, science, medicine, and the arts. This year, Aetna honored African American leaders in the medical community who are featured in "Closing the Health Care Gap: A Call to Action."
"Closing the health care gap is a top priority on Aetna's health care agenda. Aetna supports national initiatives to eliminate disparities in health care such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy People 2010 and is working to create programs that will help physicians and other health professionals address the causes of these disparities," Aetna Chairman, President and CEO, John W. Rowe, M.D. said.
"Aetna is working to increase awareness about this important issue and the efforts of the many physicians aggressively working to eliminate those disparities in their communities. Aetna is proud to be associated with these incredibly talented and committed professionals. They are making a difference."
Aetna's 2002 African American History Calendar,
which was unveiled as part of this effort, features both
monthly profiles of a critical health issue and an African
American leader who has worked to eliminate the causes of racial
health disparities. Health topics addressed include infant mortality,
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer screening and management,
HIV/AIDS, and childhood and adult immunizations. Each month also
includes a listing of significant historical events. Aetna used this
opportunity to recognize the contributions of the following leaders:
Valerie Beckles, M.D.
Aetna Medical Director
South Florida Network
Plantation, FL
Lucille C. Norville Perez, M.D.
President, National Medical Association
Washington, DC
U. Diane Buckingham, M.D.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Overland Park, KS
Elizabeth Ofili, M.D.
Chief of Cardiology, Morehouse School of Medicine
Atlanta, GA
L. Natalie Carroll, M.D.
President-elect, National Medical Association
Houston, TX
Donald B. Parks, M.D.
Professor of Community Medicine, Temple
University School of Medicine and Medical Director, Parkstone Medical Associates
Philadelphia, PA
Keith C. Ferdinand, M.D.
Medical Director, Heartbeats Life Center
New Orleans, LA
Bert M. Petersen, Jr., M.D.
Director of Family Risk Program, Beth Israel Cancer Center, New York and Assistant Professor of Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, NY
Washington Clark Hill, M.D.
Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Perinatal Center of Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Sarasota, FL
Herbert C. Smitherman, Jr., M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medical Director and Physician Executive, Detroit Medical Center/ Wayne State University School of Medicine
Detroit, MI
Floyd J. Malveaux, M.D., Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Health Affairs and Dean of the College of Medicine, Howard University
Washington, DC
Richard Allen Williams, M.D.
Founder, Association of Black Cardiologists;
Founder, President and CEO, Minority Health Institute, Inc., and Professor of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine
Los Angeles, CA
Merville C. Marshall, Jr., M.D.
President, Endocrine Institute
White Plains, NY
Copies of the 2002 African American History Calendar have been distributed to elementary schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations and publications across the country.
Aetna is one of the nation's leading providers of health care and related group benefits, serving approximately 15.0 million health care members, 12.1 million dental members and 11.9 million group insurance customers, as of March 31, 2002. Information about Aetna is available at
www.aetna.com.
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