News Releases

HARTFORD, Conn., July 13, 2009 — Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) today announced the appointment of Anne C. Beal, M.D., M.P.H. as head of the Aetna Foundation, the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc.  Since 1980, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed over $359 million in grants and sponsorships, and coordinated millions of volunteer hours by Aetna employees. 

“As a physician who specializes in pediatric care and public health, Dr. Beal brings to the Foundation a unique combination of clinical and policy experience,” said Ronald A. Williams, Aetna chairman and chief executive officer, and chairman of the Aetna Foundation Board of Directors.  “We welcome Dr. Beal to the Aetna Foundation and look forward to working with her to further our commitment to enhancing quality health care practices and improvement of the public health through our business practices and charitable giving.”

Beal joins Aetna from The Commonwealth Fund, where she directed the Fund’s program to improve health care quality for low-income and minority patient populations.  Prior to the Commonwealth Fund, she was an attending physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, and on the faculty at Harvard Medical School.  Dr. Beal’s research focused on social influences on preventive health behaviors, disparities in health care, and quality of care for child health.

She is a recognized authority in health disparities, quality of care, and children’s health -- topics on which she has published several articles in the medical literature, as well as a book titled, “The Black Parenting Book: Caring for Our Children in the First Five Years.”  

Beal earned an A.B. degree in biology from Brown University in 1984, a Doctorate in Medicine from Cornell University Medical College in 1988 and a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University in 1993. 

About The Aetna Foundation
The Aetna Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Founded in 1972, the Foundation seeks to help build healthy communities by funding initiatives that improve the quality of life where our employees and customers live and work. The Foundation’s giving is focused on health, diversity and employee community involvement, with broader programs in our home state of Connecticut.  Since 1980, the Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed over $359 million in grants, sponsorships and social investments. In 2008, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation contributed more than $25.5 million nationally. Additional information about the Aetna Foundation is available at www.aetna.com/foundation.  Also, please visit the Aetna Foundation’s 2008 Annual Giving report at: http://www.aetna.com/foundation/about/annualreports.html  

About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.2 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care.  Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates.  For more information, see www.aetna.com and Aetna's Annual Report at www.aetna.com/2008annualreport.