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Dr.
David Satcher Receives Aetna Voice Of Conscience Award
Aetna
has presented Dr. David Satcher, former surgeon general
of the United States and  current
director of the National Center for Primary Care at
the Morehouse School of Medicine, with the 2004 Aetna
Voice of Conscience Award, honoring his commitment to
eliminating disparities in health care and health outcomes.
Aetna
Chairman and CEO John W. Rowe, M.D., presented the award
Feb. 13 at a ceremony at Morehouse School of Medicine
in Atlanta. It includes a $50,000 grant to charities
of Dr. Satcher's choice. Dr. Satcher has chosen the
Center of Excellence on Health Disparities at the Morehouse
School of Medicine to receive the $50,000 donation.
The award is given in conjunction with the National
Conference for Community and Justice.
"As
Surgeon General, Dr. Satcher spearheaded an effort to
eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health, an
initiative that was incorporated as one of the two major
goals of Healthy People 2010," said Dr. Rowe. "At
the Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Satcher has continued
to be a leader in eliminating disparities in health.
We are pleased to recognize Dr. Satcher's long-standing
commitment to this critical public policy and health
care quality issue."
Aetna
has taken a leadership role in working to address racial
and ethnic disparities. In 2003, the company provided
nearly $3 million in funding to programs focused primarily
on addressing disparities in health and disease prevention.
"Health
care challenges continue, even as our country becomes
increasingly diverse," said Sanford Cloud Jr.,
NCCJ president and CEO. "Among them are disparities
in health care across racial and ethnic divides, access
to quality health care, a shortage of doctors in certain
communities, and shortages of nurses and other health
care professionals. Along with Aetna, we are proud to
honor Dr. Satcher's commitment to eliminating health
care disparities and addressing these critical issues."
The
Voice of Conscience Award was established by Aetna in
1993, after the death of tennis great and humanitarian
Arthur R. Ashe Jr., who served for more than a decade
on the board of directors of Aetna and the Aetna Foundation.
 Past
winners of Aetna's Voice of Conscience Award include
The Honorable Alan C. Page (1994), Eunice Kennedy Shriver
(1998) and Ambassador Andrew Young (2002). "It
is a special honor for me to receive Aetna's Voice of
Conscience Award recognizing my efforts toward the elimination
of disparities in health," said Dr. Satcher. "Arthur
Ashe was a great friend, and I am sure that he would
be proud of the leadership that Aetna is providing in
this area."
Dr.
Satcher is the director of the National Center for Primary
Care at the Morehouse School of Medicine. He was the
16th surgeon general of the United States and served
a four-year term from 1998 to 2001. The National Center
for Primary Care works to promote excellence in community-oriented
primary health care and optimal health outcomes for
all Americans, with a special focus on underserved populations
and on the elimination of health disparities.
Morehouse
School of Medicine is a historically black institution
located in Atlanta. Founded in 1975, the institution
provides medical education to those who seek to increase
access to health care and to eliminate health disparities
among the nation's underserved individuals and communities.
It is one of six independent, private institutions in
the Atlanta University Center that serves more than
14,000 African-American undergraduate, graduate and
professional men and women. Morehouse School of Medicine
is a 501 (c) (3) organization that has graduated more
than 750 health professionals since 1981. Its Internet
address is www.msm.edu.
The
National Conference for Community and Justice, founded
in 1927, works through more than 55 regional offices,
in 32 states and the District of Columbia. NCCJ promotes
understanding and respect among all races, religions
and cultures through advocacy, conflict resolution and
education.
04/04
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