Aetna Releases 2006 African American History Calendar; Calendar profiles elite group of influential African American health care leaders

The calendar, featuring commentary and inspiration frominfluential doctors, scientists, and noted health care leaders, hasbecome an important educational tool utilized by schools across thecountry demonstrating the contributions of African Americans. The 2006edition offers information on issues from sickle cell disease to HIVto diabetes in order to teach African Americans how best to care forthemselves and their families. Each calendar month addresses aspecific life stage and related health care issue.

"Aetna's commitment to helping improve health care quality andaccess in America includes partnering with the African Americancommunity on health care challenges that are more predominant in theircommunity," said John W. Rowe, Chairman and CEO of Aetna. "Through thewisdom and determination of the 14 health care professionals featuredin this calendar, healthier and more educated consumers are beingcreated each day," Rowe added.

The 2006 African American History Calendar features the followingAfrican American role models:

January

Yvonne T. Maddox, Ph.D., Deputy Director of the National Instituteof Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health,Bethesda, Maryland

February

Betty S. Pace, M.D., Researcher and Director, University of Texasat Dallas Sickle Cell Disease Research Center, Richardson, Texas

March

Michael A. LeNoir, M.D., Immunologist, practicing consultingallergist and pediatrician; CEO of the Ethnic Health American Network

April

Rovenia Brock, Ph.D., Nutrition and Fitness Expert in Washington,D.C.

May

"The Three Doctors" - Sampson David, M.D., Rameck Hunt, M.D. andGeorge Jenkins, D.M.D inspirational speakers of Newark, New Jersey

June

Loretta Sweet Jemmott, Ph.D, R.N., F.A.A.N., Professor of Nursingat the University of Pennsylvania and expert on HIV prevention,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

July

Pebbles Fagan, Ph.D., M.P.H., Health Scientist in the TobaccoControl Research Branch at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda,Maryland

August

B. Waine Kong, Ph.D., J.D., CEO of the Association of BlackCardiologists, Atlanta, Georgia

September

LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S., Cancer surgeon,oncologist, medical educator and civic leader, Washington D.C.

October

James Whitfield Reed, M.D., M.A.C.P., F.A.C.E., Professor ofMedicine, Chief of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Associate Chair ofMedicine for Research and Chief of Medical Services at Grady MemorialHospital for Morehouse School of Medicine Service, Atlanta, Georgia

November

Sharon Allison-Ottey, M.D., Director of Health and CommunityInitiatives, COSHAR Foundation, Lanham, Maryland

December

Dexter L. Campinha-Bacote, M.D., Aetna Medical Director and FamilyPhysician, Cincinnati, Ohio

The calendar is available in electronic form on Aetna's diversityweb site, www.aetnaafricanamericancalendar.com or by calling Aetna'scalendar request line at 860-273-0509. For orders by mail, send acheck for $4.00 payable to "Aetna" to: Aetna Calendar, CorporateCommunications, 151 Farmington Avenue, RWAB, Hartford, CT 06156.

As one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental,pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care benefits, Aetnaputs information and helpful resources to work for its approximately14.65 million medical members, 13.03 million dental members, 9.34million pharmacy members and 13.68 million group insurance members tohelp them make better informed decisions about their health care andprotect their finances against health-related risks. Aetna provideseasy access to cost-effective health care through a nationwide networkof more than 700,000 health care professionals, including over 418,000primary care and specialist doctors and 4,231 hospitals. For moreinformation, please visit www.aetna.com. (Figures as of September 30,2005)