WASHINGTON – The Department of Health Policy at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services has received a grant from the Aetna Foundation to establish the Aetna Foundation Distinguished Lectureship in Health Policy. The Distinguished Lectureship award will annually bring to the School of Public Health leading figures in health policy for a week-long residency and lectureship. The first lectureship will take place in the fall of 2010, with selection of the inaugural lecturer announced in the spring.

"We could not be more honored to have been selected by the Aetna Foundation for this award," said Sara Rosenbaum, Harold and Jane Hirsh Professor of Health Law and Policy and Chair of the Department of Health Policy. "Giving students access to leaders in health policy is central to the School's core educational mission."

The lecturer will be chosen by a committee of faculty, students, and alumni based on past experience, dedication to the advancement of health policy, and willingness to devote time to students. The honoree will present a major speech as part of Public Health Grand Rounds and will also engage in smaller meetings with students and alumni throughout the week in residence. The speech will be open to students, alumni and the public and audio copies of the speech will be available at the website of the School of Public Health and Health Services - www.gwumc.edu/sphhs/.

“Aetna and the Aetna Foundation are playing a leading role in health policy discussions - with a particular focus on reforming the health care system to better serve all people in the U.S.,” said Anne C. Beal, M.D., M.P.H., president, Aetna Foundation, Inc. “We are pleased to bring a dialogue around health policy to the next generation of healthcare leaders, and look forward to the meaningful contributions these students will make to the future health of our nation.”

“The School of Public Health and Health Services is pleased to host esteemed colleagues and leaders in the field of health policy for the Aetna Foundation Distinguished Lectureship in Health Policy. We are a place of welcome to all kinds of advocates, scholars, and leaders to speak to our students, staff, and faculty. We thank the Aetna Foundation for providing the opportunity and support to do this latest learning forum. It is our goal to offer the highest caliber experiences, access to leaders and education to our students. Through initiatives like The Aetna Foundation Distinguished Lectureship, we are able to fulfill this goal,” added Dr. Josef Reum, Interim Dean of SPHHS.

About the Aetna Foundation
The Aetna Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Founded in 1972, the Foundation promotes wellness, health, and access to high-quality health care for everyone, while supporting the communities Aetna serves. The Foundation's 2010 giving will focus on addressing the rising rate of obesity in the U.S., promoting racial and ethnic equity in health care, and advancing integrated health care, with broader programs in its home state of Connecticut. Since 1980, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed over $359 million in grants and sponsorships, and will give up to $18.5 million in 2009. For more information on the Aetna Foundation visit www.aetnafoundation.org.

About The George Washington University Medical Center
The George Washington University Medical Center is an internationally recognized interdisciplinary academic health center that has consistently provided high-quality medical care in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, since 1824. The Medical Center comprises the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the 11th oldest medical school in the country; the School of Public Health and Health Services, the only such school in the nation’s capital; GW Hospital, jointly owned and operated by a partnership between The George Washington University and a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc.; and the GW Medical Faculty Associates, an independent faculty practice plan. For more information on GWUMC, visit www.gwumc.edu.