With an eye toward helping ethnically diverse communities make more informed choices regarding healthcare, Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Aetna Chairman, CEO and President Ron Williams announced a multiyear partnership at Magic Johnson Theaters in Harlem yesterday.
"Our hope is that through this alliance we can engage people and businesses at the community level to take charge of their healthcare," Johnson said. "If we can improve healthcare education, show people the benefits of wellness, exercise and healthy eating, and empower the community with knowledge to make informed choices about their healthcare options, we will have achieved significant results."
Johnson was joined at the press conference by Williams, who is one of only four black CEOs leading a Fortune 500 firm. For career advice from Williams, check out the Jan./Feb. 2008 issue of DiversityInc magazine. Aetna is one of DiversityInc's 25 Noteworthy Companies.
"We are extremely pleased to announce this alliance," Williams said. "Having come to know Earvin in recent years, it became evident that our companies have similar goals. This relationship will combine Aetna's strengths as an experienced and innovative healthcare company with Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE) knowledge of diverse communities in key urban areas."
From fighting issues of obesity to diabetes to insurance coverage, increasing knowledge of health-related issues in racially diverse communities remains a critical concern.
Key specifics of the partnership between MJE and Aetna include:
·Increasing understanding and dialogue in urban communities relating to health resources, products and services available
·Raising awareness of racial and ethnic inequality in healthcare
·Hosting community events and community-based initiatives to increase comfort with the "language of healthcare"
"This is consistent with our strategy of identifying opportunities in new market segments," Williams said. "Both Aetna and MJE are committed to improving community vitality by helping reduce the number of uninsured, particularly among entrepreneurial, urban business owners, and we want to improve racial and ethnic equality in healthcare."
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