by Dan Perkins

Source: Aetna web site

Are you looking for that perfect gift to celebrate Black History Month - perhaps something educational, colorful and useful?  Then visit Aetna’s web site and click on the link to Aetna’s 2005 African American History Calendar. 

For its 24th anniversary edition, Aetna celebrates the history and heritage of African American pharmacists.

The 2005 calendar not only introduces you to some of the nation’s most accomplished and respected African American pharmaceutical professionals, but it also shows how the pharmaceutical profession encompasses a multitude of practice settings, including the military, academia, industry, retail, government and community.

Since 1982, Aetna has celebrated the outstanding contributions of African Americans with its critically acclaimed calendars, which feature both monthly profiles and significant historic events. 

To date, Aetna’s calendar series has profiled more than 275 individuals, including pioneers in business, government, athletics, science, education, medicine and the arts. 

Aetna’s calendar series has become an invaluable reference and education tool for schools, libraries and families across America.  Calendars from 2000 to 2003 profiled historically black colleges and universities, examined health care disparities, and recognized African American nurses.

Aetna remains committed to publishing its annual calendar because the company sees it as an effective way to promote the outstanding achievements made by African Americans every day.

As stated on the company’s web site, Aetna is “one of the nation's leaders in health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability, and long-term care insurance and employee benefits.” The company is dedicated to helping people achieve greater access to safe, high-quality health care and to protecting their finances against health-related risks.

While Aetna highlights the fact that it serves more Fortune 1000 companies than any of its competitors, the company also offers products and services targeted specifically to small and mid-sized employers.  In certain markets, Aetna also serves individuals and Medicare beneficiaries.

Aetna appreciation for diversity is apparent from the company's web site.  The company states that it endeavors to take what it knows about the changing marketplace and leverage that knowledge in all aspects of its business: product development, marketing and sales, underwriting, patient management and customer service. “This is where diversity and health care come together,” declares the company through its web site.

Many companies that claim to embrace diversity place obligatory ads in various publications during Black History Month acknowledging African American culture or achievements.  With its calendar, Aetna has found a way to make its salute not only informative, but accessible to everyone, 365 days a year.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to become better organized in 2005, start with a new calendar.  The 2005 African American History Calendar is downloadable to your computer in PDF format by visiting the Aetna web site at http://www.aetna.com.

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