1.11.2006 ET

(CSRwire) HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 11, 2006--Aetna (NYSE: AET) today released the 25th Anniversary Edition of its African American History Calendar, an oversized, full-color educational tool that celebrates the stages of human life with advice, healthful messages and important perspectives from respected African American health care professionals from around the country.

The calendar, featuring commentary and inspiration from influential doctors, scientists, and noted health care leaders, has become an important educational tool utilized by schools across the country demonstrating the contributions of African Americans. The 2006 edition offers information on issues from sickle cell disease to HIV to diabetes in order to teach African Americans how best to care for themselves and their families. Each calendar month addresses a specific life stage and related health care issue.

"Aetna's commitment to helping improve health care quality and access in America includes partnering with the African American community on health care challenges that are more predominant in their community," said John W. Rowe, Chairman and CEO of Aetna. "Through the wisdom and determination of the 14 health care professionals featured in this calendar, healthier and more educated consumers are being created each day," Rowe added.

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

January

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

February

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

March

Michael A. LeNoir, M.D., Immunologist, practicing consulting allergist 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. and George Jenkins, D.M.D inspirational speakers of Newark, New Jersey

June

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

July

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

August

B. Waine Kong, Ph.D., J.D., CEO of the Association of Black Cardiologists, 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 of Medicine, Chief of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Associate Chair of Medicine for Research and Chief of Medical Services at Grady Memorial Hospital for Morehouse School of Medicine Service, Atlanta, Georgia

November

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

December

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

The calendar is available in electronic form on Aetna's diversity web site, www.aetnaafricanamericancalendar.com or by calling Aetna's calendar request line at 860-273-0509. For orders by mail, send a check for $4.00 payable to "Aetna" to: Aetna Calendar, Corporate Communications, 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, Aetna puts information and helpful resources to work for its approximately 14.65 million medical members, 13.03 million dental members, 9.34 million pharmacy members and 13.68 million group insurance members to help them make better informed decisions about their health care and protect their finances against health-related risks. Aetna provides easy access to cost-effective health care through a nationwide network of more than 700,000 health care professionals, including over 418,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 4,231 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com. (Figures as of September 30, 2005)

Copyright Business Wire 2006

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