Aetna Names Chief Medical Officer.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2001

Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) announced today that Dr. William C. Popik, 55, has been appointed chief medical officer, reporting to Aetna President and CEO Dr. John W. Rowe, effective March 5. Dr. Popik most recently was senior vice president and national medical director at CIGNA HealthCare.

"Dr. Popik possesses both comprehensive clinical knowledge and extensive health plan experience, particularly in managing medical costs and implementing disease management programs," stated Dr. Rowe. "He shares Aetna's philosophy that ultimate accountability must be local, yet the policies and procedures of medical management should share common goals and a standardized approach nationally. We hold a common belief in the importance of establishing constructive relationships with physicians and placing the patient at the center of all that we do. He also shares our commitment to improving the quality of care our members receive and using technology to educate consumers, track care and eliminate administrative hassles.

"Dr. Popik promises to be an excellent manager for our medical initiatives and a superb leader for Aetna's 160-strong staff of medical directors. We welcome him to the senior management team," stated Dr. Rowe.

Dr. Popik joined CIGNA HealthCare in 1996 and has held a variety of medical management positions, most recently focusing on large national accounts and serving as that company's medical representative to MedUnite, the technology alliance of leading health plans to which Aetna belongs. Before that, he was national medical director, managed care operations, responsible for the medical management, quality assurance, utilization management and disease management programs, and served as the medical leader of 120 field-based medical directors. Previous responsibilities included serving as medical expert for the HealthSource integration, and management of the medical management information systems, customer reporting and medical cost analysis units. Before joining CIGNA, Dr. Popik was senior vice president and chief medical officer of Health Net HMO California, and vice president, medical affairs for QualMed Plan for Health from 1990 to 1994, when it merged with Health Net.

"I'm thrilled to join the Aetna organization as its chief medical officer," stated Dr. Popik. "I believe Aetna is an organization with strong assets in its medical management and quality improvement areas, and one that is moving aggressively to be the partner of choice with physicians in the effort to improve care for patients."

Before joining Health Net, Dr. Popik was a practicing physician in California, specializing in family and emergency medicine for 14 years.

Dr. Popik received his M.D. degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and a B.A. degree in psychology from Yale University. He interned at Columbia University at Harlem Hospital in New York City and completed a residency program in family practice at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Popik is a board-certified family physician and a member of the American College of Physician Executives.

Aetna is the nation's leading provider of health care and related benefits, serving more than 19 million health care members, 14 million dental members and 11 million group insurance customers. For more information, visit the company's website at www.aetna.com.