Karen Armstrong, HPF board member(left) and Claudia Tucker-Keto,executive director, HPF (right) presentNorristown Area High School senior,Stephanie Felton with a certificate and$100 check for achieving fourconsecutive years of perfect attendancein high school.

Dobbins High School students (seated l-r) Tailah Tuck, Tyren Brown, MauriceLong, and Cache Hayes, and Derick Felder (standing second from right)received a certificate of recognition and a gift bag from the Health PartnersFoundation for maintaining perfect attendance this school year. Celebrating

their success are (standingl-r) Claudia Tucker-Keto,executive director, HPF;Karen Armstrong, HPFboard member; andMarissa Washington,deputy commissioner foradministration forPhiladelphia Departmentof Parks & Recreation.

Bill George, President and CEO; Randy Mintz-Presant, Editor;Felicia Phillips, Managing Editor;

Bernard Thorn, Senior Multimedia Designer;Pulse Reporters:

Doug Bassett, Rosalie Hughes,Jamilah Perry, Melissa Schweizer

The Pulse is news you can use published by the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs department for employees of Health Partners. To submit items for thePulse, please email your story ideas or photos to hppulse@healthpart.com or call extension 4580.

PulseJUNE 20, 2011

The

(1) The Pulse 06/20/2011

The Health Partners Foundation recently hosted itsannual Be There! Perfect Attendance Achievers awardsceremony, recognizing 43 ninth and tenth grade studentsfor maintaining perfect attendance for three out of fourmarking periods during the past school year. Eachstudent was given a certificate of recognition and a $25gift card.

“It’s always a pleasure to see the students getmotivated about their education and respond to ourchallenge to Be There!,” said Claudia Tucker Keto,executive director, HPF.

Three graduating seniors also received a specialrecognition. Joshua Frazier, of Murrell Dobbins Careerand Technical Education High School in Philadelphia,and Stephanie Felton, of Norristown Area High Schoolin Montgomery County, achieved four years of perfectattendance, and John Lorenzo Rivera, of Thomas EdisonHigh School in Philadelphia, achieved 12 years of perfectattendance in all grades! The Foundation awarded $100checks to Frazier and Felton, and a $200 check to Riverafor their accomplishments.

“What these students have accomplished is veryimpressive,” said Keynote Speaker Marissa Washington,deputy commissioner for administration forPhiladelphia’s Parks and Recreation Department, whospoke to students about the connection between makinga commitment to education and the attainment of otherimportant life goals. “While so many of their peers arechoosing to do the opposite, these students are stayingthe course and choosing a positive path that willultimately contribute to their future success.”

A select group of Be There! Achievers were invited bythe Foundation to take part in a one-day presentationskills workshop at Health Partners. Applying thetechniques they learned, student representatives deliveredcompelling presentations on subjects including physicaland cyber bullying; childhood obesity; and the pros andcons of wearing school uniforms. Joseph Frazier, a 9thgrade student from Olney West High School presented arap song he wrote in honor of his fellow achievers.

The Foundation’s Be There! Luncheon was coveredby CBS, NBC, and ABC news outlets. In addition,KYW-AM radio held an on-site interview withClaudia and Eunice Plaisier, a tenth grader at RandolphCareer Academy.

40+ Students Honored at 11th AnnualBe There! Perfect Attendance Awards Ceremony

TabithaBorrero,provideroperations datareportinganalyst andHPF PerfectAttendanceCommitteemember, speaksto students,parents andteachers at theHealth PartnersFoundation BeThere!AchieversLuncheon.

Click the image above for more Be There! photos

(2) The Pulse 06/20/2011

Future LeadersProgram Celebrates

First YearSuccessIn mid-May, theFuture Leaders

Academy, sponsored by Health PartnersFoundation and run by OLC, celebratedthe conclusion of its first successful yearat a festive Closing Ceremony luncheon.Foundation board and senior teammembers, parents, school administrators,TD Bank (program sponsor)representatives, and HP employees whoserved as mentors, came together tosupport and celebrate the achievements ofeight very bright and promising 10th gradestudents from A. Philip Randolph CareerAcademy.

These students, known asambassadors, spent the past severalmonths paired with HP mentors whohelped them develop a wide range of skillsfrom problem solving and working withcomputers to making effectivepresentations, all in an effort to helpthem develop into future leaders.

“Through the leadership andvision of Mr. Bill Austin, our studentsof today are developing intotomorrow’s responsible andaccountable global citizens andleaders,” said Charlene A. Fenster,BSDH, MA, dental assistinginstructor, A. Philip Randolph Careerand Technical School, who spoke atthe luncheon. “This rich and diverseprogram has broadened the students’horizons regarding futureopportunities and the multiculturalworld in which they will function.”

“It was evident through discussion, (Standing l-r) Charlene Fenster, instructor, A. Philip Randolph Career Academy; TabithaBorrero, provider operations data reporting analyst; Claudia Tucker-Keto, manager,community education; Karen Armstrong, treasurer; Bill George, president and CEO; JoeJohnson, external network account manager; Jorge Parra, wellness programadministrator; Darnell Thomas, manager, provider services; Nannette Gowdy, highmedical needs coordinator; John Sehi, vice president, finance; Pamela Price, claimsbusiness analyst; Johnna Baker, general counsel; Margaret Fogerty, senior staffaccountant; Esther Miller, senior systems analyst; Keith Ogden, manager, training,standards and quality; Angela Lloyd, compliance auditor; Megan Polkus, enrollment andeligibility representative; Julia Oatway, senior trainer; Elaine Slott, volunteer readingteacher; Scott McElhone, account manager, TD Bank; Bill Austin, manager,organizational learning center; Judy Harrington, senior vice president, businessdevelopment; and Dr. Jose Lebron, principal, A. Philip Randolph Career Academy(Seated l-r) Future Leaders, Edward Sampson, Jr.; Jamel Crawford; Alsharay Graham;Amira Williams; Eunice Plaiser; Ashley Price Johnson; and Donyee Hughes.

Elaine Slott, volunteer reading teacher, dishes out a fewhigh fives to HP’s Future Leaders.

debate, and presentations that the ambassadors have reached a higher level ofthinking,” says Bill Austin, manager, OLC. “Taking personal risks, they havemade great strides overcoming shyness, exhibiting confidence and self control,and demonstrating respect for themselves and others.”

To mark their achievement, each student ambassador received a certificate,a picture of themselves along with their mentor, a Future Leaders Academyshirt, a savings bond and a Health Partners bag to carry all the loot. For all oftheir hard work throughout the year, each of the mentors was given a FutureLeaders Academy portfolio, a photograph with their ambassador, an A. PhilipRandolph Career Academy shirt and commemorative plaque.

At the end of the summer, the Academy looks forward to kicking off itssecond year with a new group of students.

Click the image below for more photos of the Future Leaders Academy program.

(3) The Pulse 06/20/2011

On April 28, Health Partners hosted over 30 provideroffice staff members and administrators and threerepresentatives from DPW at a special luncheon calledPartnering for Best Practices. The afternoon event wasorganized to help build a stronger partnership with ourprovider network and update doctors on HP’s variouspolicies, procedures and programs.

Elaine Markezin, senior vice president and chiefoperating officer, and Judy Harrington, senior vicepresident of business development, spoke about healthcarereform and keynote speaker, Lenore T. Coleman, Pharm.D, president and founder of Healing Our Village ofMaryland Inc. and Total Lifestyle Change, Inc., spoke toattendees, courtesy of Merck, about the importance ofcultural competency in the medical field.

“Based on the feedback we got using our evaluationtool, the event was very well received,” says NettaJohnson, manager, provider relations. “Our providers’staff seemed to gain a much better understanding of allthat HP has to offer.”

Partnering for Best Practices also included a ProgramFair where 16 HP departments from Baby Partners andspecial needs to claims reconsideration and providerservices set up tables to talk with attendees about theservices they offer. “The attendees were very pleased andsupportive of our programs and were eager to share withus what they do at their clinics and offices,” says BarbaraSiravo, perinatal case manager.

(R-l) Alshima Shuaib,community educationprogram specialist,and Jorge Parra,wellness programadministrator, explainthe many programsand services we offerat health fairs,community centersand schoolsthroughout the region.

(L-r) Perinatalcase managers,BarbaraSiravo, andLisa Park talkabout BabyPartners andthe work theydo helpingexpectantmothersensure theirunbornchildrenhave the carethey need.

(L-r) Alicia Ramos, EPSDT coordinator, and Dikeeta Brown, EPSDT casemanager, discuss HP’s commitment to providing immunizations and theimportance of early testing.

Partnering for Best Practices

(L-r) Eimear Kivlighn,national accountexecutive, Merck;Keynote Speaker, LenoreT. Coleman, Pharm. D,president and founder of

Healing Our Villageor Maryland Inc. andTotal Lifestyle Change,Inc.; and Netta Johnson,manager, providerrelations.

Click the image above for more photosfrom Partnering for Best Practices.

(L-r) Zoey Reese, special needs case manager, and Yolanda Garcia,intake outreach coordinator, answer questions about the many servicesHP has for our members with special needs.

(4) The Pulse 06/20/2011

Calling All HP Graduates!Did you happen to reach a major milestone this spring?After all the hard word and long hours in the librarywriting papers and cramming for tests, did you finally mange to securethat coveted college degree? Well, we want to know about it. If yougraduated this year, please send an email to HPPulse and let us knowwhat school you attended and the degree you received. We would love torecognize you in an upcoming issue of the Pulse.

Lend a Hand toNeighbors Most in Need

As everyone knows, there have been a deluge of natural disasters recentlyat home and abroad, including earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados andfloods, leaving hundreds of thousands in need. Many have asked whatwe can do to help. One of the very best ways to have a direct impact isby supporting the American Red Cross where there are opportunities todonate disaster relief funds, give blood, volunteer and more. Just visitwww.redcross.org.

Health PartnersCelebrates Asian Heritage

MonthBy: Alyssa Blake, corporate communications

and public affairs intern

Health Partners celebrated Asian Heritage Month atthe 5th annual Asian Pacific American HeritageMonth festival, which took place at Franklin Squarelast month. Thanks to a host of family-friendlyactivities and the temperate weather conditions, thecelebration drew an impressive crowd.

Health Partners took the lead as the host of thefestival’s Health Pavilion, providing 227 communityBody Mass Index (BMI) screenings and offeringinformation about our Baby Partners program aswell as our KidzPartners plan. Representatives fromour disease management team were also on hand toshare information and answer questions. Othervendors included the American Cancer Society,Hepatitis B Foundation, AIDS Services in AsianCommunities, Penn Dental, Temple Podiatry, andthe Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association.

“The turnout was great and the volunteers andstaff members did an amazing job,” said anenthusiastic Chi Dang, Health Partners’ communityrelations representative.

In addition to the BMI screenings provided byHealth Partners, Penn Dental provided 74 dentalexams and Temple Podiatry provided 57 footscreenings to event attendees. “Health Partners isreally special,” said Kathya Zinszer, DPM, TemplePodiatry, about our involvement.

Special thanks to all of the Health Partnersemployees who helped to make this event a success.

Health Partners staff members and partners join MayorMichael Nutter for a photo-op during the Asian PacificAmerican Heritage Month Festival.

Health Partners Continues itsFirst in the Nation Celebration

Leslie Hummel, executive assistant to the president; Carol Smolij, vice presidentof regulatory and clinical operations HCM; Sonia Frazier, former director ofregulatory and clinical compliance; Judy Harrington, senior vice president ofbusiness development; Mary K Stom, MD, chief medical officer and senior vicepresident of healthcare management; Martin Brill, senior vice president offinance and chief financial officer; Vicki Sessoms, senior vice president ofresource management and compliance; Bill George, president and CEO; FeliciaPhillips, supervisor of communications and public affairs; Damisela Santiago,accreditation coordinator; and Randy Mintz-Presant, vice president of corporatecommunications and public affairs, pose with the National Committee forQuality Assurance’s Multicultural Health Care Distinction award.

Click the image below for more photos from Health Partners Day atReading Terminal, where we came out in force to let everyone knowthat we were FIRST!