[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 100 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7507-S7508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO THE 1997 GRADUATES OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH 
             PLANS' MINORITY MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate 14 
individuals who recently completed the American Association of Health 
Plans [AAHP] Minority Management Development Program [MMDP]. This 
intensive year-long fellowship program prepares minority managers for 
middle management positions in network-based health plans.
  The 1997 graduates are: Cheryl Bitoun, M.H.A.; Michelle Browne, 
M.P.A., M.S.W.; Kendrick Carpenter; Janice Cartera; Bernadette Cooper, 
M.H.A.; Lisa Lawrence Eggleston, R.N., M.H.A.; Juli Harkins, M.S.H.A.; 
Lisa Little Axe; Elizabeth Mendoza, M.B.A., M.H.A.; and Erik Thorne, 
M.P.H.
  The Minority Management Development Program was created in 1994 when 
AAHP and the health plan community recognized the need to develop 
diverse management teams--especially in light of the growing number of 
minorities joining health plans. Since the MMDP's inception in 1992, 42 
fellows of diverse ethnic backgrounds have participated in this 
innovative management training program and have distinguished 
themselves as leaders throughout the health care community. The MMDP is 
a comprehensive program designed to provide managerial training, work 
experience, and knowledge of health plans through focused didactic and 
practical interactive training opportunities. The program's varied 
curriculum is focused on key health care related management tools, 
including quality management and accreditation, marketing, delivery 
systems, financial management, and operations.
  Fellows in the 1997 class trained at health plans in Washington, DC, 
and in several neighboring counties in Maryland. This year's training 
sites were Kaiser Foundation Health Plan/Mid-Atlantic States, 
Rockville, MD; NYLCare

[[Page S7508]]

Health Plans, Greenbelt, MD; Blue Cross & Blue Shield of the National 
Capital Area and Chartered Health Plan in Washington, DC, and Total 
Health Care, Inc. and Prudential Health Care Plan in Baltimore, MD. 
Next year, the program will expand to provide training at additional 
sites in four southwestern States: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and 
California.
  AAHP is the national association representing health maintenance 
organizations [HMO's], preferred provider organizations [PPO's], and 
other similar health plans. Together, these health plans provide care 
for more than 140 million Americans.
  I hope that this Congress will recognize that programs such as the 
Minority Management Development Program are of vital importance and 
that they meet a critical need in the education and training of 
America's health professionals.

                          ____________________