Health Foundation Appoints Four New Board Members

NEW BRITAIN (August 10, 2009) - The board of the Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) appointed four new members during its recent quarterly meeting. 

Serving a three-year term are:

• J. C. David Hadden, partner at Hartford-based Robinson & Cole LLP, attorneys at law
• Robert M. Schreibman, DMD, MScD, a Glastonbury dentist
• Victor Villagra, M.D., FACP, founder and president of Health & Technology Vector, Inc., a consulting firm in Farmington

Hal L. Rives, III, president and co-founder of The New England Guild, Inc., Hartford-based investment advisors will serve a one-year term.

“These appointments will play a vital role in moving forward our work to support children’s mental health, children’s oral health, and reducing racial and ethnic health disparities,” says Board Chair Leo Canty.  “They all have demonstrated leadership in promoting quality and accessible health care for Connecticut’s residents through their volunteer and/or professional work.” 

Hadden, a CT Health community advisory committee member for eight years, is corporate counsel to many tax-exempt organizations. Hadden is committed to volunteer work where he serves on several boards, including Oak Hill, Colt Bequest, Inc., and the Ethics Committee of the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.  He has twice served gubernatorial-appointed terms on the Connecticut Council on Developmental Services, for which he was elected chair.  The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and James W. Cooper Fellow (Connecticut Bar Association) began his career as an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York City.

“I am inspired by the opportunity to help shape policy affecting Connecticut’s residents at a critical moment in the national discussion on health issues,” says Hadden.

Schreibman, a dentist for 30 years, has lectured throughout the United States and consulted in practice management and leadership development.  He is past president of the Hartford and Connecticut State Dental Association.

 “I feel privileged to work with an organization that is truly committed to the overall health and welfare of our community,” says Schreibman. “The many projects the foundation has and continues to support inspired me to take on this responsibility.”

Villagra, who works with senior management worldwide, serves on several boards, including ProHealth Physicians, Inc., Genomas, Inc. and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.  He also has served as national medical director at CIGNA HealthCare, advisor to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services.  The board-certified internist also is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a faculty member of the Department of Medicine at the University of Connecticut Health Center.  

Villagara says, “Joining the Connecticut Health Foundation board provides a unique opportunity to alleviate the physical, emotional and financial burden of illness among Connecticut residents.  I identify fully with the foundation’s mission and am inspired by the zeal and dedication of its professional staff and board leadership.”

Rives has been providing financial consulting services for over 35 years.   Prior to founding The New England Guild, the CPA worked for CIGNA HealthCare and Advest.  The former U.S. Navy officer also serves on the board of the New Britain Museum of American Art, and is treasurer and board member of the Connecticut Coral Artists, Inc. (CONCORA),
“I am honored to join a very strong board and welcome the opportunity to use my investment and finance experience to enable the foundation to achieve its mission,” says Rives.

Celebrating its 10th year, the Connecticut Health Foundation is the state’s largest independent health philanthropy dedicated to improving lives by changing health systems.  Since it was established in July 1999, the foundation has supported innovative grant-making, public health policy research, technical assistance and convening to achieve its mission – to improve the health of the people of Connecticut.  
Over the past nine years, CT Health has awarded 481 grants totaling more than $38 million in 44 cities and towns throughout the state in three priority areas:

• Improving access to children’s mental health services
• Reducing racial and ethnic health disparities
• Expanding access to and use of children’s oral health services

For more information about the foundation, please visit www.cthealth.org or contact Communications Officer Maryland Grier at Maryland@cthealth.org or 860.224.2200, ext. 32.