Vice President for Public Policy and Governmental Affairs
Aetna, Inc.
New York, NY, USA

Ms. Patricia Hassett is Vice President for Public Policy and Government Affairs for Aetna, Inc., one of the nation’s largest insurance companies, insuring nearly 28 million people in health, dental, life, disability and long term care policies. Prior to October 2006, she was Vice President for Enterprise Initiatives and Chief of Staff at Aetna working closely with John W. Rowe, M.D., former Chairman and CEO. Hassett played a key role in the successful implementation of the Chairman’s Enterprise Initiatives, positioning Aetna as the national health insurance leader in combating disparities.

Throughout her career, Hassett has held several positions at colleges and universities in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.  As Interim Deputy Chancellor for the City University of New York, she crafted and successfully steered a proposal for through the New York State legislature for a revenue neutral, part-time financial aid program which was later adapted for expansion to all private and public colleges statewide. She was later named Executive Vice President at Brooklyn College.

Ms. Hassett was also the Vice President for Administration at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Baruch College and Director of Admissions at The City College of New York.

She has served as a consultant to colleges and universities in a variety of areas including strategic planning, marketing, information systems, public relations, government relations, facilities and media production. Ms. Hassett is currently a trustee of the New York Citizens Budget Commission and serves on the Advisory Boards for New York's Gateway Schools and the Center for the Study of Brooklyn.

She is the author of “Taking on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care: The Experience at Aetna” published by Health Affairs, March/April 2005. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Richmond College of The City University of New York and a Master of Arts degree from Teachers College, Columbia University.