For Immediate Release
March 22, 2006    

WHITMAN-WALKER CLINIC NAMES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Donald Blanchon Brings ‘Remarkable Health Care Credentials’

WASHINGTON – The board of directors of Whitman-Walker Clinic announced today that it has selected Donald Blanchon as the Clinic’s next executive director and chief executive officer.

Blanchon, 41, has spent the last nine years with the medical management firm of Schaller Anderson, most recently serving as vice president for Medicaid and Medicare programs. From 2002-2004, he was CEO of Maryland Physicians Care, a $325 million managed care health plan owned by four community-based health systems and operated by Schaller Anderson’s Maryland affiliate. Under Blanchon’s stewardship, this operation grew from 20,000 clients to more than 90,000 – most of whom were covered by Medicaid and some by private insurance.

“Donald Blanchon comes to us with remarkable health care credentials that will bring new and essential skills to lead the Clinic into the future,” said Jannette Williams, chair of Whitman-Walker’s board of directors. “He is well-prepared to continue implementing Whitman-Walker Clinic’s new business model, which is focused on increasing the number of insured clients and expanding into primary care services.”

Blanchon said he is looking forward to joining the Clinic, and plans to start on May 1.

“Whitman-Walker Clinic is a remarkable institution and I am excited to be given the opportunity to lead it through this critical period and beyond,” Blanchon said.

In accepting the post, Blanchon asserted that he would continue to uphold and promote the Clinic’s mission of serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community as well as those affected or infected by HIV/AIDS.

“The Clinic’s mission is extremely important to me personally, having lost my brother to complications from AIDS,” Blanchon said. “I look forward to helping the Clinic continue to provide culturally competent, quality care to all our clients.”

Blanchon succeeds Roberta Geidner-Antoniotti, who has served as the Clinic’s interim executive director since December 2004. Geidner-Antoniotti will return to her previous post as chief operating officer, which she has held since 2002.

“I commend Roberta Geidner-Antoniotti for an exceptional job of leading the Clinic through a difficult period,” Blanchon said. “Under her stewardship, Whitman-Walker Clinic not only weathered a financial crisis, it developed a new business model to place it on the road to long-term financial stability. Her experience will be invaluable as we work together to continue expanding the Clinic’s services into primary care.”

Blanchon was selected after a lengthy search conducted with the assistance of Korn/Ferry International.

Earlier in his career, Blanchon was vice president for strategic planning for Health Services for Children with Special Needs. He also spent five years as a budget examiner in the federal Office of Management and Budget.

Blanchon holds a master’s degree in public health and public affairs from Columbia University and a bachelor’s in biochemistry from Bowdoin College. He lives in Washington with his wife, Sarah Ducich, and their two children.

Established in 1973, Whitman-Walker Clinic is a non-profit, community-based provider of health care and social services in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Through three sites, in the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia, the Clinic offers primary medical and dental care; mental health and addictions counseling and treatment; HIV education, prevention, and testing; legal services; case management; and a food bank. Whitman-Walker Clinic is committed to meeting the life needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community and people living with HIV/AIDS.

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