Blue Shield of California Foundation Announces New President and CEO

Peter Long hailed as a 'new leader for a new era'

San Francisco, June 2, 2010 - Peter Long, a noted leader in health philanthropy, has been named the new President and CEO of Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF).

Long, 42, brings valuable experience from a distinguished career that includes senior leadership roles at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and The California Endowment. He combines a deep commitment to the Foundation's mission with a fresh approach to addressing critical issues in California's changing health landscape. He will join the Foundation on July 6.

"I am honored to serve as the next leader of Blue Shield of California Foundation, an innovative health philanthropy that I have long admired," said Long. "My initial focus will be helping California navigate a time of wonderful opportunity and enormous challenge."

"Peter Long is a new leader for a new era," said Aliza Lifshitz, M.D., Chair of the Foundation's Board of Trustees. "He will bring passion, vision and boldness to the Foundation's mission of making health care safe, effective and affordable for all Californians, and ending domestic violence."

"Blue Shield of California welcomes a dynamic and visionary new leader to our Foundation. With a passion to serve and the experience to succeed, Peter Long is the right choice to lead the Foundation at this critical moment," said Bruce Bodaken, Chairman, President, and CEO of Blue Shield of California.

According to Long, helping California optimize the opportunities created by national health reform will be one of his top priorities, along with continued leadership to end domestic violence in California. Specifically, the Foundation is working to ensure that California can maximize the Medi-Cal expansion and ensure the safety net plays a vibrant role in a post-reform landscape. "I'll be working with the talented and dedicated Foundation team to realize the Foundation's mission in this exciting but challenging landscape," he said.

Long comes to BSCF after playing key leadership roles at two of the major health foundations in the nation. He currently serves as Senior Vice President for Executive Operations at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, where he oversees activities related to U.S. global health policy. Before that, he served as a Senior Program Officer and then Director of Research and Planning at The California Endowment in Los Angeles, CA, where he led The California Endowment's efforts to provide health coverage to all children in California.

Long holds a Ph.D. in Health Services from the University of California, Los Angeles, a master's in Health Science from Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, and an undergraduate degree from Harvard University. He is married to Patricia Barreto, M.D., a pediatrician for Santa Clara County specializing in childhood obesity. They have three young children.

About Blue Shield of California Foundation

Blue Shield of California Foundation is one of the largest healthcare grantmaking organizations in California. For more information, visit: www.blueshieldcafoundation.org. The Foundation was formed by Blue Shield of California, a not-for-profit corporation with more than 3.4 million members, 4,800 employees, and 20 offices throughout California. For more information about the company, please visit www.blueshieldca.com.

About Peter Long

Peter currently serves as Senior Vice President for Executive Operations at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. In that role, he has led the Foundation's activities related to U.S. global health policy among other management responsibilities. Prior to that, Dr. Long was a Senior Program Officer and then Director of Research and Planning at The California Endowment in Los Angeles, CA, where he led The Endowment's efforts to secure health insurance for all children in California.

He also served as the Director of Development and Programs and then Executive Director of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley in San Jose, CA. Previously, he served as a Legislative Analyst for the National Progressive Primary Health Care Network in Cape Town, South Africa during the country's transition to democracy.

He received his A.B. in Modern European History from Harvard University; his master's in Health Science from Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health; and his doctorate in Health Services from the University of California, Los Angeles.