WALTHAM, MA— Eric H. Schultz, Chief Executive Officer of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, which has been ranked among America’s highest-rated private health plans, will make the keynote address at the New England Choice Awards gala, INE MultiMedia announced.
About 400 entrepreneurs, corporate executives, philanthropists, educators and community leaders are expected to attend the awards gala that will be held on Oct. 28 at Westin Hotel in Waltham, MA. The gala is presented in collaboration with INDIA New England News, the region’s oldest and largest online, print and video magazine serving the South Asian community.
Philanthropists Jaishree and Desh Deshpande, founders of the Deshpande Foundation, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the gala. In addition to honoring the Deshpandes, INE will also honor New England’s eight shining stars for their outstanding contributions in the following area: Academics, Art and Culture, Business and Entrepreneurship, Community Service, Healthcare, Non-Profit Organization, Philanthropy and Youth Leadership.
“It’s a great honor that Mr. Schultz has accepted our invitation and we are looking forward to welcoming and listening to him at the Gala,” said Dr. Manju Sheth, CEO of INE MultiMedia, a Waltham, MA-based non-profit organization devoted to promoting and supporting charitable organizations, art, culture, education and empowerment through workshops, seminars and multimedia.
Schultz is president and CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc. During his 26-year career in health care, Schultz has consistently taken an active role in defining and implementing changes that have led to improvements and greater efficiencies in both the cost and delivery of health care.
Prior to joining Harvard Pilgrim in March 2010, Schultz was president and chief executive officer of Fallon Community Health Plan (FCHP) for ten years. Under his vision and leadership, FCHP emerged from significant financial losses and transformed from a regional group model health plan into a statewide health care services company. Schultz also held executive positions with CIGNA Healthcare, where he oversaw plan operations for Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois, and with Prudential Healthcare where he led its Nashville and Memphis commercial and Medicaid business. Schultz also served as Medical Group Administrator for Nashville Healthcare Group, and was responsible for building a clinical delivery site for Nashville’s largest primary care group practice.
Schultz serves on the boards of the Kenneth Schwartz Center, America’s Health Insurance Plans, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, the New England Council, Worcester Regional Research Bureau and the Boy Scouts of America. He holds the rank of distinguished Eagle Scout.
Schultz holds an MBA in Health Care Leadership from Yale University’s School of Management, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Connecticut. In 2009, he received an honorary doctoral degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
