The American Heart Association, the largest voluntary health organization fighting cardiovascular diseases, announces Lou Gianquinto, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut, is serving as chairman of the Greater New Haven Heart Walk for the second year in a row. The annual Heart Walk will take place at Savin Rock in West Haven on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
As chairman, Gianquinto, originally from West Haven, will lead organizational and recruitment efforts in greater New Haven. Building on his company’s mission to improve the health of people across Connecticut, he will call on area volunteers, survivors, and business leaders to step up to support the organization’s efforts to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular disease and stroke. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States with approximately one death per minute.
“In my first year as chairman, I realized the amazing impact that’s possible when we bring our communities together to support each other. Building on that experience, I am eager to take on this leadership role for a second year to make even greater progress towards changing these statistics and raising the funds needed to support such a critical cause,” said Lou Gianquinto, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut. “Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is a long-time supporter of the American Heart Association because our efforts to improve lives and communities here in Connecticut are so closely aligned.”
The New Haven Heart Walk, in its 35th year, is slated to raise $360,000 and will take place at Savin Rock in West Haven kicking off at 10 a.m. Heart Walk participants are encouraged to follow the American Heart Association’s Connecticut Facebook page @heartCONN to find pre-event challenges and information to make the Heart Walk experience more fun.
As president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut, Gianquinto leads a health plan accounting for more than one million lives in Connecticut. His team works to simplify healthcare and improve lives for the members Anthem serves across the state, as well as the communities where they live and work. He joined the company in January 2020 to run its Missouri Medicaid health plan (Missouri Care, now branded Healthy Blue MO). He brings his deep industry experience to his current role where he is working to grow and innovate, particularly in the area of value-based care, in service of people across the state.
“We are grateful to Lou Gianquinto for joining us for a second year to lead the Greater New Haven Heart Walk,” said Todd Boe, American Heart Association Heart Walk Director. “Lou’s passion for progress and commitment to our mission, aligns with our Heart Walk efforts. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the health of everyone in greater New Haven.”