October 01, 2010
Bob Greczyn Jr.

Bob Greczyn Jr.

Robert J. Greczyn Jr., retired chief executive officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), has been named a Gillings Visiting Professor at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, effective Oct. 1.

 
In his new role as visiting professor of health policy and management, Greczyn will share his health care experience with faculty and staff members and students throughout the school. He will provide guest lectures on insurance, health care and health care reform and serve as a policy adviser and resource for faculty members and students. School leaders will call upon Greczyn’s experience and creative problem-solving to help catalyze and shape North Carolina’s focus on reducing obesity.
 
“Bob Greczyn is known around the country for creating incentives, programs and innovative quality initiatives to encourage positive health behavior,” said Barbara K. Rimer, DrPH, the public health school’s dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor. “In a period in which we seek to understand the impact of health reform on health insurance and on people’s health, having Bob Greczyn among us will be a tremendous asset. We’re delighted to have him here, sharing his experiences in health care management and finance.”
 
Greczyn earned a Master of Public Health degree in health policy and administration from UNC’s public health school in 1981. He also completed the executive program in health care finance management at UNC.
 
At BCBSNC, he encouraged people to select health over illness with the company’s “Healthy Lifestyle Choices” program.
 
“Throughout my career, I have been able to put into practice many of the concepts I learned as a student here at UNC,” Greczyn said. “Now, I hope to be able to bring some of that experience back to the School and to the faculty and students here.”
 
“Bob’s industry experience and perspective will give our students and faculty valuable insight, particularly as they examine health care reform and changes in health care financing and availability, said Peggy Leatt, PhD, chair of the School’s health policy and management department and associate dean for academic affairs.
 
Greczyn joined BCBSNC in 1998, was named president in 1999 and became chief executive officer in April 2000. He helped move the company’s focus from “sickness insurance” to prevention. The healthy lifestyle choices program that he introduced provides financial incentives for people to adopt healthier behaviors (smoking cessation, more exercise, weight loss).
 
In 2002, he and his wife established The Robert and Kristen Greczyn Scholarship at UNC’s public health school. He chaired the School’s Carolina First campaign, was instrumental in the establishment of Michael Hooker Research Center’s BCBSNC Foundation Auditorium, and serves on the School’s Advisory Council.
 
In 2006, Greczyn delivered a Dean’s Lecture at the School. The webcast of that address is available online.
 
 

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, 919-966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu.

 

 

RELATED PAGES
CONTACT INFORMATION
Gillings Admissions: 233 Rosenau Hall, (919) 445-1170
Student Affairs: 263 Rosenau Hall, (919) 966-2499
Dean's Office: 170 Rosenau Hall, (919) 966-3215
Business and Administration: 170 Rosenau Hall, (919) 966-3215
Academic Affairs: 307 Rosenau Hall, (919) 843-8044
Inclusive Excellence: 207B Rosenau Hall, (919) 966-7430
Room Reservations
Facilities


135 Dauer Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400