September 15, 2020, Newark, NJ – Doctor Giovannie Jean-Baptiste, Medical Director for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, has been named a 2020 "Working Mother of the Year" by Working Mother. In announcing its 100 Best Companies for 2020, Working Mother today also named Horizon BCBSNJ to the prestigious annual list. This year’s winners were honored for focusing on inclusive benefits for families, including gender-neutral parental leave, gradual phase-back after parental leave and accessible, affordable childcare.

Dr. Jean-Baptiste is an internist and geriatrician who received her Medical Degree from the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn and completed both her internship and residency at Staten Island University Hospital. Joining Horizon BCBSNJ five years ago, Dr. Jean-Baptiste works with provider partners to conduct reviews of clinical services for Horizon NJ Health’s Medicaid and Medicare members. Dr. Jean-Baptiste is a distinguished thought header in palliative medicine. She is a researcher, published author and noted public speaker on end-of-life care. Dr. Jean-Baptiste has been active as a member of the executive board to multiple branches the Medical Society and is the first African American to serve as President in the Society’s 200 year history in Staten Island. She resides in her New Jersey home with her 10 year old son, whom she also home-schools in the COVID-19 environment.

“Dr. Jean-Baptiste is an accomplished leader who brings star-quality expertise to her important role as Horizon Medical Director while being a renowned thought leader in field of palliative care field,” said Alison Banks-Moore, Chief Diversity Officer for Horizon BCBSNJ. “As a mother and professional, Giovannie exemplifies how an employee can adeptly balance a successful career while raising a family, particularly during the historically challenging times of a pandemic. Giovannie is testament to the value that Horizon places in supporting our employees and equipping them with the resources they need to excel while managing their work and home responsibilities,” she said.

“Our 100 Best Companies are the standard of excellence and continue to pave the way with the work they are doing on behalf of working parents and caregivers in the US,” says Subha Barry, president of Working Mother Media. “These companies were well ahead of the curve when it came to supporting their employees during this time of vast change with their family-friendly policies already in place. We celebrate their efforts and applaud them for addressing the needs of this important and ever-growing sector of talent.”

Dr. Giovannie Jean-Baptiste received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Florida International University and a Medical Degree from the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. She completed both her internship and residency at Staten Island University Hospital, and followed that up with a fellowship in Geriatrics at the same hospital.

Working Mothers of the Year are nominated by their spouses, employers, children and friends, and selected by the Working Mother editorial team.

About the Methodology

The 2020 Working Mother 100 Best Companies application includes more than 400 questions on leave policies, workforce representation, benefits, childcare, advancement programs, flexibility and more. It surveys the availability and usage of these programs, as well as the accountability of the many managers who oversee them. All applicants receive feedback showing how they compare with other applicants; however, the names of applicants that do not make the list are kept confidential. Company profiles and data come from submitted applications and reflect 2019 data.

About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state's oldest and largest health insurer is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health service corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, vision and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is leading the transformation of health care in New Jersey by working with doctors and hospitals to deliver innovative, patient-centered programs that reward the quality, not quantity, of care patients receive. Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association serving nearly 3.5 million members.

About Working Mother Media

Working Mother Media (WMM), a division of Bonnier Corp., publishes Working Mother magazine and its companion website, workingmother.com. The Working Mother Research Institute, the National Association for Female Executives, Diversity Best Practices and Culture@Work are also units within WMM. WMM’s mission is to serve as a champion of culture change, and Working Mother magazine is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

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Doctor Giovannie Jean-Baptiste and son