November 2025 Briefs
With Gratitude
Like many of you, I use this time of year to reflect on the gifts in my life: family, friends, meaningful work, health. I’m grateful for HERO for the research value it adds for organizations that support their human capital, as well as for the relationship value HERO provides for us humans. This week HERO, in partnership with Ardmore Institute of Health, Blue Zones, and Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation, announced the establishment of The Dexter Shurney, MD Well-being Fellowship by HERO—a new endowed research fellowship dedicated to integrity, healthy lifestyle and equity. Research and relationship value on full display! You can read the full press release below or here.
If you have received value from HERO – in relationships or research – consider making a tax-deductible donation to show your gratitude. You can contribute directly to The Dexter Shurney, MD Well-being Fellowship by HERO or to HERO. If your organization is interested in learning how donations to the HERO Research Partner fund can be used, please reach out to schedule a conversation about the value for you and for the industry.
In whatever way we’re connected, I’m grateful to be on this journey with you.
Together,
Karen
P.S. For a 10-minute ‘gratitude’ meditation, check out this video by photographer Louie Schwartzberg: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude. | TED Talk
[Raleigh, NC, November 12, 2025] – Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), in partnership with Ardmore Institute of Health, Blue Zones, and Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation, today announced the establishment of The Dexter Shurney, MD Well-being Fellowship by HERO—a new endowed research fellowship dedicated to integrity, healthy lifestyle and equity. The establishment of the fellowship will be announced on stage on Sunday, November 16th during the annual American College of Lifestyle Medicine conference.
The fellowship celebrates the ongoing leadership and legacy of Dr. Dexter Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH, who currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Health Officer for Blue Zones and Chair of HERO’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Shurney has spent his career pioneering innovative approaches that bridge healthcare systems, workplace wellness, and community health. As Chief Medical Officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Healthways, Chief Medical Director for Cummins, Inc., and through faculty appointments at Vanderbilt University where he directed the Employee Health Plan, he has consistently championed the idea that true health equity requires changing the environments where people live, work, and receive care. His leadership—from chairing Tennessee’s Diabetes Prevention and Health Improvement Board under Governor Phil Bredesen to leading the CDC’s National Diabetes Education Program Business Strategies Committee and serving as President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine—has transformed how organizations think about prevention and population health. Board certified in Preventive Medicine, Public Health, and Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Shurney is a fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and co-author of “Integrating Wellness into Your Disease Management Programs.”
“Dexter’s career demonstrates a depth and breadth of knowledge, experience and accomplishments that have created pathways between healthcare, workplaces, and the community,” said Karen Moseley, President and CEO of HERO. “He is a champion for health equity and access as the solution to America’s healthcare crisis. He moves seamlessly between the boardroom and the clinic, always connecting with humility, intelligence, kindness, and empowerment to take the next healthy step. It is an honor to be able to magnify and continue this work, and to join with these esteemed organizations.”
Blue Zones, Ardmore Institute of Health, and Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation have provided initial funding for the endowment. The partners are actively seeking additional inaugural support to reach the $100,000 fundraising goal that will enable 3-4 annual research awards for researchers, clinicians, policy analysts, and community-engaged scholars working to reduce financial barriers to healthcare and advance health equity. The Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation will manage the donor-advised fund.
“I am deeply honored and grateful to HERO and the inaugural benefactors—Ardmore Institute of Health, Blue Zones, and Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation—for committing to this research that will keep health equity and access at the forefront of research for workforce health and well-being,” said Dr. Dexter Shurney. “For the many years that I’ve been associated with HERO, it has been emblematic of what a true research organization should look like—without fear or favor, going about the job of understanding what works and what doesn’t, with integrity. It is my hope that this fellowship will lead to transformation of our healthcare system and resolve barriers to access that prevent so many from achieving optimal health outcomes.”
To contribute to the endowment: Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation HERO Dexter Shurney Fellowship Fund.
For more information, contact Karen Moseley, President and CEO of HERO.
Member Updates
HERO Committees
Call to Action: HERO Workforce Mental Health and Well-Being Committee
We are seeking compelling stories that highlight real experiences — successes, challenges, or lessons learned — related to supporting/advancing mental health and well-being in the workplace. As part of our commitment to connecting human experience with organizational support systems, we are building a curated library of stories that demonstrate how mental health strategies can lead to positive outcomes for individuals and organizations alike.
We are inviting businesses, leaders, employees, and practitioners across all sectors to share experiences that reflect a range of approaches, from formal programs to grassroots efforts. Ideal stories will include assessment data that helped define the problem, and/or measurable outcomes from the intervention. We want to learn what tools, resources, data, or partnerships shaped the effort. Whether your story focuses on burnout prevention, building resilience, promoting belonging, or navigating mental health challenges in a changing world, some other organization or group of individuals is likely needing/wanting to address that as well, so we want to hear about it.
Stories may come from any industry. We aim to capture a mix of organizational sizes and perspectives, from large organizations with bigger budgets to small teams getting creative with limited resources. Our goal is to create an accessible collection of stories that speak to diverse workplaces and support peer learning across industries.
If you or your organization has a story to tell, please reach out to Karen.Moseley@hero-health.org.
HERO Members are invited to participate in HERO committees. If interested, please contact Karen.Moseley@hero-health.org.
HERO Webinars
Leading Through Innovation: How Higher Education Benefits are Managing GLP-1s
November 20, 2025 | 12:00 PM Central | Register
As many colleges and universities grapple with tighter budgets, declining enrollments, and rising operational costs, the importance of strategic workforce engagement has never been more apparent. GLP-1 drug management is at the heart of this issue, posing some of the most complex challenges to university benefits teams.
Join Truven by Merative for a panel discussion on the ways higher education employers and plans are transforming diabetes and obesity care with GLP-1 management. Hear from benefits leaders from the University of Michigan, Penn State University, and the University of Minnesota as they guide attendees through the evolving landscape of collegiate benefits, offering perspectives and innovative solutions to balancing access, clinical impact, and financial sustainability for GLP-1 treatment.
Guest Panelists:
- Moderator: Katherine Shanahan, Senior Analytic Advisor, Truven by Merative
- Stephen Lott, Director of Pharmacy Benefits, University of Michigan
- Rita Bartolacci, Benefits Strategist, Healthcare and Well-being, Penn State University
- Katie Kolodge, Director of Benefits and Time Away, University of Minnesota
- Host: Karen Moseley, President & CEO, HERO
Demonstrating the Value of Activating Employers as Agents of Change in the Implementation of Lifestyle as Medicine
December 2, 2025 | 12:00 PM Central | Register
Employers have been identified as a crucial partner in advancing lifestyle as medicine to promote whole health. In an 18-month case study at 3 sites of 2 employers from different industries and geographic regions, HERO demonstrated how a framework designed to catalyze employers’ efforts to implement lifestyle as medicine can be effectively applied in real-world settings.
In close collaboration with Metro Nashville Public Schools and 3M, the HERO team conducted organizational audits; co-developed a comprehensive, systems-based implementation plan; provided ongoing, individualized technical assistance to the employers; and co-created a rigorous, multi-level outcome evaluation plan and sustainability strategies.
This webinar will share insights gleaned from the organizational audits; describe the specific tactics each participating employer elected to implement; summarize the results; and highlight lessons learned. A strategic planning tool for applying this framework in organizations with varying levels of organizational readiness to implement lifestyle as medicine will be shared.
This case study, as well as a previous initiative entitled “Activating Employers as Agents of Change in the Implementation of Lifestyle Medicine,” was funded by Ardmore Institute of Health.
Guest Panelists:
- Sara Johnson, PhD, HERO Senior Research Fellow; Co-President & CEO, ProChange Behavior Solutions
- Martha Shepherd, DO, MPH, FAAFP, DipABLM, Chief Medical Officer for the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Teacher Health Plan; Medical Director for Vanderbilt Health at MNPS
- Gerardo Durand, MD, MPH, Occupational Medicine and Clinical Services Director, 3M
- David Hines, Executive Director of Benefits, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Leanne Mauriello, PhD, Founder & CEO, Evolve Health Advisors, LLC
HERO Hub
Did you attend the last Think Tank?
HERO members can find the recording from the Bonus Think Tank on “Perspectives from the C-Suite on Value, Data, and the Future” available now in the HERO Hub. Log in and get a refresher or catch up on what you missed.
HERO Scorecard
NEW! Completer’s Badge for Users
Has your organization taken the HERO Health and Well-being Best Practices Scorecard in Collaboration with Mercer(c) recently? Showcase your organization’s dedication to workforce health and well-being with the new HERO Scorecard completer’s badge. This badge provides a visible way to demonstrate your commitment to employee health and well-being best practices.
Learn more about the HERO Scorecard and how your organization can earn this badge to highlight its proactive approach to employee health and well-being.
HERO RECOMMENDS
Resources and Readings
Recommended Resources
Recommended Resources
Recent articles recommended by HERO Fellows
On Value:
- Well-being Measurement | Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Includes 41 well-being measures and 20 well-being datasets, compiled by the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness.
- Arizent research reveals wellness gaps at work | Employee Benefit News by Alyssa Place, editor-in-chief. This article shares survey results suggesting some misalignment between HR/benefits and executive leaders around the value of wellness. (November 4, 2025)
- Johns Hopkins: Poor mental and physical health erodes workplace profits by driving higher turnover | UNLEASH by Lucy Buchholz, business reporter. Hot off the press study on the current state of employee well-being from Johns Hopkins. (November 13, 2025)
- APA poll reveals a nation suffering from stress of societal division, loneliness. Recent APA data from the Stress in America poll. (November 6, 2025)
- Anthony D. Ong, Frank D. Mann, Laura D. Kubzansky, Cumulative social advantage is associated with slower epigenetic aging and lower systemic inflammation, Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health, Volume 48, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101096.
- The Goods That Matter: Real Friends and Deep Connections | Psychology Today by Camille Preston, business psychologist. The companion article to the scientific article cited above that discusses a study on social connection slowing epigenetic aging and reducing inflammation. (November 7, 2025)
- The Working Caregiver: Strain & Workplace Productivity Loss. This IBI research establishes the business case for employer-sponsored caregiver support interventions.
- On using AI to apply/upgrade worksite health promotion: How AI Can Improve Employee Well-Being | AACSB by Reza Etemad-Sajadi. (August 25, 2025)
On using AI to apply/upgrade worksite health promotion:
- AI revolutionizes corporate health management by Jan C. Küster. (October 14, 2024)
- Lange M, Löwe A, Kayser I, Schaller A. Approaches for the Use of AI in Workplace Health Promotion and Prevention: Systematic Scoping Review. JMIR AI. 2024 Aug 20;3:e53506. doi: 10.2196/53506. PMID: 38989904; PMCID: PMC11372327.
