Leading Through Innovation: How Higher Education Benefits are Managing GLP-1s

November 20, 2025 12:00 pm Central | Register

Guest Panelists:

Rita Foley, Benefits Strategist, Healthcare and Well-being, Penn State University

Stephen Lott, Director of Pharmacy Benefits, University of Michigan

Katherine Shanahan (Moderator), Senior Pharmacy Analytic Advisor, Truven by Merative

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 Wisconsin 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.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Apply real-world strategies and tools that have proven successful in elevating employee engagement and outcomes.
2. Integrate analytics and storytelling through dashboards, a method that connects data to strategic planning, performance measurement, and campus-wide initiatives.
3. Describe how top university leadership and benefit teams respond to periods of disruption and ambiguity—even when thinking about pharmacy benefit options.

SPEAKERS

Katherine Shanahan (Moderator)
Senior Pharmacy Analytic Advisor
Truven by Merative

Katherine Shanahan is a pharmaceutical industry expert, assisting commercial and government payers, providers, and research teams in developing actionable pharmacy-related analytics, strategies, and programs. With a background in pharmacology, toxicology, drug research and development, she began working with payers over a decade ago, driven by the emergence of specialty medication and the opioid crisis. Katherine supports efforts to identify cost saving opportunities, improve prescribing quality, reduce misuse and abuse of medications, and lower barriers to effective treatment in order to make healthcare more affordable and effective for plans and patients alike.

Stephen Lott
Director of Pharmacy Benefits
University of Michigan

Dr. Stephen Lott is the Director of Pharmacy Benefits and PGY1 Managed Care Residency Program Director of the University of Michigan Prescription Drug Plan. In his current role, he is responsible for the management and oversight of pharmacy utilization across the University’s employee population. He serves as an adjunct clinical instructor for the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, where he precepts pharmacy students and provides didactic lectures in various courses on health economics, outcomes research, and managed care. Dr. Lott also serves as an Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Diplomat for the University of Michigan.

Prior to his role with the University, he managed utilization review services for multiple payer groups, collaborated with payers and consultants on clinical utilization requirements and formulary strategies, and worked with industry partners and academic institutions on collaborative outcomes-based research initiatives. Dr. Lott obtained a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree with honors in biology from the University of Georgia, a Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Pharmaceutical Science (MS) degree in pharmaceutical outcomes and policy from the University of Florida.

Rita Foley
Benefits Strategist, Healthcare and Well-being
Penn State University

Rita Foley is the Benefits Strategist for Penn State. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from DeSales University. She has worked in governmental and healthcare Human Resources at various senior leadership levels for 25 years. She also obtained her Pennsylvania Nursing Licensure to provide additional healthcare background to her HR experience. She joined Penn State a little over six years ago as an HR Consultant and then HR Strategic Partner. She moved into her new position as the Benefits Strategist for the University in early 2020.  In this role, Rita manages the Healthcare and Wellbeing Strategy for Penn State as well as working on the design and administration of the University’s overall benefit programs and Total Rewards Strategy.  Rita enjoys combining her psychology, nursing and Human Resources backgrounds as well as her healthcare and benefits expertise to analyze claims data, strategize on plan design, promote employee well-being and develop employee-centered, value-based healthcare and Total Rewards Strategies for Penn State University.

HOST:

Karen Moseley is President & CEO of the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), a national think tank dedicated to advancing best practices in workplace health and well-being. In collaboration with HERO members, Karen and the HERO team provide leadership in research and education by connecting science and practice to demonstrate the value of a health and well-being employer ecosystem.

Activating Employers as Agents of Change in Lifestyle as Medicine

December 2, 2025 12:00 pm Central | Register

Guest Panelists:

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.

SPEAKERS

Sara Johnson, PhD, is the Co-President & CEO of ProChange Behavior Solution. She is also the Senior Research Fellow for the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), immediate past Chair of the Art and Science of Health Promotion Conference, and immediate former Co-Editor of Knowing Well, Being Well. She has been the principal investigator on over $10 million in federally-funded research. Sara has been recognized as one of the Top Ten Most Influential Women Scholars in Health Promotion by the American Journal of Health Promotion. Previous honors have included receiving HERO’s Mark Dundon Research Award and being named one of the 50 on Fire by Rhode Island Inno and Health Care Services Woman to Watch by Providence Business News, as well as being selected as a Top 10 Health Promotion Professional by the Wellness Council of America. She has more than 40 publications.

Gerardo Durand, MD, MPH, is the Director of 3M Corporate Occupational Medicine and Clinical Services. In his role, Gerardo provides medical direction for 3M’s safety, industrial, and consumer business groups’ U.S. manufacturing sites and products’ medical safety, oversees the medical team in Latin America, and leads the Clinical Services team. With nearly 25 years of experience in occupational health, Gerardo has been a steadfast advocate for healthy work environments, championing the integration of occupational and non-occupational health interventions and continually striving to achieve meaningful population health indicators. A native of Peru, Gerardo earned his medical degree from Cayetano Heredia University and is board-certified in internal medicine as well as occupational and environmental medicine. He also holds a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In addition to his work at 3M, Gerardo serves on the board of directors for the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO).

Leanne Mauriello, PhD is a leader in health transformation, combining expertise in behavior change science with the creativity of a designer and the experience of a lifestyle medicine pioneer. As a behavioral scientist, she designs engaging and scientifically sound consumer programs that drive health improvement. Leanne has successfully led teams across various industries to create effective health behavior change solutions, facilitating meaningful transformations. A thought leader in her field, she has secured multi-million-dollar NIH funding for innovative research and has published extensively while delivering hundreds of presentations and training sessions. Currently, as the Founder and CEO of Evolve Health Advisors, Leanne collaborates with digital health, health systems, and pharmaceutical organizations to develop impactful health transformation initiatives.

Martha E. Shepherd, DO, MPH, FAAFP, DipABLM, FACLM, is the Chief Medical Officer for the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Teacher Health Plan and the Medical Director for Vanderbilt Health at MNPS, overseeing a network of clinics that provide whole-person care to school district employees. She is also an associate professor of clinical medicine and pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Triple board-certified in family medicine, integrative medicine, and lifestyle medicine, Dr. Shepherd holds a Master of Public Health from Dartmouth. An active leader in corporate health and wellness, she serves on several boards, including the Health Enhancement Research Organization and the National Association of Worksite Health Centers. Her commitment to advancing health initiatives in workplace settings makes her a prominent advocate for employee wellness and integrated healthcare solutions.

HOST

Karen Moseley is President & CEO of the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), a national think tank dedicated to advancing best practices in workplace health and well-being. In collaboration with HERO members, Karen and the HERO team provide leadership in research and education by connecting science and practice to demonstrate the value of a health and well-being employer ecosystem.

Research supported by the Ardmore Institute of Health