Webinars

Air date: June 21, 2023

Guest Panelists:

Juliet Schor, PhD, Boston College

Tami Simon, JD, Segal

Host: Emily Wolfe, MSW, LCSW, HERO

Employers were propelled into new work arrangements due to the pandemic. Businesses pivoted to remote and hybrid work models quickly, further expanding our understanding of workplaces and spaces. In recent years, the social contract between employers and employees has evolved with many workers desiring flexible work arrangements, expanded benefits, and even reduced work hours without decreased pay. Is the 40-hour working week antiquated? For that matter, how and when did the 40-hour work week become standard business practice? What evidence supports (or contradicts) that working 40+ hours per week is good for the economy and population health?

The idea of a four-day workweek is nothing new, although there is a resurgence of attention, research, and even support being given to the concept. 4 Day Work Week Global (4DWG) published results from their 4 Day Week Global pilot program reporting the benefits of providing workers with an extra day off with no reduction in pay. Their research indicates that participating companies reported increased revenue, reduced absenteeism, less stress and burnout, and increased life satisfaction. At the 2022 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, experts discussed the pros and cons of shifting to a four day work week. Again, sharing research that indicates increased productivity, boosts in attracting and retaining talent, and positive environmental impacts. Are these findings unique to the employers that participated in the study, or would they be found across businesses of various sizes and industries? While employers work to retain and attract talent, is there an opportunity to evaluate the pros and cons of the 40-hour work week?

Join us as we hear from Dr. Juliet Schor, economist and professor of sociology at Boston College, and learn about her research with companies transitioning to a 4 day work week.  Juliet will be joined by Tami Simon, JD, Senior Vice President, Consulting Leader at Segal. Hosted by HERO’s Emily Wolfe.

Guest Speakers:

Juliet Schor, PhD, is an economist and professor of sociology at Boston College. She is the lead researcher on 4DWG trials for companies instituting four-day weeks with five days’ pay. She has been researching worktime since the 1980s and is the author of the national best-seller, The Overworked American: the unexpected decline of leisure. In 2020, Juliet published After the Gig: how the sharing economy got hijacked and how to win it back, which covered nearly a decade of research on the platform economy. She has also researched sustainable consumption and the link between climate change and worktime. Before joining Boston College, she taught at Harvard University in the Department of Economics and later, the Committee on Degrees in Women’s Studies. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including, in 2022, election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. A graduate of Wesleyan University, Juliet received her PhD in economics at the University of Massachusetts.

Tami Simon, JD, is a Senior Vice President, Consulting Leader at Segal and a nationally recognized health, wellness, and workforce strategy leader. Recently named one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Benefit Consulting by Employee Benefit Adviser, Tami is Segal’s first global corporate consulting business leader. In this role, Tami and her team provide entrusted HR, employee benefits, and insurance advice to large and midsize employers in various industries. Tami is on the board of directors for Emeriti Retirement Health Solutions, the advisory board of the ERISA Industry Committee as well as BNA Tax Management’s Compensation Planning Journal. Before joining Segal, Tami worked for Mercer, the law firm of McDermott, Will & Emery, Hewitt Associates, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. She also served as a judicial intern for the Iowa District Court. Tami received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign and her law degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law, where she was an associate editor of the Law Review. She is a member of the Illinois Bar.

Host: Emily Wolfe, MSW, LCSW, is HERO’s Director of Learning Experience, providing leadership and project management for HERO Committees and the various projects that the committees produce. In addition to committee project management, Emily supports HERO’s Senior Fellow in planning HERO Think Tank meetings. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and received her master’s degree in social work from UNC-Chapel Hill with a concentration in adult mental health. She has experience working in hospital settings, including oncology and clinical care management, employee work-site wellness programming, transitional community housing, and private mental health practice. Emily has a strong interest in the intersection of workplace culture and employee mental health, and the unique health and well-being needs of lower-wage earners. On a personal note, she lives in North Carolina and enjoys spending time outdoors, listening to music and keeping fit, attending classes at her local YMCA. She has a husband and two young boys. Life is busy and always full of excitement!

Air date: June 15, 2023

Guest Panelists:

Erin Seaverson, MPH, WebMD Health Services

Rachel Mosher Henke, PhD, Lewin Group

Erin O'Malley, JD, American Heart Association

The value of health screenings such as lipid testing, taking blood pressures or body mass indices has been studied and validated extensively as a way to prevent disease and detect diseases such as cancer and heart disease in early stages when treatment is more likely to be successful. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is comprised of a renowned list of researchers and educators who have reviewed thousands of studies to develop guidance that adjusts screening recommendations according to age, gender, and risk factors. Companies nationwide have long sponsored health screenings as a part of their health promotion offerings as a way to assess risks and catalyze employees to take advantage of health improvement services the employer also provides. Could these commonplace and common-sense prevention and health promotion strategies be threatened on legal, even constitutional grounds? In September of 2022, a judge in a US District Court in Texas ruled in favor of striking down the ACA’s requirement of no-cost coverage of preventive services recommended by the USPSTF. The ruling, which was based on protecting religious rights, is being appealed. In this webinar, we will discuss the “Braidwood v. Becerra” ruling and consider the decision’s implications for employer sponsored health and well-being services. What are current “best practices” in worksite health screenings? What is the role of the USPSTF in making evidence-based recommendations and how should medical advice relate to insurance coverage? And what role could employers play in reconciling differences between legal rulings and scientific guidelines?

Recommended Reading:

Sobel, L, et.al., “Explaining Litigation Challenging the ACA’s Preventive Services Requirements: Braidwood Management Inc. v. Becerra,” Kaiser, May 15, 2023.

Speakers:

Erin Seaverson, MPH, is the Senior Director of Health Research at WebMD Health Services, steering WebMD’s health and well-being research agenda. Erin works closely with employers and health plans to provide meaningful data that informs and guides program strategy and demonstrates the value of investing in well-being for their populations. She serves as research consultant and principal investigator on strategic initiatives, program evaluation, and outcomes studies. Erin has published numerous peer-reviewed, scientific research studies and her work in research and reporting helps to define best practices for the industry. Her research was recognized as Paper of the Year in 2019 by the American Journal of Health Promotion and as one of the 25 most important studies in workplace health promotion for its contributions to the industry. Erin earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise and health science from Alma College and her Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology from the University of Massachusetts.

Rachel Mosher Henke, PhD, is a co-editor of “Knowing Well Being Well,” American Journal of Health Promotion and Vice President of Evaluation, Economics, and Predictive Modeling at the Lewin Group. She has evaluated payer approaches to improve health and productivity with a focus on culture of health and value-based care models. Recently, Rachel has been exploring “fun” as an important aspect of individual well-being. She is excited to encourage others to expand research in this emerging area. Rachel has a PhD in health policy from Harvard University and is the proud recipient of the 2021 HERO Mark Dundon Research Award.

Erin O’Malley, JD, is the Federal Regulatory Affairs Manager at the American Heart Association, where she is responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and drafting responses to federal regulatory and reimbursement-related issues impacting the association’s public policy agenda. The primary focus of AHA’s regulatory work is with the Department of Health and Human Services and its key agencies. Erin also provides lobbying support on federal and state access to care and care delivery reform campaigns. She serves as strategic counsel on health law, public health law, and constitutional law issues and leads the internal strategic Matrix Team focused on the Access to Care policy. Erin received her JD at the St. Louis University School of Law.

Moderator: 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. Prior to being appointed President of HERO, Karen served as the organization’s Vice President of Education and Director of Operations. Karen also managed HERO’s grant-funded projects, which include a multi-stakeholder collaboration to support employer involvement in community health initiatives and another to identify common measures of community health, both funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Having worked in the non-profit sector for nearly 30 years, Karen has managed the development and dissemination of a number of publications and educational conferences. She is the 2021 recipient of the Leader in Workplace Wellness Award presented by the Global Wellness Summit. Karen received her Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Moderator: Paul Terry, PhD, is a Senior Fellow at HERO where he collaborates with HERO members and national experts in planning learning events and supports the HERO team in organizing the annual forum, think tanks and webinars. He preceded Karen Moseley as HERO’s president. Paul is Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Health Promotion and is a Past-President of the Minnesota Public Health Association. He serves on advisory councils for The National Academy of Sciences, the American Heart Association, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Global Public Health. Prevention programs that Paul developed won the C. Everett Koop National Health Award. He earned his PhD from the University of Minnesota and his master’s from Minnesota State University at Mankato where he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Humanitarian Award.

Air date: June 7, 2023

Guest Panelists:

Dexter W. Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH, FACLM, Blue Zones Wellbeing Institute

Sara S. Johnson, PhD, ProChange Behavior Solutions and HERO

There is an urgent need for increased implementation of lifestyle as medicine, but barriers remain (e.g., current reimbursement models). Experts have underscored the critical role employers could play in advancing lifestyle as medicine. Employers have long been recognized as having a significant influence on the health and well-being of their employees and a key potential influence on the health of their communities.

With funding from the Ardmore Institute of Health, the Health Enhancement Research Organization conducted research to accelerate the implementation of lifestyle as medicine by identifying pathways for employers to: 1) create the conditions for lifestyle as medicine to be integrated into employee’s health and well-being offerings; 2) relate lifestyle as medicine to key business outcomes; 3) consider how they can extend the influence of their whole-person health initiatives into their communities; and 4) advocate for lifestyle as medicine reimbursement. Specifically, they:

• Captured the perspective of experts, employers, and “bright spot” organizations who are innovators in lifestyle as medicine in a series of in-depth interviews;

• Identified emerging promising practices;
• Sought input on and refined the list of emerging promising practices in three interdisciplinary workshops.

Join us as Drs. Shurney and Johnson discuss the results of this initiative and provide recommendations for how employers can play a role in this critical endeavor.

Learning Objectives

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Describe at least three benefits of implementing lifestyle medicine.
2. List three guiding principles that can inform employer’s efforts to advance the implementation of lifestyle medicine.
3. Identify at least two internal and external strategies employers can use to promote lifestyle as medicine within their organizations.

HERO would like to gratefully acknowledge the support of the Ardmore Institute of Health for this initiative.

Guest Panelists:

Dexter Shurney, MD, is President of the Blue Zones Wellbeing Institute, a 501c3 subsidiary of Adventist Health, that focuses on applied population health research including social determinants, payment reform, in addition to helping advise health care executives on value-based strategy and operations. He serves on several boards, including HERO’s, and he is co-author of the book Integrating Wellness into Your Disease Management Programs, a “how- to” strategic guide for employers that wish to innovate their approach to chronic condition management. Dexter received his BS from Loma Linda University and his MD from Howard University College of Medicine. He also has an MBA and MPH from the University of Detroit/Mercy and the Medical College of Wisconsin, respectively. A licensed physician, he is board certified in both preventive medicine and in lifestyle medicine, and is a Fellow in the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Sara Johnson, PhD, is the Co-President & CEO of Pro-Change Behavior Solutions, Inc., a behavior change consulting firm and solution provider that empowers people to experience life-changing breakthroughs in health and well-being. She is also the Senior Research Fellow for the Health Enhancement Research Organization and a recipient of the Mark Dundon Research Award. Dr. Johnson serves as the Chair of the Art and Science of Health Promotion Conference and Co-Editor of Knowing Well, Being Well.

Air date: May 2, 2023

Guest Panelists:

Kristi Rahrig Jenkins, PhD, MPH, University of Michigan

Karen Schmidt, MPH, University of Michigan

Moderator: Karen Moseley, HERO

Join leaders from the University of Michigan’s employee wellness program, MHealthy, to learn about their research and program efforts, including social determinants of health and mental and emotional health strategies. Karen Schmidt, Senior Director, and Kristi Rahrig Jenkins, Research Program Manager, will provide a brief overview of the University of Michigan’s approach to well-being efforts and the findings of a recent study on the association between sources of stress and perceptions of organizational and supervisor support for health and well-being.

Learning Objectives

Following this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe the University of Michigan’s philosophy of well-being and top areas of focus for its health and well-being programs.
• Explain the findings of a recent publication from the University of Michigan examining the association between sources of stress and perceptions of organizational and supervisor support for health and well-being.
• Discuss how results of this study can shape program planning and administrative efforts.

Guest Speakers:

Kristi Rahrig Jenkins, PhD, MPH, is the Research Program Manager for MHealthy, the health and well-being initiative for the University of Michigan’s faculty, staff, and dependents. She leads the development and execution of the evaluation and scientific research activities of MHealthy, including data collection, management, and analysis; developing and sustaining scientific partnerships; and serving as the point person for all internal and external data-related inquiries and processes. Kristi has over twenty years of experience in research units at the University. Before joining MHealthy in 2009, Kristi worked for the University’s Addiction Research Center and the Institute for Social Research exploring research questions related to health behavior across the life course, particularly issues related to chronic disease, family relationships, social and psychological aspects of health, and population health. Kristi holds an MPH in community health education from the University of South Florida and a PhD in sociology from Wayne State University.

Karen Schmidt, MPH, is the Senior Director for MHealthy where she provides leadership for the health and well-being programs and services for the faculty and staff of the University of Michigan. MHealthy has won numerous awards that recognize outstanding worksite health promotion and improvement programs including the 2021 C. Everett Koop National Health Award, Michigan’s Best and Brightest in Wellness, Healthiest Employers of Southeast Michigan, and the U.S. Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America. Karen has 25 years of experience implementing and evaluating health and well-being programs. Before joining MHealthy in 2008, she worked for the University’s health plan, M-CARE, overseeing wellness programming for its members. Karen has a Master of Public Health degree from the U-M.

Moderator: 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. Prior to being appointed President of HERO, Karen served as the organization’s Vice President of Education and Director of Operations. Karen also managed HERO’s grant-funded projects, which include a multi-stakeholder collaboration to support employer involvement in community health initiatives and another to identify common measures of community health, both funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Having worked in the non-profit sector for nearly 30 years, Karen has managed the development and dissemination of a number of publications and educational conferences. She is the 2021 recipient of the Leader in Workplace Wellness Award presented by the Global Wellness Summit. Karen received her Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sponsored by Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) to receive up to 1 total Category I contact education contact hours. Provider ID#101039

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Air date: April 20, 2023

Guest Panelists:

Kimm Isgar, Akin

David Hines, Metro Nashville Public Schools

David Ballard, PsyD, MBA, HERO

The Carolyn C. Mattingly Award for Mental Health in the Workplace recognizes exemplary organizations that advance the mental health and well-being of their workforce, while also serving as examples for other employers. This webinar will highlight best practices and key success factors from two of the inaugural award winners – Akin and Metro Nashville Public Schools.

With more than 1,700 lawyers, advisors, and support staff in 20 offices worldwide, Akin provides employees with resources, tools, information, and coaching that focus on mental health and psychological well-being. While easily accessible, high-quality mental health benefits and resources play a critical role, for Akin, the keys to success lie in an incremental approach that involves employees, tailors the program to their unique needs, and meets people where they are.

Metro Nashville Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the U.S., with 159 schools and 6,500 certificated teachers and staff who serve over 80,000 students. The district’s robust mental health offerings include coverage for behavioral health and substance abuse services, an Employee Assistance Program, onsite medical clinics, and more. MNPS knows that providing comprehensive benefits and resources alone does not guarantee results and bolsters its efforts by increasing access, removing barriers, and leveraging strong leadership support.

In addition to the award winners’ strategies, implementation processes, results, and lessons learned, you will also hear about the award criteria and tips for applying.

Guest Speakers:

Kimm Isgar is the Director of Benefits and Well-Being for Akin. Kimm designs and delivers strategic, compliant, and cost-effective programs by aligning benefits development with an organization’s goals and culture. She increases awareness and appreciation among employees through effective marketing strategies promoting the value of these programs. Prior to Akin, Kimm was the Benefits Manager for Howrey and a Senior Analyst, Health and Welfare for Goldman Sachs. Kimm received a BS in Political Science from SUNY Brockport. She is Work-Life Certified Professional and Yellow Belt in Legal Lean Sigma & Project Management.

David Hines is the Executive Director of Benefits for Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). Having led benefits operations in county and state governments and private industry, David has a track record of making the healthy choice the easiest choice. David opened MNPS’s first integrated health and wellness facility, which has expanded to satellites and virtual health programs. Before the pandemic David recognized the need for accessible and affordable behavioral health services. He sourced innovative programs and negotiated health plan designs to eliminate financial burden on educators, which were a lifeline for many educators and staff during the pandemic. He also oversaw COVID testing, vaccinations, and return-to-school initiatives, optimizing the health and safety of the employees he serves. David regularly presents and consults across the country on designing full-scale programs to achieve the best health and well-being outcomes for employers.

David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, is a Senior Fellow and Scientific Advisor for Workforce Mental Health at HERO. His work focuses on organizational effectiveness, occupational health promotion, workforce mental health, program design and evaluation, and systems-level workplace interventions. David has provided research, consultation, and training services to government agencies, industry groups, corporations, private equity firms, medical schools, and universities. He currently serves on the boards of directors for The Health Project, which presents the C. Everett Koop National Health Awards, and Sound Mind, co-chairs the Advisory Committee for The Carolyn C. Mattingly Award for Mental Health in the Workplace, and is a member of NIOSH’s Cross-Sector Council on Healthy Work Design and Well-being.

Air date: March 15, 2023

Guest Panelists:

Derek Yach, DSc, MBChB, MPH, Global Health Advocate

Maggie Biscarr, MSW, Global Corporate Sustainability Executive

How ESG’s (Environmental, Social and Governance accountabilities) can be better integrated with company wellness programs is a featured part of HERO’s learning agenda in 2023. Dr. Derek Yach has worked at the highest levels in both public and private sector organizations and companies and has been deeply engaged in public/private partnerships throughout his career. Yach is the author of “Project Unthinkable: A Doctor’s Gamble to Save Millions of Lives” as well as lead author of many scientific papers and international policy reports. In this webinar, we discuss the opportunities and challenges of ESG’s as well as the potentialities and foibles of public private partnerships.

As the world recovers from the worst pandemic and shock to health in a century, Dr. Yach also takes stock of the long-term implications for the health of workers, and recommends actions companies, employees, and governments should take to protect their most valuable asset, employees. The latest WHO reports on global health paint a bleak picture punctuated by setbacks in progress related to many chronic diseases and mental health. Remote work and hybrid models of work are here to stay and challenge the way traditional workplace programs are organized. In this context, Dr. Yach will highlight how digital technologies took off during the pandemic and offer new ways of supporting employees to improve their health. He will also address the imperative to address mental health and physical activity with greater commitment and innovation. Some of the more innovative workplace programs will be offered as models to emulate.

Derek Yach, DSc, MBChB, MPH, a global health expert and anti-smoking advocate for more than 30 years, leads work to improve health as an independent global health consultant. He is a passionate advocate for health promotion and disease prevention. Dr. Yach was the President and Founder of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World and is a former World Health Organization (WHO) cabinet director and executive director for noncommunicable diseases and mental health where he was deeply involved with the development of the world’s treaty on tobacco control, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). He is also the former Chief Health Officer of the Vitality Group, Executive Director of the Vitality Institute, Senior Vice President, global health and agriculture policy at PepsiCo, director of global health at the Rockefeller Foundation, and a professor of global health at Yale University. He has authored or co-authored more than 250 peer-reviewed articles on global health and has served on several advisory boards, including the World Economic Forum, Cornerstone Capital, and the Wellcome Trust. Dr. Yach has an honorary DSc from Georgetown University, MBChB from the University of Cape Town, BSc from the University of Stellenbosch, and an MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Maggie Biscarr, MSW, has over 15 years of experience developing and managing programs and public-private partnerships designed to serve vulnerable populations. In 2016, Maggie made a move from the non-profit sector to PepsiCo, where she directed a global partnership strategy for PepsiCo’s Public Policy / Government Affairs shop. Prior to her role at PepsiCo, Maggie led the development of AARP Foundation’s SNAP and nutrition incentive portfolios, including Fruit and Vegetable incentive and food Rx programs. She played a key role in the development and management of AARP’s Drive to End Hunger program with NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports. In her early career, Maggie’s direct service experience included a stint working in the DC foster care system, providing behavioral health services for at-risk youth, and serving as a behavioral therapist for children with autism. In addition to serving on HERO’s board of directors, Maggie holds a board seat on the DC Central Kitchen board to support social enterprise, food security, and job creation in the city where she lives. Maggie received her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Mercer University and a master’s degree in social work from The University of Georgia.

Air date: February 16, 2023

Guest Panelists:

Jeffrey Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, University of Washington School of Public Health

Peggy Hannon, PhD, MPH, University of Washington School of Public Health

Marie Kava, PhD, MA, University of Washington School of Public Health

The University of Washington Health Promotion Center completed a cluster-randomized, controlled trial of HealthLinks, which promotes implementation of 12 evidence-based interventions (EBIs) aimed at increasing cancer screening, healthy eating, physical activity, and tobacco cessation. The three-armed trial in 78 workplaces compared HealthLinks alone, HealthLinks with workplace wellness committees, and a control. Compared to control, workplaces in both intervention arms significantly increased EBI implementation, our primary outcome.

This presentation will describe an analysis of the effect of HealthLinks on seven employee outcomes: the four health-related behaviors above, as well as perceived stress, depression risk, and presenteeism. The analysis tested bivariate associations along potential paths from EBI implementation to these outcomes. Associations were significant for 4 of the 6 indicators of physical activity and healthy eating, as well as for perceived stress, depression risk, and presenteeism.

Join us to learn more about this innovative analytic approach to answering whether “workplace wellness programs work.”

Guest Speakers:

Jeffrey Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, is Professor of Health Systems and Population Health in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington (UW). A board-certified internist and preventive medicine specialist, Jeff’s career combines public health practice and a population health approach within clinical systems. He is an active researcher who focuses on dissemination and implementation of evidence-based approaches to chronic disease prevention and healthy aging. Much of his research focuses on health promotion in workplaces. Jeff served for 20 years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He was the first AIDS Coordinator at the U.S. Agency for International Development, leading that program as it grew globally to span more than 70 countries. While at CDC, he also served for 6 years on the National Committee for Quality Assurance that develops HEDIS quality-of-care measures, shepherding through several prevention measures still in use.

Peggy Hannon, PhD, MPH, is a professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health and director of the Health Promotion Research Center, a CDC Prevention Research Center. She also co-leads the Optimizing Implementation in Cancer Control (OPTICC) Center, a NCI Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control. She completed her training in public health and social psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington. Peggy’s research focuses on dissemination and implementation research, with an emphasis on cancer screening, workplace health promotion, and communities experiencing health disparities.

Marie Kava, PhD, MA, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Services at the University of Washington School of Public Health. Her research interests include workplace health promotion, tobacco control, cancer prevention and control, implementation science, and health equity. Marie recently led a supplemental grant focused on increasing implementation of tobacco control evidence-based interventions at small worksites. She has published several research papers on employee health, including examinations of how organizational characteristics like culture are associated with employees’ health outcomes. Marie holds a Master of Arts degree in industrial-organizational psychology from Elmhurst College and a PhD in community and behavioral health from the University of Iowa.

Air date: January 23, 2023

Guest Panelists:

Ron Goetzel, PhD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Brandy Cooper, CPSP, DENSO International America Inc.

Jan Gaskell, DENSO International America, Inc.

The C. Everett Koop National Health Awards recognizes exemplary programs shown to improve employee health and well-being (HWB) while at the same time achieving positive business outcomes by documenting value-on-investment (VOI). In this session, you will learn about the challenges and key learnings from Denso International America, the 2022 C. Everett Koop award winner, about their approach and design, as well as valuable tips on the application process, evaluation criteria, and the type of data required to demonstrate program impacts.

Guest Speakers:

Ron Goetzel, PhD, is a Senior Scientist and Director of the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies (IHPS) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The mission of the IHPS is to bridge the gap between academia, the business community, and the healthcare policy world – bringing academic resources into policy debates and day-to-day business decisions and bringing worker health and productivity management concerns to academia.

Brandy Cooper, CPSP, is the North American Human Resources Benefits Manager for DENSO International America Inc. She is responsible for strategy, design, financial planning, and management of health, welfare, and retirement benefits for 11,600 associates and their family members in the U.S. Brandy has over 13 years of experience working in the employee benefits space. Prior to working in employee benefits, she began her career in quality control before moving to education & development, then communications. This work experiences established a foundation in data analysis, process control, continuous improvement, and human behavior which lends well to the current role managing employee benefits.

Jan Gaskell is the Benefits Project Manager for DENSO International America, Inc. She is responsible for wellness and oversight of onsite health center operations. Jan has 41 years of experience in employee benefits. She worked as a site benefits administrator for DENSO for 30 years prior to moving to her current role supporting benefits and benefit projects for all DENSO associates in the U.S. Jan has passion for people and well-being, and this enthusiasm pairs positively with facilitation of the wellness program, including onsite health centers, wellness coaching, and disease management programs.

Air date: January 19, 2023

Guest Panelists:

Richard Safeer, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The health and wellness industry has historically focused on individual health behaviors as the fastest path to change, but what if it isn’t? What if we need a supportive workplace and the collective effort of the workforce to help us stay on a healthy and well path?

Too often our job and our workplaces seem to conspire against an individual’s best attempts at health, even with well-being programs! Why is that, and how can we get it right? In this session, Dr. Richard Safeer will share a well-being prescription for a happier, healthier, and more resilient workforce. Learn the ingredients to become a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. You will learn:

• The meaning of a well-being culture and why it’s important for both employees and leaders.
• The 6 well-being culture building blocks needed for a healthier, happier, and more resilient workforce.
• Specific steps to take that will make the workplace work for your health and not against it.

Richard Safeer, MD, is Chief Medical Director of Employee Health and Wellbeing at Johns Hopkins Medicine and the author of A Cure for the Common Company: A Well-Being Prescription for a Happier, Healthier and More Resilient Workforce. His responsibilities at Hopkins include leading the employee health and well-being initiative, Healthy at Hopkins. Richard also advises the institution on matters related to health plan benefits, occupational health, and the employee assistance program. He has published journal articles and is featured in many books. He regularly speaks to national audiences in the employee health and well-being space, focusing on how to create healthy workplace cultures. Richard completed his BS in nutrition at Cornell University before graduating from medical school at the S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo (magna cum laude). He’s a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and the American College of Preventive Medicine.

Air date: December 1, 2022

Guest Panelists:

Steven Noeldner, PhD, MS, Mercer

Katie Scott, MS, Mercer

Mary Imboden, PhD, HERO

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated many mental health issues and further revealed health inequities that may be influenced by social determinants of health (SDOH) and the lack of belonging felt by some employees. HERO and Mercer collaborated to develop best practice scores for these three key areas: mental health and well-being, social determinants of health (SDOH), and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These special best practice scores were derived from the current set of questions in the HERO Scorecard (v5) and are now available to all HERO Scorecard completers. This webinar will explain how the mental health and well-being, SDOH, and DEI best practice scores were developed and scored. The webinar will also educate participants on how they can use these scores to identify and prioritize opportunities within their organizations and use best practices to address them.

Guest Speakers:

Steven Noeldner, PhD, MS, is a senior consultant in Mercer’s Total Health Management practice and serves as the lead of the well-being vertical. He has more than 30 years of experience in the well-being and health management fields. Steven has worked with many of Mercer’s largest clients, helping them design strategies for comprehensive health and well-being initiatives, vendor selection, vendor monitoring, measurement and evaluation of the impact and outcomes of their efforts. Steven serves on HERO’s Board of Directors and is Chair of the Research Committee. He is a co-author of the HERO Health & Well-being Best Practices Scorecard in Collaboration with Mercer©. Steven has published research papers in peer-reviewed journals, written book chapters and presented at national and international conferences. Steven holds a Master of Science degree in clinical exercise physiology and a PhD in exercise science with concentrations in exercise physiology, biomechanics and sport psychology.

Katie Scott, MS, is a senior associate consultant on Mercer’s Total Health Management specialty team and has experience consulting on the topics of diversity and inclusion, behavioral health, employee engagement, leadership involvement, and company culture to help address challenges of population health in organizations. Katie previously worked in human resources and operations in both the technology and healthcare industries. Katie’s experience and passion includes behavioral health, diversity and inclusion, and addressing employee total well-being. Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from University of San Francisco and a Master of Science degree in organizational psychology from University of Southern California.

Mary Imboden, PhD, is the Director of Research for HERO where she oversees the execution of the HERO research agenda. This includes providing oversight of the HERO Research Committee and consultation to HERO study committees. She also oversees the ongoing development and research of the HERO Health and Well-Being Best Practices Scorecard in Collaboration with Mercer © (HERO Scorecard), along with growth and management of the HERO Preferred Provider Network.

This webinar is available to members only.

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