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Initiative Updates: Gold Standard
2022
Customer service and patient experience expert Alphanumeric Systems, digital patient guide Jasper Health, and Shaw University, the oldest Historically Black College and University in the South, all have earned CEO Cancer Gold StandardTM accreditation by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer for their commitment to the health of employees, students and community.
“Adopting the Gold Standard is a tribute to the extraordinary leadership at Alphanumeric Systems, Jasper Health and Shaw University,” said MaryLis Rich, President, CEO Roundtable on Cancer Gold Standard. “Their commitment to employee and community health demonstrates that all organizations, large and small, can play an active role in winning the battle against cancer.”
The CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit organization of CEOs and their companies, founded by former President George H.W. Bush, created the CEO Cancer Gold Standard to provide an evidence-based framework for employers to build a healthier workplace by focusing on cancer risk reduction, early detection, access to clinical trials, and high-quality care.
More than 7.4 million people are directly affected by the Gold Standard implemented at over 200 private, non-profit and government organizations, large and small, from diverse industries. Those organizations include the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training, and many NCI- designated cancer centers.
In 2022, the CEO Roundtable launched the Going for Gold initiative to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to implement the Cancer Gold Standard. Shaw University is the first HBCU to achieve this recognition.
“We are pleased to be a partner in this initiative and dedicated to leading a national movement to improve positive health outcomes within our communities,” said Dr. Paulette Dillard, President of Shaw. “This recognition is a very high honor, and we hope to inspire other organizations and educational institutions to follow suit.”
Organizations must demonstrate that their health benefits and workplace culture include extensive, concrete actions in five key areas: Health Education & Navigation, Prevention & Early Detection, Advancing Treatment, Survivorship, and Well-Being.
The Gold Standard is based on the latest scientific evidence and evolves to ensure the framework promotes the adoption of the best benefits and policies to maximize positive health outcomes for employees, families, and communities.
Alphanumeric (ASI) is a proven leader driven to make its mark by improving interpersonal and patient experiences. They go beyond call centers and contact centers - they provide top-tier customer service and patient experiences that exceed expectations. To learn more visit: https://www.alphanumeric.com/.
“It's great to be able to say that we are among the leaders in our industry when it comes down not only to execution but also to policy and procedure -- two things that set us apart,” said Randy Trice, CEO of Alphanumeric. “The accreditation is an honorable nod towards the caliber of people we work with in the pharma and life sciences spaces in North Carolina and globally.”
Jasper Health is a digital guiding, navigation, and engagement experience that improves the lives of people living with cancer, those at high risk for cancer, and their caregivers. Its all-in-one oncology platform provides psychosocial support interventions while enabling connected care with the broader healthcare system. Jasper’s team includes seasoned leaders with decades of experience in digital health, clinical care, data science, and consumer engagement. Founded at Redesign Health, a company that powers innovation in healthcare, they believe that powerful technology and passionate people can relieve some of the stress of organizing care. To learn more, visit www.hellojasper.com.
“We look forward to introducing the Gold Standard to new employers we are working with and helping them make the Gold Standard Pillars actionable and turnkey with new digital prevention and care capabilities,” said Adam Pellegrini, co-founder and CEO of Jasper Health.
Shaw University was founded in 1865. It is the oldest HBCU in the South, the first to admit women, and the first to earn the Cancer Gold Standard. Shaw is known for its great private liberal arts education. Affiliated with the Baptist Church, Shaw is home to the oldest historically black theological institution in America. Undergraduate studies at the university focus and connect with community outreach through the justice, social work, and health tracks. When the COVID vaccine was being rolled out, they opened a vaccine clinic to serve the community greatly affected by the virus. Dr. Paulette R. Dillard, President of Shaw, is a marine biologist and a Co-Director of the academic enrichment programs for the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) funded Research Infrastructure in Minority Institutions (RIMI) project. Read more at https://shawu.edu/.
Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) in Ponce, Puerto Rico, has committed to Going for Gold, becoming the first Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in the partnership.
“At Ponce Health Sciences University, we are honored to be part of this prestigious partnership that will allow us to continue contributing to improving the health of our communities. With this alliance, we confirm our commitment to continue our efforts to prevent and reduce cancer health disparities in the communities we serve,” said Dr. José A. Torres Ruiz, Chancellor of Ponce Health Sciences University.
Ponce Health Sciences University is the largest private medical school in Puerto Rico that provides a world-class education. Recognized in Puerto Rico and St. Louis, MO, for educational service and research achievements, the university continues its focus on the disciplines of Medicine, Clinical Psychology, Biomedical Sciences, Public Health, and Nursing.
By combining expanded academic and professional educational offerings in a cooperative and intimate learning environment, Ponce Health Sciences University graduates highly competent healthcare professionals dedicated to their community and the expanding future needs of their profession.
Learn more at https://www.psm.edu.
Stillman Health Fair
Shaw University partnered with the CEO Roundtable on Cancer to host a 5k University Cancer Awareness Walk on Wednesday, March 30. Prior to the start of the event, Shaw President Dr. Paulette Dillard was presented a “Cancer Gold Standard Health Champion” flag by Roundtable CEO, Dr. Bill Louv, and CEO Roundtable on Cancer President, MaryLisabeth Rich.
Shaw and Stillman are among the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities to join the CEORT’s “Going for Gold” partnership with HBCUs and Hispanic Serving Institutions as well as company members of the CEORT to bring awareness to cancer and expand access to prevention, detection, and treatment.
It was an exciting kickoff to Shaw University’s Go4Gold initiative with the marching band on hand, more than 200 people in attendance, special t-shirts for the occasion and participation from as far away as Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and Los Angeles.
Stillman College held the Denzel Davis Memorial Health fair on campus March 29. The health fair remembers a former student who died after a bout of viral bronchitis in 2018. He did not seek a doctor’s care after becoming ill.
The objective and mission of the health fair is to encourage Stillman students and the wider community to get a variety of health screenings and to see a doctor regularly, even if they are not sick.
“The disparity between African Americans and how health issues affect other populations is significant,” said Tomalisa Washington, director of Student Development at Stillman College and organizer of the health fair. “And, in addition to issues of access, we have a population that is very suspicious of health care professionals. So, the more we can expose our students and community to healthcare specialists is important, especially for early detection and preventive medicine.”
2021
Adam Schechter, Chairman and CEO, Labcorp
Labcorp, headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina, has earned CEO Cancer Gold StandardTM accreditation for its work to reduce the risk of cancer for its employees and covered family members.
"We are proud to receive the CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation," said Adam Schechter, chairman and chief executive officer at Labcorp. "This accreditation emphasizes Labcorp’s mission to improve the health and lives of the patients we serve and of our employees and their families. We are committed to providing access to care for our employees and to incorporating programs such as those focused on cancer prevention, risk reduction and overall wellbeing."
Employers from many industries are keenly aware of the positive impact they can have on health and controlling healthcare costs when they take steps to address cancer and other chronic diseases. To earn Gold Standard accreditation, an employer must establish programs to reduce cancer risk by taking concrete actions in five key areas: emphasize prevention by prohibiting tobacco use and supporting tobacco cessation efforts; promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition and weight management; providing health insurance options that include detecting cancer at its earliest stages, ensuring access to quality care and participation in cancer clinical trials; promoting employee awareness of these initiatives; and supporting the needs of cancer survivors in the workplace.
The CEO Roundtable on Cancer Board of Directors approved updates last September to the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™, our employer-led health and well-being accreditation program. We’re excited to report these important and transformative changes have been incorporated into a new online Gold Standard application portal.
We are beginning a “Pilot Phase” to gather feedback on the new application’s user interface but we expect to broadly launch the platform later this year.
While retaining and enhancing the core tenets of prevention, early detection and quality care, the Gold Standard is being updated to have a more holistic approach to health and well-being with increased emphasis on health education, health navigation, cancer survivorship, well-being and health equity.
Further, recognizing the need to encourage aspiring Gold Standard applicants and, at the same time, challenge long time Gold Standard employers, the accreditation program and application now measures an organization’s progress on its unique health and well-being journey.
We have also been working to update our tools, resources, and processes so that we can continue to help you address the cancer burden and together save and improve lives.
If you are interested in participating this summer in the “Pilot Phase”, which will welcome feedback on the new application portal user experience, please contact Therese Martin, CEO Cancer Gold Standard’s Senior Manager, Therese.Martin@CEORoundtableonCancer.org
The CEO Roundtable on Cancer continues to partner with health-oriented organizations, like the North Carolina Business Group on Health (NCBGH), to keep members of the CEO Roundtable and our Gold Standard Community informed on the latest oncology research and it's impact on the workforce.
MaryLis Rich, President, CEO Roundtable on Cancer, recently moderated a panel as part of the NCBH Spring Forum 2021. The discussion on precision medicine explored what interventions and tests are priorities for improving health and fighting cancer.
The CEO Roundtable on Cancer has accredited BeiGene, Ltd., a global biotechnology company with the CEO Cancer Gold StandardTM recognizing its efforts to reduce the risk of cancer for its employees and covered family members.
“Our CEO Cancer Gold Standard certification demonstrates that BeiGene is a unique organization committed to improving individuals’ lives and that that commitment begins with improving the health of the company’s employees and their family members,” said Kenneth B. Lee, General Partner of Hatteras Venture Partners, LLC and Executive Chairman of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer.
“BeiGene was founded a little over a decade ago on the premise that there is an emerging opportunity to deliver high quality, innovative, impactful medicines faster and more equitably and affordably around the world,” said John V. Oyler, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of BeiGene. “Since then, we have worked hard to improve the health and well-being of patients, regardless of location or income, and to have a positive impact on the health of our colleagues around the world. We are proud to accept this recognition by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, on behalf of our team of over 6,000 people and their families.”
Pandemic precautions led to a sharp decline in cancer screenings and vaccinations to prevent cancer. The CEO Roundtable on Cancer invited the Gold Standard Community to a webinar to address the screening backlog, identify those at greatest risk and address widespread missed youth vaccinations. MaryLis Rich, President, CEO Roundtable on Cancer, moderated the discussion with our distinguished panel of experts. We're grateful for the insight provided by:
- Dr. Otis Brawley is a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Oncology and Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University.
- Dr. Nicole Parkerson is board-certified in Pediatrics and has served as managing physician partner at Raleigh Pediatric Associates.
- Dr. K. Andrew Crighton is the former chief executive officer of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer and former Chief Medical Officer and head of the Global Health Organization for Prudential.
Resources from the presentation are available at the below links:
Strategies to Increase Vaccine Confidence (Dr. Parkerson)
Post Pandemic Well-being Communication Strategies (Dr. Crighton)
Re-accreditation for the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ will be waived for 2021 as employers work even harder to focus on the health and well-being of their employees while also enforcing COVID-19 precautions.
This also gives us additional time to update our tools, resources and processes so we can continue to help you address the cancer burden and together create solutions for ending cancer.
Any questions should be addressed to MaryLis Rich, CEO Roundtable on Cancer President, or Therese Martin, Senior Manager.
CEO Gold Standard™ accredited companies made some positive noise on World Cancer Day on Feb. 4! Each company was mailed a Health Champion flag to raise and demonstrate their commitment to defeating cancer and building health.
There were social media posts and You Tube videos from many locations, generating lots of positive notice for you, your work and this cause. We truly were inspired and hope it made your employees as well as your community proud to see your commitment to defeating cancer and building health.
The flags are designed for flying on special opportunities throughout the year whether it’s a cancer awareness day, benefits enrollment periods, employee recruiting events, or return to work post pandemic.
Thank you again for being a Health Champion!
Ron Z. Goetzel, PhD
Businesses that promote employee health, like the more than 200 CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ accredited employers, are being urged to support public health beyond their own employees by a new report prepared by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Health and Productivity Studies (IHPS).
Recommendations from the report, Seven Ways Businesses Can Align with Public Health for Bold Action and Innovation, offer strategies to end and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure America is better prepared to address future public health crises.
“A large-scale effort to address our public health vulnerabilities will require business and public health leaders, as well as policymakers, to join forces in support of healthier employees and communities—the key to a more resilient workforce and a strong economy,” said Ron Goetzel, PhD, Director of IHPS and a member of the Gold Standard Steering Committee.
These are the seven recommendations in the report funded by the de Beaumont Foundation for business leaders. They are:
- “Put out the fire” of COVID-19 by following advice of credible public health experts.
- Improve the health and well-being of employees.
- Promote healthy communities.
- Become a “force Multiplier” by leveraging expertise, staff, and other resources to collaborate with local and state public health departments to be better prepared for future public health emergencies.
- Actively facilitate public-private partnerships in the community.
- Advocate for development of accountability dashboards that track and monitor progress toward achieving key economic and public health outcomes in a community.
- Advocate for rebuilding and expanding a national public health workforce supported by a modern information technology infrastructure.
2020
High Point University has earned CEO Cancer Gold StandardTM accreditation by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer for its commitment to the health of its employees.
"Here at HPU, we place a high priority on employee wellness because a happy person is a healthy person,” says HPU President Dr. Nido Qubein. “We prepare our students for the world as it is going to be and to do that, we need our faculty and staff to feel their best every day. We will continue to stay committed to keeping our employees and our campus community at their healthiest.”
The CEO Roundtable on Cancer has accredited Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, Texas with the CEO Cancer Gold StandardTM recognizing its efforts to reduce the risk of cancer for its employees and covered family members.
The CEO Roundtable on Cancer Board of Directors approved a refresh of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™, its employer-led health and wellness accreditation program, at a September meeting.
One key change is increased focus on well-being in the workplace. Dr. Andy Crighton, CEO of the Roundtable on Cancer, said: “Individuals with a strong sense of well-being are better able to withstand critical issues such as a cancer diagnosis so it is important that we build this into our Gold Standard to help companies move forward.”
MaryLisabeth Rich, CEO Roundtable on Cancer President, highlighted a focus on health equity that will be incorporated in each pillar and, as part of a new initiative to launch in early 2021, that will look to extend the CEO Cancer Gold Standard to Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCU) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI).
“We want to make the Gold Standard Pillars active and living in the HBCU and HSI setting so they are not just applicable to employees but to students and communities,” she said. Ways to grow this partnership opportunity were discussed in the Diversity Partnerhip session lead by Dr. Otis Brawley. You can read more or watch the video here.
Huntsman Cancer Institute Nursing Staff
Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah has earned CEO Cancer Gold StandardTM accreditation for its work to reduce the risk of cancer for its employees and covered family members.
“We are honored that Huntsman Cancer Institute has been welcomed into the Gold Standard community,” said Mary Beckerle, PhD, chief executive officer of HCI. “As the official cancer center of the state of Utah, we must take our own best advice and implement programs that prevent cancer and reduce cancer risk for our own workforce. This recognition strengthens our commitment to work together to deliver a cancer-free frontier.”