Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and its patient treatment organization, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, have received CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ accreditation, recognizing the organizations’ extraordinary commitment to the health of their employees and their families.
Christopher A. Viehbacher, chief executive officer of Sanofi, chairs the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit organization of cancer-fighting CEOs who created the CEO Cancer Gold Standard in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, many of its designated cancer centers, and leading health nonprofit organizations and professionals. Today, more than 3.2 million employees and family members are benefiting from the vision and leadership of employers who have chosen to become Gold Standard accredited.
“We consider Fred Hutch to be the ‘gold standard’ in cancer treatment and prevention research, so I am honored that our efforts to keep our employees healthy have also been recognized,” said Larry Corey, M.D., president and director of the Hutchinson Center.
Fred Appelbaum, M.D., SCCA executive director, said, “Our dedicated staff is reminded daily of how cancer impacts peoples’ lives. We are committed to reducing the incidence of cancer in our community through education, screening and prevention resources.”
The CEO Cancer Gold Standard calls for companies to evaluate their health benefits and corporate culture and take extensive, concrete actions in five key areas of health and wellness to fight cancer in the workplace. To earn Gold Standard accreditation, a company must establish programs to reduce cancer risk by prohibiting tobacco use at the workplace; encouraging physical activity; promoting healthy nutrition; detecting cancer at its earliest stages when outcomes may be more favorable; and providing access to quality care, including participation in cancer clinical trials.
In addition to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), thirteen NCI-designated cancer centers and nearly 30 other hospitals and medical centers have earned Gold Standard accreditation. CEOs from across industries are keenly aware of the tremendous impact they can have in improving health, controlling health care costs and making a difference beyond their organization’s walls in the fight against cancer and other chronic diseases. Other Gold Standard employers include insurers like Aetna, Cigna, State Farm and several Blue Cross affiliates; law firms, such as Hogan Lovells and Jenner + Block; technology companies such as Dell and SAS Institute; institutes of higher education and a range of leading employers including American Century Investments, Johnson & Johnson and Lowe’s.
About Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists – including three Nobel laureates – seek new and innovative ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. The Hutchinson Center’s pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation led to the development of immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to treat cancer with minimal side effects. An independent, nonprofit research institute based in Seattle, the Hutchinson Center houses the nation’s first and largest cancer prevention research program, as well as the clinical coordinating center of the Women’s Health Initiative and the international headquarters of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Private contributions are essential for enabling Hutchinson Center scientists to explore novel research opportunities that lead to important medical breakthroughs. For more information visit www.fhcrc.org or follow the Hutchinson Center on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.