Vanderbilt University Medical Center has again been recognized for a strong and enduring commitment to helping employees and their families live healthy lives.
In conjunction with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, VUMC has been re-accredited by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer as a CEO Cancer Gold Standard employer for 2015.
To earn the accreditation, an organization is required to develop and maintain programs to address and discourage tobacco use, promote physical activity, provide options for a healthy diet, detect cancer at an early stage and offer access to quality care, including the ability to enroll in clinical research trials. In recent years, the award has been revamped and now places additional emphasis on cancer prevention.
The CEO Roundtable on Cancer was created after former President George H.W. Bush asked business executives to band together and make a difference in the nation’s cancer landscape. The group initiated the CEO Cancer Gold Standard award for organizations that take active steps to reduce the cancer risk for employees and their families, including support for early detection and cancer prevention.
“Congratulations on continuing to meet the high standards of this initiative, which will not only help with cancer prevention, but will assist in reducing the risk for other serious conditions such as obesity, and chronic and costly diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” said Martin Murphy, D.Med.Sc., Ph.D., chief executive officer for the CEO Roundtable on Cancer.
VUMC has promoted a culture of healthy living for employees and their families, including access to the Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center fitness facility on campus and HealthPlus programs to help employees and families identify and reduce health risks, manage their weight, track their health numbers, eat a healthy diet and be physically active. The Medical Center has also promoted clean air inside and outside of buildings, including a ban on smoking on the Medical Center campus that went into effect in October 2008.
“There is solid and increasing evidence, including research from our own VICC investigators, that a healthy and active lifestyle reduces the risk for cancer and many other diseases,” said Jennifer Pietenpol, Ph.D., B.F. Byrd Jr. Professor of Oncology and director of VICC. “We have a culture of support for wellness here at Vanderbilt and it is gratifying to receive this recognition for our efforts to promote cancer prevention for employees and their families.”