For the 10th year in a row Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) have been named a CEO Cancer Gold Standard employer by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer.
The CEO Cancer Gold Standard award recognizes employers who have devised strategies and implemented programs to help employees and their families live healthy lives and reduce the risk of cancer.
To earn the accreditation, an organization must develop and maintain programs to discourage tobacco use, promote physical activity, provide options for a healthy diet, enable screening to detect cancer at an early stage and offer access to quality care, including access to clinical research trials. This includes a new emphasis on cancer prevention initiatives.
“Congratulations on continuing to meet the high standards of this initiative, and in doing so helping to reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic and costly diseases within your workforce,” said Robert Bradway, chair of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer. “I applaud you for your commitment to the health of your employees and for being a model of health and wellness leadership for employers around the globe.”
VUMC, in conjunction with VICC, has implemented programs to promote a culture of healthy living for employees and their families. These initiatives include Health Plus programs to help employees and families reduce health risks, manage their weight, eat a healthy diet and adopt active lifestyles. Employees and families also have access to the Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center fitness facility on campus.
The Medical Center was an early leader in the promotion of clean air inside and outside of buildings, including a ban on smoking on the Medical Center campus that was implemented in 2008.
“New scientific evidence reveals that nearly half of all cancers may be linked to lifestyle choices and VICC investigators have documented the benefits of quitting smoking, adopting healthy eating habits and leading an active lifestyle to prevent cancer,” said Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, Executive Vice President for Research at VUMC and director of VICC. “We are delighted to have been recognized for 10 years in a row for our initiatives to promote cancer prevention programs for our employee team members and their families.”
The seeds of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer program were planted in 2001 after then-President George W. Bush challenged a group of corporate executives to create a program that addressed cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment within their own families as well as their corporate families.
Today the nonprofit organization works to develop programs to reduce the risk of cancer, enable early diagnosis, facilitate access to the best treatments and hasten the discovery of novel, effective cancer therapies. The CEO Cancer Gold Standard has been embraced by more than 200 employers and now benefits more than 6 million employees and family members worldwide.