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28th Annual Wellness in the Workplace Conferece

The 28th annual conference was held on March 18, 2009 at the Four Points by Sheraton in Ann Arbor, MI. The conference theme was: Zero Trends. Conference participants were challenged to think outside of the box and consider new ways of approaching health management. All registered participants received a copy of the exciting new book by Dee Edington, "Zero Trends: Health as a Serious Economic Strategy".

Speakers included:

Cathy Baase
Dow Chemical Company

When Results Matter:  Culture as a Part of Health Strategy

Slides (PDF, 59 pages, 5.6 MB)

Catherine M. Baase, MD, is the Global Director of Health Services for The Dow Chemical Company with direct responsibility for leadership and management of all Occupational Health, Epidemiology, and Health Promotion staff and programs around the world.  In addition to these roles, Dr. Baase is the driver of an integrated health vision and Dow’s Health Strategy for employees, retirees, and their families.  She is also involved in health policy and health issue management at Dow and is on the Dow Health and Wellness Business Management Team. 

Alberto M. Colombi
PPG

The Clinical and Economic Aspects of the Health Management Program at PPG

Slides (PDF, 28 pages, 2.4 MB)

Alberto M. Colombi is corporate medical director of PPG Industries. He joined PPG in Pittsburgh in 1987 as medical director of coatings businesses, moved to Milan, Italy, as coatings medical director for Europe and then to  Coatings European director of environment, health and safety.  Colombi returned to Pittsburgh in his current post in 1995. In His capacity as Corporate Medical Director he devotes his efforts to integrated (occupational and non occupational ) health and productivity management.

Dee Edington
University of Michigan Health Management Research Center

Zero Trends: Health as a Serious Economic Strategy

Part One (PDF, 7 pages, 856 KB)

Part Two (PDF, 36 pages, 1.2 MB)

Video: Health Management as a Serious Business Strategy

Director of the University of Michigan Health Management Research Center, D.W. Edington is also a Professor in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan and a research scientist in the School of Public Health. Trained in mathematics, kinesiology and biochemistry, Dr. Edington is the author or co-author of over 500 articles, presentations, and several books. His teaching and research focus on the relationship between healthy lifestyles, vitality and quality of life, as they benefit both individuals and organizations. He is specifically interested in how individual health promotion, worksite wellness activities and programs within organizations impact health care cost containment, productivity and human resource development. In essence, the HMRC studies the precursors to disease and vitality.

James Galloway
United States Public Health Service

Building Healthier Communities

Slides (PDF, 72 pages, 3.8 MB)

Dr. Galloway was appointed to the position of Regional Health Administrator in 2007 and is the lead federal physician, the principal federal public health official and the senior USPHS officer for Region V, which encompasses the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.  Dr. Galloway serves as the Department’s principal representative for public health in the field for this region and he provides advice on matters of health care and public health and participates in policy development and implementation at the regional and national levels. In 2009, he was also appointed as the Acting Regional Director for U.S. Health and Human Services for the Midwest.

David Hunnicutt
WELCOA

The Art And Science of Building a "Zero Trends" Workplace Wellness Program

Slides (PDF, 37 pages, 21 MB)

Dr. David Hunnicutt is the President of The Wellness Councils of 
America, which is dedicated to helping organizations of all sizes create 
results-oriented health management programs. Since 1995, David has keynoted more than 400 national business and health events addressing such topics as workplace health, leadership and corporate culture change.  Dr. Hunnicutt has also written, edited, and produced more than a dozen books, including a best-selling medical self-care book that has sold more than 600,000 copies. Dr. Hunnicutt's opinions, expertise, and work have appeared in such media as The Wall Street journal, MSN, CBS News, CBS MarketWatch, Businessweek, CIO Magazine, Business and Health, American Medical News, Workforce Magazine and numerous local and regional newspapers.

Mike Parkinson
American College of Preventive Medicine

Next Generation Prevention: The Foundation of Health and Productivity

Slides (PDF, 44 pages, 882 KB)

Mike is President of the ACPM, the national society of physicians trained in and committed to disease prevention, health promotion and systems-based approaches to improving health and health care.  He most recently was Executive Vice President, Chief Health and Medical Officer of Lumenos, a pioneer of consumer-driven health plans and a subsidiary of Wellpoint.  A retired Air Force colonel, his final assignment was as associate director of medical programs and resources in the Office of the Surgeon General where he was responsible for policy and planning for over 2 million beneficiaries, 70 facilities and a $4 billion budget. While assigned to the US Public Health Service, he provided oversight of federal programs in public health, geriatrics and preventive medicine training.
G. Thomas Welsh
PPG

The Clinical and Economic Aspects of the Health Management Program at PPG

Slides (PDF, 24 pages, 1.4 MB)

G. Thomas Welsh is corporate Human Resources Director, Benefits and Services for PPG Industries. He joined PPG in Pittsburgh in 1973 and in his thirty-five year career he has had a wide range of positions in PPG’s global finance organization including General Auditor, Controller and Assistant Treasurer. His expertise and experience is in the areas of financial reporting, internal control, risk evaluation, foreign currency hedging, capital structure and cost accounting. In his capacity as director of human resources for benefits and services, he has worked in concert with the corporate environmental health and safety organization and the Corporate Medical Director to bring financial reporting and control considerations to the existing health and productivity initiative. This initiative has been successful in mitigating health cost increases and driving a focus on healthy behaviors.he financial issues of pension, compensation, benefits and health care.

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