SRPH Awarded CEO Cancer Gold Standard Accreditation

Over the last 100 years researchers and the medical community have worked hard to transform cancer from a death sentence to a preventable disease. Today, many forms of cancers stem from environmental risk factors and lifestyle choices that can be modified. For many adults, the majority of our time is spent in the work place, which is not always conducive to proper nutrition and physical activity. In recent years, employers have begun to make great strides in cancer prevention with the help of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer initiative.

The Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health was recently awarded the CEO Cancer Gold Standard^TM accreditation by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer for its efforts to reduce the risk of cancer for its employees and their families. The CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit organization of CEOs founded by former President George H.W. Bush, created the CEO Cancer Gold Standard in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute.

“The Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health is leading by example in promoting healthier behavior,” said Christopher A. Viehbacher, chief executive officer of Sanofi and chairman of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer. “I hope their vision and commitment to better health will encourage other employers in Texas and across all industries and geographies to become Gold Standard accredited.”

To earn Gold Standard accreditation, an organization must establish programs to reduce cancer risk by discouraging tobacco use; encouraging physical activity; promoting healthy diet and nutrition; detecting cancer at its earliest stages; and providing access to quality care, including participation in clinical trials. The Gold Standard calls for organizations to evaluate their health benefits and corporate culture and take extensive, concrete actions in five key areas of health and wellness to reduce the risk of cancer in the workplace.

The Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health has shown a commitment to not only the implementation of organizational change and access to quality care, but to encouraging employees to live healthier lives.

“Much progress has already been made with plans to install filtered water stations, purchase a refrigerator that can provide students with a place to store healthy foods, add new fitness machines to the onsite exercise facility, and map walkable areas within and outside of the School boundaries,” said Marcia Ory, Ph.D., M.P.H., regents and distinguished professor, chairperson of the newly established Health and Wellness Committee Additionally, through the use of email, social media and new digital imaging monitors throughout the campuses, the school has been able to disseminate information related to cancer awareness and education including cancer screening and cancer clinical trials, healthy travel tips and holiday nutrition.”

In fact, a school-wide survey for assessing current activities and tracking progress toward a healthier workplace has been instituted.

“This survey has helped us identify areas for improvement and strategies for improvement, and will help us develop a Healthy WorkPlace Toolkit that can be used in other workplaces locally and throughout the state,” said Samuel D. Towne, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.P.H., assistant professor.

“Our institution has made great strides forward to ensure our faculty and staff have every opportunity to make healthy choices regarding their healthcare, physical wellness and nutrition,” said Interim Dean Jim Burdine, Dr.P.H. “We will continue to sustain and improve the health and wellness of our faculty, staff and their families.”

See Yahoo News release for additional information on CEO award.

Also, learn more by watching KRHD news coverage on this accreditation.