Texas A&M releases CEO Cancer Gold Standard Accreditation Guidebook

In an effort to help organizations seek accreditation and reduce the risk of cancer for their employees and families, the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service have produced the Going for the Gold: Achieving CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ Accreditation Guidebook.

Eradicating cancer is the goal of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™, a workplace wellness initiative. The CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit organization of chief executive officers of major U.S. companies founded by former President George H.W. Bush, developed this initiative in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute.

“I am very proud that Aggies initiated this guidebook, which will become an important tool for companies wanting to be part of the CEO Gold Standard,” said Bush.

“Beginning with President and Mrs. Bush, we thank everyone in Aggieland, and notably the authors of this valuable guide, for creating such a clear, comprehensive and inviting roadmap that will encourage employers to work with and on behalf of their employees to lower the risk of cancer, detect it early, and ensure access to high-quality care,” said Dr. Martin Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, CEO Roundtable on Cancer.

To earn Gold Standard accreditation, an organization must establish programs to reduce cancer risk by eliminating 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 areas of health and wellness to reduce the risk of cancer in the workplace.

The accreditation process resulted in the creation of a very active Health and Wellness Committee at the Texas A&M School of Public Health and a strong partnership with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

“Going beyond our experience, we are now ready to share lessons learned more broadly within the Health Science Center, Texas A&M University and The Texas A&M University System at large. The health and wellness activities outlined in this guidebook can have a great benefit to Aggie employees and their families,” said co-author and Regents and Distinguished Professor Marcia Ory, Ph.D, of the Texas A&M School of Public Health.

“Strongly committed to promoting a healthy workforce, AgriLife Extension Service exemplifies an organization that supports the values of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard,” said co-author Ninfa Pena-Purcell, Ph.D., of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. “This most recently was exemplified by our launching wellness programs across all agency offices in Texas.”

The Cancer Alliance of Texas (CAT) introduced the Texas A&M School of Public Health to the opportunity to become CEO Gold Standard Accredited and was extremely helpful during the process.

“We will be sharing the guidebook with other CAT members and providing guidance on how state-wide organizations might seek accreditation,” said co-author Samuel Towne, Jr., Ph.D., assistant professor at the Texas A&M School of Public Health and a CAT member.

Deborah Vollmer Dahlke, Dr.P.H. who is the past chair of CAT, assisted in the development and review of the guidebook in terms of its relevance to organizations committed to cancer prevention and control throughout Texas.