Business Group on Health

Health and well-being can be improved by medicine, but can purpose and personal connection achieve similar effects? With the advent of social prescribing, a model of care delivery in which a health care professional formally prescribes non-clinical community activities, including artistic and active endeavors, medical professionals are testing a new way to improve employee well-being. In this episode, journalist Julia Hotz, author of The Connection Cure, explores social prescribing and shares how it can improve health outcomes for patients with depression, anxiety, diabetes, stress, and more. Guest: Julia Hotz, Journalist and author of The Connection Cure

Individuals with disabilities make up 16% of the world’s population. They face a stark health disparity as their life expectancy is 14 years shorter than those without disabilities. In this episode, Hannah Kuper, epidemiologist and Co-Founder of the Missing Billion Initiative, explores the intersection of disabilities and health, highlighting ways to close the health care gap. Tune in to learn how social determinants of health impact disability-inclusive health care, ways to improve access including innovative uses of AI and how multinational employers can consider this population when designing health and well-being strategies. Guest: Hannah Kuper, Co-founder of the Missing Billion Initiative, founder and co-director of the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

In a 2025 Advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General, alcohol use is highlighted as the leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States contributing to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year. In this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, we revisit two insightful conversations about the complex issue of alcohol use. Listen in as John Kelly from Harvard Medical School and Rachel Sayko Adams of Boston University School of Public Health discuss the cultural and psychological drivers of alcohol consumption, the rise in binge drinking among women, the “sober curious” movement and more. Learn about the optimal pathways to recovery and how employers can help support healthier choices. Guests: John Kelly, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry in Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Founder and Director of the Recovery Research Institute at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Rachel Sayko Adams, PhD, Research Associate Professor, Boston University School of Public Health

Historical biases in medicine have left a lasting imprint on women’s health. In our latest podcast episode, Dr. Elizabeth Comen, oncologist and medical historian, reveals how the systemic devaluation of women’s health—ranging from misdiagnoses to delays in treatment—continues to impact the quality and efficiency of care that women receive. Dr. Comen’s insights extend to show how these disparities impact the workforce. By more clearly identifying and understanding women’s unique health needs, organizations can better design health benefits and well-being strategies for greater impact and support. Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Comen, author of All in Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us About Women’s Bodies and Why It Matters

The impact of cognitive impairment and dementia in the workplace is on the rise. Due in part to an aging workforce – 62% of older Americans are still employed full-time – the importance of understanding Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is increasingly critical to HR leaders. Tune in as we sit down with Joanne Pike, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, to discuss the experiences of employees impacted by Alzheimer’s, both those living with this disease and those who are caregivers. She also shares how employers can better support these individuals through workplace culture and benefits. Listen now. Guest: Joanne Pike, DrPH, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association

Over 700,000 people die by suicide each year, many of whom are active participants in the global workforce. For employers, this is more than a statistic—it’s a call to action.?In this episode, Dr. Dan Reidenberg, Managing Director of the National Council for Suicide Prevention, reveals why employers must take action on suicide prevention. He also shares the significant financial and operational toll that untreated mental health issues bring to the workplace — $50 billion in annual costs and 68 million lost workdays — and how employers can foster a compassionate culture to reduce the stigma, help individuals better recognize warning signs, and provide access to effective care.? Guest: Dr. Dan Reidenberg, Managing Director of the National Council for Suicide Prevention

A full 35% of U.S. counties are maternity care deserts—regions that lack birthing facilities or obstetric clinicians, according to recent March of Dimes report, Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the US. Alarmingly, this may worsen as maternity units close nationwide and provider shortages persist, a trend that will further exacerbate poorer pre-pregnancy health, inadequate prenatal care, and higher preterm birth rates. In this podcast episode, Dr. Amanda Williams, Interim Chief Medical Officer at March of Dimes, explores the rise of maternity care deserts, the impact of doulas and midwives on maternal mortality and the strategies for improving patient access to care. Dr. Williams identifies ways that employers and others can help to improve maternity care by providing access to digital solutions and community resources, advocating for reimbursement reforms, and supporting value-based care models. Guest: Dr. Amanda Williams, Interim Chief Medical Officer at March of Dimes

In aggregate, employers are the largest payers of health care in the U.S. and subsidize other health insurance markets, yet they are often sidelined from the crucial conversations around health care policy and delivery matters. With another spending surge on the horizon, it is more important than ever for employers to lean into redefining care access and delivery. In our latest podcast episode, we talk about this and more with Paul Keckley, health care policy analyst and managing editor of The Keckley Report. We explore his article “Are employers ready to move from the back bench in U.S. health care?” and discuss the transformative actions that will drive meaningful change – a stronger voice and increased activism in delivery, the integration of social services and strategic engagement. Business Group on Health consistently offers insights on the critical role employers play in shaping the health care industry. Learn more about our perspective here. Guest: Paul H. Keckley, Managing Editor of The Keckley Report

For individuals that struggle with mental health, the intensity of the challenges often evolve over their lifetime due to triggers or phases of life. In this podcast we speak with Dr. Karen Swartz,psychiatrist and professor from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, about the continuum of mental health and common triggers, including those less often addressed, like regret and loss. Dr. Swartz also shares insight into the youth mental health crisis, the “dangerous levels” of stress that 41% of parents are experiencing, and more. Tune in to learn how Dr. Swartz’s experience and guidance can help employers more deeply understand the mental health challenges their employees and families are experiencing and better provide meaningful support. Guest: Dr. Karen Swartz, Director of Clinical and Educational Programs at the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Founder and Director of the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP)

Imagine having the foresight to prepare your organization for a flu outbreak days before it hits, just as you would for an impending storm. The Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA) at the CDC is pioneering this exact capability. In our latest podcast, we talk with Dr. Dylan George, Director of the CFA, who shares the parallels between disease forecasting and weather predictions and why the former could help employers to better safeguard their workforce in the future. Listen in to learn how the CFA’s advanced modeling tools can help to anticipate and mitigate health risks, and for real-world examples that illustrate how data-driven decisions can enhance employee safety and maintain productivity. Guest: Dylan George, Ph.D., Director for the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention