Business Group on Health

Business Group on Health’s 2025 Employer Health Care Strategy survey reveals 89% of large employers intend to implement programs or strategies to support LGBTQ+ employees in their health and well-being initiatives. This focus is crucial, given the significant disparities faced by LGBTQ+ adults. In this podcast episode, Dr. Mitchell Lunn, a Stanford University physician and professor as well as the director of The PRIDE Study, a research initiative that assesses the health of over 29,000 sexual and gender minority adults in the U.S., shares the disparities in health and health care facing the LGBTQ+ community. This episode covers the implications for employers and how inclusive employee surveys can foster a more supportive work environment. Guest: Mitchell Lunn, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Nephrology) and of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford University School of Medicine, Co-director of The PRIDE Study Thank you to the episode sponsor, Aon.

Once rare in younger adults, colorectal cancer is increasingly affecting adults under 50, with the biggest increase in those aged 20-29. With many searching for answers, this growing health concern brings to light the unique challenges and comprehensive care needs of younger cancer patients. In this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, we speak with Dr. Robin Mendelsohn, Co-Director of the Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Mendelsohn explores lifestyle factors, genetic predispositions, and the ongoing research to uncover the potential reasons for this global trend. The discussion also emphasizes the critical role of early detection, coordinated care, and what employers need to know about prevention and treatment. Guest: Dr. Robin Mendelsohn, Co-Director of the Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Thank you to the episode sponsor, Aon.

Have you ever texted with a colleague from a different generation, only to receive an icy reply? Or perhaps an overzealous reply rife with emojis? With five generations represented in the modern-day workforce, this probably sounds familiar. Texting etiquette is just one, albeit very visible, example of the different expectations, experiences and needs of the intergenerational workforce. In this Business Group on Health podcast we speak with Dr. Megan Gerhardt, Professor of Management and Leadership at the Farmer School of Business at Miami University and the author of Gentelligence: A Revolutionary Approach to Leading an Intergenerational Workforce. In our discussion, Dr. Gerhardt shares ways to build trust amongst employees of all ages and create a culture and health and well-being benefits portfolio that acknowledges and supports the needs of employees at all life stages. Guest: Dr. Megan Gerhardt | Professor of Management and Leadership at the Farmer School of Business at Miami University |Author of Gentelligence: A Revolutionary Approach to Leading an Intergenerational Workforce Thank you to the episode sponsor Color Health.

Dr. William Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society, discusses the 2024 Cancer Facts & Figures report, highlighting both progress and setbacks in the fight against cancer. He reveals optimistic trends like declining mortality rates due to improved screenings and lifestyle changes while addressing the troubling rise in diagnoses, particularly among younger adults. The conversation includes insights on AI's role in early cancer detection, the critical need for consistent screenings, and the importance of reducing disparities in cancer outcomes.

Workplace well-being can only be achieved when the entire team – from leadership to specialists and everyone in between – works collaboratively with trust and commitment towards shared goals. In this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, we speak with Tim Cunningham, Interim Executive Director of Clowns Without Borders and former Co-Chief Well-being Officer at Emory Healthcare. Tim’s professional experience took him from clown to nurse to health care executive, and in this podcast he shares how his unique background informed his current focus on workplace well-being. Tim shares how leaders, including Chief Well-being Officers, can drive the cultural changes that impact employee well-being and professional fulfillment, ultimately improving outcomes. Guest: Tim Cunningham | DrPH, Interim Executive Director, Clowns Without Borders USA

Following 50 years of steady decline, cardiovascular mortality rates began to plateau in the past decade. Alarmingly, this plateau recently became an uptick, which many believe is due in part to cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome – a disease that 90% of adults meet criteria for but many may not have heard of. In this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, we talk with Dr. Chiadi Ndumele, board-certified cardiologist and lead author of the Presidential Advisory Report on Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health. Dr. Ndumele educates us on CKM syndrome, the overlap of obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and the cardiovascular system, as well as the need for increased awareness. He also shares ways to identify and treat genetic, social and environmental risk factors, and why education and understanding this condition is critical for patients of all ages. More Information: Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association – https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001184 PREVENT Online Calculator: https://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-and-statements/prevent-calculator Guest: Dr. Chiadi Ndumele, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Cardiologist, Johns Hopkins University

A February 2024 research review in JAMA Psychiatry identified perinatal mental health and substance use disorders, namely suicide and opioid overdoses, as the cause of nearly one in four maternal deaths. Reproductive psychiatrist, Dr. Emily Dossett, and executive director of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, Joy Burkhard, join this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast to broaden our understanding of this stunning, yet largely unrecognized, relationship. We also learn about other maternal mental health challenges, the impact social determinants of health have on perinatal mental health, and how employers can help support mothers and their families. More Information: Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health Reports and Fact Sheets: https://www.2020mom.org/reports JAMA Psychiatry Research Review: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2814936 Health Affairs Article on Perinatal Mental Health: https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01455 Guests: Dr. Emily Dossett | Reproductive Psychiatrist; Founder & Director, Reproductive Mental Health Program at the LA General Medical Center Joy Burkhard | Executive Director, Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health

It has been estimated that anywhere between 24 to 50 million Americans, the majority of whom are women, are affected by autoimmune diseases, with onset often occurring during their prime working years. Tune in to this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast to hear from Dr. Elizabeth Ortiz, a double-board certified rheumatologist and patient advocate. Dr. Ortiz shares the biggest challenges facing those with autoimmune diseases, research on why these conditions more often affect women, and how employers can support patients through health and well-being benefit programs. Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Ortiz | Rheumatologist l Founder, Connected Rheumatology

In response to the increased prevalence of pediatric obesity, the American Academy of Pediatrics published new comprehensive Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Obesity in 2023. In addition to urging pediatricians to more quickly offer treatment, the guideline identifies the secondary medical complications associated with obesity that children are experiencing, including hypertension, fatty liver disease, diabetes and arthritis. In this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, Dr. Ilene Fennoy, a pediatric endocrinologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center / New York-Presbyterian, explains the guidance, offers recommended treatment options and shares strategies for communicating care needs to parents, teens and young children. Thank you to today’s episode sponsor Abett. More Information: CDC Recognized Family Healthy Weight Programs: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/strategies/family-healthy-weight-programs.html Guest: Ilene Fennoy, MD | Pediatric Endocrinologist l Columbia University Irving Medical Center / New York-Presbyterian

As those who have experienced loss know, grieving for a family member or close friend doesn’t end when it’s time to go back to work. In the aftermath of the pandemic, many employers are building grief-informed strategies to better support their workforce during the grieving process. On this episode of the Business Group on Health podcast, Meghan Riordan Jarvis, a clinical psychotherapist and advocate for addressing grief, shares how employers can acknowledge and respond to grief at work with intention, and expands our definition of grief to include unresolved loss in the workplace. Thank you to today’s episode sponsor Abett. Guest: Meghan Riordan Jarvis | Clinical Psychotherapist and Author of The End of the Hour