CARY, N.C. (04/06/2015) The CEO Roundtable on Cancer has accredited the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) in Pittsburgh, PA with the CEO Cancer Gold StandardTM recognizing the association’s efforts to reduce the risk of cancer for its employees and covered family members.
This nonprofit organization of CEOs, founded by former President George H.W. Bush, created the Gold Standard in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), many of its designated cancer centers, and other leading health organizations. The Gold Standard requires employers 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.
“We are pleased to recognize the efforts of Association of American Cancer Institutes and their dedication to health care that begins with improving the health and wellness of their own employees,” said Christopher A. Viehbacher, chairman of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer.
To earn Gold Standard accreditation, an employer must establish programs to reduce cancer risk by prohibiting tobacco use and supporting tobacco cessation efforts, further encouraging prevention by promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition and weight management; detecting cancer at its earliest stages; and providing access to quality care, including participation in clinical trials. Today, over four and a half million employees and family members are benefiting from the vision and leadership of 175 employers who have chosen to become Gold Standard accredited.
“AACI continually strives to build a culture of wellness in its workplace,” said AACI Executive Director Barbara Duffy Stewart, MPH. “We are very proud to be recognized by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer for our efforts and to count the CEO Roundtable among AACI’s sustaining members.”
In addition to NCI and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 NCI-designated cancer centers and more than 60 other hospitals have earned Gold Standard accreditation. CEOs from many industries are keenly aware of the life-improving impact they can have on health and controlling healthcare costs when they address cancer and other chronic diseases. Gold Standard employers include: Avis Budget Group, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Lowe’s, Aetna, State Farm, Hogan Lovells, Dell, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, SAS and many Blue Cross affiliates.
About the Association of American Cancer Institutes
AACI comprises 94 premier academic and freestanding cancer research centers in North America. AACI is dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer by enhancing the impact of the nation’s leading academic cancer centers.
About The CEO Roundtable on Cancer
The CEO Roundtable on Cancer was founded in 2001, when former President George H.W. Bush challenged a group of executives to “do something bold and venturesome about cancer within your own corporate families.” The CEOs responded by creating and encouraging the widespread adoption of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ which calls for organizations to evaluate their health benefits and workplace culture and take extensive, concrete actions in five key areas of health and wellness to address cancer in the workplace. For more information on the CEO Cancer Gold Standard and the free web-based accreditation process, please visit www.CancerGoldStandard.org.
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For more information:
CEO Roundtable on Cancer
Therese Martin, Project Manager
P: 919-531-3123
Therese.Martin@CEORoundtableOnCancer.org