Augusta University Medical Center has earned CEO Cancer Gold Standard reaccreditation for maintaining a strong commitment to the health of its employees. The medical center has been a Gold Standard healthy employee since 2014.

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit organization of CEOs founded by former President George H.W. Bush, developed and administers the Gold Standard, an employee wellness accreditation program that addresses cancer in the workplace.

“We are so proud to receive this approval for our efforts in maintaining workplace wellness for our employees,” said Interim Chief Executive Officer Dr. Phillip Coule. “Our workers matter to us, and we are committed to fostering a culture of education and prevention to improve the health of our staff and their family.”

To earn Gold Standard accreditation, an employer must establish programs to reduce cancer risk by taking concrete actions in five key areas: establishing policies and programs to reduce cancer risk by prohibiting tobacco use and supporting tobacco cessation efforts; promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition and weight management; providing health insurance options that include detecting cancer at its earliest stages, access to quality care and participation in cancer clinical trials; promoting employee awareness of these initiatives; and supporting the needs of cancer survivors in the workplace.

Augusta University and its affiliated health system have made major investments in cancer in recent years to make it fertile ground to produce the next big advancement in cancer research and clinical care. Furthermore, the mission of the university’s Georgia Cancer Center is to reduce the burden of cancer in Georgia and across the globe through superior care, innovation and education.