Business Group on Health

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

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.

Every year, the American Cancer Society publishes Cancer Facts & Figures, an annual report that shares where we are in the collective fight against cancer. Led by Dr. William Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society, the 2024 report reveals the good news, like the reduction in overall cancer mortality; alongside some bad news, that a record two million people will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

In this Business Group on Health podcast, Dr. Dahut explains these key findings and more, including why cancer outcomes are improving, more effective approaches to screening, how artificial intelligence can help diagnose cancer sooner, and why these insights are so important for employers and employees alike.

Guest: William L. Dahut, MD, Chief Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society

Thank you to the episode sponsor Color Health.

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.

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Guest: Dr. Chiadi Ndumele, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Cardiologist, Johns Hopkins University