On August 31st, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation convened experts from the business and health communities and leaders of the National Health Security Preparedness Index to discuss how health security issues like disasters and disease epidemics impact the U.S. economy and can influence key business decisions. This highly interactive discussion highlighted how private sector leaders can utilize the latest health security information to support their bottom lines and community preparedness.

The webinar provided real-life examples of company policies that support a healthy workforce, minimize the impact of unplanned absences, and help businesses quickly resume operations after large-scale emergencies—such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or infectious disease outbreaks.

Speakers included:

Chris Bollinger, PhD, MS
University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics (Gatton Professor of Economics)

Marc DeCourcey
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (Senior Vice President)

Jennifer Esposito, MS
Intel Corporation (Worldwide General Manager, Health and Life Sciences)

Lars Powell, PhD
Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research at the University of Alabama (Director)

Glen Mays, PhD, MPH (moderator)
Director, NHSPI Program Management Office, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado (formerly at the University of Kentucky)
Professor and Chair, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado

Continue to follow the conversation on Twitter at @NHSPIndex.