More than Medicine

Bringing Smiles: Mra

2012-02-07T15:21:25Z

GSK PULSE Volunteer, Len is back working with a non-profit organization, Rotaplast, to provide pre-operative and post-operative pediatric care for cleft palate surgeries in Bangladesh.

Shuveecha (greetings) from Bangladesh! The mission is now in full swing with patients coming in and out of the operation room and the wards full of children and their families. It's wonderful to walk among the hospital beds attending to the children as they recover from their surgery and speaking with the families.

Our patient mix is varied; mostly cleft lip and palate surgery, but also a good number of surgeries to separate congenital fused fingers (syndactly) and to release scars from burns that have caused joint contractures.

One of our patients operated on yesterday is 12-year old Mra. She lives in the rural Hill Tract Khagrachari area 5 hours by from Chittagong where her parents are farmers and extremely poor. Mra is one of nine children in the family, but four of her siblings died as toddlers from diarrhea and other infectious diseases. Most likely some of the children died from rotavirus, a GI virus that causes 1 child to die every minute in underdeveloped areas of the world.

Fortunately, there are now two rotavirus vaccines available to prevent rotavirus and supranational organizations like PATH are working to introduce these vaccines at minimal cost in low incomes countries. I am very proud that GlaxoSmithKline developed one of these rotavirus vaccines, and that our vaccine is being used to prevent illness and death like that which occurred in Mra's family.

When Mra was one year old, an oil lantern in her home fell over while she was asleep and caused severe burns to both legs and ankles. Mra's parents could not afford to get her treated by a doctor and she was left with scars on her right lower leg and left ankle that make it impossible for her to open her right knee and to move the left ankle. As a result Mra can barely walk. To add salt to the wound, Mra has never attended school because she cannot walk to it.

A few weeks ago, a neighbor in her village spotted a poster hanging on the fence at a nearby army base that was advertising this Rotaplast mission. The neighbor told Mrs's parents and her father contacted the army base. Six other families in the area similarly contacted the army base about their children's surgical conditions. A captain at the army base called the Chittagong Rotary club and arranged for all seven children and their families to come to our screening clinic. In a stroke of good luck, all seven children qualify for surgery and will be operated on by the Rotaplast team this week.

Mra's father told us that he had no money to travel here and he is grateful that the army drove him and the other families five hours in a jeep to come to our hospital. The dad has a cell phone (like everyone else here) and he will contact the army base when he needs a ride back to his village. Dad expressed his gratitude for the staff at the hospital not only for the surgery to help his daughter regain the ability to walk, but also for the hospital staff who are giving him (and all of the other families) vouchers for food.

Mra's operation yesterday involved cutting away the scars behind her right knee and over her left ankle, and the wounds were covered with skin grafts taken from her belly. Mra is doing remarkably well today and the pain medicines she is receiving are keeping her very comfortable. To keep Mra busy we brought her some paper and crayons. Mra had never seen a crayon or pencil before and we needed to show her how to color. She took to coloring like a flower does to water. You can see in the picture one of Mra's beautiful creations.

Bringing Smiles: Day 1 on the Ground

2012-02-06T15:43:15Z

GSK PULSE Volunteer, Len is back working with a non-profit organization, Rotaplast, to provide pre-operative and post-operative pediatric care for cleft palate surgeries in Bangladesh.

The Rotaplast team arrived in Chittagong yesterday after 24+ hours of travel. The team of 24 physicians, nurses and non-medical volunteers are an experienced group. I am amazed that many team members have gone on more than 20 other medical missions!

Today we set up the hospital and conducted our screening clinic. Upon arriving at the hospital this morning, we were greeted by a large crowd of children and their parents. We registered 223 patients, and over the next 12 hours all were evaluated by our plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, nurses, dentist and speech pathologist. We were not able to schedule surgery for half of the patients because what they require we cannot safely or effectively provide given the capabilities of our hospital which has no blood bank, lab, x-ray or pharmacy.

The good news is that around 100 patients met our criteria and are scheduled for surgery. As I expected, some of the children we operated on when I was here with Rotaplast last May came back to the clinic to be evaluated for a next-stage surgery. It was wonderful seeing them....attached are pictures of Subrina, Puja, Shajjadar, Humayun, Jannutaul, Arita and Nilardi, some of the children from the last mission who are scheduled for further surgery to make their smiles even more beautiful. Tomorrow is the first day of surgery.

A New Way of Looking

2012-01-31T16:20:55Z

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the opening of Van Gogh: Up Close at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I was doing double duty, that night. First, I was attending officially as part of GSK's representative team, because we are one of the corporate sponsors, along with Sun Life Financial. But also, more importantly, I was attending as an art lover. And this show did not disappoint.

Van Gogh looms large when you study the canon of art history. He's A Big Deal. He made Important Paintings. Paintings that people look at in a museum gallery and say "ah, yes, of course--that's a Van Gogh." I thought I knew him so what more could I possibly learn?

But what struck me as I wandered through the exhibit was not what I recognized, but, instead, what surprised me--as well as some of the assumptions made by the curators in organizing it. What we get to see are not only some familiar pictures and themes (sunflowers, for example), but also a number of pictures of grasses, flowers, and landscapes which force the viewer into a dance with space and perspective. He pulled the viewer's eye to the foreground to look at interesting details or used radical strategies to push our eyes around the painting in ways never done before. He cropped images to limit the depth of field, highlighting the way he used paint and brushstrokes, to maximum emotional impact. And throughout the exhibit are complementary works from artists who inspired him, (or, in the case of contemporary nature photographers, maybe not so much...).

For me it was best shown in a painting called "Almond Blossom" from 1890. It's in the permanent collection of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and was painted to celebrate the birth of his nephew and namesake. It is so hopeful, and stands out from much of Van Gogh's other works. I stopped in my tracks when I happened upon it.

I'm really glad GSK sponsored this exhibit (the fifth that we have sponsored at the museum). It speaks of our commitment to the communities in which we operate. In addition to our support for the arts, GSK also has the IMPACT Awards, which rewards nonprofits for providing access to healthcare for underserved populations, patient assistance programs, and the PULSE employee volunteer program. We also support K-12 education (STEM, literacy, and dropout prevention), civic and environmental programs. All of these things help contribute to a healthy community.

Van Gogh: Up Close opens tomorrow, February 1. Don't miss it.

Photo used with permission by the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases

2012-01-30T11:35:44Z

Today marked a significant event for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)--a call to arms of sorts.

Thirteen pharmaceutical companies; the US, UK, and UAE governments; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; the World Bank; and other global health organizations announced a new, coordinated push to work with the World Health Organization and endemic countries to fight 10 NTDs by 2020.

In London today, I participated in a meeting of partners who came together to stand united in this fight against lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), river blindness, blinding trachoma, intestinal parasites, schistosomiasis, leprosy, Guinea worm, visceral leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness, and Chagas disease. These are diseases that threaten more than one billion people in developing countries, causing tremendous illness, disability and death. They tax a heavy burden on already over-stretched and under-resourced health systems; yet they are diseases that we have the tools to fight!

Speaking on behalf of all the industry partners, GSK's CEO, Sir Andrew Witty, announced expanded and extended donations of medicines for control, elimination, or eradication of these 10 diseases. Collectively, our industry will supply all the drugs needed through the end of the decade.

In addition to donation of necessary medicines, pharma partners pledged to advance research and development to find new and improved treatments for NTDs.

I have worked with GSK's albendazole donation program for over 10 years, and today made me even prouder to be a part of this global effort. All too often in my travels to endemic countries, I've seen children facing multiple diseases: a child carrying a heavy intestinal worm infection, for example, also living in fear of severe disfigurement from LF. It therefore makes good sense for us to work together. With flexibility and eagerness, we can and will make a marked difference in the communities threatened by these once neglected diseases.

Bringing Smiles: Returning to Bangladesh with a Purpose

2012-01-26T16:04:14Z

GSK PULSE Volunteer, Len is back working with a non-profit organization, Rotaplast, to provide pre-operative and post-operative pediatric care for cleft palate surgeries in Bangladesh.

Nine months ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer as a pediatrician on medical missions with Rotaplast, a non-profit humanitarian organization providing free reconstructive cleft palate/cleft lip operations and treatment for children in need worldwide. The volunteer work took place in rural hospitals in Udaipur, India and Chittagong, Bangladesh and was supported by GlaxoSmithKline's PULSE Volunteer Partnership. Volunteer work is encouraged at GSK where our goal is to run a responsible, values-based business. The PULSE program empowers employees to make a sustainable difference for communities and patients--and supports employees' development--during an immersion experience.

Soon I embark on the 2012 phase of my PULSE assignment--I will be returning with Rotaplast to Chittagong, Bangladesh. The Rotaplast mission to Bangladesh will take place from Jan 29 through February 11 at the Nurture Center for Disabled and Paralyzed in Chittagong. Chittagong is a port city in Southwestern Bangladesh, the country's second largest city, its busiest seaport, and among the ten fastest growing cities in the world. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The country has a stable, growing economy, but living standards have yet to improve for the poorest and most vulnerable segments of its population of over 165 million. About 40% of the population lives on under $1 a day.

My previous Rotaplast experience in Bangladesh last May was exceptional and I look forward to returning, along with a surgeon from Ohio and an anesthesiologist from California (and 20 new colleagues). Last year we operated on 105 patients, creating new smiles, and improving the lives of terrific children and their warm, friendly and resilient families. Our local hosts were generous with their time and support for the economically disadvantaged people in the country. It is estimated that there are approximately 300,000 individuals in Bangladesh with untreated cleft lips and palates.

Rotaplast's approach to sustainability includes educating and collaborating with local physicians and nurses and counseling families about how to prevent cleft palate anomalies. Also, when we return to a center we see if patients we operated on earlier would benefit from additional surgery. It will be wonderful to see many children and their families from our last mission. One of the children we operated on and her parents are pictured in the photo--before her surgery and after with her new smile!

I have been in touch with local doctors I met last May in Chittagong asking them to pre-identify patients and check for nutritional anemia. Malnutrition is a serious issue in Bangladeshand it is not safe to operate on patients with severe anemia. Hopefully the local doctors can start the children on iron supplements so they can be cleared for surgery.

In case you are wondering, a cleft is the separation of the parts of the lip or roof of the mouth that usually comes together during the early weeks of pregnancy. A cleft lip can range in severity from a slight notch in the red part of the upper lip to a complete separation of the lip extending into the nose. A cleft can occur on one or both sides of the upper lip. A cleft palate (roof of the mouth) may occur as part of the cleft lip deformity or as an isolated cleft palate.

Other congenital malformations can be associated with cleft lip and palate. There are a number of reasons for the cleft anomaly including a genetic predisposition, diet, lack of adequate vitamins especially folic acid, smoking while pregnant, and pollution. A genetic predisposition can be triggered by any of these factors thus increasing the chance for the cleft anomaly to appear more frequently among those who are poor.

I recently read the book "Drive" written by Daniel Pink (Riverhead Books, 2009), which is a thought-provoking book about motivation. I was struck by the following passage: "We know that human beings are not merely smaller, slower, better smelling horses galloping after that day's carrot. We know--if we've spent time with young children or remember ourselves at our best--that we're not destined to be passive and compliant. We're designed to be active and engaged. And we know the richest experiences in our lives aren't when we're clamoring for validation from others, but when we're listening to our own voice--doing something that matters, doing it well, and doing it in the service of a cause larger than ourselves." Having the great fortune to volunteer with Rotaplast and to have the support of GSK brings to me a tremendous feeling of purpose.

I plan to blog here on More Than Medicine every few days. The Rotaplast team also have a blog at Chittagong Blog. I look forward to sharing my stories.

One Goal: One Million

2012-01-12T15:22:18Z

Though I've heard the statistic many times, I always I find it staggering to think that Africa has to cope with 24 percent of the world's disease burden, with only 3 percent of the world's health care workers. This is a heart breaking fact that speaks to why every year millions of people suffer--and in many cases die--from preventable or curable diseases. We must do more to improve access to basic health care, particularly in rural communities in developing countries.

Yesterday, I was proud to be in Washington, DC to participate in the launch of the Frontline Health Workers Coalition, a group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have come together to urge greater, more strategic investment in health workers who are often the first and only point of contact for medical care in their communities, and who can provide a "cost-effective way to save lives and foster a healthier, safer and more prosperous world." The Frontline Health Worker Coalition, along with a group of private sector companies, hopes to do their part to fill the gap of one million health workers in the developing world.

Private companies investing in training for health workers is nothing new. At GSK, one of the programs we are most proud of is our commitment to reinvest 20 percent of our profits in the world's Least Developed Countries back into programs that train and develop health workers in those countries, working with Save the Children, CARE and AMREF. Last year we reinvested approximately $6 million. This investment could support the training of between 7,000 - 10,000 health workers each year.

What was new was that GSK, together with seven other private sector companies--BD, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and Intel--have come together in a new partnership with the US government to help address the shortage of frontline health workers in the developing world. This sort of collaboration is an exciting and open new approach--one we hope we'll see more of in the future.

Some might think that's just philanthropy aimed at improving our reputation. But for GSK, investing in health systems for developing countries is not only good for patients; it also makes good business sense. Our investments in the world's least developed countries help ensure that we have a sustainable and successful business that will grow with those countries. The launch of the Frontline Health Workers Coalition, and the many partners and external experts who showed up to support the coalition yesterday exemplified how different organizations can share the same goal and provide different but equally valuable contributions to one goal: improving healthcare around the world.

Read some of the coverage here, here, and here.

Wisely Abaker, 4, is receiving treatment for Malaria at the Save the Children-supported Mvolo Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) in Western Equatoria, Southern Sudan. Wisely was suffering from abdominal pain, fever, weakness and poor appetite when his mother brought the family to the Mvolo PHCC Inpatient Ward. The Mvolo PHCC is a Government of Southern Sudan medical facility supported by Save the Children. 1 December 2009

Photo by: Jenn Warren

Topping Off the Year

2011-12-20T14:54:41Z

It's not the typical work day when I don a hard hat and get mud on my shoes.

Friday, December 16, was a pretty cool day (literally and figuratively). It was the "Topping Off" ceremony for GSK's future Philadelphia home at Five Crescent Drive in the Navy Yard. Representatives from GSK, Liberty Property Trust, and LF Driscoll, along with about 80

construction workers, signed the final steel beam. And then the beam was hoisted WAY up in the air, waving around in the wind, until its final resting place at the top of the building. Two men were at the top waiting to secure the beam in place. I almost got vertigo just looking at them and was suddenly quite grateful for my safe office job.

On top of the beam stands an evergreen tree signifying the safe completion of the structure. This being mid-December, it looks suspiciously like a Christmas tree. But this tree tradition in the construction world actually has nothing to do with Christmas traditions.

Bill Hankowsky, Liberty's Chairman and CEO, thanked the workers for their contributions and the amazing progress on the building. Back in June, we had stood at the same site, looking at a big pile of dirt.

Speaking of dirt, next came the muddy part. A flock of GSK employees, including NA Pharma President Deirdre Connelly, traipsed through the grounds to the stairway and walked up to the third floor. What a view! Ships and water on one side, Center City on the other side. And there will be no need for traffic reports for 95--just look out the window (once there are windows)!

Too soon, the celebration was over. Now we can start thinking about the next big celebration - the grand opening--as we prepare for our move at the end of next year.

Good Help Is Not Hard to Find

2011-12-06T19:52:16Z

While it may be difficult to find free or affordable healthcare services, it is not impossible.

This week, employees at GlaxoSmithKline held two special ceremonies to honor ten outstanding healthcare nonprofit organizations in Philadelphia and North Carolina that work hard every day to offer vital healthcare services to those who are in need.

The winning organizations in Philadelphia include:

Legal Clinic for the Disabled, Inc.
Phoenixville Healthcare Access Foundation
Support Center for Child Advocates
Water Street Health Services

The North Carolina recipients are:

The Healing Place of Wake County

Helping Hand Clinic Inc.

Housing for New Hope, Inc.

Moore Free Care Clinic, Inc.

North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc.

Senior PharmAssist, Inc.

During the ceremonies, the men and women who work at each of the ten organizations were very humble and, at times, a bit overwhelmed by all the attention. But they deserved it. The services that they provide and the number of hours spent in doing so are immeasurable.

Each organization was awarded $40,000. In accepting their awards, representatives from each organization thanked GSK for recognizing their efforts and vowed to continue in their fight in providing free or affordable healthcare services to those who needed it the most. And to that we say, 'keep up the good work.'

To qualify for a GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT award, organizations must be located in the eligible counties and have a primary mission to provide access to community healthcare services. Each applicant must have annual total operating expenses between $160,000 and $3 million, and have been in existence as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for at least five years.

All organizations are recognized for the success and achievements of their existing overall body of work, not just for new or specific initiatives. A panel of healthcare delivery experts and GlaxoSmithKline representatives determine the winners based on a strong demonstration of ongoing success in providing access to healthcare, commitment to serving people in need, facilitation of healthcare delivery, creative partnerships and policy development, and a solid record of achievement, management and leadership.

Nobel Work

2011-10-03T15:21:34Z

UPDATE: Apparently Dr. Steinman died a few days ago, and the committee was not aware. Whatever the outcome of the award with this latest development (Nobels are not awarded posthumously), Dr. Steinman's work is important. Out thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues.

Congratulations to Bruce Beutler (US), Jules Hoffmann (France), and Ralph Steinman (Canadian born, but based in the US), three scientists who share the Nobel Prize in medicine. The Nobel Committee announced the award at Stockholm's Karolinska Institute. According to the NY Times, the work of the three scientists has "enabled the development of improved vaccines against infectious diseases. In the long term they could also yield better treatments of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and chronic inflammatory diseases."

Great news for patients--let's hear it for innovation!

PULSE: Global Perspective Brings Local Appreciation

2011-10-03T15:00:35Z

GSK PULSE Volunteer Kerry spent time in La Paz, Bolivia last year working with Pro Mujer. The PULSE Volunteer Partnership Program is an integral part of GSK's commitment to serving communities around the world by empowering high-performing employees to volunteer their professional expertise towards sustainable change in the areas of healthcare, education, and the environment.

When I first heard Andrew Witty, the CEO of GSK, talk about PULSE, I knew I wanted to participate. I was aware of the support that GSK provides to the developing world and this was my chance to be a part of that work. Andrew has since mentioned that GSK has been sending product and monetary donations to non-profits and NGOs for quite some time. However, PULSE now also sends our most valuable resource--our people. So far, PULSE has sent nearly 200 GSK employees from 26 different countries working with 58 non-profit and NGOs in 39 countries.

Like most PULSE volunteers, I chose to do a six-month international assignment. I went to La Paz, Bolivia, to work with Pro Mujer, an international, non-profit women's development and microfinance organization with some of the most amazing people. While working at Pro Mujer, my role was to evaluate how the organization purchases, distributes, stores, and sells their medications to 65 health clinics throughout the country. In addition to the financial services and business and empowerment training it provides to women in impoverished communities across Latin America, Pro Mujer also provides access to high-quality, low-cost primary health care services and preventive health education. I then helped develop a more efficient medication purchasing, stocking, sales and tracking system. Ultimately, I lived the GSK mission of 'do more, feel better, live longer' by helping women and children in Bolivia to recover sooner from illness so they could return to their daily lives-- working and providing for themselves and their families.

I moved to La Paz--a city that sits at more than 14,000 feet--on June 18, 2010. It's a surreal experience coming down into La Paz from the airport in El Alto. La Paz is a bowl-shaped city with apartment buildings and taxis just like any other. However, there are of course large cultural differences. Adjusting to just about everything took some time--altitude, climate (I landed in the middle of winter), food, transportation, and general 'Bolivianisms.' One 'Bolivianism' is the ritual greeting. I worked in an open area with about 12 people. The ritual greeting is a kiss on the cheek. It' a lovely greeting, yet some days I felt funny kissing 12 people. Did I mention every single morning to say hello and every afternoon to say good bye?

You learn a lot about yourself when you are in an environment very far out of your comfort zone--I returned in December of 2010 back to the LA area of California. Although I am glad to be back, I feel different. I now appreciate more fully all that we have here and try to keep that in my daily perspective. With a global vision, I hope to bring a different outlook to my work within GSK vaccines and to my personal interactions with friends, family and strangers. I'mforever grateful to GSK and Pro Mujer for supporting such a program like PULSE and the personal and professional development opportunity it provides for people like me.

I am often asked, "What one thing helped you the most with your adjustment to La Paz?? I always reply that my sense of humor helped me get through the sometimes awkward conversations, misunderstandings or outright confusion. I grew to enjoy and treasure my friends and the community I had created. Now, I miss all that made La Paz so special--my cubicle, hanging my laundry to dry, sharing a minibus with strangers on my rides to work, drinking soda and/or juice with every meal and of course--the kissing greeting.

Preserving the Success of Medicare Part D

2011-10-03T14:48:04Z

The constant news stories about our sluggish economy, high rate of unemployment and federal budget deficit are enough to make optimists start seeing the world as half empty. Yet amidst all this negative news, some things are actually working well.

Take Medicare Part D. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the program costs 41 percent less than originally projected and several recent studies show that the program is increasing access to medicines while lowering healthcare costs and improving health. You can watch a great new video on the success of Medicare Part D and the following studies provide even more excellent data.

· A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that each year Part D prescription drug coverage saves Medicare about $1,200 in lower hospital, nursing home and other medical for each senior who previously lacked comprehensive prescription drug coverage. According to other experts, this equals about $12 billion per year in savings across Medicare.

· A study by Harvard Medical School researchers published in Health Services Research found that in the 23 states for which the researchers had data, hospitalization rates declined by 4.1 percent, or by 42,000 annual admissions, across 8 conditions that are sensitive to medication adherence such as diabetes, COPD, asthma and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Researchers concluded that access to prescription coverage under Medicare Part D has had positive clinical benefits, improving beneficiaries' underlying health, and reducing their need for hospital care.

Lawmakers in DC continue to advocate for mandated rebates in Part D as a way to fix our nation's budget deficit. As I noted in an earlier blog post, if the proposal is adopted, premiums are expected to rise for beneficiaries and thousands of high-quality jobs could be lost. Additionally, mandating rebates in Part D would hamper the biopharmaceutical industry's ability to continue investing dollars in the research and development of life-saving and -improving medicines and vaccines.

Medicare cost savings are just one bright spot in our economy. Research and development of new medicines and vaccines continues to be a collaborative effort between the government and the pharmaceutical industry. In 2009, the private sector invested $65.3B. Another $30.5B was spent by the National Institutes of Health. Cultivating and maintaining an environment in the US that encourages research and development will allow us to remain a leader in medical innovation, and help our nation move forward.

Medicare Part D's competitive, market-based structure is working well--and should be preserved.

PULSE: Making a Life By What We Give

2011-09-29T16:55:00Z

GSK PULSE Volunteer Julia is applying her organizational research and development expertise to put a strategic edge on the agency dashboard for Save the Children. The PULSE Volunteer Partnership Program is an integral part of GSK's commitment to serving communities around the world by empowering high-performing employees to volunteer their professional expertise towards sustainable change in the areas of healthcare, education and the environment.

Beginning Work in Westport

It is rewarding to work with other professionals who are so committed to helping children in need. As Winston Churchill noted, 'We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.'

I am on a 3-month away-from-home assignment that has taken me from Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina to Westport, Connecticut to work with Save the Children. As I started my assignment, I was filled with a sense of adventure--open to learning with others through a collaborative process. I also appreciate the trust that Save the Children has extended to invite me into their organization and help lead work that can significantly improve decision-making capacity at the senior levels in the organization. This work has been well-received because it can ultimately help fulfill their mission to improve the quality of life for children in need. Save the Children has domestic and global programs in the areas of health, education, nutrition, and child rights.

As I move from corporate to non-profit work, I am face-to-face with hard truths that feel like a wakeup call every day. For example, in a meeting, a senior leader asked "do you know what the daily life of the 8-10 million children dying each year from preventable causes is like?"

I am struck by the loss that so many parents and grandparents must face every day. In balance, the numbers of children dying 30 years ago was three times higher. This understanding has fueled me to work for a greater good, to be a positive part of the change. I am confident that through continued collaboration, across non-profit and for-profit organizations, government agencies, and local communities, we can continue to bring a positive, sustainable change to many issues that face the children across the globe today.

The Voice of the Customers
I've begun a series of interviews to understand what's working and where improvements could be made. There are several stakeholder groups: the board, senior leaders, direct reports to senior leaders, and dashboard contacts. Though each stakeholder group brings a different perspective, they all have a vested interest in a creating a strategic dashboard that helps accelerate the reach and impact of programs for children in need.

Within the first few interviews, it is clear that any change to the dashboard will require the support of all the stakeholder groups. To get their support, I will need to understand their diverse values, concerns and aspirations.

In the past few weeks, I have felt a tidal wave of support at all levels for creating a strategic dashboard that gets to the heart of the matter. There is a willingness to own the dashboard, to use the metrics, to support organizational growth, and to align reward systems with the results.

In order to ensure that the dashboard is used as envisioned, there are three critical steps ahead. First, the stakeholders that provided feedback during interviews will receive a summary report. This will help clarify the current and desired state. Second, stakeholders will be asked to send questions to be used as input for a series of "Hot House" meeting. Finally, during the Hot House meetings, stakeholders will make final decisions about key performance metrics, uses of the dashboard, and avenues for communication of key messages.

My PULSE journey is only halfway over, yet it's already been a life-changing experience. Here're a few key things I learned--and hope to live by even after the assignment is over:

· Focus on what matters most and work collaboratively. Be willing to risk letting go of the rest. It's a good investment.

· Flourish so your family and work can flourish. Take time to appreciate what you have and take care of yourself. When your energy is positive and strong, growth will follow personally and professionally.

· Stay aware. While we did not create the issues we are trying to solve, be it famine in Africa or diseases across the world, we can have a mindset that enables us to be a positive force for change. When someone says "People are starving in Africa," you can choose to finish the sentence with a new story that is not about the food on your plate.

National RLS Awareness Week is Sept 18-24

2011-09-20T18:11:31Z

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, up to 10% of the US population may have some form of a neurological condition known as Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). This medical condition causes them to feel an urge to move their legs, usually associated with uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in their legs. Their symptoms often begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity-meaning they have difficulty relaxing or lying down comfortably. The symptoms are worse or occur only in the evening or night, and are partially or totally relieved by movement (such as walking or stretching), at least as long as the activity continues.

Unfortunately, some people with RLS quit doing activities they once enjoyed such as taking long trips, going to sporting events, or going to movies.

RLS is not well understood by the public or even by some who have the condition. So in recognition of Restless Legs Syndrome Awareness Week, we want to spread the word that there are a number of lifestyle changes and other alternatives-as well as educational resources - that may help. Only a doctor can diagnose this condition, so it's important for patients to share as much information as possible with their physicians.

As just a few examples of lifestyle changes that might help, some patients benefit from walking, stretching, taking hot or cold baths, massage, limiting alcohol intake, and avoiding caffeine.

If you think that you or someone you know might be affected by this condition, it's important to consult a healthcare professional and...pardon the pun...take the first step by learning more. Additional online resources include:

RestlessLegs.com; Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation; We Move: Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

First in Health--The Medical Home Approach to Disease Management

2011-08-29T18:37:57Z

Earlier today I participated in the North Carolina Institute of Medicine's annual meeting where a significant new private-public partnership was announced by North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services Lanier Cansler.

GSK is part of this new initiative called "First in Health." It's aimed at demonstrating how the "medical home" approach and health information technology can improve care for people with chronic diseases--and hold down the cost of providing that care.

The partnership is being led by Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC). CCNC is a nonprofit known for providing North Carolina's Medicaid program with on-the-ground care management, health information technology infrastructure and population-based health initiatives that have improved quality and saved Medicaid nearly $1.5 billion over just three years. CCNC's performance is in the top 10 percent nationally in HEDIS measures for diabetes, asthma and heart disease, compared to private Medicaid managed care organizations. If you'd like to learn more about CCNC and learn from its experience, take a look at its tool kit.

Now, we are joining with the pharmacy chain Kerr Drug, SAS, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and the State of North Carolina Health Plan in an effort to realize similar quality and cost-saving benefits for our employees, their dependents and our retirees. The objective is to show that by changing the way care is delivered and by increasing the focus on managing chronic diseases, which account for 75% of the nation's healthcare spending, outcomes can be improved and costs can be reduced. To evaluate the program's impact on cost and quality, the Brookings Institution will be performing an analysis.

At GSK, we're excited because we think the First in Health model with its emphasis on a medical home, effective use of health information technology and care coordination will make an important contribution to improving health and keeping benefits affordable.

GSK & Urban Ministries of Wake County: A Partnership that Really is More Than Medicine.

2011-08-02T17:33:13Z

I believe each of us has an obligation to give back and GSK's PULSE volunteer program is a continuation to my long standing commitment to doing just that. How lucky for me that I was matched with a partner agency that is a human service organization! I grew up the daughter of a social worker and have a special interest in addressing the adverse effects of poverty.

I have had the fortune of being selected as a PULSE volunteer for Urban Ministries of Wake County in Raleigh, NC working alongside the development department to revamp marketing communications. Urban Ministries has hosted three other PULSE volunteers. GSK PULSE alumni have assisted with the implementation of automated appointment scheduling, improved the integrated voice response system for the telephones, and reduced the time it takes for patients to receive important lab results.

After welcoming me, the medical director of the Open Door Clinic mentioned he was often struck by the countless ways GSK and Urban Ministries were connected. For starters, Urban Ministries--a non-profit human services organization that alleviates the effects of poverty in Wake County by meeting people's basic needs for food, shelter, and healthcare, providing services that promote self-sufficiency and building awareness of the issues of poverty within the larger community by leveraging financial support with volunteers and in-kind contributions--has received the GSK IMPACT award for excellence in community healthcare.

He recalled a time earlier in his career when he served as the onsite occupational medical director at Burroughs Welcome providing services to the employees in RTP and in Zebulon. But for the most part, I assumed the connection he was primarily referencing involved the $750,000 dollars of donated GSK medicine that he and his physician colleagues prescribe to low income, uninsured patients treated at the clinic each year. However, it didn't take me long to discover that the connectivity extended well beyond our pharmaceuticals.

Urban Ministries touches the lives of over 23,000 Wake County neighbors in crisis annually. Last year, GSK employees assisted with these relief efforts through individual financial contributions and company matched gifts. The GSK Response Center and Promotion Management Department contributed 273 pounds of food to the Urban Ministries' Food Pantry that provides 8,200 families each year with a week's worth of groceries. Medical supplies like peak flow meters, respiratory kits, and blood pressure monitors from GSK also support the oldest and largest free healthcare clinic in the county.

In addition to the product and financial contributions, GSK has a number of professionals among the 1,200 volunteers who contribute hours of time and care to the patients of the Open Door Clinic. To name a few...

Glenn, a physician, volunteered as a pulmonologist at the Open Door Clinic from 2005 until his appointment this summer as Medical Director of GSK in Canada. GSK encourages employee physicians to stay engaged in patient care by allowing time off to volunteer in clinical practice. Glenn commented that for him the opportunity to volunteer here allowed science and patient care to intersect in the most inspiring way. He felt most rewarded seeing GSK medicines help the people he treated to end the revolving door of asthma and COPD hospital visits and often return to a more productive life.

Craig, a GSK R&D Project and Portfolio Manager, serves as a pharmacist for the Open Door Clinic. After seventeen years with Urban Ministries, Craig still finds it very fulfilling to be a part of the spectrum of pharmaceutical care through both developing drugs at GSK and providing direct patient care through the clinic pharmacy.

Debbie works with Environment Health and Safety at GSK and is a nurse volunteer in the evening clinic at Urban Ministries once a month. As her job responsibilities changed at GSK over the years, she found herself moving away from her passion, direct patient care. Volunteering at the clinic allows her to reconnect with patients and stay current on new therapies and changes in disease management. She is particularly drawn to the opportunity to teach patients how to better manage their chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Debbie even rallied her fellow nurses within the North Carolina Association of Occupational Nurses to volunteer, raise funds for the clinic and gather food for the pantry.

Luz, a GSK R&D employee in Screening and Compound Profiling, spends the third Thursday of each month at Urban Ministries as an interpreter for clients in need of assistance. Her language skills have helped bridge the communication gap for clients in need for over 10 years! And Alex also provides interpretation for Urban Ministries teaching diabetes education classes twice a month for Spanish speaking patients.

As you can see, GSK and Urban Ministries are woven together in many ways...through product, through professionals, but most of all through a shared passion of making a difference in people's lives.