Recently in Corporate Social Responsibility Category

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.