The CEO Roundtable on Cancer has accredited The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, with the CEO Cancer Gold Standard, recognizing its efforts to reduce the risk of cancer for its employees and covered family members.

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit organization of CEOs, founded by former President George H.W. Bush, developed and administers the Gold Standard, a workplace accreditation program which encourages and recognizes the commitment of organizations that take concrete actions to address cancer in their workplaces. Nearly 200 private, nonprofit and government employers in a wide range of occupational categories have earned Gold Standard accreditation, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a number of NCI-designated cancer centers.

“The Ohio State University is leading by example in promoting healthier behavior,” said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer of Amgen and chairman of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer. “I hope the leadership and commitment of President Drake and the teams at Ohio State and Wexner Medical Center will inspire other universities and medical centers to become Gold Standard accredited.”

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.

In addition to NCI and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 NCI-designated cancer centers and more than 100 other hospitals have earned Gold Standard accreditation. CEOs from many industries are keenly aware of the life-improving impact they can have on health and controlling healthcare costs when they address cancer and other chronic diseases. The University of North Dakota, the first University to earn Gold Standard accreditation, joins The Ohio State University and the other Gold Standard universities and school districts, including Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Minot State University, North Dakota College of Science, Oregon Health & Science University, Quinnipiac University—North Haven Campus, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health and the School District of Palm Beach County.