HERSHEY, Pa. — More than 30 top business leaders from central Pennsylvania gathered at Penn State Children’s Hospital on Aug. 28 for the 2018 United Way of the Capital Region CEO Summit. Dr. Craig Hillemeier, dean, CEO and senior vice president for health affairs and chairman of the 2018 Capital Region campaign, led a wide-ranging look at health care trends.
Topics included emerging technology, patient safety, assessing community health care needs and providing free health exams for all. Phil Guarneschelli, president and CEO of UPMC Pinnacle and vice chair of the campaign, served as cohost of the event. The CEOs of Highmark Blue Shield, PNC Financial Services Group, Deloitte Consulting and Hersha Group were among the participants.
Hillemeier’s talk centered on prevention and ways to inform the community, especially at-risk populations, about programs available through local health care organizations via the United Way.
“We really want to have an emphasis on patient wellness.” explained Hillemeier. “Our job is ensuring that people have a long and healthy life.”
He put special focus on the deadly opioid epidemic, saying, “Estimates say more than 72,000 people have died from drug overdoses in 2017, more than all our soldiers who died in the Vietnam War. We need everyone’s help to stem the tide.”
The presentations were interspersed with lively Q&A sessions and ended with an appeal by Timothy Fatzinger, United Way of the Capital Region president and CEO, for the business leaders to support the 2018 campaign to the fullest. He asked them to spread the word to their employees and communities about United Way programs and the value of pledging time and money.
“Whenever we ask competitors to gather around this table, they respond to a higher calling and join together for the common good,” Fatzinger said.
Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine’s annual United Way campaign kicks off on Monday, Sept. 17. The fundraising goal is $375,000 toward a community goal of $375,000. In addition to health care access, United Way supports basic needs, school readiness and workforce development.