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National Summit on Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Focus on the Graduate Academic Environment

Dean's Office Forum and Lectures

Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
Location
Wolfe Street Building/W1214 (Sheldon Hall)
Online/Onsite
Past Event

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is convening subject matter experts from both Johns Hopkins University  and outside entities to discuss the state-of-the-art and state-of-science of workplace mental health and wellbeing as applied to the workforce in institutions of higher education. This summit will address the psychological and social factors impacting the mental health and wellbeing of faculty and staff working in higher education at the graduate-school level. Panelists will discuss best practices, evidence gaps, and practice solutions that address issues facing this group.

The summit will also be available for virtual attendance via Zoom. Register below.

Speakers

Profile photo of David Ballard

David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA

Scientific Advisor for Workforce Mental Health at the Health Enhancement Research Organization and Senior Scientist for the Mental Health at Work Index

David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, is the Scientific Advisor for Workforce Mental Health at the Health Enhancement Research Organization and Senior Scientist for the Mental Health at Work Index. His work focuses on organizational effectiveness, occupational health promotion, workforce mental health, and systems-level workplace interventions. David has provided research, consultation, and training to government agencies, industry groups, corporations, and universities.

Profile photo of Lee Biddison

Lee Daugherty Biddison, MD, MPH

Chief Wellness Officer and Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine

Dr. Lee Daugherty Biddison is Associate Professor in the Johns Hopkins Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Chief Wellness Officer for Johns Hopkins Medicine. She received her medical degree from Georgetown University. She completed her residency at the University of Pennsylvania and her fellowship at Johns Hopkins, where she also earned her Master of Public Health degree.

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Meghan F. Davis, DVM, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health and Engineering

Meghan F. Davis, DVM, PhD, MPH, is the Director of the Johns Hopkins P.O.E. Total Worker Health Center in Mental Health. She also is Associate Professor and Doctoral Program Director in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, with joint appointments to the Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology and the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

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Ron Goetzel, PhD

Director of the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Ron Goetzel, PhD, is a Senior Scientist and Director of the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies (IHPS) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is an internationally recognized and widely published expert in health and productivity management (HPM), return-on-investment (ROI), program evaluation, and outcomes research. 

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Jim Harter, PhD

Chief Scientist for Gallup's workplace management and wellbeing practices

Jim Harter, PhD, is Chief Scientist for Gallup's workplace management and wellbeing practices. He is coauthor of the bestseller: Wellbeing at Work, that explores how to build resilient and thriving teams in organizations. He also co-authored It’s the Manager, as well as 12: The Elements of Great Managing, an exploration of the 12 crucial elements for creating and harnessing employee engagement.

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Lara Hilton, PhD, MPH

Director of the University of Southern California WorkWell Center

Dr. Lara Hilton is the Director of the University of Southern California WorkWell Center. She brings 15 years of experience in research and consulting in the healthcare sector. She implemented a new innovative employee wellness program, integrating work-life, employee assistance and health and well-being programs using strategies that drive individual and organizational change to create and sustain a culture of health at USC.

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Laura Linnan, ScD

Founding Director of the Carolina Collaborative for Research on Work and Health at the University of North Carolina

Laura Linnan, ScD, is the Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, and Professor of Health Behavior at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Linnan is also director of the NIOSH-funded Carolina Center for Healthy Work Design and Worker Well-Being, and directs and teaches courses included in the UNC Gillings Graduate Certificate in Total Worker Health®

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Sara Martin, MS

Former CEO of the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA)

Sara Martin, MS, former CEO of the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA). Sara supported 5,000+ organizations to develop wellbeing strategies related to leadership alignment, cross functional collaboration, data collection, operations planning, initiative selection, culture change and evaluation. She has driven industry-wide evolution through launching new products, methodologies and evaluative tools for strategic health promotion. Sara was named a 2022 Top 100 HR Tech Influencer by Human Resource Executive.

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Lee Newman, MD, MA

Physician scientist and public health educator

Lee Newman, MD, MA, is a physician scientist and public health educator. He is a Distinguished University Professor, University of Colorado in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Department of Epidemiology. He is founding director of the Center for Health, Work & Environment, a NIOSH-funded Total Worker Health Center of Excellence and the Mountain & Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC).

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Ebony Omotola McGee, PhD

Professor of Diversity and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College

Ebony Omotola McGee, PhD, is professor of Diversity and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. She investigates what it means to be racially marginalized and minoritized in the context of learning and achieving in STEM higher education and STEM professions. This summer, she will be joining Johns Hopkins as a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor in the School of Education and School of Public Health.

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Merica Shepherd, SHRM-SCP

Senior Director of Total Rewards at UVA

Merica Shepherd, SHRM-SCP, is the Total Rewards leader at University of Virginia, overseeing HoosWell (wellness programming and research), Benefits, Compensation, and the Faculty & Employee Assistance center. She is passionate about innovative and effective strategies to enhance all aspects of wellbeing, and is a public advocate of the critical, but often unacknowledged role that leaders need to have in supporting wellbeing. 

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Kelcey Stratton, PhD

Chief Behavioral Health Strategist and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Michigan

Kelcey Stratton, PhD, is the Chief Behavioral Health Strategist and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Michigan. She leads the development of innovative and strategic initiatives to support the well-being of staff and faculty. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and has interests in the areas of stress and resilience, trauma-informed care, and mindfulness.

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Leigh Stringer, MArch, MBA

Global Director of Advisory Services at Perkins&Will

Leigh Stringer, MArch, MBA, is the Global Director of Advisory Services at Perkins&Will, a global architecture firm.  She is a workplace strategy expert and researcher whose work has been covered by a range of news media, including Fortune, CNN, BBC, and Good Morning America. She is the author of two bestselling books, The Green Workplace and The Healthy Workplace. 

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Joan M. Troester, MBA, CEBS, SPHR

Senior Assistant Vice President, Deputy CHRO at The University of Iowa

Joan M. Troester, MBA, CEBS, SPHR, is Senior Assistant Vice President, Deputy CHRO at The University of Iowa. Joni oversees human resources services for faculty and staff, emphasizing well-being, talent, total rewards, employee experience, and data/analytics. Joni also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), a national non-profit organization focused on employer-based health and well-being.

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Jay Vietas, PhD

Chief, Emerging Technologies in the Division of Sciences Integration at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Jay Vietas, PhD, is the Chief, Emerging Technologies in the Division of Sciences Integration at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. He leads a team of scientists in the study of emerging technologies on worker health and practical application of this knowledge. Additionally, he is responsible for leadership of NIOSH’s Nanotechnology Research Center and Future of Work Initiative.

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Eric Zimmerman, MBA, MPH

Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Commercialization Officer at Kumanu

Eric Zimmerman, MBA, MPH, is Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Commercialization Officer at Kumanu. Eric brings global experience designing comprehensive, evidence-based population health solutions. He leads product innovation and behavior design at Kumanu, a purpose-centered wellbeing company. Eric previously held senior positions at RedBrick Health, Medscape, StayWell, and Johnson & Johnson.

Agenda

View Agenda Details
8:00 - 8:30 Registration (light breakfast) 
8:30 – 8:40

Introduction  

  • Where Are We in Our Journey to Better Understanding Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing
    Ron Goetzel, PhD
    Director of the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
8:40 – 9:00

Welcome and Opening Remarks 

  • Ellen MacKenzie, PhD 
    Dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 
     
  • Rich Mattingly
    Founder & President at The Luv U Project 
9:00 – 10:00

Keynotes 

  • The Role Human Nature Plays in Organizational Success  
    Jim Harter, PhD 
    Chief Scientist of Workplace Management and Wellbeing at Gallup 
    Learning Objectives:
      -  How to build a resilient and thriving culture, elements of great managing in the new workforce.
     
  • Mental Health at Work: Why We Keep Missing the Mark
    Sara Martin, MS  
    Former President/CEO of WELCOA 
    Learning Objectives:
      -  Describe key findings of recent research on the impact of workplace factors on employee mental health.
      -  Explain how protecting and promoting employee mental health will require broad systemic change beyond current efforts.
      -  Gain a deeper understanding of the contributors and detractors to employee wellbeing that are present in the work environment.
      -  Have a basic understanding of the HR and wellbeing tech and service market and the role vendors currently play in employee wellbeing.
10:00 – 10:15 Break
10:15 – 11:15

Panel 1 – Psychosocial Domain 

  • Dying to Succeed: Realizing the Price of Success for Black Scholars (in STEM)
    Ebony McGee, PhD  
    Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, School of Education and School of Public Health
    Learning Objectives:
      -  Understand how cognitive dissonance and historical weaponization of mental illness impacts the mental and emotional outcomes of Black high achievers.
      -  Learn about the flaws of impostor syndrome workshops marketed to improve mental health and wellbeing.
      -  Understand why individual forms of resilience and grit are not “do-it-yourself” endeavors.
     
  • A Purposeful Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing: Addressing the Personal, Social, and Organizational Determinants of Health
    Eric Zimmerman, MBA, MPH 
    Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Commercialization Officer at Kumanu
    Learning Objectives:
      -  Learn how personal, social and organizational determinants of health combine to impact workforce wellbeing.
      -  Describe the role purpose plays in mental and social health (and the evidence behind it).
      -  Identify strategies that can be applied in the graduate academic environment to help the workforce thrive.
     
  • Discussant and Q&A 
    Lee Daugherty Biddison, MD, MPH  
    Chief Wellness Officer and Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine 
11:15 – 12:15

Panel 2 – Organizational Domain 

  • Organizational Approaches to Workforce Mental Health: New and Emerging Guidance and Frameworks
    David Ballard, PsyD, MBA, MA 
    Founder and Principal of GhostNote Consulting; Scientific Advisor for Workforce Mental Health, HERO 
     
  • Convincing Senior Leadership that a “Healthy Campus” is a Must Have Investment  
    Lara Hilton, PhD, MPH 
    Director of the University of Southern California WorkWell Center 
     
  • Discussant and Q&A 
    Ron Goetzel, PhD  
    Director of the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 
12:15 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 1:15

Welcome Back Remarks 
Pierre Joanis, MBA 
Vice President for Human Resources at the Johns Hopkins University 

1:15 – 2:15

Panel 3 – Environmental Domain 

  • Integrating Worksite Health Promotion and Health Protection  
    Lee Newman, MD, MA 
    Founding Director of the Center for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health 
    Learning Objectives:
      -  Understand novel approaches to applying Total Worker Health concepts in higher education settings
      -  Apply principles of dissemination and implementation science to Total Worker Health interventions in higher education settings
     
  • Designing Environments that Enhance the Human Experience  
    Leigh Stringer, MBA 
    Global Director of Advisory Services at Perkins&Will 
    Learning Objectives:
      -  Learn about the key themes impacting work and the workplace design today.
      -  Understand new tools, methods and processes for evaluating design that measure human experience.
      -  See examples from recent workplace design projects.
     
  • Discussant and Q&A 
    Meghan Davis, PhD  
    Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health  
2:15 – 2:30 Break 
2:30 – 4:00

University Panel – What Has Been Tried and Worked (or Has Been Challenging) at Other Institutions of Higher Learning 

  • Why Not You? The Ripple Effect of Being a Mental Health Ally
    Merica Shepherd, MBA 
    Senior Director of Total Rewards at UVA  
    Learning Objectives:
      -  Explore issues and barriers to effective organizational mental health support.
      -  Recognize the importance of the leader in reducing the stigma.
      -  Learn about the influence and control of being a mental health ally.
     
  • Well-Being as a Foundation for the People Strategy at the University of Iowa
    Joni Troester, MBA 
    Senior Assistant Vice President for Human Resources at the University of Iowa  
    Learning Objectives:
      -  Identifying key internal and external stakeholders and partners for collaboration
      -  Using qualitative and quantitative data effectively to drive the well-being and mental health narrative on your campus
     
  • Building Connection and Community: Multilevel Approaches for Mental and Emotional Well-Being
    Kelcey J. Stratton, PhD 
    Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan  
    Learning Objectives:
      -  Describe a coordinated approach to addressing essential mental health and well-being needs at the individual, team, and organizational levels. 
      -  Discuss outreach, consultation, and programming initiatives that focus on positive social support, belonging, and compassion in the workplace.
  • Discussant and Q&A 
    Laura Linnan, ScD 
    Founding Director of the Carolina Collaborative for Research on Work and Health at the University of North Carolina 

4:00 – 4:45

Closing Keynote  

  • Challenges and Opportunities for Worker Wellbeing
    Jay Vietas, PhD  
    Branch Chief of the Emerging Technologies Branch in the NIOSH Division of Science Integration
    Learning Objectives:
      -  Describe NIOSH’s Future of Work Initiative and relate factors associated with future worker well-being.
      -  Understand the potential impact of technology on work design as it relates to worker well-being.
      -  Consider the need for a Total Worker Health approach for occupational health management programs. 
4:45 – 5:00

Closing Comments 

  • Ellen MacKenzie, PhD 
    Dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 
5:15 – 7:00 Networking Reception

Agenda details may change up until the event date.

Registration

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Contact Info

Enid Roemer