(Union Pacific issued the following news release on May 13.)
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific today named John T. Kelly, M.D., Ph.D., vice president and chief health and medical officer. In this position, Dr. Kelly will lead Union Pacific’s world-class health programs and develop strategies to protect and improve the health and wellness of all Union Pacific employees.
“Our vision is to become the ‘Healthiest Company in America,'” said Barb Schaefer, senior vice president – Human Resources. “Dr. Kelly will play a key role in our strategy. With his help, we will continue to build on the success of our health and wellness initiatives while developing new and visionary practices to enhance our culture of health, safety and quality of life.”
Dr. Kelly received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and his Ph.D. from Harvard University. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Kelly was senior vice president, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. He has held senior executive positions with a number of organizations including the American Medical Association and Aetna. He has served on the clinical faculties of the University of California, San Francisco; University of Chicago; and University of Pennsylvania.
One of Union Pacific’s award-winning health and wellness initiatives is “HealthTrack” — a program that enlists early identification, education and intervention (including smoking cessation, weight loss, and diabetes management education) to address 10 health risk factors. Through HealthTrack, employees have free access to more than 535 fitness centers system-wide and a 19,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness facility in the new Union Pacific Center in Omaha, Neb.
In field locations, Union Pacific integrates its health messages and programs into the business structure of its mechanical shops and transportation service units. Health screenings and health fairs are conducted during regular business meetings. A network of on-site regional health coordinators and occupational health nurses ensures that wellness activities are part of employees’ daily lives.