Ramsey received the award Sept. 30 at the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) forum and meeting in San Diego. The HERO Jerry Noyce Executive Health Champion Award was given to Ramsey because his 鈥減ersonal and professional dedication to health exemplifies what this award seeks to honor鈥 according to Noyce, president and CEO of HERO.
The Executive Health Champion Award recognizes a person of senior leadership status who has made outstanding contributions toward the advancement of employee health management within their company. According to HERO, the award was developed to acknowledge the significant role leadership plays in establishing and maintaining a culture of health in the workplace.
Ramsey is credited with driving year-over-year success for the University鈥檚 employee wellness program, 鈥淕et Healthy Now,鈥 which has more than 4,000 participants and has been used as a model for a statewide strategic wellness initiative called 鈥淕et Healthy Kentucky.鈥
鈥淥ur job as leaders is to do what is right for our employees,鈥 Ramsey said in his acceptance speech. 鈥淭his is fundamental to effective leadership. Regardless of what our financial statements say, our employees are our most valuable assets.鈥
Under Ramsey鈥檚 leadership, 鈥淕et Healthy Now鈥 has helped the university reduce health care claims by $4.3 million, with program participants realizing an average claims savings of $1,300 per person (in 2012). Four years into the program, the University achieved a benefit-to-cost ratio, or return on investment, of 7.16:1.
Ramsey has also used his leadership and influence to drive improvements and growth across campus. For example, the university graduates nearly 1,000 more students each year (a 60 percent increase in its graduation rate), and has become one of America鈥檚 fastest-growing research universities, as measured by National Institutes of Health funding.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In addition to driving positive health and academic results for the University of Louisville, Ramsey鈥檚 leadership has helped UofL secure several awards and recognitions, including the Business First鈥檚 Healthiest Employer of Louisville Award, the American Heart Association Platinum Start! 鈥淔it-Friendly employer,鈥 and the Mayor鈥檚 Healthy Hometown Worksite Wellness Award.
Ramsey was nominated for the award by Patricia Benson, director of UofL鈥檚 Get Healthy Now program. Benson credits Ramsey for the success and growth of UofL鈥檚 health and fitness initiatives for its employees鈥攎ore than two thirds of the school鈥檚 employees are enrolled in the Get Healthy Now program. 聽鈥淭he campus community is very familiar with President Ramsey鈥檚 healthy, competitive spirit and the ripple effect it has on his closest advisors and every member of the Cardinal family,鈥 wrote Benson is her nomination letter.
