Sign Up For More InfoOn April 30th The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) paid special tribute to those in fields contributing to the promotion of health and prevention of disease by honoring Mr Bernard Poussot of Wyeth, Dr Elias Zerhouni of the National Institutes of Health and Kraft Foods.
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“We are more committed than ever to continue our tradition as in independent and respected voice on important health issues in New York City, nationally and globally,” said Jo Ivey Boufford, President of NYAM. “Our vision is bold. We are challenging ourselves to focus on the impact of what we do on the health of individuals and communities.”
NYAM has spent the past year honing in on public health issues that affect this city including healthy aging, eliminating health disparities and preventing avoidable diseases using its diverse methods of innovative research, education, community engagement and policy advocacy. It is NYAM’s unique breadth of expertise that allows a place for the collaboration needed by those in the health and legislative fields to move forward. For NYAM Impact 2009 video
In fact, all three honorees spoke of the changing world of health and the necessity for this type of collaboration that is needed to advocate for policy affecting change at the most fundamental level of communities. For video highlights of speeches
“NYAM has such an important role as an organization that addresses the health challenges of our time through interdisciplinary approaches, innovative research, education, community engagement and policy leadership, which is so badly needed today,” said Mr Poussot, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wyeth. “We at Wyeth share those goals by working to find treatments for some of the most critical conditions of the human population today.”
Honored for their practices in healthy food production and promotion, Kraft Foods, years ago took the step to create foods that were “better for you.”
“When we face the major issues with which we’re concerned, hunger and obesity, the principles that NYAM has established are terrific models for us, and I suggest for others in our food industry,” said Mr Marc Firestone, Executive Vice President of Corporate and Legal Affairs and accepting the award for Kraft Foods. “As NYAM’s own research shows, in making decisions on social policies it’s important to hear all the voices, not only your own, but those around you, and for us, the voices of our consumers came out loud and clear, they wanted changes in our practices and we took the step, and now others have followed.”
Though associated with the innovative breakthroughs in science that allow health care to be improved, Dr Zerhouni stressed the importance of all levels of health in our thinking. “It is imperative that we embed health in our society,” said Dr Zerhouni. “In 2030, if a politician running for reelection worries about the BMI [Body Mass Index] of his constituents rather than the number of jobs created, then we will have won. No policy should be made without consideration of its impact on health.”
More than 425 people attended this year’s Gala, including leaders in the fields of health, science, business, finance and government.
Posted on 05/01/2009
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