General Mills Chairman and CEO Stephen W. Sanger, MBA, will present the inaugural Susan B. Meister Lecture in Child Health Policy from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5, in the University of Michigan Biomedical Science Research Building auditorium. 

The lecture, "Corporate Responsibility in Children's Health," is sponsored by Child Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Unit in the U-M Division of General Pediatrics. It will address important topics such as youth nutrition, childhood obesity, and fitness. 

In his presentation, Sanger, who graduated from U-M in 1970, will discuss the work done in these areas by General Mills, which produces a variety of foods for children and was named one of the 10 best corporations to work with based on its health benefits for employees.

"Employers have a dual role in securing children's health in our nation," says Gary L. Freed, M.D., M.P.H., director of the CHEAR Unit at the U-M Health System. "Firstly, the content of dependent coverage and the way it is made available to employees has a significant impact on the access to care for children.  In addition, corporations who make products that are either used or consumed by children need to make sure those products are safe and healthy."
 
The CHEAR Unit is a national leader in the analysis of the American health care system, and the organization and financing of care for children.  The CHEAR Unit includes core faculty from the U-M schools of Business, Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Social Work.  Multidisciplinary teams provide the structure for research of community, state and national child health policies, practices, and programs. 

Research conducted by the CHEAR Unit provides information to improve the delivery of child health care and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of public and private health care programs.

Registration: Seating is limited.  For more information about this event, please contact Laura J. Gray at ljgray@umich.edu or 734-936-3682.

Written by Krista Hopson