From Ruben Taborda, Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, Medical Devices & Diagnostics group, Johnson & Johnson

I am often asked to explain what drives our commitment to supplier diversity. My answer is usually the same—enhancing our supplier network supports job creation in our communities and connects us to the patients and doctors we serve. This simple response explains why we are so determined to become leaders in this space. Although there is no true end goal (we can always get better at what we do), I believe our recent membership into the Billion Dollar Roundtable (BDR) shows how far we have come.

For those unfamiliar, the BDR is a small group of corporations that have each achieved at least $1 billion in spending with diverse suppliers. Johnson & Johnson earned this membership credential at year’s end in 2010, with $1065 MM total spending with minority and women-owned businesses.

As of July 28, we became the first healthcare company to join this group, joining member companies such as AT&T, IBM and Dell Inc. Our journey began in 2007, when we initiated a multi-year strategy to reach the billion dollar target. Business leaders across the enterprise fully endorsed this objective and within three years time, diverse spending with women- and minority-owned businesses increased by 40 percent.

Although the BDR solely tracks spending with minority and women-owned businesses, Johnson & Johnson and its operating companies have spent over $3 billion with other small businesses; including veteran-owned businesses and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) owned businesses. Through trade shows and forums, Johnson & Johnson actively encourages large non-diverse companies to partner with diverse suppliers. Additionally, increasing supplier diversity is one of our Healthy Future 2015 goals, a five-year strategic roadmap to propel our corporate citizenship and sustainability commitments forward.  We will continue to partner with diverse suppliers with a new added focus on partners who embrace sustainability.  

This BDR achievement is only the beginning for us. We are ready and eager to pursue avenues where we can continue to fulfill Our Credo responsibility to the community. The fact remains that a diverse supplier base strengthens our ability to meet the changing needs of our patients and customers, as well as empower small businesses that are the driving force for jobs and growth in the U.S. economy. When the potential to do something this great is at stake, there is no reason to prolong action plans. I am confident that we–as the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies—will continue to strive towards supplier diversity leadership, every step of the way.

To learn more about our Supplier Diversity initiatives, visit jnj.com at this link.

From Ray Jordan, Corporate Vice President, Public Affairs and Corporate Communication, Johnson & Johnson

The 2011 Dosie Awards, which aim to highlight some of the best examples of social media in the healthcare industry, were recently announced and I’m proud to say Johnson & Johnson was named Company of the Year in Social Media based on the awards received by many of our social media properties, including: the Johnson & Johnson Network page on Facebook, the Johnson & Johnson health channel on YouTube, the @JNJStories Twitter feed, Diabetes Handprint, Children with Diabetes and the JNJ BTW corporate blog. I wanted to take a moment to congratulate all our J&J team members who drive, challenge and nurture our presence in the social media space.

We’re always focusing on what we can do better, so it’s pretty humbling to receive such honor and praise for our social media work. It has been an interesting journey for all of us here at Johnson & Johnson as we figure out the best ways to join the online conversation about health care. As we continue to participate in and learn about the social media space, we hope to find new and innovative ways to engage with you and earn your respect every day.

I’d also like to recognize our peers.  There are many healthcare companies doing great work in social media, many of whom were recognized as well with Dosie Awards. We applaud everyone’s efforts to ensure there is an effective conversation happening online. Social media is a key part of communicating with our patients, customers and stakeholders. We are so grateful to be able to have this dialogue with you and look forward to continuing the conversation.

From Lynda Benton, Director, Corporate Equity, Johnson & Johnson

While my family was digging out (again) from yet another snowstorm here in the Northeast last week, I was thankfully able to catch a flight out of snowy Newark to  spend a few days in Nashville, attending my first blogger conference, Blissdom 2011.  Though I’ve been reading blogs for a while, this was my first blogger conference – and I found the energy, wit and passion of the people there to be truly inspiring.  So much so, that I felt the need to try my hand at it with this, my first blog post on JNJBTW. 

 There are already a number of summaries of Blissdom that I’ve come across (including this one from Sarah on her Real Life blog that highlights LOTS of other recaps), so I’m not going to get into all that happened there.  But I did want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to all the wonderful women (and yes – couple of men!) who shared stories with my colleagues and I from Johnson & Johnson.  You see, while there, we set up a video camera (thanks to Rob Halper, AKA @jnjvideo) and asked everyone one very simple question:  “How have you used social media for social good?”   – and were rewarded with a huge diversity of touching answers.   I could summarize these stories here, but I think they are best heard from the voices of the bloggers themselves.  I hope you enjoy viewing these as much as we enjoyed recording them.

Many thanks to the following folks for taking time out of their business schedules at Blissdom to record their responses:  Loralee Choate of Lorleeslooneytunes, Renee J Ross of Cutie Booty Cakes, Rita Arens of Surrender Dorothy, Katherine Stone of PostPartumProgress, Catherine Connors of Her Bad Mother, Anissa Mayhew of Free Anissa, Karen Walrond of Chookooloonks, Allison Czarnecki of Petit Elefant, Kelly Lewis of Just Spotted, Schmutzie of Schmutzie, Scott Stratten of Un-Marketing, Kelly Loubet of Everyday Childhood, Alison Kramer of Nummies, Laura Bleill and Amy Hatch of Chambanamoms, Elizabeth Ballance of The Heir to Blair, Katy Monnot of Bird on the Street, Kathy Hill of House of Hills, Hollee Schwartz of The New Perfect, Jyl Johnson of Mom It Forward, Ria Sharon of My Mommy Manual, Kim Borchert of Prairie Momma, Lisa Thompson of Simplified Saving, Barbara Collins of Madre Minutes, Jenny Ingram of Jenny on the Spot, Megan Crume of Sweet Sadie Marie, Heather Hetterick of Heathers Helpings, Rachel Matthews of A Southern Fairy Tale, Heather Durdil of Domestic Extraordinaire, Elizabeth Thielkd of Busy Mom, Liza Hippler of Blahggy, Jeannett Gibson of Life Rearranged, Narisha Jaganath of Mommy Niri, Jim Lin of Busy Dad Blog, Momo of Momo-Fali, Allison Worthington of Mrs. Fussy Pants, Amy Imig of Listen to Your Mother Show, Angela England of Ang England, Amy LeForge of Earnest Parenting, Janice Croze of 5 Minutes for Mom, Jennie Sanford of Bargain Blessings, Ana Castro of LatiSM, Esher Crawford of Faint Starlite, Holly Hamann and Aimee Giese of The Blog Frog and Greeble Monkey, Stacie Connerty of The Divinemissmommy, Sara Hawkins of Saving For Someday, Kelli Stuart of Mini Vans Are Hot, and Holly Rosen of The Culture Mom.

Want to share your own story? We’ll be at blogger conferences throughout 2011, and would love to connect. Stay tuned for more information.

It’s a new year, and you know what that means.  It’s time to get to work on those resolutions, whether you’re planning to go to the gym more often (like me) or eat healthier foods.  In honor of the new year, the Johnson & Johnson Health Channel is featuring a couple of videos highlighting different physical activities.  Check out Anna and Tobin as they talk about what they do to stay healthy.

Need further motivation to be active this year?  Read this Kilmer House post on our athletic employees to learn about the early organized sports teams at J&J.  Whether it’s joining a bowling team like our own General Robert Wood Johnson or just taking a walk around the block, stay healthy and happy in 2011.

From Susan Tierman, Director, Occupational Medicine, Johnson & Johnson

During this busy holiday season, many employees throughout the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies take their work out of the office and into their own hands—literally. The use of modern connectivity devices such as PDAs, smart phones and other mobile devices allow employees at any company to easily stay connected to work commitments when away from their desk. While this offers the flexibility to work remotely, employees should be careful that this added connectivity does not interfere with spending quality time with family and friends. Additionally, with the increase in mobile emailing and typing on tiny keyboards comes a health concern many people have yet to consider…“PDA Pain.”

“PDA Pain” is a form of repetitive stress injury (RSI) caused by overusing the thumb, or thumbs, and straining the digit through continuous pressing on the mobile device keyboard. While most people use their thumb(s) to type texts or emails, the thumb does not have as much dexterity as its longer and leaner counterparts. In fact, the thumb was designed more so as a “pinch and grip” stabilizer (think about how you press your thumb and index finger together to pick up a pen) than a typing tool. The ergonomics of full-sized standard keyboards found in offices are designed with the pedigree of the hand in mind, allowing a person to type quick strikes to the letter keys with the other eight fingers, and only using the thumbs for the space bar.

Tips for mobile device users:

• Switch to a smaller device. Over extending the thumb represents one of the main causes of “PDA Pain.” To prevent over extension, consider switching to a smaller device.
• Use shortcuts. Shortcuts are not only quicker, but they also reduce scrolling. You can find these shortcuts by referring to your mobile device manual.
• Don’t answer all emails from your PDA. Non-urgent e-mails can be answered later on your lap or desk top computer.
• Use AutoText. If you type the same emails frequently, consider using the AutoText feature on your device that will automatically change common spelling mistakes and allow for shortcut words.
• Use a neutral grip (straight wrist) when holding the device so there is greater range of motion.
• Consider purchasing a folding, wireless keyboard to avoid typing on the device’s keyboard.
• Avoid holding thumbs in the air when resting. Place them lightly on the surface of the device.
• Compensate for the ergonomic disadvantages of hand-held equipment by taking more breaks than you would when at your computer workstation.
• Try using the phone rather than emails for simple communications.
• Put down the device! It’s vital to your mental well being to be able to tune-out from work and recharge your batteries.

Since repetition is a primary factor contributing to “PDA Pain” and other RSIs, be judicious with your mobile device usage while away from the office. Altering the way these technologies are used reducing the use of devices, and abstaining altogether can help prevent injury.

By Paul Stoffels, Global Head, Pharmaceuticals Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson

This morning, the 2011 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research call for nominations officially opened. Once again, Johnson & Johnson will recognize a scientist or group of scientists, selected by an independent committee, whose achievements in the field of biomedicine or medical technology have made, or have strong potential to make, a measurable impact on human health.

Over just six years, the Award has accumulated a truly remarkable roster of winners whose transformative work has impacted millions of lives. By recognizing their accomplishments, we keep alive the spirit of Dr. Paul Janssen, for whom the Award is named, and encourage the next generation of innovative researchers.

I’ve had the privilege to meet the previous Award winners, many of whom have made discoveries that have had a profound impact on human health. For example, it was truly my honor to recognize our 2010 Award winners, Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Erik De Clercq, whose work in HIV/AIDS has transformed the treatment landscape. Having worked myself side-by-side with Dr. Paul in this therapeutic area, I know this work was close to his heart and I know the achievements of our winners would have been greatly appreciated by Dr. Paul.

I urge everyone to take a moment to learn more about the Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research and to recognize an individual – or group of individuals – whose work has served as an inspiration to you and has positively impacted the lives others. 

From Ashley Atkins, Ph.D., Art Administrator, Corporate Contributions, Johnson & Johnson

November marked the first annual Arts + Health Month, promoted by the Society for the Arts in Healthcare.  The Society designated November as a time “for organizations and individuals worldwide to promote the integration of the arts—including literary, performing, and visual arts and design—into a wide variety of healthcare and community settings for therapeutic, educational, and expressive purposes.” A quick glance through the calendar of events shows an impressive number of conferences, exhibitions, performances, and other events that occurred throughout the world, all of which promoted the positive impact that the arts can have on health and wellness. 

For me, the month provided an opportunity to think about the impact that our Company’s partnership with the Society has been able to achieve in the past 10 years.  Since 2001, Johnson & Johnson and the Society have provided funds to 117 programs through the United States and Canada, all of which have used the arts to create positive impacts on patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals by incorporating the arts and design into the healthcare setting and environment.  It has been inspiring to see these programs and the field of arts and healthcare grow from creating innovative art displays and healing gardens in hospital environments to programs like Snow City Arts, which provides hospitalized children the opportunity to earn school credit through arts programs. 

I also had the privilege this month of visiting two organizations that have been the recipients of our partnership grant. The staff of New-Jersey-based Music for All Seasons  told us of their work in domestic violence shelters which has proven that music builds community and increases quality of life for children in these often vulnerable situations.  At the Mark Morris Dance Group, I participated in a dance class for people with Parkinson’s disease.  The Dance for PD® class, which uses dance and movement exercises, often based on Mark Morris’s choreography, was invigorating to take and inspiring to watch. 

Seeing these programs in action drove home for me the importance that art can have in our lives and to our wellbeing.  For more information on arts + health, visit the Society’s website at www.thesah.org.

The following post is from Alan Arnette, an alpine mountaineer and Alzheimer’s disease advocate who is climbing to the highest peak on each continent to raise awareness of the growing prevalence of the disease and the enormous financial and personal burden it places on people with the disease, their caregivers and society.  Alan’s goal is to raise $1 million to advance Alzheimer’s research.

The Alzheimer’s Immunotherapy Program of Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy and Pfizer Inc. is funding Alan’s climbs for The 7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer’s: Memories are Everything campaign. All money Alan raises will go directly to the organization he has selected, the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund™, for research.

I lost my mom, Ida, to Alzheimer’s about a year ago. As my family and I went through the stages of the disease with her – watching her lose her short term memory, then long term memory, not being able to take care of herself, losing her identity and finally succumbing to the disease; it was horrifying.

We were helpless knowing there was no cure. We could only keep her comfortable.

But what is more tragic is that every 70 seconds another family starts that same devastating journey. The toll on the individual, families, caregivers and finances is beyond belief. Today, there are over 5 million people with Alzheimer’s in the U.S., 25 million worldwide and those numbers are projected to quadruple by 2050.

That is why we are starting The 7 Summits for Alzheimer’s: Memories are Everything campaign to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and $1M for research.

I am climbing the highest peak on each continent over the next year starting later this month, with Antarctica’s Mt. Vinson. By setting this huge personal goal, I hope to inspire people to follow me, visit our website and Facebook page and thus learn about Alzheimer’s and make a donation to research.

I selected The Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, which is a non-profit that directs 100% of all donations to promising research and shares the results across all industries and organizations.

About me; I am 54 and took early retirement in 2007 after 30 years with Hewlett-Packard. I have been climbing for 15 years including 20 major expeditions around the world. Today, I live in Colorado with my wife and am focused on my Alzheimer’s work.

The work on Alzheimer’s and other health issues at J&J is critical and meaningful to so many people. Hopefully one day, no family will go through what we did.

Please know how much I appreciate your support and please follow along with the climbs!

Climb On!

Alan

Memories are Everything

From Leila Mueller, Humanitarian Assistance and Product Giving Specialist, Johnson & Johnson

I traveled to Peru this past August, where record low temperatures took the lives of hundreds of children in the country.  The disaster forced the government to declare a state of emergency as citizens living in poor and isolated communities nestled among the Andes Mountains struggled to cope with the freezing temperatures.

In response to the escalating disaster, employees at Johnson & Johnson Peru worked together through their One Child, One Blanket program to provide warmth and comfort by donating 500 blankets to children affected by the state of emergency.  One Child, One Blanket, as its name indicates, provides blankets to children in disaster affected areas.  Employees knit, sew or purchase blankets, which are distributed to children in need following a disaster.  This program, with its personal connection between Johnson & Johnson employee volunteers and communities in need, serves as one component of Johnson & Johnson’s disaster relief efforts across the globe.

Johnson & Johnson USA employees matched the donation, bringing the total to 1,000 blankets.  With the help of our in-country U.S. partner organization Americares, Volunteers for Inter-American Development Assistance (VIDA), employees distributed blankets to children and families to help battle the drastic cold. 

On a Saturday afternoon in the low income community of Ventanilla, about an hour outside Lima, I watched as one by one, children received their new blankets.  The children were full of smiles as they clung to their blankets.  Later, I listened as parents told me how important this initiative was to their survival.

“This is such a forgotten community,” one mother told me.  “We are so glad that you are here.”

In 2009, its inaugural year, One Child, One Blanket distributed 1,500 blankets to children around the world.  In 2010, our aim was to deliver 3,000 blankets to children in need.  To date, we have surpassed this goal and are still giving thanks to the ongoing support from Johnson & Johnson employees, their family and friends as well as the community.

Take a look at this photo montage and this video from my time in Peru, and read A Legacy of Disaster Relief to learn more about Johnson & Johnson’s efforts to help those suffering as a result of natural and man-made disasters.  By providing an item as simple as a blanket, we can make a huge difference in the lives of children affected by disaster.

There have already been a few recaps of the Social Health Track at Blogworld. Phil Charron and Russell Starke from Brownstone, Kerri Sparling at SixUntilMe, Dr. Kevin Pho and Dr. Bryan Vartabedian at 33Charts have all posted on the day, sharing some of insights they gleaned from the panels as well as conveying some of the passion that was in the room.

As one of the co-sponsors of the event, I was pleased to see that so many attendees shared their thoughts about the day with the world. Far too often, events like the Social Health Track at Blogworld come and go, touching only those who made the journey to attend.

That’s why, knowing that there were no doubt going to be a lot of smart, passionate people in the room, we decided to make the last session of the day an opportunity for the audience, presenters and panelists to have a rich discussion of what they took away for the day – and what we all could be doing as a next step to enhance how health information is shared, found and used by patient advocates, physicians and caregivers.

Thanks to Edelman’s David Armano who tapped into his artistic skills to brilliantly capture the flow of the discussion in a series of images, we have a visual account of the session.

This whiteboard session was the highlight of my day. Very rarely do we have so many people in one room at one time who represent many of the different groups who have a role to play in online health – there were patient advocates, physicians, nurses, caregivers, providers and yes, members of industry.

Yet despite the diversity of the audience, there appeared to be a common sense of purpose – that we were all about trying to identify better ways to help people find useful, actionable and credible health information through the effective use of social media platforms, networks and relationships. And, after hearing impassioned words from patient advocates like e-Patient Dave who described the patient as “the invisible stakeholder”, there was a recognition that despite a growing number of platforms, services and sources of health information, there was more that EVERYONE in the room could be doing to overcome the assorted hurdles and limitations to improve the spread of useful information.

The question left on the table was WHAT we could be doing – and just how that would take shape. Not wanting that idea to end with the conference, we decided to continue to conversation on Twitter, turning to the #sochealth hashtag as a gathering point.

Given the energy level in the room, the continued conversations two weeks after the conference, #sochealth may end up being just the first step in something bigger – or at the very least a means to continue the sharing of thoughts, ideas, learnings and concerns among these diverse stakeholder groups. I’m at least hoping that’s the case.