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5 Questions for Dr. Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006)  In your role as 17th Surgeon General of the United States, what did you see were the major health challenges facing our nation?
The major health challenge facing our nation today is the cultural transformation that is going to be required to move our nation from a treatment-oriented society to a prevention-oriented society, especially with respect to chronic diseases. Most of the diseases that we are burdened with today can be prevented by taking smart steps and embracing optimal health and wellness early in life.
 What do you think is needed to improve the health of Americans?
One-third of the people in the United States do not understand the connection between their behaviors and lifestyles and their ultimate health outcomes. So we must first improve our overall health literacy, and then give the American public the tools to make well-informed decisions about their health and pursue optimal health and wellness. We must also work to remove risk factors from our lives – whether it’s choosing to eat healthier foods, abstaining from smoking, or wearing a seatbelt. Simple steps like that over time will help reduce the burden of disease, improve quality of life, and decrease health care costs.
 How do you think the role of the consumer is changing in today’s health care environment? How can we empower Americans to become healthier?
I think the empowerment is already beginning, because each successive generation is demanding more information about their health. We want to know how to stay healthy, whether that means joining a health club, buying healthier foods and eating the right amounts, or balancing nutrition with activity. The wellness marketplace is estimated to be over $1 trillion in the next decade and consumers are telling us that they are not happy with the treatment-oriented system. By putting ourselves in a position to improve our health literacy and offer growth opportunities for our citizens to achieve optimal health, we will establish an environment that provides healthier options for our citizens.
 Why is it important for businesses to become involved in improving the health of our nation? What role can businesses play?
It is extraordinarily important for businesses to become involved in improving the health of our nation because our health affects our productivity, which ultimately affects a business’ bottom line. Business sector involvement in health is good for business and it is good for employees. We know that every dollar invested in workplace health and wellness programs can return anywhere from $3 to $5, decrease absenteeism and health care costs, and improve productivity and morale. When health care costs increase, so too do insurance costs for businesses that provide insurance for employees and their families.
 Why is global health important to the health and security of our nation?
Global health is important because the world is essentially without borders when it comes to threats or diseases such as Avian Flu or SARS. Influenza does not originate in the United States each year, yet our scientists must be aware of what is happening in other countries and must look at the viruses that are emerging from those countries to make vaccines to prepare our nation in advance for the next flu season. Another example is migration; as people move across borders every day, they are also bringing their disease burdens. When we look at public health and the health of our nation, we have to look at it in terms of who we are in a bigger universe and how we play into all of that. If we don’t help the world to become healthier, safer, and more secure, those threats will reach our border.
Victoria Robinson
CITY OF LAS VEGAS | 
Linda Moon
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS | 
Julie Thibodeau
OSRAM SYLVANIA | 
Beth Spieler
OSRAM SYLVANIA |
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