The Cure for the Common Company: A Chief Medical Director’s Prescription for a Healthier Workforce

Dr. Laura welcomes her first guest of 2023, author and Chief Medical Director of Employee Health and Wellbeing at Johns Hopkins Medicine, Dr. Richard Safeer to the show. Dr. Safeer just released his first book, “A Cure for the Common Company” and he talks about his book and the benefits of workplace wellbeing with Dr. Laura.

Richard Safeer wrote his book because he sees that what companies are doing may not be as effective as they thought. He believes there is a better way to use company time, energy, and resources to effect a greater culture of wellbeing. He explains the six building blocks of wellbeing, where the title of his book came from, and how employers are instrumental in the health of their employees in this inspiring conversation with Dr. Laura.

“So, you know, one of the most common challenges I see workplaces have is that the employer takes this individual approach. Here are the resources, go ahead and use them and get better. As opposed to recognizing that we're all in this together, that our well being is a team sport and that we rely on each other to improve and maintain our health and well-being” - Richard Safeer

About Dr. Richard Safeer:

Dr. Safeer is Chief Medical Director of Employee Health and Wellbeing at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Dr. Safeer completed his B.S. in Nutrition at Cornell University before graduating from medical school at the S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo (magna cum laude). He completed his residency in Family Medicine and a Faculty Development Fellowship. He is certified in Clinical Lipidology. He’s a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and the American College of Preventive Medicine.

Prior to Hopkins, Dr. Safeer practiced family medicine in Virginia. He was then on faculty at the George Washington University, the Residency Director of Family Medicine in his last year. He was the Medical Director of an Occupational Health Center in Baltimore and Wellness Director for the Mid-Atlantic region of the parent company, just before starting at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield as the Medical Director of Preventive Medicine. He has been credited by some for bringing ‘wellness’ to the realm of the managed care industry. He also led CareFirst BCBS to be among the first cohort of health plans to be accredited for Wellness by NCQA. He holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the American University, where he taught “Organizational Health”.

Amongst his responsibilities at Hopkins, includes leading the employee health and well-being initiative, Healthy at Hopkins. Dr. Safeer also advises the institution on matters related to health plan benefits, occupational health, and the employee assistance program. He has published many journal articles and his work is featured in many books. He regularly speaks to national audiences on the employee health and wellbeing space, more specifically on how to create healthy workplace cultures. He previously served on the board of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, a professional organization he helped establish.

In January 2023, Wiley will release his book, “A Cure for the Common Company”.

Dr. Safeer enjoys most outdoor activities including biking and tennis. He’s hiked in the Andes, Alaska, and Australia as well in many national parks. He lives in Columbia Maryland with his wife, three kids and their dog Kami. Watch for his book, “A Cure for the Common Company”, coming in January 2023.

Resources:

Richard Safeer, MD

Richard Safeer on LinkedIn
“A Cure for the Common Company: A Well-Being Prescription for a Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient Workforce” by Richard Safeer, MD

“Leading with Gratitude” by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton

“Anxiety at Work” by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton