Dr. Roger Merrill, Chief Medical Officer for Perdue Farms, was recognized as the 2014 Outstanding Public Health Leader for Wicomico County at a ceremony held April 8, 2014 at the Fritz Health Center in Salisbury, Md.

Merrill was recognized for implementing a companywide Health Improvement Program that encourages associates to achieve healthy lifestyles. Starting with a baseline risk appraisal, associates regularly receive attention from HIP specialist and are also encouraged to engage with primary medical care. The HIP program has attained improved outcomes and patient satisfaction, and has gone far beyond the third goal of ‘bending the cost curve.’ The program has reduced company medical costs while improving patient outcomes. The innovative program received national recognition as a C. Everett Koop Health Award winner and was honored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with a Secretary’s Innovation in Prevention Award.

The 18th annual awards ceremony was held in conjunction with National Public Health Week, April 7-13. Accepting the award on behalf of Dr. Merrill was Perdue Farms Chairman Jim Perdue and Perdue associates Jeanne Mills and Deb Lowry.

“The Health Improvement Program that Dr. Merrill helped Perdue develop embodies principles which public health and other medical system leaders have been trying to implement for years,” said Lori Brewster, Health Officer for Wicomico County. “His successes are a model for the current efforts at managing population health on a broader scale.”

Brewster said Dr. Merrill is to be commended for his efforts to significantly improve the health of Perdue Farms associates and for being recognized as Wicomico County’s 2014 Outstanding Public Health Leader.

 Source: Perdue Farms