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Welcome to the August edition of the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition newsletter.
As summer comes to a close, we’re looking ahead to a busy season of learning, connection, and statewide engagement. Across the Coalition community, we continue to see employers, partners, and leaders leaning into practical conversations about workforce health and the changing needs of today’s workplaces.
This month, we’re especially focused on timely issues shaping employer strategy — from the evolving GLP-1 landscape to prevention, lifestyle medicine, and the role of leadership in building healthier workplace cultures.
Thank you for being part of this growing network. We’re grateful for your continued engagement and look forward to bringing the Coalition community together in the months ahead.
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South Carolina Healthy Business Fellowship: Session Three
The 2026 South Carolina Healthy Business Fellowship cohort gathered in Greenville for Session Three at the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University. The day focused on mindset, resilience, connection, and intentional leadership.
Fellows participated in an interactive session led by Jen Wright, MPH, CMVC, of WellWright Consulting, LLC and WrightMind Performance. The session, “Leading from Within: Mastering Mindset, Resilience, and Connection,” explored how underlying mindsets influence emotions, decisions, and leadership. Fellows learned practical strategies for building resilience, managing emotional responses, strengthening trust, and leading with greater intention.
The day also included peer check-ins, shared reflection, and a guided walk-and-reflect experience designed to help Fellows identify key takeaways and habits that support how they show up in both work and life. The session closed with a look ahead to upcoming Coalition programs, including the GLP-1 Educational Roundtable, Fall Seminar Series, and Healthy People, Healthy Places Exchange.
We extend our sincere thanks to the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University for hosting the cohort and to Jen Wright for leading such a thoughtful and practical session for this year’s Fellows.
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Fellow Spotlight
Our Fellow Spotlight series highlights leaders from across the South Carolina Healthy Business Fellowship who are advancing workforce health and wellbeing within their organizations and communities. This month, we're featuring Alicia Culler from MUSC Business Health and Andrea Brady from LS3P.
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What inspired you to join the SC Healthy Business Fellowship, and what impact do you hope to make in your organization?
A: I joined the Fellowship because I’m passionate about helping create healthier, more resilient workplaces and building meaningful connections between employers, employees, and healthcare. I first met Dr. Johnson when I started at MUSC more than 10 years ago, and she has been an important mentor ever since. She has taught me so much about worksite health promotion, workforce well-being, and the impact we can make when we bring health and wellness into the workplace in meaningful ways.
In my role with Business Health, I have the opportunity to help organizations think beyond traditional healthcare and find practical ways to support the health and well-being of their workforce. Through the Fellowship, I hope to learn from others, gain new perspectives and best practices, and bring those insights back to MUSC as we continue developing innovative solutions for the employers and communities we serve.
What’s one workplace wellness initiative or strategy you’re passionate about, and why?
A: I’m especially passionate about making healthcare and wellness more accessible and convenient for employees. People are busy, and the more barriers we can remove, the more likely they are to take advantage of opportunities to improve their health.
I love bringing these opportunities directly to the workplace, whether that’s offering onsite screenings, vaccination events, health education, or helping connect someone to the right care. To me, workplace wellness is most effective when it meets people where they are and makes taking care of themselves a little easier.
What’s a fun fact about you or a personal wellness habit that keeps you energized?
A: I love watching my kids play soccer, traveling with family and friends, and experiencing new places. I'm happiest outdoors or on the water, and spending time with the people I love is my favorite way to recharge and reset. I'm always up for a new adventure!
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What inspired you to join the SC Healthy Business Fellowship, and what impact do you hope to make in your organization?
A: I joined the Fellowship because workplace wellbeing is one of the areas of HR that I’m very passionate about. When our people feel supported in caring for their physical, mental, financial, occupational, family, and social wellbeing, they are healthier, more engaged, and better able to contribute to their communities and at work. Through the Fellowship, I hope to bring back fresh ideas, practical strategies, and stronger connections that will provide meaningful support for our people at every stage of life and help our organization continue building a culture focused on wellness.
What’s one workplace wellness initiative or strategy you’re passionate about, and why?
A: One initiative I’m especially passionate about is our Wellness Wednesday speaker series. I created this series to connect our people with approachable education, practical wellness strategies, and access to the benefits resources already available to support them. Each month, we focus on topics like movement, nutrition, mental health, or healthy habits, then follow up with resources for our benefit plans that our people can use right away. Our people have started new healthy habits, learned more about their benefits, and participated in conversations that make wellness feel accessible and relevant.
What’s a fun fact about you or a personal wellness habit that keeps you energized?
A: Recently I’ve started lifting weights which makes me feel strong and healthy, working my way from 5 to 10 to 20 lbs. and beyond! I also love cycling with friends to coffee shops as well as walking around my neighborhood and all the various city and county parks the Lowcountry has to offer. I love that when cycling or walking around Charleston, you don’t have to go very far to see a beautiful body of water!
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Sponsor Spotlight
We’re grateful for Novo Nordisk’s partnership and support as a sponsor of the Coalition’s upcoming GLP-1 Employer Roundtable. Their sponsorship helps make this timely conversation possible and reflects a shared commitment to helping employers better understand the evolving role of GLP-1 medications in workforce health.
As interest in GLP-1 therapies continues to grow, employers are navigating important questions around access, education, benefits strategy, chronic disease prevention, and long-term employee health. Novo Nordisk brings valuable perspective to this conversation as organizations seek practical ways to understand the clinical, cultural, and economic implications of these medications.
Through their focus on innovation, education, and improving health outcomes, Novo Nordisk continues to play an important role in advancing conversations that help employers make informed decisions in support of healthier people and workplaces.
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Sponsor Spotlight
We’re grateful for FIRST Rx’s partnership and support as a sponsor of the Coalition’s upcoming GLP-1 Employer Roundtable. Their sponsorship reflects a shared commitment to helping employers navigate one of the most timely and complex issues in workforce health today.
As organizations evaluate the impact of GLP-1 medications on benefits strategy, pharmacy costs, access, and employee health outcomes, FIRST Rx brings an important perspective on prescription drug management and employer decision-making. Their engagement helps ensure this conversation includes practical insight into how employers can balance innovation, affordability, and long-term workforce wellbeing.
Through their focus on pharmacy strategy and employer support, FIRST Rx is helping advance meaningful dialogue around how organizations can respond thoughtfully to the changing healthcare landscape while continuing to invest in the health of their people.
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We’re excited to welcome Liviniti as a member of the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition.
Liviniti is a pharmacy benefit manager focused on helping employers and plan sponsors manage prescription benefits with greater transparency, flexibility, and control. Their approach is designed to help organizations navigate pharmacy costs, improve access to medications, and support better health outcomes for employees and their families.
Through their focus on transparent pharmacy benefit solutions and employer support, Liviniti brings an important perspective to the Coalition’s conversations around healthcare strategy, benefits design, cost management, and workforce wellbeing.
Please join us in welcoming Liviniti to the Coalition!
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GLP-1 Employer Roundtable This Week
GLP-1 medications continue to reshape conversations around employee health, chronic disease prevention, healthcare spending, pharmacy benefits, and workforce wellbeing strategy.
This Thursday, September 3, the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition will host an executive educational roundtable at The Palmetto Club in Columbia to help employers better understand the evolving landscape and the key questions around coverage, cost, access, benefits strategy, pharmacy considerations, and long-term support.
The conversation will feature a panel of healthcare, pharmacy, benefits, and employer leaders who will bring practical insight into how organizations are navigating this complex and fast-changing issue.
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Attendance is limited, and registration is open now.
Thank you to our sponsors, Novo Nordisk and FIRST Rx, for supporting this important employer education opportunity.
| | Registration Open: Fall Seminar Series | | |
Registration is now open for the Coalition’s Fall Seminar Series, focused on Building a Culture of Prevention: Lifestyle Medicine and the Future of Workforce Wellbeing.
This statewide series will explore how employers can support healthier workplaces through prevention-focused strategies, lifestyle medicine principles, and practical approaches that address long-term workforce health. Each regional seminar will bring together leaders from business, healthcare, benefits, and community sectors for timely conversation, real-world examples, and actionable ideas.
Choose your region and register:
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Midlands Seminar
Thursday, September 24
Palmetto Club, Columbia
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Lowcountry Seminar
Wednesday, September 30
Harbour Club, Charleston
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Upstate Seminar
Thursday, October 1
Capital Club, Greenville
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We’re excited to introduce the Healthy People, Healthy Places Exchange, a new monthly virtual series presented by Nature at Work and the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition.
These free, 30-minute lunchtime conversations will feature leaders from across our member and sponsor networks sharing practical strategies, real-world examples, research, and emerging ideas that support healthier workplaces and communities.
Watch for details about our first conversations and registration opportunities coming soon.
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In Closing
As we look ahead to fall, we’re excited to continue creating opportunities for employers, members, and partners to come together around the issues shaping workforce health.
From the GLP-1 Employer Roundtable to the Fall Seminar Series and the launch of the Healthy People, Healthy Places Exchange, the Coalition will continue bringing practical conversations, trusted perspectives, and meaningful connections to leaders across South Carolina.
Thank you for being part of this growing statewide network. Your engagement, participation, and partnership help move this work forward.
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