GSK sponsors community health event in St. Louis, part of nationwide tour

ST. LOUIS — GlaxoSmithKline is sponsoring a national campaign to investigate ways to build healthier communities in the United States and has made its latest stop, in St. Louis, the company said Wednesday.

The program, "A Conversation on Community Health," began in Philadelphia in September, with The Atlantic magazine acting as host and GSK underwriting it. According to the St. Louis Regional Health Commission, about 31% of adults in the city are obese, while the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranks the city among the 10 most challenging places to live with asthma, though the health commission estimates that 11.4% children there have been diagnosed with it.

"At GSK, we're always asking ourselves what we can do to be a better partner in the communities in which we serve patients to ensure that they have the resources and opportunities they need to live healthier lives," GSK president for North America Pharmaceuticals Deirdre Connelly said. "While there are many innovative and effective local community programs doing great work across St. Louis and in other cities across the United States, we believe it's possible to work together even more effectively to drive greater collective impact."

The events are designed to find ways health organizations, public officials, advocates and citizens can improve health at the local level. In St. Louis, The Atlantic will convene a summit of regional experts in medicine, public health, academia, government, business and philanthropy, including a panel discussion featuring such people as St. Louis Regional Health Commission CEO Robert Fruend; St. Louis Department of Health commissioner Melba Moore and others.

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