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Doctors and nurses worldwide point to roadmap to future-proof healthcare

Elsevier

Thousands of doctors and nurses from across the globe reveal what is needed to fill gaps and future-proof today’s healthcare system in a new report from Elsevier Health. Published two years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the comprehensive “Clinician of the Future” report, conducted in partnership with Ipsos uncovers just how undervalued doctors and nurses feel, and their call for urgent support such as more skills training — especially in the effective use of health data and technology; preserving the patient-doctor relationship in a changing digital world; and recruiting more healthcare professionals into the field. Their voices have been elevated in this first global, multiphase research report to not only understand where the healthcare system is following the COVID-19 pandemic, but where it needs to be in 10 years to ensure a future that both providers and patients deserve. “Doctors and nurses play a vital role in the health and well-being of our society. Ensuring they are being heard will enable them to get the support they need to deliver better patient care in these difficult times,” said Jan Herzhoff, President of Elsevier Health. “We must start to shift the conversation away from discussing today’s healthcare problems to delivering solutions that will help improve patient outcomes. In our research, they have been clear about the areas they need support; we must act now to protect, equip and inspire the clinician of the future.” There has never been a greater need for lifting the voices of healthcare professionals. The global study found 71% of doctors and 68% of nurses believe their jobs have changed considerably in the past 10 years, with many saying their jobs have gotten worse. One in three clinicians are considering leaving their current role by 2024, with as many as half of this group in some countries leaving healthcare entirely. This comes on top of the existing global healthcare workforce shortage, where clinicians continue to experience severe levels of fatigue and burnout since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. “As a practicing doctor, I am acutely aware of the struggles today’s clinicians face in their efforts to care for patients,” said Charles Alessi, MD, Chief Clinical Officer, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). “This comprehensive report from Elsevier Health provides an opportunity for the industry to listen — and act — on the pivotal guidance given by those on the frontlines. I commend this important initiative and look forward to next steps in supporting our doctors and nurses.” What today’s clinicians want for the clinician of the future The “Clinician of the Future” report includes a quantitative global survey, qualitative interviews and roundtable discussions with nearly 3,000 practicing doctors and nurses around the world. The data helps shed light on the challenges impacting the profession today and predictions on what healthcare will look like in the next decade, according to those providing critical patient care. To ensure a positive shift moving into the future—and to fill current gaps—clinicians highlight the following priority areas for greater support: Enhancing health technology skills: Clinicians predict that over the next 10 years “technology literacy” will become their most valuable capability, ranking higher than “clinical knowledge.” In fact, 56% of clinicians predict they will base most of their clinical decisions using tools that utilize artificial intelligence. However, 69% report being overwhelmed with the current volume of data and 69% predict the widespread use of digital health technologies to become an even more challenging burden in the future. As a result, 83% believe training needs to be overhauled so they can keep pace with technological advancements. A greater focus on the patient-provider relationship: Clinicians predict a blended approach to healthcare with 63% saying most consultations between clinicians and patients will be remote and 49% saying most healthcare will be provided in a patient’s home instead of in a healthcare setting. While clinicians may save time and see more patients thanks to telehealth, more than half of clinicians believe telehealth will negatively impact their ability to demonstrate empathy with patients they no longer see in person. As a result, clinicians are calling for guidance on when to use telehealth and how to transfer soft skills like empathy to the computer screen. An expanded healthcare workforce: Clinicians are concerned about a global healthcare workforce shortage, with 74% predicting there will be a shortage of nurses and 68% predicting a shortage of doctors in 10 years’ time. This may be why a majority of global clinicians agree that a top priority will be to increase the number of healthcare workers in the coming decade. Clinicians require the support of larger, better equipped teams and expanded multidisciplinary healthcare teams, such as data analysts, data security experts and scientists, as well as clinicians themselves. “While we know that many nurses are leaving the profession due to burnout, we also know that the pandemic has inspired others to enter the field because of a strong desire for purposeful work,” said Marion Broome, PhD RN, FAAN, Ruby F. Wilson Professor of Nursing at the School of Nursing, Duke University. “We must embrace this next wave of healthcare professionals and ensure we set them up for success. Our future as a society depends on it.” Looking to the future Findings from this research will be leveraged to provide strategic insights and solutions for physicians, nurses, educators, healthcare administrators and policymakers as Elsevier Health establishes initiatives designed to address the gaps highlighted: Provide an annual Elsevier Health “Clinician of the Future” pulse survey to ensure these voices continue to be front-and-center. Convene a Global Coalition of healthcare leaders and institutions to explore solutions at the medical school and clinical practice level. Explore the issue of patient empathy in partnership with our trusted research journals and subject matter experts. “Ultimately, we asked clinicians for what they need, and now it’s our responsibility as a healthcare industry to act,” said Thomas (Tate) Erlinger, MD, MPH, Vice President, Clinical Analytics, Elsevier Health. “Now is the time for bold thinking — to serve providers and patients today and tomorrow. We need to find ways to give clinicians the enhanced skills and resources they need to better support and care for patients in the future. And we need to fill in gaps today, to stop the drain on healthcare workers to ensure a strong system in the next decade and beyond.” Research methodology Elsevier and Ipsos collaborated to develop this study with Ipsos conducting the three phases of research cumulatively leading to the explorations in this report. The phases included (1) 60-minute online qualitative interviews with 23 key opinion leaders from around the world to uncover trends and expectations for the future state of clinician roles and to inform quantitative design (run from Aug. 11 until Sept. 10, 2021). Participants were recruited from databases supplied by Elsevier and its flagship medical journal, The Lancet, in addition to clinicians recruited directly from Ipsos’ network (REACH – Thought Leadership); (2) a 15-minute online global survey completed by 2,838 1 clinicians to measure attitudes and uncover the paradigm shifts expected to most impact how healthcare is delivered (run from Oct. 15 until Dec. 13, 2021). The 2,838 respondents included a mixture of doctors and nurses from around the world. All participants who took part chose to do so, and individuals invited to participate were drawn from a number of sources, including clinicians who had published recently, who were randomly selected from a database of published authors across 9,000 health titles (including journals and books) from various publishers, clinicians on a third-party panel, and users of Elsevier solutions aimed at doctors and nurses. Data generated from this study was weighted using a regional weighting efficiency of 77.7% and a doctor-to-nurse weighting efficiency of 93.0%; (3) three qualitative virtual roundtables with 13 key opinion leaders in the US (5 participants), UK (4 participants) and China (4 participants) to gather reactions to the findings and provide expert points of view on the clinician of the future (run Nov. 22, 2021, Dec. 7, 2021, and Jan. 13, 2022). A global medical student roundtable with 12 participants was also conducted to capture the voice of the next generation of clinicians (run Feb. 15, 2022). For these roundtables, participants were recruited from databases supplied by Elsevier and The Lancet, in addition to clinicians recruited directly from Ipsos’ network (REACH - Though Leadership), a global social impact organization. To read the “Clinician of the Future” report in its entirety, click here. Notes for editors [1] Full base size Total (n=2838), Doctors (n=1691), Nurses (n=1108) Total (n=2838). Females (1465), Males (1300), Other (73) Total (n=2838), USA (n=434), UK (n=604), China (n=499), India (n=161), DE (n=162), JP (n=63), FR (n=82), ES (n=239), AUS (n=46), Mexico (n=50), NOAM (n=445), EUROPE (n=1255), APAC (n=842), MEA (n=128), South America (n=168); Doctor (n=1691), USA (n=261), UK (n=411), China (n=209), India (n=69), DE (n=69), JP (n=61), FR (n=24*), ES (n=130), AUS (n=30), Mexico (n=39), NOAM (n=268), EUROPE (n=755), APAC (n=433), MEA (n=105), South America (n=130); Nurses (n=1108), USA (n=164), UK (n=190), China (n=289), India (n=92), DE (n=86), JP (n=2*), FR (n=55), ES (n=106), AUS (n=16*), Mexico (n=9*), NOAM (n=168), EUROPE (n=481), APAC (n=408), MEA (n=21*), South America (n=30). About Elsevier Health Elsevier Health is a new brand identity that elevates our unique position to leverage knowledge, data, and technology to help clinicians, leaders, educators and students globally. Through our research, we have identified Five Pillars to Shape the Future of Health, which will guide our actions for the future. These pillars focus on the need to improve access to evidence-based information to tackle the infodemic; prepare more future health professionals with effective tools and resources; provide insights that improve patient outcomes; deliver healthcare that is truly inclusive; and support a more personalized and localized healthcare experience. Elsevier Health supports healthcare professionals throughout their career journey from education through clinical practice by providing current, accessible, evidence–based information, that can help empower clinicians to provide the best healthcare possible. About Elsevier As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, health professionals, institutions and funders. Elsevier employs 8,100 people worldwide. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our 2,500+ digitized journals, including “ The Lancet ” and “ Cell ”; our 40,000 e-Book titles; and our iconic reference works, such as “Gray’s Anatomy.” With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.elsevier.com Media contact Teresa Mueller, VP Communications, Elsevier Health Elsevier Communications t.mueller@elsevier.com Contact Details Elsevier Communications, UK Teresa Mueller t.mueller@elsevier.com Company Website https://www.elsevier.com/

March 15, 2022 09:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk is Back on the Course in 2022

Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk

The annual Boston Marathon ® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai will be returning to the historic course in person on Sunday, October 2 nd, to defy cancer. The Jimmy Fund Walk is the only organized walk permitted on the famed course and participants have the flexibility to choose from four distance options: 5K Walk (3.1 miles from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), 10K Walk (6.2 miles from Newton), Half Marathon Walk (13.1 miles from Wellesley), or Marathon Walk (26.2 miles from Hopkinton). Participants can also choose to join the event virtually by “ walking their way ” from wherever they are most comfortable—in their neighborhood, on a favorite hiking trail, or on a treadmill at home. Virtual programming and supporting materials will be available. “Throughout the Jimmy Fund Walk’s 33-year history, we have raised money to support our lifesaving mission, and the pandemic didn’t stop us,” said Zack Blackburn, Director of the Jimmy Fund Walk. Over the past two years, we saw our teams walk virtually and celebrate in their own unique way. Now, we welcome them to walk the course in person. We are back, and we are stronger than ever.” The Jimmy Fund Walk has raised more than $155 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in its 33-year history. Funds raised from the Walk support all forms of adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at the nation’s premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Anyone interested in additional information can email JimmyFundWalk@DFCI.Harvard.edu or call 866-531-9255. Along the course, walkers are treated to 12 refueling stations as well as poster-sized photographs of patients – Jimmy Fund Walk Heroes – displayed at each mile marker and half-mile marker as inspiration. All four routes of the Jimmy Fund Walk end at the Copley Square Finish Line with a celebration complete with food, music, and a speaking program. To register for the Jimmy Fund Walk (#JimmyFundWalk) or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255. Registrants can enter the promo code NEWS for $5 off the registration fee. All registered walkers will receive a bib, medal, and a Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt. About the Jimmy Fund The Jimmy Fund, established in Boston in 1948, is comprised of community-based fundraising events and other programs that, solely and directly, benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. The Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Mass Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. Follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @TheJimmyFund. Contact Details Brodeur Partners Kaitlynn Cooney +1 609-351-5944 kcooney@brodeur.com Company Website https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?fr_id=1840&pg=entry

March 15, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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HUNDREDS OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS AND WORLD LEADERS DEMAND AN END TO TOXIC MERCURY-CONTAINING LIGHTING

Clean Lighting Coalition

Today, more than 200 civil society organisations – including Climate Action Network, the Clean Lighting Coalition, European Environmental Bureau and South Africa Climate Change Coalition – have sent an open letter to Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, President of the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury COP4 demanding the end to exemptions for toxic mercury-containing fluorescent lighting products. The organisations are calling for a global phase-out of mercury containing fluorescent light products by 2025, in line with a proposed amendment submitted by the African region to the Minamata Convention on Mercury. As lighting markets in wealthy countries shift to clean LED lighting, less-regulated markets may experience “environmental dumping” of old fluorescent technologies. Many countries in the global North have passed or are considering policies that will ban the sale of mercury-laden, inefficient lighting products in their domestic markets, however they would still allow domestic manufacture and export to less developed and emerging markets. The import of fluorescents puts the public and environmental health of those countries at unnecessary risk. The proposed amendment by the African region would ensure a global phase-out of fluorescent lighting, eliminating fluorescent lighting at the source by ending the manufacture, export and import of mercury-based lighting products. The cumulative (2025-2050) global benefits of the African Lighting Amendment would be significant: Eliminate 232 tonnes of mercury pollution from the environment, both from the light bulbs themselves and from avoided mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants; Reduce global electricity use by 3%; Avoid 3.5 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions cumulatively between 2025-2050; equivalent to removing all passenger cars globally from the road for a whole year; and Save US$1 trillion on electricity bills Despite significant progress to reduce mercury, the Minamata Convention includes special exemptions for mercury-based fluorescent lighting products. While these fluorescent exemptions may have been necessary in 2013 when the Convention was drafted, lighting technology has moved on rapidly – and today, the accessibility and affordability of mercury-free LED retrofit lamps makes the fluorescent lamp exemption unnecessary. The signatories, representing climate and environment advocates, healthcare networks, youth groups, lighting industry representatives and energy experts from across the world are calling for an end to the sale of toxic, polluting lighting products to protect both people and the planet. "Ending exemptions for mercury-added fluorescent lighting at COP4.2 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury on March 21 and removing 3.5GT of carbon dioxide emissions between 2025-2050 is the quickest win and lowest hanging fruit for climate mitigation," said Nithi Nesadurai, Director and Regional Coordinator, Climate Action Network Southeast Asia during a media advisory on March 14. "It will be beneficial from the cost, health and environmental perspectives as well. It has to be done now; there is no time to lose." The letter comes as research from the Clean Lighting Coalition and partners demonstrate the health risks of mercury in lighting – particularly to vulnerable groups like developing fetuses, babies, and children; workers who handle fluorescent lamps at manufacturing and recycling facilities, as well as maintenance workers in commercial and institutional buildings; and communities of color and people living in low-income neighborhoods who may be chronically exposed to a combination of toxic substances, including mercury. The letter underscores that the phase-out of fluorescents must be a coordinated global effort. From 21-25 March 2022, the Minamata Convention will host the fourth Conference of Parties (COP4). To enter into effect, the amendment must be passed with a majority consensus of the 137 Parties (countries) to the Convention. NOTES TO THE EDITOR The Minamata Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury – a neurotoxin that can cause harmful and long-term health effects. The Convention launched in 2013 with the goal to “Make Mercury History” by eliminating the use of mercury in products and processes worldwide. Major highlights include a ban on new mercury mines and phase-out of existing ones, control measures on emissions to air and on releases to land and water, and the regulation of the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Currently, 137 parties (countries) have ratified the Convention. Please read the full open letter and full list of signatories here. About the Climate Action Network The Climate Action Network (CAN) is the world’s largest climate network made up of over 1,500 civil society organisations in over 130 countries, together fighting the climate crisis. To learn more, visit https://climatenetwork.org/. About the Clean Lighting Coalition The Clean Lighting Coalition is a global partnership coordinated by CLASP to capture the health and environmental benefits of eliminating mercury-based lighting. To learn more, visit www.cleanlightingcoalition.org and follow the Coalition on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Contact Details Clean Lighting Coalition (CLASP) Karishma Joseph +91 95383 72435 kjoseph@clasp.ngo Climate Acton Network Dharini Parthasarathy dparthasarathy@climatenetwork.org Company Website https://www.cleanlightingcoalition.org

March 14, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Functional Fitness Brand, P.volve Announces Transformative Rebrand to Revolutionize the Fitness and Women’s Wellness Industries

P.volve

P.volve, the functional fitness brand revolutionizing the way women move, live and feel, announced today a transformative rebrand to bridge the gap between fitness, women’s health and physical therapy. With this new company-wide direction, P.volve will unveil a whole new look and feel to their online and brick-and-mortar presence by gracefully connecting movement to the essence of nature through neutral colors and textures reflective of our environment. Additionally, the brand will introduce a new, life changing category of fitness called ‘Movement Therapy’; announce their expert Clinical Advisory Board, launch their first-ever ingestible recovery solution and more. With these monumental enhancements to the brand’s vision, purpose and mission, P.volve is for women to sculpt their body, support long-term health and restore vitality by delivering powerful, steadfast results. P.volve, which derives from the phrase ‘Personal Evolution’ is doing just that - helping millions of women evolve with their body through every stage of life, building the most powerful version of themselves with a workout to strengthen, sustain and recover. Focusing on ‘Natural Connection’, this new brand direction celebrates and honors the beautiful fluidity of nature and the human body, shown throughout every aspect of the rebrand. “We are thrilled to reintroduce P.volve as a Method that is disrupting the way we look at movement and teaching women all over the world to expect more from their fitness,” says Co-Founder, Rachel Katzman. “So many women, myself included, have been let down by traditional fitness, left not meeting goals and broken down. With this movement you can exceed all your goals - the butt you always wanted, mitigate everyday pain, balance your hormones and overall feel the best you’ve ever felt in your body. I speak with members of all ages every single week and continue to be inspired and motivated by the stories they share about how P.volve has helped strengthen, nourish and restore their bodies throughout their lives. Our method, our experience, our equipment, and now our first-ever recovery supplement are all designed to evolve with a woman’s body over time so she can feel the life changing power of daily, functional movement.” With the goal of opening 250 brick-and-mortar studios by 2025 and getting 30 million women to move functionally by 2030, P.volve will be rolling out the following initiatives to create a comprehensive, best-in-class and cutting-edge experience for their members and beyond: Bridging the Gap Between Healthcare and Fitness: Building a World-Class Clinical Advisory Board - P.volve’s Clinical Advisory Board (CAB), made up of seasoned medical doctors and experts, including Dr. Amy Hoover, Dr. Nima Alamdari, and Dr. Suman Tewari collaborate to create workouts, advise on equipment and develop new products. Together, they are helping us to ensure that the P.volve Method is rooted in science and research. Currently P.volve's trusted team of experts are going through multiple clinical trials, including three with the University of Exeter in the UK, a top 10 globally ranked university in sports related subjects. The studies will focus on muscle recovery strategies as well as the impact of the method on young and older adults; slated for completion in 2025. Most recently, preliminary results in a University of Minnesota clinical study of adults with chronic lower back pain showed that 12 weeks of the P.volve Back Strengthening Series workout (whole body low-intensity exercises that focus on the pelvic floor and strengthening the core): significantly reduced pain, improved body awareness and strength and reduced fearful avoidance of movement. Lower back pain is an ailment that up to 80% of Americans will develop in their lifetime, with up to 15-20% of adults reporting it in an average year. ‘Prescribing P.volve’ Pilot Program - While P.volve is not a medical treatment that requires a prescription, Dr. Amy Hoover, Founding P.volve CAB member and Resident Physical Therapist specializing in pelvic health, is spearheading a pilot program with a network of doctors throughout the U.S. whereby they recommend P.volve’s Movement Therapy programming to patients as part of their continuous care treatment plan. “Many people are failed by the healthcare system when it comes to fitness, movement and exercise. They are told to exercise, but then not guided on what works best for their specific body. I love this method because it not only helps to restore proper muscle balance and biomechanics, but also teaches people about how their body works. P.volve connects them to their own body and helps them identify their own specific needs, which empowers them to help restore themselves through movement. I use this method to complement treatments for my patients,” says Dr. Hoover. Partnerships in Healthcare - As part of its mission to help 30 million women move better and live better by 2030, P.volve is partnering with top healthcare brands such as Ovia Health, Spring Fertility, Medicare Fitness Programs, Amazon Halo, Integrative Institute for Nutrition and Sugarbreak. Together, they are providing holistic solutions and resources for women, while making the P.volve Method more accessible to those who need it most. Introducing a New Category of Fitness: As part of the mission to elevate what women can expect from their fitness routine, P.volve launched Movement Therapy, a new category of workouts developed by expert Trainers in collaboration with the Clinical Board. These programs deliver strong, balanced and resilient physiques, while also addressing the pain points and sensitivities that patients and members commonly experience. This includes female-specific need-states, such as pelvic floor health, managing symptoms related to menstrual cycle, workouts for pre and post natal, and managing with endometriosis. It also addresses everyday aches and pains related to knees, hips, back, wrists and more. Accelerating Recovery: P.volve believes that daily, functional movement is necessary for a woman to live a healthy and sustainable life. Understanding that muscle recovery is a critical component to the ability to move daily with ease, P.volve is launching a great-tasting, easy to use, and scientifically-backed powdered recovery solution, Recover 9, to enable members to recover faster and experience less muscle soreness. The formulation was developed in partnership with scientists and includes all nine essential amino acids and pomegranate fruit extract. This first-of-its-kind blend is sourced from best-in-class ingredients and manufacturers, is vegan, sugar-free, non-GMO, contains no artificial flavors, and is free of gluten and all major allergens. Recover 9 joins P.volve’s pre-existing proprietary product line up, including the p.ball, p.band, and p.3 trainer. Member Advisory Board: With a strong legacy of using member feedback to drive key business decisions, P.volve appointed an official Member Advisory Board comprised of brand advocates globally. The Board meets virtually every month and uses WhatsApp daily to communicate and share feedback with P.volve Leadership. The Board is charged with bringing the voice of the member to the team so that member feedback is consistently represented and prioritized across the business. With a belief that women have been underserved by traditional fitness modalities, P.volve is raising the bar within industry and teaching women all around the globe to expect more from their fitness - because any fitness can deliver toned physiques, but the ability to both strengthen and restore the body is the future. With an expert Clinical Team, University-led Clinical Trials, a growing list of partners within the healthcare space and a new category of Movement Therapy, this is just the beginning for P.volve. ABOUT P.VOLVE P.volve is a leading science-backed, holistic fitness Method for women that harnesses the power of functional movement to nourish and heal while it shapes, tones, and strengthens. The Method supports women’s evolving needs and empowers its members to move with ease—for life. Experienced in-studio and virtually, P.volve offers a growing franchise studio footprint, proprietary equipment, an on-demand and live-streaming platform, and a recovery supplement. P.volve launched in November 2017 and was co-founded by Rachel Katzman, in partnership with Camelot Venture Group, whose portfolio companies include 1-800 CONTACTS, SmileDirectClub and Quicken Loans. Available worldwide, P.volve is headquartered in New York City. For more information, please visit www.pvolve.com and @pvolve on Instagram. Contact Details Courtney Stewart courtney@powers-pr.com Company Website https://www.pvolve.com

March 14, 2022 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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BGA Insurance Group Joins AmeriLife to Accelerate Growth and Deliver Next-Generation Financial Solutions

AmeriLife

AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions, announced today that it has partnered with Bachmeier, Gudis and Associates (d/b/a BGA Insurance Group ), a highly rated, national insurance marketing organization (IMO) that distributes a deep, competitive portfolio of Medicare, life and retirement planning solutions. Per the agreement, terms of the deal were not disclosed. "In life and in business, you attain certain milestones, and BGA has had its share along the way,” said Joe Bachmeier, co-founder of BGA Insurance Group. “Today, I can proudly say that we’ve reached a pinnacle with our partnership with AmeriLife, a giant in the industry whose trust and confidence in our firm is validation that we’ve been doing right all along. I look forward to the years to come and to generating unlimited success with our new partners." "Partnering with AmeriLife was an absolute no-brainer," added Greg Gudis, co-founder of BGA Insurance Group. "AmeriLife’s mission closely aligns with our own. This partnership will allow us to continue successfully delivering old-fashioned, personalized service to our clients, while harnessing the power of technology and back-office support that AmeriLife brings." BGA Insurance Group was formed in 2008 by Bachmeier and Gudis, both of whom remain active, producing agents while overseeing the day-to-day business affairs and operations of the firm. While primarily a distributor of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement products, the firm is well known for its success in cross-selling adjacent solutions, including annuities. This model not only aligns with AmeriLife’s holistic approach to addressing clients’ total financial wellness, but has established BGA Insurance as a standout in the industry and a go-to resource for agents who are keen to take a multi-solutions approach for their clients. “BGA Insurance Group could not be a better fit for AmeriLife,” said Scotty Elliott, president of AmeriLife’s Life & Health Brokerage Distribution. “The team has proven to have their finger on the pulse of what today’s pre-retirees and retirees need to live longer, healthier and more secure lives. On behalf of AmeriLife, I’m thrilled to welcome Joe, Greg and their team to AmeriLife, and look forward to adding their expertise and leadership to our growing distribution.” BGA Insurance Group will operate as a stand-alone organization and continue to be led by co-founders Bachmeier and Gudis. The management team will report to Elliott and be based at its Philadelphia, Penn. headquarters as it continues to expand its presence nationwide. ### About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to offer insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a national distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors, more than 50 marketing organizations, and 50 insurance agency locations. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Media Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Partnership Inquiries Patrick Nichols +1 727-726-0726 pnichols@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

March 10, 2022 03:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

ibble Launches Social Networking App Landing One Of The Largest Series Seed Funding In Texas History

ibble

ibble, a new social media app empowering people to spark conversations and ignite new ideas has received $12.7MM, the largest series seed funding round in Texas history. Leading the seed round was Drive Capital followed by TTV Capital, Unknown Ventures, and Get Engaged Media. The investment in ibble comes amidst societies overwhelming frustrations with current social media platforms as they increasingly cut content; remove conversations and restrict engagement. “ibble is a Social Media App built on the idea of learning through conversations and having the ability to talk directly with the experts without the friction that currently exists on traditional social media apps and platforms,” said Raymond Kaminski, CEO and Co-founder of ibble. “We believe that talking with your community, not at your community, through the power of audio and video can spark more meaningful conversations and create more insightful engagement." ibble’s mission is to help people connect with and learn from experts through the power of video and audio conversations. Users are able to ask experts questions directly as well as spark conversations with their peers, naturally expanding candid conversations without friction. Is an expert always right? No, of course not. We believe what makes someone an "expert" is their relentless pursuit of the truth about a certain subject and their willingness to share it. For people who have been frustrated by structured and ad focused social media platforms that stifle conversations and are not easily suited to video and audio conversations, the solution is ibble – the social media app built by a distinguished team of entrepreneurs who believe that conversations and connections must have a healthy environment to thrive and grow in this digital age. “Brands, celebrities, influencers, the news, sports figures and more are looking for new ways to engage but that is almost impossible when dealing with the limits of current social media apps and platforms,” said Irving Lee, Co-Founder and Head of Partnerships at ibble. “We built ibble knowing that authenticity is not found in a like, comment or status update, and how could it? ibble provides a platform that celebrates real conversations with real people and threads that mirror real life conversations; conversations you can jump in and out of." With ibble anything is possible through the power of conversation. Users can start a video or audio conversation about their favorite show. They can also ask their favorite influencer or celebrity a question and get a response back with a simple click of a button. ibble makes conversation easy because ibble has made conversation through social media possible, with a focus on the natural flow of conversations and questions. For brands, shows, influencers, celebrities and others, ibble has made it easy to talk with their community members directly while not having to worry about being throttled or competing brands advertised to them while they are communicating with them. About ibble ibble is the social media app that enables experts and their communities to directly engage through audio and video conversations. ibble makes events more accessible and adds depth through back-and-forth video and audio posts. Learn more at https://www.getibble.com/ Contact Details ibble Jason Jepson +1 949-394-7033 press@ibble.io Company Website https://www.getibble.com/

March 10, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Nice Healthcare Raises $30M Series A To Reinvent The Way Primary Care is Delivered

Nice Healthcare

Nice Healthcare, the clinic that comes to you, today announced that it has closed a Series A funding round of $30 million led by DNA Capital, with participation from existing investors Waterline Ventures, Conductive Ventures, and Santa Barbara Venture Partner and new investors Brown Venture Group, F.R. Bigelow Foundation, Daren Cotter, and Eddie Cisneros. Nice Healthcare is solving systemic pain points by bringing integrated primary care directly to the patient with in-home and virtual visits, lab tests, x-rays, mental health services, prescription medication and physical therapy. The company’s unique blend of innovation and personal touches are a welcomed disruption in modern medicine. Nice Healthcare focuses on bringing affordable healthcare benefits to small and medium sized businesses, the backbone of the US Economy. Small businesses generate 44% of US economic activity and employ 48% of US employees, yet few healthcare innovations are focused on this segment. Further, much of the innovation often caters to tech savvy, high earning consumers or those who are marginalized. What is often missed is the middle, working class families. Nice Healthcare is the first integrated healthcare solution that enables SMBs to offer medical care to families that is affordable and accessible. ”Healthcare innovation is worthless if it does not simultaneously and immediately reduce health insurance premiums, reduce patient out-of-pocket costs, and make care more accessible,” said Thompson Aderinkomi, Co-founder and CEO of Nice Healthcare. “Nice Healthcare has accomplished these three things from day one and this funding will enable us to bring our truly impactful model of care to more homes nationwide.” In addition to the Series A, Nice is also announcing an expansion of its C-suite to support continued growth with key executive hires, including the addition of Steven Bayer as Chief Experience Officer, Charles Wyatt as Chief Financial Officer and Shadé Akande as Chief People Officer. Since 2020, the company experienced 300% growth, added physical therapy and mental health to its service offerings and expanded into 20 markets to support demand. “We at DNA Capital are delighted to partner with Nice as they continue to scale their high touch and affordable primary care services to large cross sections of rural and suburban middle to low income working individuals and families across America,” said Partha Mishra, Partner at DNA Capital who joined Nice’s Board of Directors. “We are equally excited to back one of the most diverse founding teams and a culture that celebrates diversity and promotes respect for one another and inspires trust amongst the people they have the privilege to serve.” Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nice Healthcare is currently available in parts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Iowa, Wisconsin, Oregon and Washington, with plans to expand into more markets. More than 400 small businesses currently use Nice Healthcare for their employees healthcare benefits. In addition to the investors who participated in Nice’s Series A financing round, OATV was an early investor and has been instrumental in supporting the growth of the company. To learn more about Nice Healthcare, visit www.nice.healthcare. Nice Healthcare is making truly integrated comprehensive healthcare accessible, allowing patients to easily get care for their everyday needs. By utilizing a mix of technology, logistics, and expert clinical care, they bring a fully integrated clinic to you, providing in-home and virtual primary care, mental health therapy, and physical therapy Their clinicians can also offer patients x-rays, 35 labs and blood draws and a formulary with over 550 medications with no out-of-pocket costs. Since launching in Minnesota in 2017, Nice has expanded its integrated care services to 12 states. Contact Details Nice Healthcare Karen Swim, APR +1 586-461-2103 pr@nice.healthcare Company Website https://www.nice.healthcare/

March 10, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

GROUNDWORK BIOAG NAMED THIRD MOST INNOVATIVE FOOD COMPANY IN THE WORLD BY FAST COMPANY

Groundwork BioAg

Groundwork BioAg® has been selected by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Food Companies for 2022. The bioagriculture company was recognized for tackling grand challenges facing humankind today: food security, soil health and climate change. Groundwork BioAg ensures farmers have access to its cost-effective mycorrhizal inoculants that increase yield while reducing the use of phosphorus, protecting against drought and permanently sequestering carbon. The company’s Rootella® product line sets the standard for quality, concentration and predictability through its mass production technology innovation. This translates to greater in-field performance to help farmers grow more productive and resilient crops. “We are honored to stand with this prestigious group of companies recognized by Fast Company for innovation that is transforming the world today,” said Dr. Yossi Kofman, CEO and Co-Founder, Groundwork BioAg. "As commercial agriculture reconciles societal shifts and climate change realities, the industry is adopting more regenerative practices that reduce farmers’ dependence on toxic and expensive chemical fertilizers. For the health of our planet and all who live here, we remain committed to restoring the world’s soils with the mainstream application of mycorrhizae – the Queen of Biologicals.” Applied on more than one million acres in 2021, Groundwork BioAg accelerated global production and expanded product formulations and application methods. Previously, the biotechnology and manufacturing processes were too complex and costly to produce a highly effective and affordable inoculant for mainstream agriculture. “The industrial agriculture revolution only took society so far and its potential has been exhausted. Groundwork BioAg’s innovations are at the epicenter of the next agricultural revolution — the bioagricultural revolution — and it will grow, as healthy plants do, from soil rich in mycorrhizae,” said Kofman. As part of its annual process, Fast Company ’s editors and writers sought out the most groundbreaking businesses across the globe and industries. The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company ’s signature franchise and provides both a snapshot and a roadmap for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the global economy. “The world’s most innovative companies play an essential role in addressing the most pressing issues facing society, whether they’re fighting climate change by spurring decarbonization efforts, ameliorating the strain on supply chains, or helping us reconnect with one another over shared passions,” said Fast Company Deputy Editor David Lidsky. Fast Company ’s Most Innovative Companies issue (March/April 2022) is available online and on newsstands beginning March 15. About Groundwork BioAg Groundwork BioAg, a global bioagriculture company, leverages the natural power of mycorrhizal fungi to improve the productivity, sustainability and profitability of mainstream agriculture and expand regenerative agriculture practices. Groundwork BioAg is the first to use innovative techniques to solve challenges inherent in high-volume mycorrhizal inoculant production. We will not rest until every hectare of arable land is protected by mycorrhizae and every farmer benefits from higher crop yields while preserving our soils. For more information, visit www.groundworkbioag.com. Contact Details AgTech PR for Groundwork BioAg Jennifer Goldston +1 816-260-0040 jennifer@agtechpr.com Company Website https://www.groundworkbioag.com

March 09, 2022 07:30 AM Central Standard Time

MyYogaTeacher Launches Official 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program Online

MyYogaTeacher

MyYogaTeacher announces the launch of a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program, which will be offered three times each year, and features live instruction by a group of highly-skilled, certified, India-based and -trained instructors. Unlike the self-paced, pre-recorded, video-based packages sold online, which offer digital materials, videos, and only a handful of live sessions led by an instructor, MyYogaTeacher’s courses are 100% live, taking place daily over a period of 95+ days. MyYogaTeacher was named one of “The 6 Best Online Yoga Classes of 2022” by Byrdie. “Our students have a wide range of reasons for pursuing teacher training,” says Jitendra Gupta, the Indian-born CEO of MyYogaTeacher, who co-founded the company with Mexican-American entrepreneur Will Allen, after pursuing yoga to improve his personal physical and mental well-being. “Some definitely have a desire to teach yoga, but others simply want to improve their practice and challenge themselves a bit further by expanding their yogic knowledge and taking their physical practice to the next level.” The program is open to students of all levels. The Yoga Alliance-certified teacher training program features 6 highly-qualified MyYogaTeacher instructors, and is led by Rohan Shroff, who earned a Masters in Science in Yoga from SVYASA University in Bangalore and has over 1300 hours of yoga teacher training from well-known and respected institutions in India. Rohan has graduated over 500 students from online and in-person teacher training programs, including over 100 MyYogaTeacher students, and he also teaches Pranayama, Meditation, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Yoga Sutras, and Methodology, at MyYogaTeacher. Besides live instruction on a variety of topics–yoga history, theory, anatomy and physiology–in addition to asana practice, pranayama, chanting, meditation, yoga sutras, and more, the program includes a 150-page e-book, recordings of the classes so students can return to each session and review, plus a community setting that keeps students engaged, motivated and energize. They can also live chat with instructors (Bodhi Abishek Singh, Gomati Woli, Stuti Asher, Umesh Balavaradaraju, Bharath Ram) and fellow students. “What’s great is that your investment in teacher training is nowhere close to the cost you will incur by traveling to India during our post-Covid era,” says Gupta. “And we offer students a 14-day free trial so if they are not happy with the coursework, they can cancel.” The first round of this YTT program runs from March 5 to May 28, and the program will be offered 3 times each year. The next round will take place in the summer of 2022. Learn more about the program and featured instructors here. About MyYogaTeacher MyYogaTeacher is reconnecting yoga to its roots and sharing it through live lessons taught by the world’s foremost teachers who studied yoga at India’s most elite universities and schools. With over 100,000 registered U.S. students, it offers over 40 group classes daily, and provides private sessions, along with over one million minutes of live interactions each month. The Cupertino, California-based company was co-founded in 2018 by Jitendra Gupta and Will Allen. Gupta is the successful former co-founder of Punchh, who turned his struggle with burnout into a platform to help others. Allen is a former mechanical engineer who left the lucrative aerospace industry to travel the world, and pursue yoga and meditation over the past decade. MyYogaTeacher recently received $3 million in seed round funding, led by TSVC, with participation from Leonis Investissement, Weekend Fund, All Access Fund, and Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments. For more information, visit MyYogaTeacher.com. Contact Details Carolyn Kamii PR Carolyn Kamii +1 310-251-0550 carolyn@carolynkamii.com Company Website https://www.myyogateacher.com/

March 09, 2022 04:30 AM Pacific Standard Time