Editor’s Note: The following is from Robert Bazemore, Jr., President of our Centocor Ortho Biotech, Inc. company.

Recently, I had the honor of meeting Gordon Kenyon, an incredibly brave, young individual with late-stage, metastatic prostate cancer, who was accompanied by his wife, Kim. They recounted how tests for an unexpected back injury ultimately revealed that he had prostate cancer-induced bone fractures. The unanticipated and devastating news about advanced prostate cancer turned his life upside down, as he and his family were immediately faced with a host of decisions.

Since his diagnosis, this former Marine, tri-athlete and father of three young children has undergone several treatments in an attempt to win the upper hand over the disease. His wife gives the term “pillar of strength” new meaning, seeking out the latest information and resources while he focuses on maintaining his health and providing for the long-term needs of his family. His captivating story impressed upon me the need for new treatment options as well as the critical role of education and support services to manage the baggage that accompanies this disease.

Prostate cancer is often misunderstood. About 32,000 men are estimated to die this year from the disease in the U.S. alone – enough men to fill approximately 400 metropolitan buses, including standing passengers – or 77 Boeing 747-400 airplanes. It’s also the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States. Yet, despite these staggering numbers, there’s often the misperception that prostate cancer is less dangerous than other cancers.

Legendary golf champion and prostate cancer survivor Arnold Palmer joins Centocor Ortho Biotech and Us TOO to launch My Prostate Cancer Roadmap, a special resource for advanced prostate cancer patients and their loved ones. My Prostate Cancer Roadmap helps these patients and those who care about them navigate, via a GPS format, a plethora of issues related to the disease, including health and wellness, work and relationships – as well as more difficult topics, such as sex and intimacy. This resource offers two paths – one for men with advanced prostate cancer and the other for family, friends and caregivers – to help address their related, but unique, needs.

In honor of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, I invite you to join our journey to raise awareness of advanced prostate cancer by visiting My Prostate Cancer Roadmap and sharing it with the men in your life.

The recent flooding in Pakistan has devastated the region.  One-fifth of the country, an area about the size of Italy, is now underwater, and entire villages have been swept away.  It is estimated that 15 million people have been displaced by the flooding.  Johnson & Johnson has distributed three Johnson & Johnson Disaster Relief Modules to the region, which include items such as sutures, wound dressings, Band-Aids, Neosporin and emergency medicine.  In addition to these modules, Johnson & Johnson is providing cash and product donations, and working with partners in the area to give immediate assistance to the victims. 

One such organization that my colleagues at Johnson & Johnson Pakistan are working with is The Edhi Foundation, an organization that specializes in providing medical care, emergency medicine and other social services to those in need.  The Edhi Foundation is distributing flood relief packages to victims in the region.  These kits contain emergency medicine, including Imodium and Motilium, among other items.

The Citizen’s Foundation, with support from Johnson & Johnson, is dispensing ration packs that consist of food, water-purifying packs and basic medicines.  These ration packs provide enough materials to sustain a family of 5 for an entire month.  Since the flooding, TCF has distributed packs to nearly 2,000 families.

Johnson & Johnson is also working with our longtime partners in the region – AmeriCares, Direct Relief International, Heart to Heart, UNICEF, and World Vision – to dispense continuing aid to those affected by this tragedy.  Those of us at Johnson & Johnson will offer ongoing support as efforts continue to rebuild Pakistan.

You can read more about our efforts in Pakistan and the partners Johnson & Johnson works with on our corporate website.  Visit their websites to find out how you can help.

Johnson & Johnson employees and Edhi Foundation staff with flood relief packages.

Last week I was lucky enough to be part of the Johnson & Johnson team at the BlogHer 2010 conference.  It was a great opportunity to meet a lot of amazing people and see the diversity of interests that bring bloggers to the conference and the blogosphere in general.

Our goal at the conference was to make connections and find out what people really care about. To that end we constructed a small tv booth on site, to record and edit “stories of caring” from attendees. We got some great stories, which we posted on-site to the Johnson & Johnson health channel, but we learned even more off camera.  I thought when we came to BlogHer we would mainly hear stories of caring, but as the conference continued we heard about so much more.   People did talk about caring for others, but more than that people talked about the causes that move them.   Bloggers talked about topics as diverse as education for children developing countries to the prevention of heart disease, but the thing they all had in common was passion.

You could see that passion in the attendees and you could feel it when they shared their stories with us.  I think it’s that passion that drives these bloggers to share their stories with others.  And I have to say it was a bit contagious.  As you can see I’ve taken up blogging myself.     

While I didn’t know exactly what to expect heading to Blogher, I’m certainly glad I attended.  This was our first time at the event with our own booth and I would have to say it was a success.  We had a great response from the attendees and we captured a lot of amazing stories.  I’ll be looking forward to BlogHer 2011, until then I’ll see you around the Blogoshpere.

Just returned from BlogHer2010, the premier event for women bloggers, who cover topics such as kids and family, relationships, “green” living, coupon collecting and fashion. Quite a wide range from the approximately 2500 “bloghers” who showed up at the Hilton, in New York City, on Friday and Saturday, August 6-7.

For the first time, Johnson & Johnson had a booth representing the company. During the previous 2 years at BlogHer, we sponsored a SAFE KIDS USA booth. The theme of our booth this year was “Johnson & Johnson, A Legacy of Caring”, which celebrates our 125 year history of helping people lead healthier and happier lives. We invited attendees to tell their own “stories of caring”, which we videotaped and posted to the Johnson & Johnson health channel on you tube. We had over 50 stories over the two day period, focusing on caring about family, children, helping others, charitable giving, and even a couple about pets.

All in all, it was a great experience and a wonderful way to connect with people, and we hope to have a continued presence at BlogHer going forward. Here’s one of the videos recorded, by Mom, Vera Sweeney

I learned about a new study that finds the U.S. is facing serious challenges to maintaining its position as the global leader in medical innovation. The study Gone Tomorrow? A Call to Promote Medical Innovation, Create Jobs, and Find Cures in America was commissioned by the Council for American Medical Innovation (CAMI), which views leadership in medical innovation as a key part of addressing the health and economic crisis in the U.S.

What does this mean for a company like Johnson & Johnson? Joaquin Duato, Company Group Chairman, Pharmaceuticals—The Americas, spoke at a We Work for Health event at Rutgers University about the importance of medical innovation and how our pharmaceutical business is working to further innovation. He emphasized the significance of collaboration between public and private sectors at all levels of development to address unmet medical needs around the world. Joaquin also highlighted an important external factor that impacts medical innovation—policies that support leadership and investment in the life sciences, which in turn spur innovation, create jobs and improve the lives of patients. You can read his full remarks here.

From Anu Gupta, M.D., Director, Corporate Contributions, Johnson & Johnson

As I pulled out my suitcase to pack for the upcoming International AIDS Society conference in Vienna, Austria, I was reminded of the last time I used it. A month ago, I had traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the Global Health Council Award Dinner. While I had been to the dinner before, this was a very special year because I had nominated mothers2mothers (m2m) for an award and they had won! 

As I sat with m2m founder Dr. Mitch Besser at the VIP table with luminaries in global health, I recalled my last visit to m2m in October 2006 to open a series of new sites in East London, South Africa, where Johnson & Johnson has had a manufacturing facility for more than 75 years. The mentor mothers I met on that trip, their stories, their songs and their struggles have stayed with me. 

It was no surprise to me that when Mitch went to the podium to accept the award, his speech was all about the mothers – the mentor mothers, all HIV-positive, who had recently delivered and gone through the process of taking antiretrovirals to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and the pregnant women, also all HIV-positive, whom the mentor mothers were actively empowering through words and by example to have healthy children and live healthier lives. Joining the hundreds of guests in a standing ovation, I felt so grateful and honored to call Mitch and mothers2mothers our partner and friend. You can learn more about our work with m2m here.

This coming week, thousands will gather at the International AIDS Society meeting in Vienna to discuss the state of AIDS in 2010 and the future of the epidemic, from financing, to new prevention modalities and treatment aspirations. One topic that will take center stage is the global desire and commitment to eliminate pediatric AIDS by 2015 by preventing transmission of HIV from a mother to her unborn child and ensuring that mother is linked to health care for herself. We want to go from 1,000+ new infections in babies a day to 0. It is a goal that is within our reach. Everyone from Annie Lennox to Carla Bruni Sarkozy (Born HIV Free) will be there to figure out how to accomplish it.

Johnson & Johnson will also be front and center, convening with partners UNAIDS, Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA), and Global Business Coalition (GBC). This candid conversation with 20 funders – both private philanthropists and corporate donors – will explore under-resourced initiatives and innovative approaches to reach scale and achieve the dream of a world where no child is born with HIV and every mother has access to medication for her own health. Stay tuned for updates on the meeting.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare is today announcing two actions related to its ongoing efforts to upgrade the quality of its manufacturing operations, and I wanted to share with you their statement:

McNeil Statement on Plan Submission

Today McNeil Consumer Healthcare has submitted to the FDA a comprehensive action plan on quality improvement. The submission details the next steps to be taken by McNeil to ensure that its operations meet the level of quality that consumers expect of us, and that we expect of ourselves.

McNeil looks forward to the FDA’s review of the plan and to working with the Agency moving forward. McNeil already has taken a number of significant steps to enhance quality, and is taking a systemic approach to strengthening quality through longer term improvements.

The plan addresses a number of areas, including:

• Assessment and improvement of management controls;
• Improvements in quality processes;
• Interim controls and the use of outside experts to provide additional product quality assurance while the plan is being finalized and implemented;
• Significant investment in manufacturing facilities, equipment, and laboratories, and;
• A comprehensive program to ensure sustainable compliance with regulatory and McNeil quality requirements.

McNeil is committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to improve quality and earn consumers’ trust.

Statement on Fort Washington Plant

Consistent with its commitment to improve quality across its manufacturing operations, McNeil Consumer Healthcare will make a significant investment in re-fitting its Fort Washington manufacturing facility with new equipment, and will reorganize the plant’s operations. As a result, McNeil anticipates that the plant will be out of service for a protracted period of time. Regrettably, McNeil will be reducing staffing levels at the facility.

About 300 of the over 400 positions at the Fort Washington manufacturing plant are being eliminated as a result of this difficult decision. Employees whose positions are eliminated will be offered transitional support for the next year, including outplacement assistance, career counseling and professional support services to help them find a new position. McNeil has continued to provide employees with regular pay and benefits since operations at the plant were suspended in April, and will continue to do so through at least mid-September, at which point they will receive a severance package based on years of service.

When the plant reopens, McNeil anticipates some new hiring, and will provide preferential consideration to previous employees who are qualified for the new positions. However, staffing levels at the reconfigured plant are expected to be substantially lower than they are today.

McNeil is taking steps to expedite production of many of the products that were previously produced at Fort Washington by utilizing other plants in the Johnson & Johnson manufacturing network. As previously announced, although most products are not likely to be available before the end of 2010, McNeil expects to continue to expand its capacity to produce these products through the end of the year and in 2011.

We all hear about protecting our skin against the sun, but what about our eyes?

Because I grew up in the Sunshine State there were two things I learned to never leave home without: lots of sunscreen and big sunglasses. Just as it can damage your skin, sun exposure may cause short- and long-term damage to eyes that are unprotected or under-protected.

This is especially important for kids: it is estimated that we receive 80 percent of our lifetime exposure to UV rays by age 18. Children have larger pupils than adults (allowing more light into their eyes), clearer lenses, and are outside without eye protection much more frequently and for longer periods than most adults.

One study found that globally, 88 percent of people recognize that UV rays can damage their eyes, but only 57 percent wear sunglasses as protection. That said, not all sunglasses offer UV protection, and most frame styles don’t prevent rays from reaching the sides, top, and bottom of the glasses.

In recognition of UV Safety Month in the U.S., here are a few tips for reducing the risks of UV exposure, from the Healthy Women resource Fast Facts for Your Health: The Sun & Your Eyes: What You Need to Know –also available in Spanish (developed with the support of VISTAKON, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.):

Choosing the right sunglasses

• Choose sunglasses that limit transmission to no more than 1 percent UVB and 1 percent UVA rays. Sometimes the information on the glasses will say they block at least 99 percent of the UV rays. That’s OK. Other things to look for:
• Lenses large enough to completely cover the eye and prevent as much light as possible from entering through the edges of the glasses.
• Darker lenses, particularly if you are more light sensitive.
• Gray lenses. They provide the least color distortion, but not any better protection than other colored lenses.

UV-blocking contact lenses

For those that require vision correction, UV-blocking contact lenses can provide additional protection—when worn with UV-absorbing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. However, not all contact lenses offer UV protection. The American Optometric Association offers more information on UV protection and what to look for in UV-blocking contact lenses.

And remember, you can be at risk for sun damage at any time of year so protect your eyes, and your skin, year-round.

From Michael Bzdak, Director, Corporate Contributions, Johnson & Johnson

No matter where you live, you have the opportunity to play a role in the education and development of young people. Many of my colleagues at Johnson & Johnson are active in youth programs in their communities around the world ranging from sports to science to the arts and to the environment. Often, volunteer opportunities are linked to the organizations we support in many of the communities where we have offices and other operations.

I have had the privilege of serving as a volunteer mentor to a number of high school students in New Brunswick, New Jersey through the Bridge to Employment (BTE) Program, a partnership between Johnson & Johnson and the Academy for Educational Development. BTE was founded by Johnson & Johnson in 1992 to stem the high school dropout rate and address a projected shortage of health care workers by opening teens’ eyes to their own potential and guiding them toward promising careers in health care. BTE has helped thousands of students with mentoring and coaching over the years.  

In my eight years of mentoring, I have seen profound changes in the students as they progress through high school and into higher education. The first cohort of students in New Brunswick will be entering their senior year of university this coming year. In this time, I have witnessed incredible growth among the handful of students I still see regularly.

Beyond New Brunswick, the BTE program engages with hundreds of other students and dozens of schools and other organizations in 10 communities around the world. In each site, Johnson & Johnson employees have committed their time and talent to guide students in their career plans and dreams, such as my colleague Conrad Person who recently blogged about the impact of mentoring on his own career. As the global manager for this program, I often attend end-of-year sessions where the students give academic presentations related to health care issues or specific disease states. These events are always impressive and emotional. Why emotional? Emotional because the students are clearly in control of difficult material and perform well beyond our expectations…Emotional because the bonds that have developed between the students and employees are deep and strong… Emotional because the students are clearly on their way to realizing their dreams.

While the BTE program is designed around successful and proven school-to-career models, the real beauty of the program is found in the local collaborations that form to provide students with opportunities and exposure to parts of the world that are invisible to them. The BTE program in Bogota, Colombia is a wonderful example of a locally designed effort. Our partnership with the Politecnico Internacional grew out of relationships developed by local Johnson & Johnson management. This program provides students, such as Catalina Munoz, with incredible opportunities and inroads into the health care job market in Colombia.

Although we measure outcomes over all of the programs, there is nothing more powerful than seeing students overcome adversity to live their dreams of becoming a doctor, nurse, or public health professional. Equally powerful is the dedication of employees to these students and to education in their communities. My colleagues in Inverness, Scotland, for example, were recently recognized by the UK government for their superlative dedication to science and technology education in northern Scotland. There is no doubt that BTE can help students realize their dreams. There is also no doubt that BTE provides Johnson & Johnson employees, like me, an opportunity to participate in affecting the lives of young people.

From Anthony Carter, Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, Johnson & Johnson

Chronic disease is a serious problem for our healthcare system and the nation. Few communities have been more seriously impacted by the spread of chronic disease, and diabetes in particular, than the African American community. Diabetes now affects about 3.7 million African Americans, almost 15 percent of individuals over the age of 20, and it is responsible for one out of every five deaths.

In an effort to help fight this epidemic, Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates are supporting launch of the Spirit of Healthy Living (SoHL) program with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.  The goal of SoHL is to promote diabetes education and awareness and give people the tools they need to prevent and manage this disease.

The SoHL educates community members about obesity, diabetes and the link between the two conditions.  The program also increases awareness of the benefits of healthy eating and exercise, encourages the use of local health and wellness resources to prevent and manage diabetes, and integrates online health coaching into health education sessions.

One other component of the Spirit of Healthy Living campaign that I really enjoy is our partnership with faith-based health ministries.  We know that supportive community based programs can have a positive impact on the way people behave, so we think this approach is very promising.

Our first SoHL event was held on June 26 at the Willing Heart Community Care Center in Newark, New Jersey.  It was an exciting event with dozens of people from the community coming out to hear presentations from leading health experts, watch cooking and fitness demonstrations, and participate in free health screenings.

I know personally the devastating impact diabetes has on families and friends after losing a brother last year to this disease, and that’s why I think this campaign is so important. The SoHL offers us the opportunity to address the healthcare disparities that affect African Americans and it’s an important part of our commitment to the prevention and management of chronic disease.  I’m excited to be a part of this program and I’ll be looking forward to more great events like the one we held in Newark.

If you’d like to learn more about the Spirit of Healthy Living Campaign visit their website.