Message from Dean Maness – Fall 2014

More than one-third of American adults are considered obese, according to the Journal of American Medicine. Health-related industries have grown significantly in recent years to combat those sobering figures. In addition to the state of our nation’s health, these industries have grown as a result of regulatory reform, technological advances and consumer demand.

The 21st century “health business” is not limited to gyms and doctor’s offices. Trends in wearable healthcare technology, health foods and diets, fitness movements, wellness programs and more have diversified the health market. In this issue of the Baylor Business Review, we focus on the health food, fitness and healthcare industries.

The Rapidly Changing, Highly Disruptive Business of Being Healthy

Anyone looking into business opportunities broadly related to healthcare these days can expect to develop an acute case of blurry vision.

That’s because the traditional healthcare industry is in the throes of historical change, thanks to regulatory reform, technological breakthroughs and changing consumer expectations.

Healthy Bears

Whether it’s going to the gym, eating better or recovering from illness, being healthy is an ambition for most people. But for some professionals, being healthy has become a business endeavor too. From fitness to nutrition to healthcare, Baylor Business graduates are contributing to health-related industries. We talked to five alumni who cater to the growing health-focused market.

View/Review: The Evolution of Workplace Wellness Programs

Workplace wellness programs have evolved in waves. In the 1960s and 1970s, wellness-oriented large corporations built expensive employee fitness centers. In the 1980s and 1990s, companies began to offer personalized health risk assessments using biometrics and other health indicators.

With the dawn of a new century, wellness programs have entered a third wave that looks at both health and productivity.

Learning in 360: Lighting Up the Competition

The story of Light Bohrd begins with a young skateboarder and his engineer father who envisions photographing his son on a lighted skateboard. Essential to the plot is a university that encourages technological innovation and entrepreneurship, and a multibillion dollar apparel company that seeks new products to improve athletic performance.

The end of the story is not yet written, but Chris Forgey, Light Bohrd’s president, is developing the plot.

Leadership Perspective: Thinking Outside the Big Box

A fitness club should be more than a sweat box. This belief guided the planning of Fit Athletic Club in downtown Houston, and this philosophy continues to inspire its direction today. Thousands of professional men and women have voted with their time and wallets to let us know they agree.

Paul L. Foster: By the Numbers

The new Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation will be ready for classes in fall 2015.

Homecoming 2014

Please join us for the annual Hankamer School of Business Homecoming Reception on Friday, October 31, 2014 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

5th Floor of the Cashion Academic Center

Journeying for Healthcare: Choices Abound for Medical Tourists Willing to Cross Cities and Countries

Be it a nip-and-tuck, cardiac bypass, knee replacement or another procedure, people are traveling away from home to get the medical care they need and want. Foreign nationals cite advanced medical technology and sophisticated physician training as key reasons for hopping on a plane to the United States. Americans cite low-cost medical procedures and hospital stays, as well as Western-accredited facilities abroad, as major drivers for heading out of the contiguous states.

Research in Action: Overcoming Food Insecurity for Texas Kids

Food insecurity is a problem for one in four Texas children, meaning a quarter of the youth population does not know if they will have food for their next meal. Texas has the second highest food insecurity rate among children in the nation.

New Programs

Baylor has launched an Online MBA program, and the Austin Executive MBA program is expanding to include a healthcare concentration.

Ethics of: The Booming Organic Sector

Among the intense economic, social, technological, regulatory and marketing forces swirling in the rapidly growing U.S. organic foods market, the most important determinants of business success are decidedly personal – and ethical. Just ask Heather Howell, CEO of Louisville, Ky.-based Rooibee Red Tea, a fast-growing organic beverage company that received early-stage capital from the Baylor Angel Network (BAN).