Healthy Buildings: Back to Business in the Health First Era

Leadership Circle: Healthy Buildings graphic

Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath has been one of the biggest business challenges of our time. To keep operations going while minimizing the risk to employees, most companies emptied their offices, factories, stores, and other facilities in early 2020. But with a greater understanding of the virus, the emergence of effective vaccines, and world slowly reopening, can we go back to business as usual in a new “health first era”?

COVID-19 has made it clear that the places where we live and work have a significant impact on our health, which has accelerated the shift toward healthy buildings. Harvard faculty members and public health experts Joseph Allen (Harvard Chan School) and John Macomber (Harvard Business School) will serve as sounding boards for management in this 90-minute remote session for business leaders and focus on participants’ questions and concerns regarding getting back to business—questions such as:

  • Once we reopen businesses, how do we keep employees and visitors safe?
  • Should new deep-cleaning and sanitation protocols be enforced?
  • Is it best to establish guidelines for the use of masks and social distancing?
  • Should we check employees and visitors for fever before they enter the workplace?
  • What happens as more people are vaccinated, and what will be the requirements for coming into buildings?
  • Will testing be required?
  • What’s the cost-benefit of investing in new building-ventilation systems?

May 11, 2021
2:00–3:30 pm ET

Fee: $3,000 per session, or $24,000 for an annual series of 12 sessions for you or your company designee.
Nonprofit pricing available where applicable. Space is limited.

Once registered, you will have access to exclusive materials and information.

Program


Opening remarks

Michelle Williams

Michelle A. Williams

Michelle Williams, ScD ’91, is Dean of the Faculty at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Angelopoulos Professor in Public Health and International Development at the Harvard Chan School and Harvard Kennedy School. Read Michelle’s full bio here.


Introduction of experts

Photo of Joe Allen

Joseph G. Allen

Joseph Allen, DSc, MPH, is associate professor of exposure assessment science and director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and deputy director of the Harvard Center for Education and Research on Occupational Health and Safety. Read Joe’s full bio here.


John D. Macomber

John D. Macomber

John D. Macomber, MBA, is senior lecturer of business administration at Harvard Business School. His professional background includes leadership of real estate, construction, and information technology businesses, as well as credit and risk committees of a regional bank. Read John’s full bio here.


Closing remarks

Photo of Joe Allen

Joseph G. Allen

Joseph Allen, DSc, MPH, is associate professor of exposure assessment science and director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and deputy director of the Harvard Center for Education and Research on Occupational Health and Safety. Read Joe’s full bio here.


Photo of Rick Siegrist

Richard B. Siegrist Jr.

Richard Siegrist, MS, MBA ’82, is senior lecturer on health care management at the Harvard Chan School, where he teaches physician, graduate, and executive education courses on financial management, cost accounting, management control, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He is also faculty director of the doctor of public health (DrPH) program, director of the master in health care management program for physicians, and director of innovation and entrepreneurship for the School. Read Rick’s full bio here.