South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition

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South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition The Lowcountry Healthy Business Challenge is free and open to all businesses in the Charleston metropolitan area.

The South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition (formerly the South Carolina Healthy Business Challenge) is a statewide organization that brings together employers, partners, and leaders to advance workforce wellbeing across South Carolina. The City of Charleston, Medical University of South Carolina, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Healthy People Healthy Carolinas and Gallagher are partnering to create healthier workplaces. The Lowcountry Healthy Business Challenge is designed to help businesses and organizations improve the overall health and well-being of their employees with the goal of reducing the growing cost of preventable illness and disease and create a culture of wellness in the workplace. Quarterly seminars focus on 11 dimensions of wellbeing and provide participants with valuable tools and resources to help reach their worksite wellness goals.

🌟 2026 Fellow Spotlight: Olivia Plenzler | Proactive MDMeet Olivia Plenzler, a member of our third South Carolina Health...
10/21/2026

🌟 2026 Fellow Spotlight: Olivia Plenzler | Proactive MD

Meet Olivia Plenzler, a member of our third South Carolina Healthy Business Fellowship cohort!

With a background in public health, Olivia is passionate about finding innovative ways to support the health and wellbeing of the clinic teams she serves. Through the Fellowship, she’s connecting with fellow workplace leaders and exploring strategies to inspire healthier choices that benefit employees and their families.

One of her favorite wellbeing practices is the 4-7-8 breathing technique, which helps her manage stress and regain focus. Outside of work, she stays active by taking walks with her dog, Beau! 🐾

We’re excited to have Olivia as part of our 2026 cohort!

🌟 2026 Fellow Spotlight: Olivia Plenzler | Proactive MDWe're continuing our 2026 South Carolina Healthy Business Fellows...
10/21/2026

🌟 2026 Fellow Spotlight: Olivia Plenzler | Proactive MD

We're continuing our 2026 South Carolina Healthy Business Fellowship Spotlight Series, introducing the workplace leaders who are part of our third Fellowship cohort.

Today, we're featuring Olivia Plenzler of Proactive MD!

With a background in public health and a passion for supporting the wellbeing of healthcare teams, Olivia joined the Fellowship to explore innovative approaches to workplace health and connect with other professionals committed to building healthier organizations.

We asked Olivia to share a little about her Fellowship experience, an approach to wellbeing she's passionate about, and what keeps her energized outside of work.

What inspired you to join the Fellowship, and what impact do you hope to make?

"I joined the Fellowship because of my background in public health and my interest in exploring innovative ways to promote health and wellness within the clinic teams I support. I also saw the Fellowship as a valuable opportunity to connect and collaborate with others who share a passion for workplace wellbeing.

Through this experience, I hope to inspire my teams to make healthier choices that positively impact both themselves and their families."

What's one workplace wellbeing strategy you're passionate about?

"One wellness strategy I’m passionate about is the 4-7-8 breathing technique. As someone who can occasionally feel anxious or overwhelmed, I have found this practice incredibly helpful for reducing stress and regaining focus.

The technique involves breathing in for four seconds, holding the breath for seven seconds, and exhaling for eight seconds, repeated for four rounds. This type of slow, controlled breathing can help activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, lower heart rate, reduce physical stress symptoms, and promote a sense of calm."

What's a fun fact or personal wellbeing habit that keeps you energized?

"One personal wellness habit that keeps me energized is taking walks with my dog, Beau. He motivates me to stay active each day and helps me break up long periods of sitting during busy workdays."

We're excited to have Olivia as part of this year's Fellowship cohort and appreciate her commitment to supporting healthier clinic teams, employees, and families.

The South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition is pleased to support The Sophia Institute’s upcoming symposium, Women Ans...
10/07/2026

The South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition is pleased to support The Sophia Institute’s upcoming symposium, Women Answering the Call: Leadership Rooted in Boundless Love, Wisdom, Creativity, Transformation, October 23–24 in Charleston and virtually.

This gathering will bring together women leaders across business, health, community service, media, law, and spiritual practice to explore a different model of leadership, one rooted in wisdom, creativity, dignity, connection, and shared purpose.

Our President & CEO, Dr. Susan Johnson, will be speaking on Rooted in Place, Connected by Purpose: Blue Zones, Nature, and Leadership for a Flourishing World, connecting health, place, purpose, and leadership to the work of creating healthier people, organizations, and communities.

Learn more and register: https://thesophiainstitute.org/events/women-answering-the-call-leadership-rooted-in-boundless-love-wisdom-creativity-transformation/

We’re excited to introduce the Healthy People, Healthy Places Exchange, a new monthly virtual series from the South Caro...
10/05/2026

We’re excited to introduce the Healthy People, Healthy Places Exchange, a new monthly virtual series from the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition and Nature at Work.

As our programming continues to grow, the Exchange will create a new way to connect throughout the year through focused 30-minute conversations featuring timely topics, practical ideas, and expert perspectives on healthier workplaces and communities.

We’re kicking off the series by continuing the conversation and momentum from the Coalition’s Fall Seminar Series on lifestyle medicine and prevention.

Lifestyle Medicine in the Workplace: Advancing Employee Health, Well-Being, and Organizational Performance

Join Jessica Jolly, MHA, MPH, Senior Director of Practice Advancement at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, for a practical conversation exploring how lifestyle medicine can support employee health, chronic disease prevention, and organizational performance.

Monday, October 19
12:00–12:30 PM ET
Virtual

Registration is complimentary and open to members & non-members.

Register through the link in our bio.

We’re excited to introduce the Healthy People, Healthy Places Exchange, a new monthly virtual series from the South Caro...
10/05/2026

We’re excited to introduce the Healthy People, Healthy Places Exchange, a new monthly virtual series from the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition and Nature at Work.

As our programming continues to grow, the Exchange will create a new way to connect throughout the year through focused 30-minute conversations featuring timely topics, practical ideas, and expert perspectives on healthier workplaces and communities.
We’re kicking off the series by continuing the conversation and momentum from the Coalition’s Fall Seminar Series on lifestyle medicine and prevention.

Lifestyle Medicine in the Workplace: Advancing Employee Health, Well-Being, and Organizational Performance

Join Jessica Jolly, MHA, MPH, Senior Director of Practice Advancement at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, for a practical conversation exploring how lifestyle medicine can support employee health, chronic disease prevention, and organizational performance.

Monday, October 19
12:00–12:30 PM ET
Virtual

Registration is complimentary and open to all.
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2001985256795?aff=oddtdtcreator

A fitting capstone to our statewide Lifestyle Medicine at Work series.Yesterday, we wrapped up Lifestyle Medicine at Wor...
10/02/2026

A fitting capstone to our statewide Lifestyle Medicine at Work series.

Yesterday, we wrapped up Lifestyle Medicine at Work: Building a Culture of Prevention in Greenville, and it was a particularly meaningful place to bring this statewide series to a close.

University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville has established itself as a true center of leadership in Lifestyle Medicine. It was the first U.S. medical school to fully incorporate Lifestyle Medicine education throughout all four years of its curriculum, and its curriculum is recognized by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine at the Platinum Plus level. Its approach has become an international model for integrating prevention and Lifestyle Medicine into medical education.

That leadership was reflected throughout yesterday’s program.

Dr. Beth Motley brought the clinical perspective and shared how Lifestyle Medicine is being put into practice at Prisma Health. Dr. Jennifer Trilk brought the medical education, research, and Exercise is Medicine perspective. Emilie Russell shared emerging research and the perspective of the next generation of physicians being trained with Lifestyle Medicine embedded in their education. Sally Wills broadened the conversation to community-level prevention and the systems and environments that shape health.

Kari Beal of FOX Carolina guided a terrific discussion that connected these perspectives and kept the focus on moving Lifestyle Medicine from evidence to application.

Our exhibitors, Prisma Health Weight Management Institute and YMCA of Greenville, also shared additional resources to support healthier lifestyles.

Traveling from Columbia to Charleston to Greenville for this series has been an incredible opportunity to connect with employers, clinicians, health leaders, educators, community partners, and individuals who are passionate about Lifestyle Medicine and how we translate these strategies into our workplaces, healthcare systems, communities, and everyday lives.

We’re grateful to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, our Presenting Sponsor; Gallagher, our Upstate Region Sponsor; and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, our Upstate Seminar Sponsor. We also appreciate the American College of Lifestyle Medicine for providing educational support throughout the statewide series.

And the conversation continues.

Join us Monday, October 19 at noon for a virtual conversation with Jessica Jolly, MHA, MPH, Senior Director of Practice Advancement at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, as we explore practical ways to bring Lifestyle Medicine into workplace and workforce health strategies.

Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2001985256795

From Charleston to Greenville: continuing the conversation on Lifestyle Medicine at WorkYesterday we brought Lifestyle M...
10/01/2026

From Charleston to Greenville: continuing the conversation on Lifestyle Medicine at Work

Yesterday we brought Lifestyle Medicine at Work: Building a Culture of Prevention to the Lowcountry, with employers, healthcare leaders, community partners, and wellbeing professionals coming together at the Harbour Club at WestEdge.

Thank you to Dr. Erika Blank, Zack King, and Beth Martin for sharing their perspectives on clinical Lifestyle Medicine, Food as Medicine, and population health, and to Carolyn Murray of WCBD News 2 for moderating such a thoughtful conversation.

We’re grateful to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, South Carolina Federal Credit Union, and Rippling for supporting the program, and to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine for providing educational support for this statewide seminar series.

And today, we bring the series to Greenville for our final stop.

Thursday, October 1
12–2 PM
City Club of Greenville

Today’s Upstate program will feature Dr. Beth Motley, Dr. Jennifer Trilk, Emilie Russell, and Sally Wills, with Kari Beal of FOX Carolina moderating.

Looking forward to continuing the conversation in Greenville and wrapping up a great statewide series!

Today we bring Lifestyle Medicine at Work: Building a Culture of Prevention to Charleston.We’re looking forward to a gre...
09/30/2026

Today we bring Lifestyle Medicine at Work: Building a Culture of Prevention to Charleston.

We’re looking forward to a great afternoon at the Harbour Club at WestEdge exploring how clinical Lifestyle Medicine, Food as Medicine, health plan strategy and workplace support can come together to advance prevention and healthier workplace cultures.

Today’s conversation features Dr. Erika Blank of MUSC Accel Health, Zack King of Food is Medicine South Carolina, and Beth Martin of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, with Carolyn Murray of WCBD News 2 moderating.

We’re grateful to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine for providing educational support and helping connect this statewide series to the growing movement around Lifestyle Medicine in the workplace.

And thank you to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, South Carolina Federal Credit Union and Rippling for their support of today’s program.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at noon!

Today we bring Lifestyle Medicine at Work: Building a Culture of Prevention to Charleston!We’re looking forward to a gre...
09/30/2026

Today we bring Lifestyle Medicine at Work: Building a Culture of Prevention to Charleston!

We’re looking forward to a great afternoon at the Harbour Club at WestEdge exploring how clinical Lifestyle Medicine, Food as Medicine, health plan strategy and workplace support can come together to advance prevention and healthier workplace cultures.

Today’s conversation features Dr. Erika Blank of MUSC Health, Zack King of Food is Medicine SC, and Beth Martin of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, with Carolyn Murray WCBD TV moderating.

We’re grateful to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine for providing educational support and helping connect this statewide series to the growing movement around Lifestyle Medicine in the workplace.

And thank you to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, South Carolina Federal Credit Union and Rippling for their support of today’s program.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at noon!

We kicked off our Lifestyle Medicine at Work: Building a Culture of Prevention series in Columbia yesterday with a great...
09/25/2026

We kicked off our Lifestyle Medicine at Work: Building a Culture of Prevention series in Columbia yesterday with a great crowd and an even better conversation about prevention, behavior change, population health, and the role workplaces can play in supporting healthier lives.

Thank you to our speakers, moderator, sponsors, exhibitors, and everyone who joined us.

If you missed the Midlands seminar or want to hear from a different panel of experts on Lifestyle Medicine, join us next week. Registration links are in our bio.

Charleston | September 30
Greenville | October 1

Hope to see you next week!

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Greenville, SC
29601-29617

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