The Marshfield Clinic is a private consortium of several hundred physicians spread throughout Wisconsin, and is based in the town of Marshfield. Alarmed by the growing incidence of obesity-related maladies in Marshfield, clinic cardiologist Dr. Charles S. McCauley, Jr. saw the need for a community partnership to encourage healthy, active lifestyles and fight obesity.
The result, formed in 2002, was the Healthy Lifestyles Marshfield Area Coalition, made up of 72 business leaders, health professionals, teachers and residents. The Coalition is divided into five committees: Executive, Business and Industry, Community, Education and Medical. The Executive Committee oversees the organization and provides administrative help, the Medical Committee circulates information about preventing obesity, and the others perform education and outreach to the groups they are associated with. The Community Committee has also worked to promote planning changes, and has painted signs on walking and biking paths to encourage use.
Funding and support for the project has largely come from the Marshfield Clinic, making it a model for how local business interests can take an active role in promoting community health.
Goal
Promoting Healthy Living in Marshfield