Tyson Foods Names Dr. Claudia Coplein As Its First Chief Medical Officer
December 10 2020 - 12:00PM
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) today announced the appointment of
Dr. Claudia Coplein to the newly-created role of Chief Medical
Officer. Coplein is a physician executive who brings more than 20
years of healthcare experience to the company after holding
leadership roles in the insurance, global manufacturing, healthcare
and technology fields. Her immediate focus will be assisting the
company’s efforts to protect team members during the Covid-19
pandemic, while also working to expand and promote a culture of
health, safety and wellness at Tyson.
The appointment is effective January 4. Coplein, who was most
recently Head of Health & Wellness and Chief Medical Officer at
MassMutual, will report to Executive Vice President & Chief
Human Resources Officer Johanna Söderström.
Coplein will also oversee the launch of Marathon Health clinics
that will be piloted in seven of the company’s plant
communities.
“At Tyson, nothing is more important than the health and safety
of our team members, so I am especially excited to add Dr. Coplein
to our team,” said Johanna Söderström, executive vice president
& chief human resources officer for Tyson Foods. “Her unique
perspective of the healthcare ecosystem will be a tremendous asset
as we continue to build a culture of health and take additional
steps to protect our team members and plant communities.”
“It is an honor to be named Tyson Foods’ first Chief Medical
Officer,” said Coplein. “I look forward to contributing to Tyson’s
culture of caring for its team members and discovering new and
innovative ways to further build our culture of safety, health and
wellness.”
Dr. Coplein has held leadership and executive positions at
MassMutual, ConnectiCare, MetLife, United Technologies Corporation
and General Electric Company, and served as a flight surgeon in the
U.S. Air Force. She earned her medical degree from New York
Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and her law
degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law, as well as
Master’s degrees in Public Health from Loma Linda University,
Business Administration from Colorado State University and
Environmental Management from Yale University. She currently serves
on the Board of Trustees for Baystate Health.
Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of steps the
company has taken to fight new waves of the coronavirus, including
the strategic testing of workers without symptoms. The company has
invested $540 million to transform its U.S. facilities with
protective measures, from walk-through temperature scanners and
workstation dividers to social distance monitors and always-on
testing, as well as provide additional team member pay and
benefits. It is also working with outside health experts, expanding
its health services staff, and plans to pilot health clinics for
team members and their families early next year.
Tyson Foods is using testing as a tool and estimates more than
half of its workforce has been tested for Covid-19. The company is
currently testing thousands of workers per week as part of its
industry-leading monitoring strategy. In addition to testing those
with symptoms or who have been in close contact with someone who
has the virus, the company is also proactively testing workers who
have no symptoms.
Investing in team member healthTyson has hired
an additional 200 nurses and administrative staff this year, which
means the company now has an occupational health staff of almost
600. These medical professionals screen for symptoms, conduct
testing and track cases to help care for team members if they
become ill. Long-term, they will provide support for the company’s
overall team member health and wellness efforts.
In addition, the company has announced plans to open pilot
health clinics to give team members and their families easier
access to high-quality healthcare and, in most cases, at no cost.
The locations that will be served include:
- Carthage/Center, Texas;
- Berryville, Arkansas;
- Storm Lake, Iowa;
- Holcomb, Kansas;
- Lexington, Nebraska;
- Wilkesboro, North Carolina;
- Newbern, Tennessee.
About Tyson FoodsTyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN)
is one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized
leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under
three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad
portfolio of products and brands like Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®,
Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells®,
ibp®, and State Fair®. Tyson Foods innovates continually
to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s
available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food
can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has
139,000 team members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives
to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders,
customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of
the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.
Visit TYSONFOODS.COM to learn more.
Media contact: Derek
BurlesonDerek.Burleson@tyson.com479-290-6466
Category: IR, Newsroom
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b45bb75-b256-4a9b-90f4-e5e60dd3771d
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