Research has shown that social factors, or social determinants of health, can have a more significant impact on an individual’s well-being than clinical care. Last year, with the support of the Barry S. Rabner Endowment, Penn Medicine Princeton Health launched an employee support program to identify the key social determinants of health that pose a high risk to our workforce, and provide the support and resources necessary to eliminate barriers to stability. Our employees are our most vital asset, and ensuring their well-being directly impacts the health of our community. Barry Rabner served as President and CEO of Penn Medicine Princeton Health for 18 years. The Barry S. Rabner Endowment campaign was launched in 2020 as a tribute to his support of employees and his efforts to help strengthen our organization’s ability to care for the community at large.
In November 2021, Winter Wiggins, M.DIV., joined the Princeton Health team as the Employee Program Specialist & Care Navigator, to oversee the development of this new program. Wiggins received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Temple University, her Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and completed her Clinical Pastoral Education Internship and Residency at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, where she served as a chaplain.
Based on her initial research and employee feedback, several priority areas were identified, including food security, transportation, well-being, and educational and personal/professional growth. In addition to leveraging our partnership with several community organizations to help address these barriers, resources such as an onsite farmer’s market, ESL and financial literacy classes, mentorship opportunities, and peer-to-peer support programs are being explored.