The University of Georgia’s ongoing partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim has not only impacted lives and industry, but now boasts a Golden Helix Phoenix Award for its Sustainable Development Experience (SDX) program.

This award — sponsored by the Metro Atlanta Chamber and presented by Georgia Life Sciences — celebrates an industry/academic collaboration or partnership that exemplifies how strategic partnerships can accelerate discovery, fuel commercialization and create meaningful impact for patients and communities.

“It is such an honor for this program and this partnership to be recognized with the Phoenix Award,” said Allison Chesnutt, senior director for business engagement at the University of Georgia. “Boehringer Ingelheim has always been a tremendous partner to us here at the university, and this program is only the beginning of how industry partnerships can benefit both the university and surrounding communities.”

Including sections on the environment, human and animal health, workplace culture, and corporate critical thinking, the SDX program pairs Boehringer employees with UGA academics for a certificate program to promote better business practices. The Terry College of Business’ Executive Education program was responsible for bringing together all the necessary partners to make the program work.

Under three strategic pillars — More Green, More Health and More Potential — the SDX program drew from its existing ties with UGA to gather instructors from across campus to lead training sessions and craft lectures that match company goals. After evaluating multiple higher education institutions, Boehringer selected the University of Georgia as its strategic partner, citing the university’s extensive expertise and leadership across key focus areas.

Faculty from five schools and colleges — Odum School of Ecology, School of Public and International Affairs, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Terry College of Business — are represented in the program, presenting sessions to Boehringer employees across the country.

“The collaboration needed to not only create the SDX program, but also to implement it has been incredible to witness,” said Rachael Widener, director of alliance and contract management at Boehringer Ingelheim. “It helped that we already had such a strong partnership with UGA and that the university’s Executive Education program was so passionate about supporting sustainability in business practices.”

The three pillars provide a framework for the training sessions. “More Green” refers to industry’s impact on the environment and how limitations in the environment can also impact industry success and longevity in a given area. Sessions in the program examine the depth of sustainability challenges and opportunities for innovation for industry.

“More Health” is exemplified more specifically by Boehringer Ingelheim’s own mission to improve human and animal health through physical well-being and mental and emotional wellness. Sustainability, in this context, goes beyond environmental sustainability and into the longevity of health and quality of life for current and future generations.

“More Potential” is the most flexible of the three pillars, allowing participants to customize the sessions with the ultimate goal to affect 50 million people in resource-limited communities by building solutions to help them be more economically sustainable over time.

“The SDX program is really a convergence of these pillars, of industry and academia and of people and environment,” said Michael Murphy, director of sustainable development at Boehringer Ingelheim. “With this program and the partnership with UGA, it is possible to strategize and implement tactics to make industry more sustainable — both environmentally and economically — for their communities and their workforces.”

The Georgia Life Sciences Golden Helix Awards celebrate leaders and companies in the life sciences industry for their contributions in Georgia. The Phoenix Award was presented to Boehringer Ingelheim and the University of Georgia’s SDX Program at a reception event on Aug. 26.