_{Sponsored by McKesson Technology Solutions}

For Loretta Cecil, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for McKesson Technology Solutions, health and wellness is always at the forefront of her day. She visits the gym regularly to stay fit, determinedly follows a healthy diet and spreads the gospel of good health to her staff of 100, including 22 attorneys. Those that work with her know why Cecil cares so fervently about staying healthy. She openly shares with colleagues and staff her experience with cancer that came with no warning and revels in the triumphant tale of becoming healthier than ever.

Twelve years ago, when she was 38, Cecil, a wife and mother of two, went into the doctor’s office for a regular check-up. And although she had no symptoms, as a result of that check-up Cecil was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her attitude and life were changed forever. Despite a family history of colon cancer — it claimed the lives of her grandfather and father — the senior lawyer for McKesson says the news nevertheless came unexpectedly. Cecil says she remembers the experience vividly.

“I was diagnosed in the fall. The leaves were absolutely gorgeous at the time,” she says. “ So every fall when there’s that hint of autumn that gets in the air, I have a flood of emotions that come back.”

Cecil says that doctors found and removed a cancerous polyp, leaving her with an epiphany.

“Within a couple of days, your life changes. You’ve just received a cancer diagnosis and within just a matter of days, you’re having life-changing surgery, not knowing what the results will be,” she says.

DID YOU KNOW.... Today, only 18 percent of physicians in the United States use electronic health record (EHR) technology as they practice medicine.

But Cecil did not just survive her surgery and six-month recovery. With no reoccurrences since that tumultuous time more than a decade ago, she is healthy and determined to stay that way. She says her experience didn’t leave her afraid. Instead, Cecil says, she found herself focusing how to help other people stay fit.

“Having cancer has enhanced my career many times over as I’ve become more sympathetic and more understanding regarding employees’ needs than perhaps someone who hasn’t had an experience like this.”

Now, her healthy lifestyle has become a message to the women — and men — in her office to be proactive about their health. Her enthusiasm for fitness and the sharing of her own story paves the way for people to care for their bodies and to live long, healthy, stress-free lives. It’s a theme that is embraced in the Alpharetta office.

“Loretta has been a real champion of many of our community initiatives,” says Jennifer Miller, a senior communications specialist. “We are a corporate sponsor of the Atlanta Heart Walk and Start! Atlanta, which is an employee-wellness program sponsored by the American Heart Association. Loretta is a visible supporter of our efforts and encourages her staff to participate in activities such as the Heart Walk and other community and health activities.”

DID YOU KNOW.... EHR technology creates a "paperless" electronic storage area for health information- including lab results, x-rays, prescriptions, allegeries and previous medical history- as patients recieve care across their communities.

Now, at 50, Cecil says she looks at her story as a positive influence and as a driver of her diligent work ethic at McKesson. “Every business strategy we talk about and every new healthcare technology solution we create at McKesson is very personal to me because I've been through the healthcare system. I understand how great an impact technology has on healthcare.

“Over the 12 years since I was first diagnosed, I’ve seen doctors go from pulling my medical records and images from a manila folder to now looking at them online – this is probably because they are running a McKesson solution,” Cecil says. “It makes me much more confident to know my doctors have access to my complete medical history and no bits and pieces are missing. If I was going through cancer treatment today and my healthcare providers and hospitals were running McKesson solutions, then the process would be so much easier.”

DID YOU KNOW.... EHR indicates a global record of a patient's health and care information complied from multiple sources and providers across the entire continuum of care. And while a patient may be able to view parts of the EHR, such as lab results, they cannot be changed. PHR indicates stands for personal health records. It can be updated with other information such as exercise and dietary habits.

Loretta Cecil has responsibility for developing and implementing strategy to provide all legal services for McKesson Technology Solutions (MTS), including legal support for product management, research and development, sales finance, procurement, public relations and health care regulatory compliance. Appointed to the position in July 2006, Cecil also is responsible for patent and technology licensing activities for MTS. Before joining the company, Cecil was law vice president and chief counsel for the Retail Solutions division of NCR Corp. in Duluth, Ga. She also was a member of the law firm of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice in Atlanta, as well as law and government affairs vice president for AT&T in the Southeast. Cecil is a member of the state bars of Georgia, Florida and North Carolina, and has been admitted to practice before numerous federal and state courts.