Biography

Dr. Paul Terry is president and CEO of the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), a national think tank dedicated to advancing best practices in employee health promotion. In collaboration with HERO members, Paul and the HERO team provide leadership in research and education on issues such as the impact of wellness program best practices on health outcomes, employer strategies that advance community health and the impact of healthy cultures on employee performance. These topics are featured at the HERO Forum, which is one of the country’s largest professional gatherings committed to continuous improvement in employee and community health and well-being. Before HERO, Terry was the president and CEO at StayWell, a national provider of population health management programs. He later served as StayWell’s chief science officer. Before StayWell, Paul served as president and CEO at The Park Nicollet Institute, a national leader in health services research and clinical research in chronic condition management. Paul was also on the Health Education faculty at St. Cloud State University and Hamline University. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and his Masters from Minnesota State University at Mankato where he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Humanitarian Award. Terry is an editor of the American Journal of Health Promotion, is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health and is a Past-President of the Minnesota Public Health Association. He was principal investigator of a three year CDC sponsored study of the effectiveness of different models of worksite health promotion. Paul has received the Minnesota Department of Health Award for Excellence in Health Promotion and has won the title of “America’s Greatest Thinker,” an essay and debate competition sponsored by New York Mills Cultural Center. As author of more than 300 peer reviewed scientific articles, trade journal articles, copyrighted products, grants, books and book chapters, Dr. Terry’s publications that have won five awards of excellence from the Society for Technical Communications and five National Health Information awards. He is co-author of four books including “Well Advised: Your Guide to Making Smart Health Decisions.” Paul received two Senior Fulbright Scholarships and was a co-founder of an NGO in Africa committed to HIV prevention. He was a Group XV Kellogg National Fellow studying leadership and community capacity building in developing nations. He is in the Service and Leadership Circle of the National Wellness Institute and the prevention programs that Dr. Terry developed won the C. Everett Koop National Health Award.