Freeport-McMoRan’s Medical Director, Dr. Richard Vinroot, has been named a fellow at the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, a personal acknowledgement that he says is a testament to the company’s commitment to the health and safety of its employees.
Vinroot, Vice President and Medical Director, earned his fellowship after three years, the minimum required to attain the recognition by demonstrating his expertise in occupational medicine. That is a bit unique, he said, as his specialty is emergency medicine rather than occupational medicine, which is a field of practice that focuses on workplace health, environments and issues.
Vinroot said he sought the fellowship because he believes it is important for both him and the company that he attain that credentialing in the field of occupational medicine.
“It shows the company has a commitment to doing all it can do to help ensure employees have access to a healthy environment and healthy workplace. It also shows there is an individual who can advise and try to improve the wellness and the health of those individuals,” Vinroot said. “A company that really cares about their people wants to make sure their people are healthy. It’s a responsibility that is not going unnoticed.”
The college’s website describes it as the “pre-eminent physician-led organization that champions the health of workers, safety of workplaces and quality of environments.” To qualify as a fellow, Vinroot had to demonstrate a variety of field-related experience and accomplishments, which included lectures, educational training and his work on coronavirus response plans.