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Dan Ferber is a freelance magazine writer in Indianapolis who writes about science, health and the environment for such publications as Science, Popular Science, New Scientist, Audubon, and Women's Health. He co-authored a new book with Harvard Medical School's Dr. Paul Epstein titled "Changing Planet, Changing Health: How the Climate Crisis Threatens Our Health and What We Can Do about It." It was published this month.
After resisting several shareholder proposals for an advisory vote about executive compensation, WellPoint Inc. will now give its investors a “say on pay” vote every year. All publicly traded companies have to allow “say on pay” votes every two or three years under the Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation passed by Congress last year. WellPoint shareholders last year approved an advisory vote, which is part of the reason WellPoint’s board now plans to hold one annually, according to company spokesman Tony Felts. In its proxy statement filed April 1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, WellPoint added that if there is a “significant vote” against the pay of the company’s top five executives, the board will “consider our shareholders’ concerns and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.” WellPoint CEO Angela Braly’s total compensation rose 3 percent last year to $13.4 million, as WellPoint’s operating and stock performance improved despite enrollment that continued to decline in the face of high unemployment. Braly's annual salary remained flat at $1.1 million, but her performance-based bonus rose more than 80 percent to $2.7 million. A WellPoint spokeswoman told the Associated Press in March that the company's pay formula rewards executives for improving enrollee health, boosting share prices and meeting other goals.
Marian University will delay the opening of its college of osteopathic medicine until fall of 2013—one year later than originally planned. Officials at the small Catholic institution in Indianapolis said its original timeline proved too “aggressive.” The main setback came in December, when the accrediting commission of the American Osteopathic Association requested that Marian put the money it has raised to fund the school in a different kind of escrow fund format. That delayed the accreditation process until the commission's next meeting, which is in April. Marian must obtain at least provisional accreditation before it can begin recruiting students—so it decided to wait another year to make sure it gets the best students it can. The decision to wait an extra year was made by Marian trustees in March, according to an e-mail sent by Marian President Dan Elsener and obtained by IBJ. Marian has raised $81 million toward the $100 million project, which includes constructing a building to house both the medical school and Marian’s existing nursing school. Marian also will need money to buy the necessary technological equipment, fund student scholarships and endowed chairs for some professors. Marian announced plans for the school in January 2010 after receiving a $30 million gift from an anonymous donor and being chosen by the Indiana Osteopathic Association, which had long wanted to start a medical school in Indianapolis. Even at that time, Elsener said the opening might slip by a year, to 2013.
Toyota Motor Corp. announced Friday that its Indiana plant in Princeton will operate on a reduced production schedule in the coming weeks, but employees will not lose work because of it.
Simon Property Group Inc.’s board is working on a long-term employment agreement with Chairman and CEO David Simon, whose compensation rose more than fivefold last year.
Dr. Kevin B. Gebke has been named OneAmerica Professor of Preventive Health Medicine and chairman of the Indiana University Department of Family Medicine. He has been interim co-chair of the department since July 2009. He succeeds Dr. Douglas McKeag, who chaired the department for 10 years. Gebke received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
Dr. Lisa Altuglu, a pediatrician, has joined St. Vincent Physician Network in Indianapolis. Altuglu earned her medical degree from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Rootstown, Ohio.
Sarah Knisely-King, a registered nurse, has been named director of the emergency department at Community Hospital South. She returned to Community South after serving as interim nurse manager and assistant director of emergency care at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Fla. She earned her nursing degrees at Purdue University.
Dr. Aasha Trowbridge has been appointed medical director for Franciscan St. Francis Neighborhood Health Center, succeeding Dr. Mercy Obeime, who has been promoted to the newly created role of director for global and community health. Obeime will continue to see patients at the neighborhood clinic, but will also help expand Franciscan St. Francis Health’s involvement in health problems that extend beyond its local and national boundaries.
The Greenwood Police Merit Board on Friday morning ordered police officer Nick Dine to serve a 30-day unpaid suspension, take anger-management classes at his own expense and get a fitness-for-duty evaluation at his own expense. Dine was accused of leaving his baby unattended in a car last October and threatening witnesses while intoxicated, but the police department dropped the charges. The merit board launched its own investigation.
An Indianapolis man was arrested after the pickup he was driving crashed into the rear of a city street sweeper at about 2 a.m. Friday. Robert Venn, 26, was arrested on several charges, including leaving the scene of a crash while intoxicated and operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction. Police say Venn slammed into the back of a sweeper near 16th Street and Waterway Boulevard, then fled the scene on foot. His passenger, 25-year-old Casey Bell, was trapped in the truck and suffered severe head injuries. Bell was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Democrats who boycotted the Indiana House for five weeks are receiving smaller stipends because fines incurred during their walkout are being deducted from their checks, but at least one Democrat is fighting the process.
First Financial Bank in Ohio is asking a Marion Superior Court judge to appoint a receiver for Woodland Shops on the city’s northwest side and Lakewood Shops on the northeast side.
The Indianapolis Museum of Art and Columbus Area Visitors Center expect national media attention to drive bookings for tours of the Miller house starting in May.
The 2011 Lids Team Sports Mid-East Qualifier, which will run Friday through Sunday, will feature top female high school players on 65 courts inside the Indiana Convention Center.
The state took in $977.2 million in March, up $69 million, or 8 percent, from the same month a year ago.
Indiana Repertory Theatre announces upcoming season.
A judge ruled Thursday that Democrats may have a valid argument in challenging whether Republican Secretary of State Charlie White should be kicked out of office, but said the issue should be decided by a state election recount commission.
Indiana's Republican House speaker said Thursday he had concerns about aspects of a proposal calling for an Arizona-style crackdown on illegal immigration moving through the Legislature.
President Barack Obama was scheduled to pay a Friday visit to Allison Transmission, a supplier plant that makes transmission systems for hybrid vehicles.
