In 1932, Henry Schein and his wife Esther opened a pharmacy in Queens, New York. Over the course of the next eight decades, the company grew and Henry Schein Inc. is now the world's largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based dental, medical and animal health practitioners.
The company now provides a range of products and services, including solutions for operating efficient practices and delivering high-quality care. Henry Schein operates through a centralised and automated distribution network, with more than 96,000 products in stock, as well as more than 110,000 additional products available as special-order items.
Henry Schein employs nearly 16,000 people and serves nearly 800,000 customers across 25 countries. However, despite its size, the company remains committed to the values-based culture that Henry and Esther infused in their business from the beginning.
The company was founded on the belief that they could fulfil their responsibilities as a corporate citizen by giving back to the industries and communities they serve. They have contributed healthcare products and applied their logistical expertise to help broaden access to healthcare. Through this they have helped millions receive the care they otherwise would have gone without; increasing access to care for at-risk and under-served populations around the world.
The company focuses on three areas around expanding access to healthcare: wellness, prevention and treatment; emergency preparedness and relief; and building capacity in the training of professionals and the delivery of healthcare services.
The company is also committed to protecting the environment for future generations. They help health professionals to ensure their practice is as environmentally friendly as possible, and they make sure that each member of its staff has the tools and information they need to minimise their environmental footprint.
As a result of this social responsibility drive, Henry Schein has frequently been ranked first in the industry for social responsibility on FORTUNE’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies, and has been ranked as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere.
One area of health that Henry Schein concentrates on helping is dental care: in a world where 75% of the population do not have access to a dentist, Henry Schein’s help is welcome to those trying to address these inequalities.
One of the charities that Henry Schein has supported for many years is Bridge2Aid, a dental charity based in Mwanza, Tanzania. They train rural-based health workers in developing countries, providing them with the skills, equipment and resources that they need to provide emergency dental care.
Henry Schein Dental have donated dental materials and been involved in both event and employee fundraising. They have sent a team out to Tanzania, and help organise the charity’s annual BASH!
In the UK, Henry Schein has teamed up with Colgate to run the ‘Helping Kids Smile’ tooth brushing programme, aimed at improving the health of children’s teeth. Working with a number of schools, the programme involves children brushing their teeth whilst in school. They learn the importance of tooth brushing and how to do it effectively. Dentists are also going into the schools to check children’s teeth.
The company also plays its part in educating dental nurses. They sponsor Dental Nurse Network courses, thereby enabling excellence in dental nursing, and empowering nurses by educating and inspiring them. Here at the Dental Nurse Network, we also support Bridge2Aid and hold the same values as Henry Schein in terms of corporate social responsibility and ensuring we give back in order to help under-served populations.
