SPHHS Student Groups Support Annual Employee Wellness Fair
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Nearly 400 employees from across the UMass Amherst campus participated in the second annual Employee Wellness Fair on April 11. Hosted by the Public Health Promotion Center, the Wellness Fair celebrated and educated employees about the ongoing efforts to promote the integrated approach to wellness in support of UMass being a health-promoting university through the Okanagan Charter and Okanagan Wellbeing Collective.
Thirty-eight departments/vendors from on and off campus provided resources to employees. In addition, student groups in the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing and School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) provided health screenings and students from the Recreation Center held yoga and mindfulness sessions.
Audiology students conducted hearing screenings, student nutritionists offered advice on hypertension and a heart-healthy diet, while kinesiology students offered a range of testing on everything from flexibility and grip strength assessments to blood pressure checks. The department’s Body Shop Fitness Center also tabled an event at the fair.
Kinesiology senior lecturer II Judi LaBranche, who serves on the Okanagan Wellbeing Collective’s Health & Wellness Committee and was one of the fair’s lead organizers, was thrilled with the results.
“I believe the greatest success was seeing SPHHS and Nursing students gain the real-life experiences working with employees,” says LaBranche. “We look forward to adding more vendors and students next year.”
In all, 170 Narcan kits were provided; 125 seeds planted; 93 individuals surveyed; 36 Blood pressures recorded; 30 hearing screenings provided; and 50 compost bins distributed. From ergonomics, to acupuncture and opportunities to talk with university departments and vendors, there was something for everyone to get engaged in.