Professional development 

I began my journey with a degree in Kinesiology from Kansas State University however through experience as a rehab tech in a hospital I realized instead of becoming a physical therapist I wanted to truly help community members be healthier overall. I first focused on helping special populations then ultimately to the development of community outreach programs for a large public health organization. Realizing I needed broader management to supplement my foundational training I completed a MBA in Healthcare Management. I believe the WELCOA Faculty certification has truly helped me become a better wellness program adviser for my clients.

Demonstration of success & Innovation 

Throughout my career I have had the excitement of seeing results and success in members who initially did not believe it could happen. These successes, both big and small, continue to drive me forward. One memorable success happened while working in a contract position as an onsite wellness coordinator conducting end of program surveys. The member feedback was requesting onsite skin cancer screenings. I saw the chance to put their feedback to action and I contacted several area dermatologists ultimately finding one both willing to offer screenings for free as well as accept the specific insurance coverage for anyone needing a follow-up appointment.

We began with quarterly skin cancer screenings and through the first year many staff members shared their thank you and appreciation through email and voicemail. One specific thank you was a reluctant  member who only attended because of the ease and convenience and through the screening and follow on appointment discovered his 'strange spots' were actually stage 4 cancer. Thankfully he was successfully treated and recovered. He became one of the most outspoken Wellness Champions offering to share his experience which in turn drove a large increase in the number of men registering for the next two clinics. In addition to increased male participation in the screenings, the overall excitement, awareness, and change in perception generated significant increases in male involvement across all other wellness programming offered.

In the second year with the same client I began taking pictures capturing members in all kinds of wellness events and posting the photos in newsletters and on their intranet. Being “caught” at a wellness event became a coveted experience. Staff began wearing wellness related shirts for events so they could show their participation in the event and earning incentives.

One of the photos included several senior leaders in the company waiting in line alongside front line employees for their free skin cancer screening appointment. I included the pictures in the monthly newsletter with a small article from the superintendent telling why he personally felt the screening was so important. A simple idea for a simple article resulted in such a large turnout for the next scheduled screening we ended up with a waitlist for new appointments as well as the need to schedule a second day in order to accommodate all the interest from staff wanting to participate. I learned later my article showcasing the senior leadership side by side with front line staff fostered a renewed engagement across many employees who previously felt senior leaders were separated from them and not part of the same team. A simple article starting out about wellness contributed to a renewed level of professional engagement, a feeling of one team, and ultimately an overwhelming expansion and reach of the wellness program as a result. This skin cancer screening program continues on today even though I have since moved on.

Leadership 

My clients look to me not only as a wellness professional but as a thought leader and a mentor in an industry they may be passionate about and want to know more about but neither have the time nor expertise to master. My passion mirrors theirs and is backed up with solid knowledge and content in order to deliver and exceed, both their expectations and mine. I take my role seriously and in doing so I work hard to stay up on federal interpretations of laws governing wellness and benefits as well as staying abreast of the latest relevant medical and wellness research available. I understand it is my duty to my clients and co-workers to not only have passion and drive but to maintain a knowledge base, bring relevant direction, and provide the confident leadership and guidance they need so all parties involved can make the best informed decisions.

Compelling Vision 

As a wellness professional, I know wellness is not something which can be done to someone - they must want to change themselves. Wanting to change often is not enough; they need direction and vision of how to get from here to there. My role facilitates this change by understanding their core needs then blending not only the traditional “Wellness” programming but also helping create greater access to care. This combined with the inclusion of a disease management platform and buy in from the leadership team builds the strong engagement and support the organization needs to deliver success. To be clear, this is not accomplished alone. I share my vision building collaboration and support across the health strategy team members within my company. This approach translates my original vision into tangible, workable steps focused on the priorities of each person involved in turning vision into reality.