Health fair is the HealthyU program's major event for employees
Janel Shoun-Smith |
Health fair is one of many ways the HealthyU program benefits employees
Last week, Lipscomb University’s annual HealthyU Health Fair was held. It is just one of the ways that the university makes an investment in the health of its employees through the HealthyU Wellness Program.
This year’s fair highlighted the theme for the 2017-18 school year—emotional, spiritual and mental well-being—with more than 20 vendors including Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee, the Tennessee Art Therapy Association and therapy dog teams from Therapy ARC at the event.
“The Lipscomb health fairs, held annually at the university and at Lipscomb Academy, give employees an opportunity to learn about and become connected to valuable organizations within the community,” said Anna Rose Robertson, director of the university’s wellness program. “The HealthyU program is about more than exercise. So this year’s theme was designed to allow any organization—even those that focus on physical or nutritional improvement—to show employees how their services can help enhance their emotional and mental well-being as well.”
Employees gathered information, ideas and sometimes samples from local organizations such as Eat Well Nashville, a meal delivery service; Nashville Fit Magazine, OrangeTheory fitness gym, the 12 South Farmers Market and Fleet Feet.
Funded by the university, the HealthyU wellness program offers employees the opportunity to earn points toward cash incentives. All full-time employees are eligible for the incentive program and all employees are welcome to attend HealthyU events.
The HealthyU fair offered employees many local opportunities to earn those points through volunteer services to enhance spiritual well-being (from Hands On Nashville), local gyms to enhance exercise options (such as Pure Barre), ideas for ways to eat healthier (Lipscomb’s Dietetic Internship Program) and local mental health services (from Agape or the Lipscomb Family Therapy Center).
“We all live in a stressful world, so I think it’s great that this opportunity is offered to Lipscomb employees,” said Ronna Rubin, a member of the Therapy Arc volunteer dog team, along with golden retriever Buddy, who came to the fair to provide some furry stress relief for attendees.
Many of the health-enhancing options highlighted at the fair are based on the Lipscomb campus such as the fitness program offered through Lipscomb Recreation, spiritually enhancing mission trips offered through Lipscomb Missions, and health screenings such as glucose and blood pressure checks offered by Lipscomb student pharmacists throughout the year at various health events and flu shot clinics.
“Engaging in any service opportunity can be a growing experience, as it is a way to get out of your comfort zone,” said Erin Gupton, a Lipscomb missions coordinator. “One of the greatest opportunities we have at Lipscomb is to provide year-round spiritual mentorship to our students, and participating in a mission trip is a great way to do that.”
The health fair also served as an opportunity for employees to learn about their benefit package and to re-enroll for the 2018-19 health benefits package.
If you would like to learn more about Lipscomb’s HealthyU program, contact Robertson at annarose.robertson [at] lipscomb.edu.