February 26, 2013

Dear Colleagues,

When you think of wellness, do you think of healthy food and exercise? Most people do. In 2013 we want to transform the way you think about your wellness by enhancing our University offerings to include programs that address not only your physical well-being, but also your psychological wellness, your relationships in and out of the workplace, community involvement, and your financial health. To help you enhance your psychological wellness, click here for a few tips on managing stress; this is the first of a series of monthly wellness tip videos. And to learn more about each wellness dimension, click on the adjoining graphic.

At the U we want to provide you with as many tools as possible that allow easy access to a variety of resources dedicated to each wellness dimension: healthy recipes, healthy lifestyle programs, wellness seminars, financial education, reduced rate for Team UM Corporate Run registration, specialized care at UHealth, and free, confidential Faculty and Staff Assistance consultations. All this and more is offered through our Well ’Canes programs.

As part of our commitment to your overall wellness, we will host our inaugural Week of Well-Being, scheduled for April 1-5. Be sure to save the date. This event, exclusively for UM faculty, staff, and students, will kick off with celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein hosting cooking demonstrations on both the Miller School and Coral Gables campuses and also feature presentations by Arthur Agatston, M.D., author of The South Beach Diet and a faculty member at the Miller School. In addition, wellness fairs, outdoor yoga sessions on the University Green and the Quad, workshops, and opportunities to meet with wellness vendors will be offered. Coming in April is the launch of our new incentive program to help you advance through your personal wellness journey.

All this supplements the great services we continue to offer, such as convenient care for common illnesses and immunizations through the UHealth Healthy ’Canes Employee Clinics. And thanks to our dedicated partnership with UHealth, you can receive specialized care from any of our 1,200 UHealth physicians in more than 100 medical specialties and subspecialties, including sports medicine, ophthalmology, cardiology, bariatric surgery, and neurology, at lower copays.

By taking small steps and using the resources offered to you through Well ’Canes, you can begin making changes for an overall healthier life.

Thank you, and have a healthy day.


Nerissa E. Morris
Vice President, Human Resources
Chair, Wellness Advisory Council