Well at UF
By UFHR Wellness
— Produced by UFHR Communications and Worklife
Well at UFNov 01, 2023
Managing Mental Health Around the Holidays
Too often, the holidays add a layer of stress to an otherwise festive season. Our November Wellness Talk features UF EAP counselor Devin Shorey, who discusses the effects of the holiday season on our mental health and how to enjoy the festivities while safeguarding our well-being.
Mental health within the Hispanic-American community
In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, our October Wellness Talk features UF EAP counselor Massiel Snow, Psy.D., who discusses mental health issues within the Hispanic-American community and how we can overcome pervasive stigmas.
Find more wellness resources on the Worklife at UF website: https://worklife.hr.ufl.edu/
Guided Meditation - Session 12 with Angie Brown
Join UFHR Communications and Worklife Director Angie Brown for a guided meditation session to bring a sense of calm and overall well-being to your day.
Guided Meditation - Session 11 with Angie Brown
Join UFHR Communications and Worklife Director Angie Brown for a guided meditation session to bring a sense of calm and overall well-being to your day.
Better health outcomes through early prevention
As part of Men’s Health Month, Florida Blue Wellness Coordinator Andy Greenhaw, joined us to discuss the physical and mental health issues that men face and how we can encourage them to care for their overall well-being.
Guided Meditation - Session 10 with Kim Holton
Join UF Health Education and Behavior Instructional Assistant Professor Kim Holton, Ph.D., for a guided meditation session to bring a sense of calm and overall well-being to your day.
Guided Meditation - Session 9 with Angie Brown
Join UFHR Communications and Worklife Director Angie Brown for a guided meditation session to bring a sense of calm and overall well-being to your day.
Developing local and seasonal eating habits
As part of National Nutrition Month, Family, Youth and Community Sciences Assistant Professor Catherine Campbell, Ph.D., joined us to discuss the benefits of seasonal eating habits and how to support sustainable growing practices. Listen to the episode on Spotify and explore our Farmers Markets Directory to find a market near your home.
Additional resources:
- USDA food dollar - Farm share of U.S. food dollar reached historic low in 2021
- Crops in season – Florida Department of Agriculture
- More information on the Fresh from Florida label
- Find a local Community Supported Agriculture program
- More information on the Fresh Access Bucks for SNAP recipients
- North Florida U-Pick farms
- Residential horticulture through UF IFAS extension
Help us improve our program! Suggest new topics and expert guests: https://wellness.hr.ufl.edu/wellness-library/mental-health-stigma-depression-and-anxiety/
Health disparities in the African American community
As part of Black History Month, College of Public Health and Health Professions Clinical Assistant Professor Brittney Dixon, Ph.D., joined us to discuss health disparities faced by the African American community as well as the social determinants of health and what we can all do to make a difference.
The Tobacco Cessation Journey
In this Wellness Talk episode, and as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we talked with Lindsey King, Ph.D., about the ins and outs of tobacco cessation treatment.
King is a clinical assistant professor at the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions and a certified tobacco treatment specialist with over ten years of experience helping community members quit smoking and stick to it. She joins new Wellness Talk host Natalie Lezcano to discuss the process of tobacco treatment, strategies to quit smoking and her best success story as a tobacco treatment specialist.
Lupus Research and Awareness
In this Wellness Talk episode, Dr. Laurence Morel, Dr. Erika Moore and Tracyio Roach join us to discuss lupus and ongoing research efforts to address this autoimmune disorder.
Laurence Morel, Ph.D., is a professor and the Vice-Chair for Research and Academic Affairs in the Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine at UF. Her research is centered on the mechanisms of lupus pathogenesis.
Erika Moore, Ph.D., is the inaugural Rhines Rising Star Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at UF. Moore’s work broadly focuses on understanding how immune cells can be leveraged to enhance tissue regeneration.
Tracoyia Roach is a doctoral student in microbiology and cell science and a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Florida.
Visit the Wellness website to learn more.
Lupus Patient Experience
In this Wellness Talk episode, Mark Segal, M.D., Ph.D., joins us to discuss the outcomes and prognosis of patients with lupus.
Segal is an associate professor and Chief of the Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Renal Transplantation in the UF College of Medicine. As part of his research, Segal’s laboratory is interested in understanding the mechanism of increased cardiovascular risk in special populations. These populations include patients with chronic kidney disease, patients with lupus nephritis, patients receiving high doses of erythropoietin, and women who have complicated pregnancies.
Visit the Wellness website to learn more.
Mental Health Stigma - Depression and Anxiety
In this Wellness Talk episode, Catherine Striley, Ph.D., joins us to discuss mental health awareness and the stigma associated with mental health as it relates to depression and anxiety.
Striley is a psychiatric epidemiologist and associate professor at the UF Department of Epidemiology. She received a Master of Social Work in 1989 and a doctorate in philosophy in social work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis in 2002. She also holds a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the Washington University School of Medicine. As part of her research, she aims to increase recognition of the need for health screening, mental health and behavioral health services, and to decrease barriers to those services. Striley has experience in community-engaged research, including recruitment and retention of diverse community members, and in drug use, abuse and misuse epidemiology.
Help us improve our program! Visit our website to suggest new topics and expert guests: https://wellness.hr.ufl.edu/wellness-library/mental-health-stigma-depression-and-anxiety/
Making Healthy Choices in a World of Flavors
In this Wellness Talk episode, we talk with Jonathan Vredenburg about healthy eating in a world of flavors.
Jonathan is UF Health’s Employee Wellness Program manager, has served as the wellness program coordinator for the City of Jacksonville and was a consultant dietitian for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, in addition to being a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics. He previously served on the Florida Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and in his spare time is a freelance writer and stand-up comedian performing in clubs throughout Florida.
Help us improve our program! Visit our website to suggest new topics and expert guests: https://wellness.hr.ufl.edu/resources/wellness-library/
Creating and Sustaining Healthy Habits
In this Wellness Talk episode, we talked with GatorCare Wellness Manager Mallory Rubek about creating and sustaining healthy habits.
Rubek has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Health Education and Behavior from the University of Florida. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist and a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor with over five years of experience in the worksite and community wellness fields.
Help us improve our program! Visit our website to suggest new topics and expert guests: https://wellness.hr.ufl.edu/resources/wellness-library/
Guided Meditation - Session 8 with Carol Lewis
You are encouraged to take time every day to be mindful of your health and wellness. To help you on your wellness journey, we are sharing this guided meditation, done in partnership with UF Department of Psychiatry Associate Professor Carol Lewis, Ph.D., M.P.H., CPH.
Guided Meditation - Session 7 with Lisa Merlo Greene
You are encouraged to take time every day to be mindful of your health and wellness. To help you on your wellness journey, we are sharing this guided meditation, done in partnership with UF Department of Psychiatry Associate Professor Lisa Merlo Greene, Ph.D., M.P.E.
Explore our channel for additional meditation episodes or visit the UF-HR Wellness website for additional resources: https://wellness.hr.ufl.edu/resources/toolkits/guided-meditation-videos/.
Guided Meditation - Session 6 with Carol Lewis
You are encouraged to take time every day to be mindful of your health and wellness. To help you on your wellness journey, we are sharing this guided meditation, done in partnership with UF Department of Psychiatry Associate Professor Carol Lewis, Ph.D., M.P.H., CPH.
Explore our channel for additional meditation episodes or visit the UF-HR Wellness website for additional resources: https://wellness.hr.ufl.edu/resources/toolkits/guided-meditation-videos/.
Guided Meditation - Session 5 with Marika Alois
You are encouraged to take time every day to be mindful of your health and wellness. To help you on your wellness journey, we are sharing this guided meditation, done in partnership with UF Division of General Internal Medicine Assistant Professor Marika Alois, M.D.
Explore our channel for additional meditation episodes or visit the UF-HR Wellness website for additional resources: https://wellness.hr.ufl.edu/resources/toolkits/guided-meditation-videos/.
Guided Meditation - Session 4 with Carol Lewis
You are encouraged to take time every day to be mindful of your health and wellness. To help you on your wellness journey, we are sharing this guided meditation, done in partnership with UF Department of Psychiatry Associate Professor Carol Lewis, Ph.D., M.P.H., CPH.
Explore our channel for additional meditation episodes or visit the UF-HR Wellness website for additional resources: https://wellness.hr.ufl.edu/resources/toolkits/guided-meditation-videos/.
Guided Meditation - Session 3 with Lisa Merlo Greene
You are encouraged to take time every day to be mindful of your health and wellness. To help you on your wellness journey, we are sharing this guided meditation, done in partnership with UF Department of Psychiatry Associate Professor Lisa Merlo Greene, Ph.D., M.P.E.
Explore our channel for additional meditation episodes or visit the UF-HR Wellness website for additional resources: https://wellness.hr.ufl.edu/resources/toolkits/guided-meditation-videos/.
Guided Meditation - Session 2 with Carol Lewis
You are encouraged to take time every day to be mindful of your health and wellness. To help you on your wellness journey, we are sharing this guided meditation, done in partnership with UF Department of Psychiatry Associate Professor Carol Lewis, Ph.D., M.P.H., CPH.
Guided Meditation - Session 1 with Carol Lewis
You are encouraged to take time every day to be mindful of your health and wellness. To help you on your wellness journey, we are sharing this guided meditation, done in partnership with UF Department of Psychiatry Associate Professor Carol Lewis, Ph.D., M.P.H., CPH.
Explore our channel for additional meditation episodes or visit the UF-HR Wellness website for additional resources: https://wellness.hr.ufl.edu/resources/toolkits/guided-meditation-videos/.
Bluevember — Diabetes Awareness, Prevention and Access Equity
In this episode of Wellness Talk, and as part of American Diabetes Month, we talked with Dr. Ashby Walker about diabetes awareness, prevention and access equity.
Dr. Walker serves as the director for health equity initiatives at the UF Diabetes Institute. Her research as a medical sociologist focuses on Type 1 Diabetes and the role that social capital plays in determining health outcomes. Dr. Walker is an elected member of the American Diabetes Association National Health Disparities Committee and the Chronic Diseases & Conditions Priority Area Workgroup of the 2017–2021 Florida State Health Improvement Plan.
Empathy and Well-being
In this Wellness Talk episode, Dr. Hannah Bayne joins us to discuss empathy and the impact it has on our health and well-being.
Bayne is an assistant professor in UF’s School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education, and is interested in research and teaching related to empathy development. This stems from her drive to understand the experiences of another person, including how counselors can effectively and competently work with clients across cultural divides — particularly those of race, ethnicity and sexual identity.
Suicide Prevention
In this episode of Wellness Talk, Dr. Joseph Munson joins us to discuss suicide prevention, warning signs and the resources available for those who may need help. Munson is a licensed mental health counselor and serves as UF Health’s director of clinical services at Shands Psychiatric Hospital. He serves as a member of the senior leadership team overseeing services provided by case management, counseling, occupational therapy and recreational therapy. Munson has more than 20 years’ experience specializing in areas including crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and inpatient treatment.
Help us improve our program! Visit our website to suggest new topics and expert guests. You can also find relevant resources that will expand on today's topic: https://wellness.hr.ufl.edu/wellness-library/suicide-prevention/.
Impact of Stress and Burnout on Health
In this episode of Wellness Talk, Dr. Lisa Merlo Greene discusses stress and burnout health outcomes and prevention. A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Merlo Greene currently serves as the director of wellness programs for the UF College of Medicine. She is active in the education of medical students, residents and other health professional students. Dr. Merlo also serves as the director of research for the Professionals Resource Network, Inc., the State monitoring program for distressed and impaired healthcare professionals.
Help us improve our program! Visit our website to suggest new topics and expert guests. You can also find relevant resources that will expand on today's topic.
Heart Health and Healthy Living
In this Wellness Talk we discuss cardiovascular health, disparities in access, and the impact of healthy living with Monica Aggarwal, Ph.D. Aggarwal is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Florida’s Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. As the Director of Integrative Cardiology and Prevention at the University of Florida, Aggarwal focuses on promoting food as the foundation of healing and for its medicinal value.
Mental Health Disparities on College Campuses
In this Wellness Talk episode, we discussed mental health disparities experienced by people of color and other marginalized groups on a university campus with Dr. Ernesto Escoto. Dr. Escoto currently serves as the Counseling and Wellness Center director. He is also a Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Associate Professor.
Intuitive Eating and Nutrition Trends 'Red Flags'
Start your year off on the right foot, by establishing a healthier relationship with food. In this Wellness Talk episode, we talk with Jessie Furman, RDN, about intuitive eating, dieting and red flags within nutritional trends.
Furman is a registered dietitian and assistant director for nutrition at UF’s Department of Recreational Sports.
Additional resources to explore:
- Sign up for a nutrition counseling session with Jessie: https://recsports.ufl.edu/fitness/nutrition-services/
- MyPlate.gov is a great website to explore different food groups and recipes: https://www.myplate.gov/
- Harvard Healthy Eating Plate provides a great visualization of what healthy eating looks like on a plate: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate/
- Intuitiveeating.org to learn more about intuitive eating: https://www.intuitiveeating.org/
Grief and Coping with Loss
In this Wellness Talk episode, we talk with UF Innovation Academy Adjunct Lecturer Taylor Williams — who is also the lead facilitator and creative director of Guts and Glory Gainesville — about grief and coping with loss. As part of the discussion, we aim to normalize grief and share some valuable information and resources.
Resources mentioned in the video:
- UF EAP program: https://eap.ufl.edu/
- UF Health EAP program: https://eap.ufhealth.org/
- That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief by Scot Berinato - https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief
- Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief by David Kessler: https://open.spotify.com/episode/02NfXb67kxDN55vNIURgPV
- We don’t “move on” from grief. We move forward with it, by Nora McInerny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khkJkR-ipfw
- It’s Okay Not to Be Okay: Moving Forward One Day at a Time by Sheila Walsh
- What’s Your Grief: https://whatsyourgrief.com/
Self-Assessment for Prediabetes Prevention
In this Wellness Talk episode, we discuss prediabetes prevention with Arch Mainous, Ph.D., professor and Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Community Health and Family Medicine.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and may be underreported as many people do not know they have it. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented, and even reversed, through lifestyle changes including diet and exercise. Prediabetes is a diagnosed condition where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not quite high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC, prediabetes affects approximately one in three American adults, but 84% don’t know that they have it?
Defining and Improving Health Literacy
In this Wellness Talk episode, we discuss the concept of Health Literacy with Maggie Ansell, nursing and consumer health liaison librarian at the UF Health Science Center Libraries. Through our discussion, we learn about health literacy and identify ways we can improve our literacy and take control of our health. Find out about the 5 W's that can be used to evaluate health information you come across online.
Resources mentioned in the podcast:
National Recovery Month - Support and Resources
David Fields, Executive Director of the UF Health Florida Recovery Center, talks with UFHR Wellness about the importance of National Recovery Month. In our discussion, we discuss the principles of recovery and how everyone can relate even if they don’t struggle with addiction.
For more information about the UF Health Florida Recovery Center call 352-265-4372 or https://floridarecoverycenter.ufhealth.org/.
An Introduction to Mindful Living
In this Wellness Talk episode, UFHR Communication and Worklife Director Angie Brown guides us through an introduction to mindful living.
Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. While mindfulness is something we all naturally possess, it’s more readily available to us when we practice.