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Wellness Center pool opens with a splash by Cindy Abole Public Relations Exercising outside in Charleston’s sweltering heat is an effort reserved for the most devoted of athletes. As of early August, student athletes and workout devotees welcomed the re-opening of MUSC Wellness Center’s indoor pool.      Today, students and members can add lap swimming, water aerobics and other water activities to their fitness regime.    “It’s great that this project is finally complete,” said Julian Smith, MUSC Wellness Center director. “Students and other members can see the pool for themselves and the type of quality facility we provide right here on campus.”      First opened in 1990, the pool was part of the last phase of the Wellness Center project. It was completed with the help of private funds. The university funded its restoration.     “The re-opening of the pool enables MUSC to once again have a complete fitness center on campus,” said Valerie West, Ed.D., associate provost for education and student life. “Being right on campus,, the Wellness Center is a convenient place for students and employees to improve their health and stay well.”        Matt Baucom with Aqua Blue Pools explains the new PoolComm water chemistry controller system to Wellness Center staff Marty Rivers, left and Jim Tomsic. The system monitors and manages the PH and chlorine levels of the pool.  The junior Olympic sized pool, which holds 260,000 galloons of water, features room for seven lap lanes and an open shallow area for water aerobics and other water sports. Members can access the pool through the locker rooms. They can participate in the water aerobics program, stationary swimming and other water therapy programs and activities, plus check out kickboards, fins, hand-paddles, Hydra-Tone bells, noodles, pull buoys and other products to complement their workouts. An area of the pool is equipped with whirlpool benches and Badu jets for stationary swimming. It is one of only a small handful of indoor facilities in the tri-county that provides swimming year round.      “The facility is especially important to our students,” West said. “By staying fit themselves, they can learn how to teach their patients the benefits of exercise.”      In 2004, the pool needed serious repairs and renovations—most of the damage was caused by long-term moisture problems and poor ventilation. MUSC’s Board of Trustees approved funds to repair and renovate the facility. Goose Creek-based contractors Stenstrom & Associates and other area subcontractors completed the project.      Eighteen months later, the rebuilt pool opened with a resurfaced bottom, new vapor barrier, new air duct system and room lighting, plus a brand new filtration and chlorine-based chemical feed dehumidification system to help maintain the comfortable 82 degree water temperature.      To meet member needs, Smith created a Wellness Center Advisory Committee composed of key, active members and supporters who provided member feedback during renovations.      “Their insight and participation was meaningful during this process,” Smith said, speaking about the committee and their recommendations about the center’s new fitness equipment in addition to the pool. “It also gave MUSC leadership a chance to hear and learn firsthand about member issues and problems in an open cooperative manner. The committee continues to give the center valuable feedback and support for making positive changes.”         For now, Smith and his staff are focused on member recruitment, meeting student needs and promoting the pool’s opening around the campus community. It is no surprise that during the 18-month hiatus memberships have been affected by the pool’s closing. That, in addition to new hospital construction has influenced the public’s perception of whether the facility is either open or closed. Yet, throughout these changes, the facility has remained open.      “The Wellness Center staff readily invites people to tour the facility and ask questions,” West said. “Our facility represents a place focused on health and wellness. It is an important resource on campus, especially for students and staff. Members value having such a full-class facility on campus. It represents one of a few full scale state-of-the-art fitness facilities in the Lowcountry complete with a knowledgeable and dependable staff to help all people achieve their fitness and health goals.” Pool opening brings joy to members Since early August, men and women of all ages have been flocking back to MUSC’s Wellness Center. Their wide smiles and energetic bounce can’t hide the natural buzz and giddiness that die-hard swimmers and other fitness faithful have knowing that the pool has re-opened to its members.   Ask West Ashley’s Deborah Toporek who became a member in 2002 through physician referral.   She chose the facility for fitness, therapy and relaxation.   Toporek saw the pool as a way to lose weight. She swam and enrolled in instructor Kathy John’s three-times-a-week water aerobics class. With her bad knees, she knew a combination of water exercises and sauna would be a lot easier on her joints and muscles. With a lot of hard work, she was able to lose more than 100 pounds. Not only did Toporek lose, but she gained from new, supportive friendships through exercise.   “This is the best support group,” Toporek said of the 12 to 15 ladies she meets and stays in contact with. “We’ve always been there for one another. Those people made me feel special.”   During the pool’s closing, she released her membership and tried to stay close to the group even as they continued with their water fitness routine at another local facility.   “It just wasn’t the same,” Toporek said. “I missed our instructor Kathy, my classmates, the staff, even the pool and its amenities.” Members of Kathy John’s aquatic aerobics class demonstrate the use of Hydra-Tone water weight bells.   When she learned the center’s pool restoration was completed, Toporek, like many others, rushed back to join.   “MUSC Wellness Center is a great facility that’s clean and well-staffed,” she said. “Nothing compares it around the area. Being surrounded by staff who are truly looking out for you and your health is a great feeling. It means people really do care about you.”   Wellness Center Pool Hours: M-F, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wellness Center Pool Hotline: 792-5070 Wellness Center Aquatic Programs: 792-5499 Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.