Employee Wellness: 6/3

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Employee Wellness

Counting calories, eating healthy, weekly walks and exercising have been the primary focus for six employees in the University Human Resources Management Department.

Dee Crawford, Susan Carullo, LaDeidra Berry, Sonja Fleming, Ashley Rice and Ginnell Birch signed up to participate in the HR Biggest Loser Challenge that started in March and lasted for eight weeks.

Biggest Losers Joining the Biggest Loser challenge were LaDeidra Berry, from left, Ashley Rice, Ginnell Birch, Dee Crawford, and Sonja Fleming.

Crawford, human resources manager, said the challenge made them focus on portion control, take weekly walks around the Harborview Tower and weigh in weekly to check their progress. The participants were also provided with a motivational quote daily to keep them focus on their own personal goals such as: "Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."

"This was an awesome wellness initiative that helped us begin to take control of our health," she said.

Crawford said the participants could not do this alone and had several HR team members cheering them on, including Tarsha Williams-Smalls, Patrice Gordon, Lisa Beattie, Gale O'Neal, Edra Pinckney, Velonda Dantzler, Tabatha Wilson and Dana Tumbleston. At the end of the eight weeks, the Biggest Loser participants, along with fellow team members celebrated their success with a healthy luncheon that included salads, fruit, baked chips, and yogurt pie.

Participants also were presented with a certificate of participation. They decided not to announce the winner because everyone had lost weight and gained so much knowledge from this experience that they were all winners, she said.

Employee Wellness events

Worksite screening: The next screening will be June 22 at MUSC Family Medicine. The screening is $15 with the State Health Plan and $42 without. Register at http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/ health1st.
Free bone density sreening: The Osteoporosis and Bone Health Center and MUSC Employee Wellness are offering a bone mineral density screening, free of charge, to any employee who is at risk, including any postmenopausal woman (not taking medications for osteoporosis) who has not had a DXA scan in the last two years. The screening is from 7 – 11 a.m. June 22 at Family Medicine. For more information or to schedule an appointment, e-mail musc-empwell@musc.edu.
Mobile mammograms: The Hollings Cancer Center Mobile Van will be conducting mammograms from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 22 at MUSC Family Medicine. Call 792-0878 to schedule an appointment.
Farmers market: Fresh fruits and vegetables are available from local farmers from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Friday in the Horseshoe and in the grassy area next to Ashley River Tower behind Charleston Memorial Hospital.
Chair massages: Free massages are offered to employees on Tuesday nights and midday Wednesdays. Look for broadcast messages for locations and times.

Contact Susan Johnson, wellness program coordinator for Employee Wellness, at johnsusa@musc.edu or
792-1245 to become involved in employee wellness at MUSC. Events, speakers, classes, or any other ideas are welcome.

Friday, June 3, 2011

The Catalyst Online is published weekly by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. The Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to The Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.