Do you ever wish you could learn how to control stress levels, join a walking program or quit smoking with support? What about establishing a deeper spiritual life?

Georgetown is reaching out to faculty and staff members who want to enhance their lives and well-being with GUWellness. The comprehensive new program, now nearing its launch date, promises to help boost the "mind, body and soul" of the university community.

Spearheaded by the Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits, GUWellness draws on the expertise and existing activities of many university resources to create a comprehensive wellness program.

"We're creating a culture of wellness at Georgetown University," said Charles DeSantis, associate vice president and chief benefits officer. "This is the intangible benefit of working at Georgetown -- we actually have an environment that has all the pieces and resources we need."

The idea is to get the entire community involved in wellness activities. GUWellness planning participants include representatives from Yates Field House, the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, the Jesuit community, the School of Nursing and Health Studies (NHS), university leaders and more.

Participants said they are optimistic and excited about what the program will mean for Georgetown.

"The best part is this just isn't going to be a one-time thing," said Joan Riley, assistant professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies. "Because it will be year round, we can all be part of an ongoing change in our culture, and enhance and support people’s activities to improve their health and well-being."

Riley jumped on board GUWellness after DeSantis approached her about how NHS could develop planned activities. Employees and students in the school will volunteer during events such as wellness fairs, health screenings and immunizations offered through GUWellness throughout the year.

The school also will help develop monthly wellness programs around issues such as colon cancer or heart disease.

"It's such a natural fit. We do things like this for the Washington, D.C., community and now we can do it in our own backyard," Riley said.

Taking Control, Taking Time
Employees need to take responsibility for their well-being, and GUWellness will help facilitate that, DeSantis said.

"We want to inspire others to be active around wellness," he said. "It doesn't need to be dramatic. Were not expecting you to start running a marathon, we just want you to engage in activities that will help you."

The benefits office is recruiting wellness captains to help their colleagues along the way. Wellness captains will be responsible for motivating their coworkers, reminding them of various activities and resources available and setting an example.

Amy Ites, whose office already holds regular wellness activities, is one of the first captains to sign up. Keeping interest piqued relies on vigilance from captains about modest wellness improvements they can take, and reminding their colleagues about what GUWellness has to offer, she explained.

"Introducing wellness into the workplace really helps morale and it brings people together," said Ites, assistant director for external relations at the MBNA Career Education Center. "People work harder when they feel better."

Taking the time out to participate in GUWellness, and other personal and professional development offerings at Georgetown, is important, said Mary Anne Mahin, vice president and chief human resources officer.

"We encourage all supervisors to work with employees to carve out time for these things," she said. "Everyone benefits when employees take part in what is offered here."

Mind, Body and Soul
So what will GUWellness offer the community? The program is broken into three main sections. Parts of GUWellness will include new activities and benefits, while other parts highlight services already available.

On the "mind" side, Georgetown employees have ready access to services such as confidential short-term and crisis counseling from the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP).

There also are stress reduction programs, such as the meditation sessions facilitated by Sue Holyoke Johnston, a meditation wellness counselor in FSAP. Meditation may help alleviate anxiety and depression, ease symptoms of chronic illnesses, improve sleep and lower blood pressure, she said.

"There are proven benefits even if you don't always feel relaxed," she said. "It helps our bodies work well."

On the "body" front, GUWellness' offerings may include informal activities such as walking or biking groups and personal health assessments.

Yates Field House is a major player in the body side. Nine hundred employees already are members of the field house and take advantage of the cardio equipment, basketball courts, indoor track, pool and group exercise facilities, said Jim Gilroy, Yates' director.

The field house will hold open houses on Sept. 28 and Oct. 26 so non-members can decide if they want to join Yates.

"Exercise offers both physical and mental benefits," Gilroy said. "It helps you get rid of stress and can get your mind off of work for a bit."

Seeing those kind of tangible benefits is harder when it comes to GUWellness' "soul" component, said the Rev. Francis Schemel, S.J. As chaplain to the staff, Schemel helps Georgetown employees with spiritual matters.

His contribution to GUWellness includes online Ignatian spiritual exercises, which lead participants in the prayers of St. Ignatius Loyola. To advertise his Web site, Schemel, an accomplished candy-maker, hands out dark chocolate "business cards." The card is a nod to wellness as well because of dark chocolate's health benefits.

Spiritual guidance at Georgetown also is available from chaplains in other denominations, including Protestant, Muslim, Jewish and Orthodox traditions. Chaplains are available on all three campuses.

"We work at a place that offers people many, many options and resources as it relates to spirituality and soul," DeSantis explained of the multi-denominational options.

What’s Coming Up
GUWellness activities will begin rolling out through the end of the year and start in earnest in 2008. It all starts with gathering data from a wellness survey that recently went out by e-mail and an upcoming wellness fair.

Employees will have the opportunity to complete a confidential health assessment questionnaire, provided by their current health insurance plan, to receive a personalized health report. The report will provide health information and suggest how to improve their well-being.

DeSantis said the benefits office will receive aggregate data -- not individual results -- from the health assessments in order to tailor GUWellness programs to the community’s needs.

"You can't just do a wellness fair and be done," he said. "Wellness needs to be a continuum."

-- By Lauren Burgoon, Blue & Gray Assistant Editor

(September 10, 2007)