Upstate's Pathway To Wellness Program Turns 10

Press release from Upstate Medical University:

February 23, 2022

Meatless Monday, Monday Mile, Walktober and Well-o-ween are just some of the terms that have entered the Upstate lexicon over the past 10 years since the inception of Upstate’s Pathway to Wellness Programs.

The program, directed by Wellness Coordinator Suzanne Brisk, provides institutional offerings aimed at helping people make healthy lifestyle choices.

“We’ve connected with people over the years to share some tips on how to keep themselves healthy, from making healthier food choices to moving a little more during the day to managing stress,” Brisk said. “Wellness is universal and everyone can participate.”

And they do. Brisk said thousands of Upstate employees have participated in dozens of Wellness programs, from taking walking tours in the area (in conjunction with Syracuse University) to considering healthier food options in the Upstate eateries. There are also weight management offerings, smoking cessation courses, and destressing activities by spending some time with cuddly dogs.

Wellness programming remained popular throughout the pandemic. Instead of in-person programming, Brisk offered an array of Upstate Pathways to Wellness programming online through Upstate’s Webex connections. One of the more popular programs were webinars with the Alzheimer’s Association of CNY. The focus was on maintaining brain health and signs and symptoms of the disease, which Brisk said was of special interest to employees caring for the parents.

This year in celebration of ten years of wellness programming, Brisk suggests celebrating the milestone by doing such things as taking ten-minute siesta naps, introducing yourself to ten new people or adopting ten healthy habits.

The success of the program can be seen in various awards and accolades the program has garnered over the years, like the Silver Level recognition in 2021 from the American Heart Association for taking significant steps to build a culture of health in the workplace.

The Silver honor from the AHA also considers the many wellness offerings Upstate supports through its Health Link and Oasis programming and through various community wellness and education programs offered by Upstate’s Trauma team, Comprehensive Stroke Center and Poison Center.

“Upstate really offers something for everyone to do to become healthier,” said Brisk.

Previous honors for Upstate’s health and wellness programming include American Heart Association’s Gold-Fit Friendly Award, Central New York Business Journal’s Workplace Wellness Award, Cancer CEO Gold Standard Award from the CEO Roundtable on Cancer and the Elite Corporate Health Champion from the American Diabetes Association.

This press release was produced by Upstate Medical University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.