Monday, March 25, 2019

Campus and community members are invited to celebrate and participate in activities as the College of Health and Human Services hosts its sixth annual Health Week April 1-6. The 25 events planned this year range from lectures and showcases to wellness activities and art programs. 
 
By creating intentional connections between UNCW and the community, HHS Week supports “Together We Make a Difference,” the collaborative approach to health and wellness that inspires CHHS students, faculty and staff.
 
“'Together We Make a Difference' reflects the college’s commitment to interprofessional learning,” said Ashley Wells, CHHS assistant dean for community engagement. “We work alongside each other and the community to provide education and skills that will be useful in practice, and lean in to a spirit of collaboration and fellowship that cultivates a culture of health and wellness.”
 
The week begins on Monday, April 1 with the annual Research and Innovation Day, featuring a keynote, “Research and Innovation: How the Two Can Coexist in a University Setting” from David Wyrick, founding director of the Institute to Promote Athlete Health & Wellness. He is an associate professor of public health education and faculty athletics representative at UNC Greensboro.
 
Highlights of the rest of the week include:
 
Tuesday, April 2: Impact of ACEs on Health Behavior
11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. McNeill Hall, Room 1051
The UNCW Counseling Center will review adverse childhood experiences, their impact on student health behavior, and the importance of trauma-informed care on college campuses and within prevention/intervention programs offered.
 
Wednesday, April 3: 8th Annual Poverty Symposium: The Disparate Impact of Hurricane Florence: Taking the Pulse on Poverty
6-7:30 p.m. McNeill Hall, Room 1005 (Lecture Hall)
Panelists will speak on the effects of Hurricane Florence, how this natural disaster affected vulnerable populations and how the Cape Fear region is helping its community rise above inequality. Panelists include Jordyn Appel, community food access coordinator with Feast Down East; Amanda Boomershine, associate professor of Spanish and linguistics in the UNCW Department of World Languages and Cultures; Cedric Harrison with Support the Port; Beth Schrader, New Hanover County recovery manager; and Tommy Taylor, executive vice president of the United Way of the Cape Fear.
 
Thursday, April 4: Preparing for Retirement Means More than Saving Money
5:30 p.m. UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; 803 S. College Road, Suite G
UNCW gerontology graduate students in the “Psychosocial Adjustment to Retirement and Later Life” class will lead a discussion on planning for retirement, including retirees’ plans for how they want to spend their time, where they want to live and the lifestyle they want to create for themselves.  
 
The week will conclude on Saturday, April 6 with one workshop and two wellness activities.
 
All events are open to the public and registration is not required unless otherwise noted. Review the full schedule of events for more information.

--Mary Ann Fearing '19