PM&R Family Night at the Birmingham BaronsWellness is a core value across the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), supporting a thriving, productive, and healthy community for students and employees alike. Recognizing the importance of emotional and physical well-being, the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) launched a wellness initiative to support its faculty and staff.
The idea began in summer 2017, when PM&R faculty members Danielle Powell, M.D., Megan Hays, Ph.D., and Casey Azuero, Ph.D., met to discuss ways the department could better support wellness. At the time, the department was participating in a strategic planning process, where wellness emerged as a priority for faculty, staff, residents, and patients.
A working group formed to develop a departmental wellness plan, with Drs. Powell, Hays, and Azuero serving as its founding members. In July 2018, the group met with UAB Chief Wellness Officer David Rogers, M.D., to discuss his vision for wellness across the School of Medicine and share their early ideas.
The working group also surveyed department members to identify their wellness needs and began shaping a long-term vision for PM&R to become a wellness leader within the school.
By fall 2018, the group presented survey findings and a proposal for an official committee to department leadership. The initiative was approved, and the announcement was made during the annual faculty retreat. At that meeting, the founding members shared their vision and requested financial support to begin formal wellness programming. The vote passed unanimously, with PM&R faculty agreeing to match departmental funds.
The vision they shared was: Create a practice environment that promotes and supports optimal health and professional fulfillment of UAB PM&R faculty, residents, and staff, and facilitates improvements in the health and well-being of the patients we serve.
Today, the mission remains: to lead in service and elevate wellness for PM&R faculty, staff, and trainees.
PM&R’s wellness initiative is supported through quarterly meetings of a diverse committee representing faculty, staff, residents, postdoctoral fellows, and team members from two primary locations - the Workplace and Spain Rehabilitation Center. The committee evaluates past initiatives, plans future projects, and elevates the voices of department members by sharing feedback with the Chair’s office. Members also conduct surveys as needed and serve as a consulting body for wellness planning.
Current committee members include Sarah Banasiewicz, Jennifer Coker, Ph.D., Natalie Garcia, Hannah Howard, M.D., Cassandra Mondesir, Psy.D., Katharyn Strong, M.D., Sabrina Thelen, Psy.D., and Karen Weeks. The committee is led by Casey Azuero, Ph.D.
Wellness takes many forms, and PM&R encourages employees to pursue well-being through a variety of activities and events throughout the year, including:
• New Year’s fitness challenge
• Journaling sessions
• Chair yoga
• Family Night at the Birmingham Barons
• Costume and pumpkin decorating contest
• Holiday department lunch
• Monthly PM&R Employee Spotlight Awards and celebration lunches
• Resident welcome wellness kits
• PGY-4 wellness graduation gifts
• Resident wellness retreat support
The department remains committed to cultivating a supportive environment that nurtures well-being, strengthens connection, and enhances the PM&R community.