September 2023 Spotlight

The Office of the Chief Wellness Officer is proud to recognize Buckeye Wellness Innovators (BWIs) who actively create a workplace culture and environment of health and well-being. Congratulations to Rasauna Wilborn from the Eye & Ear Institute Outpatient Surgery Center for being the September Buckeye Wellness Innovator spotlight!

Rasauna likes to focus on embracing self-care when bringing wellness to her colleagues. To incorporate social, intellectual and creative wellness, Rasauna and her department held a Vision Board Party and started Snack Day. Currently, she is working on a Wellness Wall.  This will incorporate several dimensions of wellness with weights, puzzles, a zen garden, a yoga ball, a speaker for meditation, information on wellness, coloring pages, stress balls and more. If Rasauna could pass on advice to other BWIs it would be to be your authentic self, do what you can when you can, and don’t be afraid to ask for help and ideas from your coworkers!

Q: Why did you join the Buckeye Wellness Innovator program?

I joined BWI for personal health reasons to help me be accountable for my health journey.  But after I joined, it evolved into a passion for helping others start and commit to a positive health journey.

Q: Why is being a Buckeye Wellness Innovator important to you? 

Being a BWI is so important to me because we tend to overlook our Health and wellness at work.  This way it’s an expectation on my end to keep people aware of and focused on the 10 dimensions of wellness.  And being supported by my manager makes it a more awesome experience here at OSU.

Q: Share a few ways you are embracing the ten dimensions of wellness and providing opportunities for faculty/staff to engage in activities.

Embracing SELF-CARE covers a lot of the dimensions. Like being physically active with walks and races. Social, intellectual, and creative side all work together with the Vision Board party. Snack days let our creative side come out with the healthy snacks we create.  I am working on our Wellness Wall.  It will incorporate several dimensions of wellness with weights, puzzles, a zen garden, a yoga ball, a meditation speaker, wellness information, coloring pages, stress balls and more.   

Q: With so many competing priorities while at work, finding time to plan wellness activities for faculty/staff can be difficult. How do you find time to prioritize wellness and develop new or innovative ideas for wellness activities?

With the help of my managers and other coworkers, they make it easier to find the time.  My manager encourages me to schedule time on the calendar dedicated just for BWI planning and events.  My coworkers help me be creative and come up with things of interest for our team.  

Q: How have you overcome barriers to engaging colleagues in your wellness efforts during the workday? 

Having different ways to communicate seems to help people receive the information that I put out there.  We have bulletin boards in different areas with information. I can add BWI info to our weekly update email.  And just chatting in our breakroom gets information out to people as well.

Q: Has your leadership embraced wellness and/or your role as a BWI?

My direct manager, Sarah Miller, always encourages me to run with ideas I have for any BWI activities or information I have.  And she likes to participate as well. This helps me to be as creative as possible at work sharing the 10 dimensions of wellness.

Q: Why is it important for leaders to embrace and model wellness behavior and your role as a BWI?

Because they have everyone’s attention already, it makes it easier for people to relate to the importance of HEALTH & WELLNESS in the workplace.  So, when they see leadership embracing events and information related to us, we are more willing to try something new, talk about it more with coworkers and spread the wealth.  This is becoming the new normal in our workplace.

Q: How do your leaders model wellness behavior?

They support BWI’s efforts by contributing their time and efforts to our ideas.

Q: What benefits have you seen or experienced, personally or professionally, as a result of the program?

I have had some personal health benefits from the physical activities and the healthy eating that is promoted.  My communications skills both professionally and personally have improved greatly. I love talking to people about health and wellness because it’s a common goal for most people and the vast opportunities out there to connect with different people are endless

Q: What would your dream be if you could accomplish anything as a Buckeye Wellness Innovator team?

I’d like to promote”START WHERE YOU ARE”. That is one of the biggest hurdles to get to and through. People think it must be a perfect start and it most definitely doesn’t.

Q: What advice would you pass on to other Buckeye Wellness Innovators to help them create a culture of wellness in their department?

I would advise BWI to be their authentic self. Do what you can when you can.  And don’t be afraid to ask for help or ideas from your coworkers.  This is for all of us to benefit from.  We are here to help.