View Larger Image Margaret Pauly, a registered dietitian, joins Mande Corbett from Stocked and Reddie to demonstrate how to prepare Cuban black beans.
Margaret Pauly, a registered dietitian, joins Mande Corbett from Stocked and Reddie to demonstrate how to prepare Cuban black beans. Image by Annabeth Johnson

Get Healthy UAMS Presents First Virtual Health Fair

By Yavonda Chase

| More than 400 Team UAMS members tuned in Oct. 13 for the first Virtual Health Fair, sponsored by Get Healthy UAMS.

Last year’s in-person health fair was a big hit, said Natalie Cannady, chief wellness officer, so plans were already in the works for a repeat when the pandemic hit. After it was apparent that life wouldn’t be back to normal by the fall, the decision was made to offer the health fair online, she said.

“It is so important that our students and employees take time for their health, Cannady said. “Now that we’re under even more stress because of the pandemic, self-care is more important than ever.”

Tony Boaz and Christie Kelly talk about AR-Connect, which provides mental health treatment via telemedicine.

Tony Boaz and Christie Kelly talk about AR-Connect, which provides mental health treatment via telemedicine.

The fair was broken into 14 segments, including ones by AR-Connect, the UAMS Fitness Center, the UAMS Auxiliary, the Arkansas Employee Assistance Program, Human Resources, Supportive Conversations and an update on the Vision 2029 strategic plan. Participants also could take a couple of quizzes – one on finances and one on nutrition.

Mande Corbett from Stocked & Reddie and Margaret Pauly, registered dietician, teamed up for a cooking demonstration on how to make Cuban black beans, a healthy and tasty meal. Pauly also showed various ways to serve the beans, including over rice, in a burrito, atop a baked potato and as a soup. Most of the ingredients are available at the food pantry, Corbett said.

“I really appreciate it when we get the opportunity to show Team UAMS what Stocked & Reddie is providing for our employees and students,” she said.

Melissa Easdon (left) demonstrates yoga stretches that can be done in the office and in business attire.

Melissa Easdon (left) demonstrates yoga stretches that can be done in the office and in business attire.

Matt Boone, a licensed social worker, gave tips on how to better deal with stress, while Tiffany Haynes, Ph.D., and Maria Ruvalcaba offered insight on how to maintain one’s emotional health these days.

Melissa Easdon demonstrated some simple yoga stretches that can be done in business attire at work, while registered dietitian Cayla-Marie Jackson showed participants how to read food labels.

“We had an amazing group of speakers for the fair,” said Cannady. “I was impressed at the amount of information we were able to share with Team UAMS.”

All of the segments were recorded and can be found on the Get Healthy UAMS website.

Cannady hopes it will be possible to hold next year’s health fair in person, “but if we can’t, I’m game to take it online again because this one was definitely a success.”