VCOM View Magazine Vol. 13 | No. 1

Students, encouraged by the Annual Deans’ Fit Family Challenge, find fun ways to move.

A significant component of these efforts is the development of Via Wellness Workshops, a collaborative initiative involving student-researchers and other VCOM faculty. These workshops cover a range of topics, including starting a weekday outdoor walking (WOW) routine, phone habits for more/ better sleep and designing exercise snacks (aka snacktivities) into one’s daily routine. Led by VCOM students, the workshops also serve as pilot research projects with pre- and post-assessment of outcomes of interest. Each Via Wellness Workshop includes an online activity and a personalized email campaign, which are being further developed into stand-alone behavior- change programs that physicians can refer patients to. Over the next year, Hollingsworth aims to develop a dozen or more workshops and stand-alone programs to facilitate specific health behavior changes in the domains of diet/eating patterns, exercise/physical activity, stress management and sleep. His innovative approach not only empowers individuals to take charge of their health

dedication to integrating practical health interventions into everyday life. For instance, the weekday outdoor walking (WOW) routine encourages participants to incorporate regular walks into their weekdays, highlighting the benefits of outdoor activity for physical and mental health. The phone habits for more/better sleep workshop addresses the impact of screen time on sleep quality and provides strategies to improve sleep hygiene. The exercise snacks concept introduces brief, manageable bursts of physical activity throughout the day, making exercise more accessible and less daunting for busy individuals. These workshops, designed and implemented with the help of VCOM students, not only provide valuable learning experiences for the students but also generate meaningful data for ongoing research. By assessing participants’ progress before and after the workshops, Hollingsworth and his team can evaluate the effectiveness of various interventions and refine their approaches. This evidence-based methodology ensures that the programs are both practical and impactful, contributing to the overall mission of promoting health and wellness within the community. Dr. Hollingsworth’s commitment to improving health through behavior change, combined with his dedication to education and research, makes him a remarkable leader and an invaluable asset to VCOM Auburn. His work inspires students, colleagues and the community, fostering a culture of health and wellness that transcends the boundaries of traditional medicine. By focusing on the habits and environments that shape our health, Hollingsworth is paving the way for a healthier future, one small change at a time.

but also contributes to the broader goal of reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases through sustainable The Via Wellness Workshops reflect Hollingsworth’s

lifestyle changes.

fall 2024 | VCOM V iew M agazine 29