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ProfilesJoni Troester, Human Resources
Joni Troester, director of WorkLife and UI Wellness in Human Resources, is a principal architect of a new health program for UI staff and faculty members. The first of its kind on the UI campus, the program, called liveWELL, includes a free health risk assessment and provides a team of coaches to steer health-seekers along their paths of self-improvement. Troester took a few minutes out of her busy workday to talk to fyi about liveWELL and a few of her other favorite things, including Tuscan tomato soup, Robert Redford, and Sunday afternoons with the NFL. If I signed up for the liveWELL program, what kind of help could I expect? You would start by taking our online health risk assessment survey. That’s the foundation. You would find that the survey consists of questions related to your lifestyle practices, health history, and readiness to change. The survey would help identify your current or possible future specific health risks. You could share this information with your doctor, your primary care provider, and depending on what the assessment finds, you could qualify for other opportunities to work toward health goals with a University of Iowa health coach or other professional provided by the program. The health coach might also refer you to an appropriate behavior-change or care-management program, such as a smoking cessation or stress management program and the like. What demographics are responding to the liveWELL program? So far, about 3,500 UI employees have completed the survey. The survey completion for female and male is similar to the general UI population, where approximately 60 percent are female and 40 percent male. What are most people looking for from liveWELL and the health coaches? Many people want to include more physical activity in their lives, eat better, lose weight, improve energy and vitality. And most people already know what to do. But they need help getting started—somebody to help them find the motivation, somebody who can provide expert support as well as accountability, so that they can stay on the right path. The benefits for the employees seem obvious—improved diet, better fitness, managing stress. How does liveWELL benefit the University? Certainly we should see long-term benefits for the University. Having healthier employees means lower health care costs and lower absenteeism, and even improved job performance. The benchmark data indicate that these kinds of results will be seen in about three to five years. Where can people go for more information about the LiveWELL program? Our web site has complete and up-to-date information: www.uiowa.edu/livewell. Okay, now let’s turn our attention to you. You really made me think [when you sent me your questions]! But that’s good, because I don’t usually take much time out of the day for self-reflection. The business stuff is very easy to answer, but talking about myself is another matter. I have lived in Iowa City ever since I was in college. I earned a B.S. and master’s degree in exercise science from the University. I worked at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, but what brought me back to the University is that I wanted to work in an academic environment. I wanted to be on the cutting edge in the areas of health promotion. On your day(s) off, we would most likely find you... My husband and I have two boys, 10 and 12, so this time of year, you’d probably find us at the soccer field or baseball diamond. Or in the swimming pool. It’s a busy season for us. The best trip or vacation you ever took was... For the past three or four years, we’ve vacationed in Mexico. Last year I became certified to scuba dive. If you were to take up a new hobby, what would it be? When I have time, I’d like to start piano lessons again. I took piano as a child for a while, and I’d enjoy getting back into that. What are some of your favorites? Weekday lunch spot… The Bread Garden [in downtown Iowa City]. Great food, great atmosphere. Their Tuscan tomato soup is my absolute favorite. It’s a little hot now to eat it, but oh, man, from about September through May, it’s perfect. Book… I read The Da Vinci Code recently, and I hope to see the movie soon. Music… I like to listen to a lot of Billy Joel. Movie… The Way We Were. I think it’s a classic, timeless. Love Robert Redford. And Barbra Streisand. Television show… Definitely Grey’s Anatomy. Sports team… I love to watch pro football. Pittsburgh Steelers. If I have my Sunday afternoons free, I turn on a little NFL. My husband is okay with football on TV, but my two boys and I love it. by Gary Kuhlmann Recent Profiles |
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