Chippewa Valley Times

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students, faculty, and staff have been commended for their dedication to better health through a wellness program collaboration with Mayo Clinic Health System. The university's Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program has earned a silver-level designation from Exercise is Medicine, a community-impact initiative of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Dr. Saori Braun, associate professor of kinesiology at UW-Eau Claire, emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating, "It is an important initiative as exercise can be utilized as both preventative and rehabilitative programs to maintain and improve not only one’s physical health but also mental health."

Dr. Amy Rantala, a primary care sports medicine physician at Mayo Clinic Health System, highlighted the importance of promoting wellness at any age, pointing out that physical exercise can help prevent chronic diseases and lead to improved health outcomes. Rantala expressed, "Exercise can prevent so much of what ails us. Every active minute adds up to better health."

Rantala also praised the collaboration between UW-Eau Claire and Mayo Clinic Health System, stating, "We have an excellent public university filled with students with curious young minds, fresh ideas and energy, coupling with a world-class health care organization, with both eager to make a difference in health and quality of life."

Looking to the future, Rantala and Braun are optimistic about the potential for further advancements in the program. They aim to establish a referral model between Mayo Clinic Health System providers and UW-Eau Claire's department of kinesiology exercise physiologists, with the goal of achieving a gold-level recognition in 2025.

In addition to its wellness initiatives, UW-Eau Claire has been selected as one of the international finalists for the Global Engaged University of the Year Award. The university's commitment to community engagement and health promotion has garnered recognition on a global scale.

Philanthropists John and Carolyn Sonnentag recently participated in a truss-signing ceremony at the County Materials Complex, further highlighting the university's dedication to fostering a culture of wellness and community involvement.