As a first-generation Dominican American, Scarlet Hernandez has gone through periods throughout her life where she struggled with her identity.

Growing up between Elizabeth and Newark, New Jersey, she was often surrounded by other Latinx people.

However, at the age of 13, when she and her family moved to the suburbs, Hernandez was presented with a complete transition to a predominantly white community.

I felt like there was a shock there, she recalled during an interview with AL DA. I think I struggled a little bit with being too Latinx for the white kids, and being too white for the Latinx kids.

That reality originally made Hernandez feel like she was stuck living in that middle place.

But that middle place allowed me to also acknowledge and enjoy the opportunities that came my way, Hernandez expressed.

Those opportunities grew as the years went by, and became the catalyst for her becoming the career professional she is today as director of member success for Rec Philly.

If my parents hadnt moved me into the suburbs, I would have never gotten into radio and done four years of radio and TV and interviewing and journalism, said Hernandez.

That inspired me to work with artists and I think that being a first-generation really instills in you right away to do what you love and be the best at it, so you can provide, she continued.

Hernandez would be the first to tell you that she would in no way be able to do the things shes done without the love and support of her parents.

Everyday, Hernandez wears a necklace with a nameplate of her mothers name.

She describes her mother as a wonderfully smart, badass boss lady, who grew up caring for her family.

A career teacher, Hernandez credits her mother for teaching and encouraging her to never be afraid of going after her dreams.

Because I always struggled with wanting to be like the others she was always the first one to tell me to be different, noted Hernandez. I love my mom, and everything I do is for her.

Hernandez describes her father as so strong, so kind, and so funny.

He studied to become a lawyer with dreams of being a public defender in the Dominican Republic. However, when Hernandez was growing up, she knew her father as simply the hoagie maker at the bodega.

He later went on to own his own bodega, but still has dreams to eventually return to the Dominican Republic someday and continue his practice as a public defender.

He hasnt forgotten about that, and we continue to celebrate him everyday like that. Hes a lawyer first and foremost, said Hernandez.

It was also Hernandezs parents who taught her not to be afraid to take risks.

I feel like risk has a bad name associated with it, but risk is you seeing opportunity, not seeing failure, said Hernandez.

She continues to be inspired by her parents everyday.

When I was growing up, they were my biggest supporters, and today continue to be just incredible people who are the first people I call for any good news, bad news and anything in between, said Hernandez. And Im very, very lucky for that.

Hernandez knew early on that she wanted to pursue a career in the creative field.

As early as six years old, Hernandez remembers being exposed to different musicals, listening to music on vinyls, and various other forms of entertainment.

Those moments were very critical for her growing up and had a profound impact.

Especially as an only child, she said, all you have is entertainment.

And when I noticed how it was affecting me, I let that empower me and let myself know that I can be doing that, too, she added.

From then on, she remembers gathering the family together to see a dance she made up, pretending to interview people, making mixed CDs, recording songs on the radio all helping to flex that creative muscle.

Entertainment became more than entertainment.

As a first-generation Dominican-American, a huge part of her figuring out that love for entertainment was also translating things for her parents to understand.

It also really allowed me to indulge in American pop culture, said Hernandez. So to be connected with that, I felt like everything had a context and a reference.

Once her parents understood her level of passion, they helped and supported her in any and every way possible.

From there, Hernandez began brainstorming ways to be a part of that industry in one way or another.

Hernandezs first time in Philly was going to World Cafe Live in 2011.

She immediately fell in love with the city, and when it came time to select a college, she knew exactly which city she wanted to go to school in.

I specifically came to UArts [University of the Arts] because it was in Philly, Hernandez said.

At UArts, Hernandez majored in Music Business, Entrepreneurship & Technology (MBET) a newly created program at the time.

She credits the program for allowing the most liberal arts experience possible, despite the lack of structure and continuity of a program with more lineage.

The variety of the program allowed for students to find an element within the program that could allow them to find their path.

There were people who were musicians and their parents wouldnt let them go to school just for music, so they took the business side, versus me where its like Im obsessed with anything that doesnt have to do with performing, said Hernandez.

I love to sing, I love to dance, I love all that. But I want to be the brains behind productions and stuff like that, she added.

Throughout the MBET program, Hernandez became well-rounded in her craft, as she took photography classes, collaboration courses, produced a concert series, and even started a radio station at the university.

Her experience was aided by her overarching goal.

Its not about what I can do, its who I love to serve. And as a Latina, I feel like serving and hospitality is in our blood, said Hernandez.

Her mindset was often: How can I bring that forward to bring a more self-aware, emotionally intelligent industry into play?

Her experience at UArts helped her develop that, and lead in her own way.

While a junior at UArts, Hernandez was selected as one of two students to represent the MBET program at an alumni mixer event.

While there, she met the prolific painter George Beach, who asked her at the time what she wanted to do after college.

Her response: Everything.

Upon hearing that response, Beach set up an opportunity for Hernandez to meet Rec Philly co-founders Will Toms and Dave Silver, where she discussed her interests and all the extracurriculars she had been involved with in college.

She was then invited to a company meeting a few days later.

And they couldnt get rid of me since then, said Hernandez.

From the start, she became enamored with the environment that was being built at Rec Philly, as a space that empowers creatives to simply tap into their creativity in a productive and personal way.

Hernandez has remained connected to Rec Philly since her first exposure to the organization in 2015.

In 2017, she became Director of Member Success for Rec Philly, where she leads membership efforts to its more than 1,000 members.

The human interaction is what keeps Hernandez motivated the most in her role.

We get to work with some of the most talented people in the city and beyond, she said.

I just love artists, and when you work at a business that serves artists, the first currency that they exchange with you is trust, she added.

Through this role, Hernandez is able to build trust and relationships with each member, and that connection is mutual.

Over the years, a number of former members often return just to share good news with her.

Knowing that Im someone that they look to share that with because Ive been there encouraging them, telling them to do it, telling them how to sometimes keeps me going and is the entire reason why I do what I do, said Hernandez.

To her, this role was built for me, and Im still learning, she said.

As director of member success, there is no playbook for how the job is done. The same can be said for just about the entire Rec Philly team.

We are all on this team constantly building the road that were walking on, said Hernandez. And that can be the scariest thing in the world, or that can be the most empowering thing in the world.

When Hernandez thinks about Phillys creative scene, Hernandez distinguishes individuals into two groups those who have grown up in Philly, and those who have come to Philly to be a part of the scene.

The creative scene in Philly is vast; however, the goal for Rec Philly is succinct.

Rec [Philly] can be a place that encourages people that there are enough resources for everybody, said Hernandez.

Its her belief that success doesnt just look one single way and with the scene as diverse as it is, Hernandez hopes that the younger generation of creatives are inspired to collaborate with each other and share in one anothers successes.

Philadelphia historically continues to have one of the most densely talented industries whether that's visual art, music, even just like public figures, in our politics, food we have amazing artists in all those factions, she said. So to list them all out, what I can say is that they deserve resources and opportunities.

Rec Philly is like a gym membership for creatives, providing the avenue for members to gain access to all the tools and resources needed to help them achieve their goals.

When Hernandez looks at where she is currently in her career, she cant help but feel grateful.

When I was little, I could never have imagined having such a perfect place that reminds me of who I am and why I do what I do, she said.

She gets to wake up and work with some of the regions most talented artists and creatives and play a critical role in their development.

As her journey has been about dedication, branching out and being unafraid to take risks, Hernandezs advice for those who are looking to forge their own path into the industry is often just that.

We are here to support them and give feedback and real feedback comes from love, she said. So encouraging people to show up as their best selves is really the best advice to give.

Hernandezs journey has been a matter of constantly learning more about herself, and challenging herself everyday.

What may have started out as resentment and wondering why she doesnt fit in, has since evolved into self-awareness and self-love.

I still feel like I am getting to know myself and getting to stand up for the things that I love, said Hernandez.

At just 28, she is still very young and continuing on the long journey ahead.

To Hernandez, that is the most exciting part about it.

You should never fully be done with knowing yourself and feeling comfortable within yourself, because theres always somewhere to grow and somewhere to be better, said Hernandez.

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Meet Scarlet Hernandez, creative visionary and director of member success for REC Philly - AL DIA News

For decades, many people have viewed academic success measured through grades, exam results, report cards, and tertiary admission rankings. Consequently, learning has been validated as the rote memorisation of bulk content.

As the world becomes increasingly globalised and the future increasingly uncertain, the need for emotional intelligence (EQ) alongside global competence is becoming abundantly apparent.

Global competence is a nuanced concept that involves a combination of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values. It refers to individuals developing an awareness of self, of others, of values, attitudes, assumptions, behaviours, cultural and global issues as well as understanding an individuals and the collectives role and responsibility in the world.

Arguably, what sits at its core is emotional intelligence through empathy, problem-solving and communication.

With the first semester of 2022 starting against a backdrop of a continuing pandemic, an escalating climate crisis, political conflict and war, its worth remembering The Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declarations view on teaching and learning.

The 2019 national declaration on educational goals for all Australians, agreed upon by all state and territory education ministers, is to prepare young people to thrive in a time of rapid social and technological change, and complex environmental, social and economic challenges.

For that to come to fruition, education must focus on cognitive skills and behavioural skills alongside social and emotional skills. Educators across the nation must provide effective Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) opportunities for young people through explicit opportunities to experience, reflect, build self-awareness, motivation and empathy.

Often interchangeable with the phrase personal and social capability, social and emotional learning sits with the General Capabilities of the Australian Curriculum.

As the curriculum states, students develop personal and social capability as they learn to understand themselves and others, and manage their relationships, lives, work and learning more effectively.

These key skills and values of self-awareness, motivation, empathy and social skills are exactly what build and foster global competence.

At a recent professional development session I ran for the Asia Education Foundation with teachers in Indonesia on intercultural communication, participants were asked to describe the connection they see between emotional intelligence and global competence.

It builds relationships and opens up new possibilities, wrote one person, it helps us develop our knowledge and understanding of the world and each other.

Another added, it is the key to connection and collaboration.

Together, we looked closely at the role and purpose of communication.

We began with the etymology of the word, which stems from the Latin word communicare, meaning to to share, divide out; communicate, impart, inform; join, unite, participate in.

Again, this is what forms a large component of what is global competence.

We investigated the five key purposes of communication, which are often said to be to inform, to express feelings, to imagine, to influence and to meet social expectations.

As participants identified, whether its a conversation, a story, song or a film, communication and people-to-people connections are how we share, learn and work together. Its how we get to understand different perspectives, to take action.

Emotional intelligence and global competence are so vital because they foster social cohesion, community, relationships and wellbeing.

In 2016, Census data found, nearly half (49%) of all Australians were either born overseas or had at least one parent who was born overseas, and more than a quarter (28%) of the Australian population were first generation Australians (born overseas).

This diversity is represented in classrooms and workforces the length and breadth of the country.

Transnational mobility has also meant young Australians are now travelling or emigrating overseas to study, work, and explore new possibilities. This further highlights the relevance of these transferable skills not just for young people living and interacting in Australia day-to-day, but for when they also travel, work, explore or live elsewhere.

Along with moving cities and countries, other studies have found that young people will move between jobs. Research from the Foundation of Young Australian suggests that todays 15-year-olds will likely navigate 17 changes in employer across five different careers.

Reflecting this, the World Economic Forums Future of Jobs Reports 2020 highlighted the emerging skills now in high demand from Australian employers that include critical thinking, emotional intelligence, active learning, resilience, innovation and leadership.

These are the skills that must be taught in schools and addressed explicitly in the curriculum.

Young people are the future, and that future is now.

Australia has over 3.2 million young people aged 15 to 24, representing one in every eight Australians. For context, that is larger than the entire population of countries like Slovenia, Uruguay, Fiji and Malta.

Rather than being aspirational, Australia must significantly invest in its young people.

So, lets start with courageous conversations, recalibrating our perceptions of academic achievement and prioritising the whole student and their social, emotional, intellectual and physical learning journey to become truly globally competent.

This article was first published onPursuit. Read theoriginal article.

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NSW general counsel says he offered West words of comfort

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Is EQ more important than ever? - The Mandarin

Many retailers are increasingly focusing their product strategies on health, wellness, and convenience. Mark Field the CEO of Prof. Consulting Group outlines why adding nonprescription medicine to the product mix could offer retailers an attractive opportunity to drive consumer traffic and lift profitability.

With a global market value in excess of US$131 billion by 2022 and a healthy growth outlook of ~5% over the next three years, the over the counter (OTC) market is likely to appeal to an increasing number of investors and brand managers.

The Australian OTC market was valued at over US$20 billion in 2019 and was recognised for multi-billion-dollar savings through saved visits to the doctor. This outlook is forecast to continue to grow as consumer interest and confidence in OTC products builds alongside our own self-awareness with regards to our health and wellbeing.

Increases in chronic disease, growth of the aging population, and rising levels of diabetes are all key drivers for growth in the category and are creating a strong demand.

Within retail there is still a significant opportunity for range rationalisation a retailers approach to reducing those less popular lines and replacing them with customer focused innovation. This will provide selling space, allowing for the introduction of innovation. As an example, a recent review of the paracetamol category showed over 17 varieties across brands, pseudo brands and private label.

More importantly, the price per tablet ranged from $0.04 per tablet to $0.20, whilst products with innovative deliveries such as mini tablets, rapid and +flu reached up to $0.55 per tablet. Reducing the range, opening availability and easing the customer experience are all simplification techniques that help create growth in what is widely considered a complex aisle.

Taking the first aid and medical category across one of the leading retailers as an example, ~450 sku in an average store, ~90% is branded (approximately 415 skus), 6% pseudo branded (approximately 30 skus), and <4% is traditional own brand (approximately 3 skus). This suggests that current own brand penetration represents less than 10%, providing a significant growth opportunity.

The completive landscape for OTC products in Australia continues to evolve with the strong presence of the big box discount models such as Chemist Warehouse, the strong independent sector with community chemists such as Terry White, and the growing presence of online alongside traditional grocery.

With over 6500 skus on average in the health and beauty aisle across a standard grocery store and an average product spend in the region of $5 to $7.50 whats clear is the potential opportunity to drive sales, improve profitability and increase consumer traffic to a high value area of Australian retailing.

About the author: Mark Field is the Founder and CEO of Prof. Consulting Group, anaward-winning Melbourne-based consulting firm specialising across the international food and grocery supply chain.

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Could OTC products be the next strategic focus for private label - Consultancy.com.au

For 17 stages of this Tour de France, Geraint Thomas has been riding his own race. For 17 stages, Geraint Thomas has watched Tadej Pogaar and Jonas Vingegaard surge up the road, maintaining an unsteady detente.

In that sense, stage 17 into Peyragudes held this Tours equilibrium, even if the Welshman lost 2:13 on the yellow jersey. He was in third place before. Hes even more in third place now, having lost time to the two whippersnappers and gained it on almost everyone else.

Almost five minutes back, Thomas wont win this Tour, but hes a day closer to locking in a podium finish, having ridden a consistent, unflappable race.

An awareness of his strengths and limitations has been Thomass thread through the last two weeks. When the road tilts upwards and Pogaar stings his rivals, with Vingegaard locked on his wheel, the 2018 champ has the self-awareness and experience to ride his way back into the race rather than reacting his way out of it. I dont even attempt to kick when they go, he said a few days ago.

The gap was bigger today, but Thomass measurement of his effort was characteristically insightful.

I felt alright, but didnt feel quite as light on the pedals as earlier in the race, the Welshman said, shortly after crossing the line and making his way up to his team bus. With UAE Team Emirates driving the pace on the front up the Col de Val Louron first with Mikkel Bjerg, then with an imposing Brandon McNulty Thomas had a choice to make. He chose defence, rather than attack.

[Bjerg] put in a hell of a shift for the kind of rider he is it was cracking me, actually, that he was hurting me as much as he was, Thomas said. Next came McNulty, whose effort slowly whittled the group down to five riders before Thomas lost contact.

I started riding my pace, and I couldve held the gap and tried to edge back over the top or on the descent, but made the call not to go into the red and risk blowing up on this climb, Thomas explained.

A small second group of team leaders coalesced down the road Thomas, Bardet, Gaudu, Lutsenko, a handful of others where Thomas recovered further before putting time in on the steeper ramps toward the top of the climb. I waited for that group behind, saved my legs a little bit, Thomas explained. From then, it was just a matter of riding a solid pace all the way to the line.

There are two stages left, really, where the gaps on the GC can expand or contract. On current indications, Thomas might lose a little tomorrow, might gain a little in the time trial a couple of days later. He was, he agreed, all about the podium now a podium that will likely be shared with Pogaar and Vingegaard, both more than a decade younger with a more explosive turn of speed.

I think all in all it was a decent day, Thomas reflected, mulling his performance. In the end, I got dropped by those two, but theyre another level.

Thats one way of putting it, but Thomas good for a quote had another. I want to have what they have for breakfast, because they were going, he said, half bemused, half impressed, entirely Geraint Thomas.

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Geraint Thomas wants what theyre having for breakfast - CyclingTips

The Campaign Includes A Vibrant and Authentic Merchandise Collection That Hopes To Drive Large Scale Awareness for The Launch of 988 and Encourages Support of Didi Hirsch and Their Efforts to Prevent Suicide

LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services (Didi Hirsch), home of the nation's premier Suicide Prevention Center and a leading provider of whole-person mental health and crisis care, is excited to announce a purpose-driven partnership with Self-Care Is For Everyone, an emerging advocacy organization and apparel retailer that aims to make healing resources, reminders and experiences more accessible. This impactful merchandise collaboration and the campaign aim to drive funding and awareness for the launch of 988, the new 3-digit phone that connects people experiencing a mental health suicidal crisis with a trained counselor 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

The "What If It Gets Better?" campaign includes an awareness-driven merchandise collection that will donate all proceeds to support Didi Hirsch's implementation of 988. The campaign highlights various crisis care frontline workers and volunteers within Didi Hirsch for an intimate portrait of the impactful work of suicide prevention hotlines. As California's lead 988 agency, Didi Hirsch has partnered with 12 other crisis centers across the state, both public and private, who field over 270,000 calls together a year to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. The California crisis centers have started receiving calls to 988 since July 16, 2022, when it became available nationwide.

"We at Didi Hirsch are dedicated to working towards the common goal of providing a solution to the mental health crisis our nation faces today," said Didi Hirsch's Chief Executive Officer Lyn Morris, LMFT. "We are excited about our partnership with Self-Care Is For Everyone and know this campaign will help drive awareness of the historical launch and support the cause".

Founded on World Kindness Day in 2018 by three family members and mental health advocates: AJ Martofel, Sasha Aronzon-Martofel, and Jonathan Martofel a licensed marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles, Self-Care Is For Everyone has had a founding commitment to utilizing the platform to encourage mental-health conversations and help prevent suicide. Self-Care Is For Everyone (@selfcareisforeveryone) has distributed more than $680,000 to independent artists and nonprofit organizations serving the mental-health community.

"We feel so grateful that we get to partner with Didi Hirsch to amplify the importance of 988. This new and faster way to access mental health care gives us hope for a better future where those struggling can feel less alone," shares Self-Care Is For Everyone Co-Founder Jonathan Martofel, LMFT. "Being able to give back through this collection is really meaningful because the funds go directly to support Didi Hirsch and help strengthen their efforts in answering these life-saving calls."

988 is more than just an easy-to-remember numberit's a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress whether that is thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

Self-Care Is For Everyone partnered with mental health advocate and artist Cami Zea (@zeaink) to create the designs for the merch collection. The "What If It Gets Better?"collection includes two unique designs in two colorways available in t-shirts ($29.88) and crewnecks ($39.88), with 100% of the net profits being donated to Didi Hirsch. The designs feature a range of affirmations and healing statements that spell out the words 988 in large letters and remind those who are struggling with their mental health to call 988. Every order includes a free 3" vinyl 988 sticker, access to a digital mental health self-care toolkit, a voucher to try one free month of online therapy, and a campaign postcard with healing affirmations.

The "What If It Gets Better?" collection is exclusively available on Self-Care Is For Everyone's Instagram and website. You can find more information surrounding the campaign and collection at http://www.selfcareisforeveryone.com.

About Didi Hirsch:

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has been a national leader in whole-person mental health and crisis care for 80 years. Its first-in-the-nation Suicide Prevention Center operates multiple English/Spanish hotlines 24/7, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline becoming 988 in July 2022, the national Disaster Distress Helpline for those suffering emotionally from natural or manmade disasters, a new line diverting 911 calls from the LAPD disproportionately connecting Black and Latinx young men to care, as well as Teen Line. Didi Hirsch's highly specialized experts also provide outpatient therapy and medication management, crisis counseling and support groups for people with suicidal thoughts, attempts, or loss, as well as suicide prevention training for students, teachers, clergy, police, and first responders. Didi Hirsch serves nearly 160,000 children, adults and families each year through 10 facilities and over 75 schools across Los Angeles and Orange counties. Learn more today at http://www.didihirsch.org

About Self-Care Is For Everyone:

Self-Care Is For Everyone (@selfcareisforeveryone) exists to amplify the voices of mental health advocates through art and design. Self-Care Is For Everyone is a family-run mental health advocacy brand that was founded on World Kindness Day 2018 by mental health advocates: Sasha Aronzon-Martofel, Sasha's husband AJ Martofel, & AJ's older brother Jonathan Martofel, LMFT 126269, a licensed therapist with a practice in Los Angeles, CA. The Self-Care Is For Everyone community is made up of over 1 million mental health advocates who recognize that self-care practices like resting, staying hydrated, and going to therapy are essential in order to keep going and prevent burnout. Each day, @selfcareisforeveryoneshares artwork & reminders that inspire hope, raise awareness, and encourage everyone to talk more openly about their mental health struggles. Self-Care Is For Everyone donates 10% of their net profits and helps raise funds for suicide prevention nonprofits like The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention and Didi Hirsch! For more reminders that are good for your mental health, please visit: http://www.selfcareisforeveryone.com

Media ContactDISRPT PR[emailprotected]

SOURCE Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services

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Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and Self-Care Is For Everyone Announce Campaign To Spotlight Mental Health and 988 Launch - PR Newswire

As individuals who fear the unknown, loyalists can often spiral down a rabbit hole when thinking about future events. This behavior often leads to "catastrophizing," which Healthline defines as "when someone assumes that the worst will happen."

Whether you have an upcoming exam, a pending performance review with your boss, or a big family reunion next week, there are several healthy coping mechanisms you can utilize to offload your anxieties. To help clear your head of overwhelming and stressful thoughts, The Every Girl recommends meditating using an app such as Headspace, Unplug, or SuperHuman. Meditation has many scientifically proven benefits including improving sleep, increasing self-awareness, and reducing anxiety.

Writing down everything you are thinking or feeling is another healthy way to offload your stress, as recommended by Truity. Using this tactic helps you literally transfer all of the stressful thoughts from your brain to a piece of paper. Once all of your worries have been written down, you can then begin to work through each one. It's important to remind yourself of a few things when looking at that list. For one, not all of these worries are within your control, and not all of these worries are your burdens to bear.

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If You're An Enneagram Type 6, You Should Try This Wellness Trend - The List

University of Minnesota School of Public Health postdoctoral fellow Tongtan (Bert) Chantarat co-led a study, published in Health Services Research, that quantifies problems involving workplace climate, culture and professional discrimination experienced by researchers within the health services and policy research (HSPR) field. His collaborators are Taylor B. Rogers (University of California, Los Angeles), Carmen R. Mitchell (University of Louisville) and Michelle J. Ko (University of California, Davis).

In the HSPR field, researchers use multidisciplinary research approaches to understand health and healthcare problems. Their work includes identifying strategies to dismantle structural oppression and its health impacts. To accomplish this, it is vital that researchers look at challenges to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within their own field.

Prior research has shown significant gaps remain for groups historically and structurally excluded from health professions, including those who are Black, Hispanic/Latinx and LGBQTI+. The study surveyed 906 researchers and trainees in the U.S. to understand the professional climate in HSPR workplaces, such as universities, non-academic institutes and private corporations, and to ascertain efforts to advance DEI in the HSPR workforce.

The research found:

When people talk about DEI, most focus on the diversity part because they can report statistics to show progress, said Chantarat. But, it is just as important to ensure that workplaces have systems to support the success of those from historically and structurally excluded groups. We will not achieve health equity if we continue to uphold harmful environments that push researchers from our workforce.

These findings help identify areas for growth to strengthen the HSPR workplace climate. Prior research has shown that non-inclusive work conditions have driven Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx scholars from academic institutions.

Workplace equity and inclusion are also necessary components for ensuring sustainability of DEI efforts. HSPR research plays a critical role in the work of health equity, and it is vital that self-awareness, accountability and substantive institutional reform occurs within the field itself. The Workplace Culture Survey, which the study team used to collect the data, is available for future projects to use.

This work is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in cooperation with the UC Davis Center for a Diverse Health Workforce. Participant recruitment support was provided by AcademyHealth; however, AcademyHealth did not provide financial support for this project, and was not involved in the design of the study or the analysis and interpretation of the results. Additional technical support was provided by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the UCLA Center for the Study of Racism, Social Justice, and Health.

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About the School of Public HealthThe University of Minnesota School of Public Health improves the health and wellbeing of populations and communities around the world by bringing innovative research, learning, and concrete actions to todays biggest health challenges. We prepare some of the most influential leaders in the field, and partner with health departments, communities, and policymakers to advance health equity for all. Learn more at sph.umn.edu.

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Perceptions of DEI within health services and policy research workplaces - UMN News

Fitness is not a one size fits all program and no one knows that better than Michael Blauner more commonly known as New Jerseys premier in-home personal fitness trainer. And with over three decades of personal training experience on his resume, its safe to say that Blauner knows a thing or two or 10 about health and fitness.

Blauner, a certified personal trainer in Bergen County, NJ, specializes in bringing individualized fitness routines into homes. The goal is simple motivate people to engage in regular physical activities in order to improve all aspects of their life. My program is based on technically correct exercise science and instinct, he said.

Blauner has trained everyone from celebrities and Wall Street financiers to walk-ins off the street. His current clientele includes over 50 residential communities, senior housing developments, country club fitness rooms and private residences.

My goal is to provide the best fitness program available by customizing each program to fit each individuals needs, he adds.

In case you need further proof that his program works, just take a look at Blauners credentials. He is a Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Senior Fitness Specialist, Lifestyle and Weight Management Specialist, Certified Pilates Instructor, Red Cross CPR Certified. Blauner has also been featured in over 30 national publications, designs custom fitness center and currently runs a gym in Bergen County.

With all that experience working in the fitness industry with adults of all ages and stage of life, Blauner says that the keys to a successful exercise regimen are simplicity and enjoyment.

Regardless of your current level of fitness, basic fundamentals of fitness work the best in order to achieve lasting health, he said. My program is effective for everyone especially people who do not have a consistent health and fitness regimen.

Blauners focus is to get people moving and feeling great in a non-intimidating way. Significant gains in physical fitness can be achieved at any age regardless of where you begin your journey, he said.

In an effort to streamline his approach even further, Blauner has shared what he calls the 10 Rules of Health & Fitness a collection of fitness musts that he has learned over the course of his own fitness journey. These are basic rules that everyone should follow in order to make a positive impact on their health, said Blauner.

The number one rule on the list is: Diet matters more than exercise.

This is always the best place to start, Blauner adds. Take a look at what youre putting into your body in order to get what you want out of it.

Number two the waistline. Put the scale away, he said. As a barometer of overall health, your waistline tells the story.

And for those who say fruit offers unnecessary sugar and carbs, number three reveals the opposite. No one gains weight from eating fruit, said Blauner. In fact, its quite the opposite. Fruits are a great source of essential vitamins and minerals and are high in fiber and antioxidants, which means it can reduce a persons risk of heart disease, cancer, inflammation and diabetes.

The next four rules zero in on exercise. Exercise for strength looking good is a welcome side effect, said Blauner. Basic exercise, such as push-ups (a compound exercise that activates multiple muscle groups across your body), works best. Fast walking is also the best form of cardio you can do. Frequency over intensity all day long.

Number eight variety is overrated. You heard that right, said Blauner. Variety in diet and exercise is not always the key to progression or transformation. Its okay to find a plan that works and stick to it. Results will follow.

The next rule is one that everyone should be familiar with. Drink water all day long, said Blauner. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups of fluids a day for men and 11.5 cups of fluids a day for women.

Finally, rule number 10 individuals only need a 15-minute all body strength routine daily to stay in great shape. Dont overthink this, said Blauner. 15 minutes of exercise is all you need to see a change.

Looking to start or enhance your fitness journey? Email Blauner at mbfit@optonline.net.

Read the rest here:
Michael Blauner breaks down health and fitness into 10 simple rules that can change your life - The Hudson Reporter

July 20, 2022

UPDATE

How Apple is empowering people with their health information

A new report shares the ways Apple products are helping users, developers, and health organizations advance personal health, research, and care

Today Apple shared a new report that offers a snapshot of the ways Apple products are empowering people to be at the center of their health, and acting as an intelligent guardian for their health and safety. Users, developers, medical institutions, and health organizations around the world are using Apple devices, features, and APIs to break down barriers between people and their health information, all while keeping privacy in mind.

Apples efforts to advance health primarily fall into two categories, which are detailed in two corresponding sections of the report. The first section describes Apples focus on personal health and fitness features on Apple Watch and iPhone that offer actionable, science-based insights and help protect users health and safety. The second section shares Apples work with the medical community to support research and care. Both sections along with an Extensions and Spotlights section at the reports end include a variety of examples of third-party developers, health institutions, and organizations innovating with Apple technology.

We believe passionately that technology can play a role in improving health outcomes and encouraging people to live a healthier day, and we are excited about the many ways users are benefiting from our health and fitness features, and by the ways third-party developers, institutions, and organizations are using Apple technology to advance health and science, said Jeff Williams, Apples chief operating officer. Our vision for the future is to continue to create science-based technology that equips people with even more information and acts as an intelligent guardian for their health, so theyre no longer passengers on their own health journey. Instead, we want people to be firmly in the drivers seat with meaningful, actionable insights.

Empowering Users on Their Personal Health Journeys

Since the release of the Health app in 2014 and Apple Watch in 2015, Apple has introduced a wide array of innovative health and fitness features, with the goal to provide users with easy-to-understand, meaningful insights so they can be empowered to live a healthier life. The report outlines the four pillars of Apples health and fitness features: 1) giving users a central and secure place to store and view their health data in the Health app, 2) offering features that enable Apple Watch to act as an intelligent guardian for users health, 3) offering features that help users improve their everyday health and fitness for better health outcomes, and 4) fueling innovative third-party health and fitness apps with developer tools.

With the release of iOS 16 and watchOS 9 this fall, Apple Watch and iPhone will offer features that focus on 17 areas of health and fitness, from heart health and sleep to mobility and womens health, and more. Over the years, customers of all ages have shared how these health and fitness features have, in their own words, changed their lives. Several share their stories in the report, including customers who have discovered serious heart conditions, received emergency assistance after a fall, or dramatically improved their health through daily activity.

Users can now store over 150 different types of health data from Apple Watch, iPhone, and connected third-party apps and devices in one central view in the Health app, in addition to available health records data from connected institutions in the US, UK, and Canada. There are now tens of thousands of apps on the App Store that use the HealthKit API, which allows developers to incorporate data users choose to share from the Health app to offer innovative health and fitness experiences, with rigorous privacy and data security protocols. The report spotlights examples of globally popular HealthKit-enabled apps like Nike Run Club, Calm, and WeightWatchers, plus an increasing number of HealthKit-enabled apps including Qardio heart health and Withings Health Mate that use connected accessories to allow users to track and monitor even more aspects of their health.

Supporting the Health Ecosystem by Collaborating with the Medical Community

Apple believes the strongest health innovations are possible only through direct collaboration with the medical community, and the report describes four categories of this collaboration: 1) building tools to enable researchers to make new scientific discoveries, 2) helping strengthen the physician-patient relationship with meaningful data, 3) collaborating with health organizations to promote healthy lifestyles at large scale, and 4) supporting public health and government initiatives.

The ResearchKit framework gives researchers the opportunity to recruit study participants from a large user base of iPhone and Apple Watch users, and for participants to choose to share health data to help advance science. Through the Research app, Apple has collaborated with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Brigham and Womens Hospital and the American Heart Association, and the University of Michigan and World Health Organization to offer users across the US the opportunity to participate in three first-of-their-kind research studies: the Apple Womens Health Study, the Apple Heart and Movement Study, and the Apple Hearing Study. Early learnings from the studies appear in the report, as well as information on other studies Apple has supported, like the Heart Failure Study with University Health Network and the Digital Mental Health Study with UCLA.

Health Records on iPhone in the Health app, along with apps and devices developed by third parties using Apple developer tools, help strengthen physician-patient relationships with meaningful data. Health Records is now available to patients at over 800 institutions across over 12,000 locations, making it easy for patients to see their available medical data from multiple providers in the Health app whenever they choose. Research has shown that connecting patients with their care teams remotely results in better outcomes with the Corrie Health app, UVA Health care at home programs, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs loaning Apple devices to veterans to connect them with their VA healthcare services. Care teams are better able to help patients with chronic conditions at Ochsner Health System and NHS Sunderland, and remote monitoring is reducing the cost and length of stays in the neonatal intensive care units at Odense University Hospital and the University of Virginia Childrens Hospital, where premature babies can come home with their parents but stay connected to care teams remotely.

Health organizations and companies around the world including Paceline in the US; Vitality Active Rewards in the US, the UK, South Africa, and Australia; and LumiHealth in Singapore have collaborated with Apple to integrate Apple Watch into their wellness programs. There are currently 55 programs running in 17 countries with over a million users taking part in an incentive program leveraging Apple Watch. These programs have been successful in increasing participants physical activity levels and uptake of health behaviors, such as aiming for more regular sleep patterns, focusing on mindfulness, and swapping in healthier food options.

Finally, the report highlights Apples partnerships with clinicians and local governments on unique ways to support their crucial work to promote public health, including building apps and features during the COVID-19 health crisis.

Grounded in Science and Designed Around Privacy

All of Apples health and fitness features have been developed with two overarching principles:

Press Contacts

Clare Varellas

Apple

cvarellas@apple.com

(408) 862-7311

Zaina Khachadourian

Apple

zkhachadourian@apple.com

(408) 862-4327

Apple Media Helpline

media.help@apple.com

(408) 974-2042

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How Apple is empowering people with their health information - Apple

Do I need to warm up before a swimming workout?

Warming up before a workout is always a good idea. Taking 5 to 10 minutes to warm up the muscles you plan to use before starting your workout can help loosen your joints and prime those muscles for exercise, Koleber says. Before swimming, perform a few sets of push-ups and planks on dry land, and then spend a few laps swimming at a slow, easy pace to warm up.

The number of calories youll burn when swimming varies depending on your age, sex, body weight, and the intensity and duration of the exercise. However, as mentioned above, a 150-pound person may burn 216 calories from 30 minutes of general swimming (not vigorous), according to Harvard Medical School. If that same person increases the intensity, the expected calorie burn can jump to 360 calories in 30 minutes.

When youre first starting out, any number of laps youre able to do is a good swimming workout. For those who need concrete numbers, however, four laps of any basic stroke is a good distance to start with, Slabaugh says. (For reference, standard-sized pools tend to be 25 yards long, according to U.S. Masters Swimming.) From there, the number of laps you do will depend on your goals, intensity, fitness level, and how much time you have to exercise.

Swimming is a full-body workout. It works the large muscles in your back (latissimus dorsi and trapezius), chest (pectoralis major), shoulders (deltoids), hips (glutes), legs (quadriceps and hamstrings), and midsection (abdominals), Buckingham says.

Many groups of people, including beginners, kids, older adults, pregnant women, people with chronic conditions, and those with joint pain or injuries, can all potentially benefit from swimming. However, its a good idea to consult with your physician if you have any medical condition or injury that may make exercise and swimming in particular unsafe. In addition, Slabaugh recommends avoiding swimming if youre recovering from surgery, have open wounds, or cant complete the strokes.

A comfortable swimsuit and a pair of goggles may be all you need. However, some people may want to wear a swimming cap to protect their hair from damage from pool chemicals or salt water.

Aside from a swimsuit, goggles, and a swim cap (if you prefer to use one), most other swim gear is optional. However, if youre swimming in a natural body of water, its a good idea to get a safety buoy to increase your visibility and give you something to hang onto if you get tired, Koleber says.

Optional gear includes:

While swimming is low-impact, the repetitive motions can still cause pain and injuries, if youre not careful. The most common swimming-related issues include swimmers shoulder, lower back pain, breaststroke knee, and foot and ankle tendonitis, according to the Hospital for Special Surgery(HSS).The best way to avoid all of these injuries is to use proper swimming technique, build strength in the muscles that support your stroke, include a warm-up and cooldown in every workout, and progress your routine gradually, per the HSS.

More:
Swimming: What It Is, Health Benefits, and Getting Started - Everyday Health