Southwest's Allied Health Department hosts campus retreat for faculty and staff

By Victoria Brown

Faculty and staff participate in a chair yoga exercise at the
inaugural back-to-campus health retreat.

The Allied Health Department at Southwest Tennessee Community College kicked off the academic year with an inaugural back-to-campus health retreat on Aug. 15, 2024. Held at the Bert Bornblum Library Art Gallery on the Macon Cove Campus, the event was organized by Dr. Shilpa Desai, chair of the allied health department, and set a positive tone for the upcoming year. 

Faculty, both full-time and adjunct, along with staff members, engaged in a rejuvenating Chair Yoga session led by Cheryl Green, an instructor in the social and behavioral sciences department. Following the exercise, participants took part in a discussion on the importance of mental health, facilitated by Kimberly Weddington, a mental health counselor at the College.

Green emphasized the importance of integrating health and wellness activities into the workplace, encouraging everyone to begin with small, manageable steps. “We all experience different seasons with our health,” Green said. “There are times when we're busy and times when we're facing health challenges. By incorporating even simple wellness practices in our offices, we can take meaningful steps toward maintaining our health.”

Dr. Maysa Safi, interim associate dean in the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, also contributed to the retreat with a professional development session. 

In addition to the wellness activities, attendees participated in team-building exercises and enjoyed a catered lunch, rounding out a day of personal and professional enrichment. 

The Allied Health Department extends its gratitude to everyone who attended and made this first campus retreat a success.