You, our invaluable health care team, are what makes our mission of saving and improving lives possible. In collaboration with MU Health Care and the University of Missouri School of Medicine, the Office of Well-Being’s mission is to save and improve lives of health care workers throughout our academic health system. Collectively, we strive to build a culture of wellness by engaging with departments, teams and individuals to advance that culture at all levels of the organization.
On Feb. 5, 2024, Dr. Shelly Farnan was named the new Chief Wellness Officer in the Office of Well-Being. Joining Farnan in the Office of Well-Being are Director of Psychological Services and Well-Being Dr. Shikha Gupta, Psychologist Dr. Karen Shipley and Office Support Assistant Christie Yant.
Each May brings mental health awareness across the U.S. 2024’s national theme, Where to Start: Mental Health in a Challenging World, reminds us all that dealing with life’s pressures can be overwhelming, and everyone deserves to feel supported and empowered to seek mental health support. At MUHC and the SOM, we value each team members’ mental health and well-being, and respect its impact on our personal and professional lives.
Led by the Office of Well-Being, MU is reaffirming its commitment to protecting healthcare workers’ well-being, reviewing operations to assess all well-being initiatives and identify gaps, re-introduce our office and its associated services and resources, and designing a robust – preventative and responsive – well-being strategy moving forward.
Throughout the month of May, we hope you can join us and act in a variety of ways to facilitate connection, raise awareness, address mental health stigma and equip yourselves and others with resources to ignite hope and joy for all!
Don’t miss the Office of Well-Being’s showcase Mental Health Month 2024 event, featuring Dr. Thomas Selva, Professor of Pediatrics & BBME, Chief Medical Information Officer, and Medical Director of Tiger Institute.
- Friday, May 17
- Noon – 1 p.m. CDT
- PCCLC Flat Classroom (LC230)
Finally, we encourage all MUHC and SOM faculty and staff to visit the Office of Well-Being homepage for a full list of our services and valuable resources at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Shelly Farnan, PsyD (she series)
Chief Wellness Officer
MU Office of Well-Being
MU Health Care and MU School of Medicine
1 Hospital Drive, N503 | Columbia MO 65212