Faculty and staff take a ‘paws’ to enjoy therapy dogs
Karis Kellner, director of clinical education in the College of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Program, gets a gentle kiss from Cooper, a golden retriever therapy dog, during the Take a PAWS in Your Day event in the Health Sciences Innovation Building.
The Health Sciences Innovation Building got a little gentler recently when UArizona Life & Work Connections and Pet Partners of Southern Arizona sponsored a Take a PAWS in Your Day event in the Forum. During the two-hour event, seven therapy dogs hung out in the space to provide a friendly face and cuddles to faculty and staff.
“Take a PAWS was developed as part of Life & Work Connection’s strategic plan to expand how employees think about their mental health through experiences across campus,” said Laqwanda Roberts-Buckley, a mental health and wellness specialist with LWC. “We hear about things like therapy, but sitting with a pup who's happy to see you can be just as impactful for someone. Overall, we want to remind people that there are multiple ways to pour into their mental health even when they are at work.”
More than 135 people stopped by to pet, talk to and cuddle the furry therapists during the event, which was hosted by the Office of the Senior Vice President of Health Sciences.
“These events would not take place without our department hosts who work with us to bring therapy dogs to campus,” said Roberts-Buckley. “It is their commitment to the wellness of the UArizona Health Sciences community that make it possible for events like this to take place.”
The next PAWS in Your Day event will be March 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Likins Hall.
Bryna Koch, DrPH, an assistant research professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, gives Joy, a therapy dog, a scratch on the back at the Take a PAWS in Your Day event in the Forum of the Health Sciences Innovation Building.
Erika Palsson, a faculty recruitment and projects coordinator at the UArizona Cancer Center, gets a lapful of Jett the therapy dog during the Take a PAWS in Your Day event in HSIB.
Anthony Garcia, an administrative assistant at the UArizona Cancer Center, takes a break to pet Jett, a therapy dog, during the Take a PAWS in Your Day event in HSIB.
Xuemei Li, a UArizona Health Sciences financial analyst, communes with Cooper, a therapy dog, during the Take a PAWS in Your Day event in the Forum of the Health Sciences Innovation Building.
Theresa Martinez, an administrative affairs coordinator for the UArizona College of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Program, pets Cooper, a therapy dog, during the Take a PAWS in Your Day event in the Forum.
(From left) Deb Evano, senior office specialist UArizona Health Sciences; Alan Bergen, accreditation director for the Global MD program; and Kris Slaney, academic affairs director for the Global MD program, spend time with Joy, a therapy dog, during the Take a PAWS in Your Day event in HSIB.
Taylor Veschio, a first-year medical student in the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson, gives some love to Cooper, a therapy dog, during the Take a PAWS in Your Day event.
Deb Evano, senior office specialist in UArizona Health Sciences, has the magic touch to put therapy dog Jett at ease as the dog’s handler, Ian Drummond, looks on.
My Duyen Tran, a first-year medical student in the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson, pets Cooper, a therapy dog, during the Take a PAWS in Your Day event in the Forum of the Health Sciences Innovation Building.
Xuemei Li, a UArizona Health Sciences financial analyst, is carefully watched by Cooper, a therapy dog, as she is handed a treat during the Take a PAWS in Your Day event in the Forum of the Health Sciences Innovation Building.
AJ Steuer, a regulatory coordinator at the UArizona Cancer Center, sits on the floor with Joy, a therapy dog, during the Take a PAWS in Your Day event in the Forum of the Health Sciences Innovation Building.