Wellness and Wonder event excites Tucson community
Evan Donalds is surprised to learn how much sugar is in a bottle of soda at the activity table run by Alexa Waldfogel (left), a Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health student, during the Wellness and Wonder community event on Sept. 21. Evan’s great grandmother, Susan Dick, looks on.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
The University of Arizona Health Sciences welcomed the community to its inaugural Wellness and Wonder Day on Sept. 21. The event, a community wellness expo and educational showcase, featured faculty experts who helped participants explore the interconnections of wonder, well-being, health and the humanities.
More than 250 people attended the free event, which featured hands-on exhibits, guided tours, discussions on how to remain healthy and wellness activities suitable for people of all ages.
We were thrilled to welcome the Tucson community to explore the work we do in Health Sciences that improves the health of Arizonans and helps solve critical health care challenges in the state and beyond,” said Rachel Reinhardt, associate vice president for communications at the U of A Health Sciences. “Whether it was families experiencing the high-tech manikins and simulation stations in the Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center, children enjoying STEAM activities or people of all ages dancing for wellness with the director of our developing physical therapy doctoral program, everyone was engaged and having fun.”
In addition to these attractions, the day included faculty discussions on topics ranging from obesity medicine to Valley fever vaccine advances and hands-on activities such as tours of ASTEC and the BIO5 Institute’s prototyping lab.
To commemorate the event, the Tucson City Council and Mayor Regina Romero proclaimed Sept. 21, as “University of Arizona Health Sciences Wellness and Wonder Day.” The proclamation was read at the council’s Sept. 11 meeting.
Claudia Patino (left) talks with Esther Sternberg, MD, a professor of medicine and research director at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, as Sternberg signs books during the Wellness and Wonder community event.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
(From left) Kalpana Algotar, Amit Algotar, MD, PhD, an associate clinical professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and Viridiana Johnson, MD, student engagement and health education coordinator, take advantage of a photo booth at the U of A Health Sciences Wellness and Wonder community event on Sept. 21. Amit Algotar and Johnson are in the Department of Family and Community Medicine in the College of Medicine – Tucson.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Ira Walcier paints a saguaro-shaped tile at ArtWorks inside the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson’s Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities as part of the Wellness and Wonder community event.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Christine Childers, PT, PhD, director of the developing Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the College of Health Sciences, leads the “Dance for Wellness” workshop during the Wellness and Wonder community event on Sept. 21.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Sisters Evelyn and Olivia Shea take the Super Tasters quiz to see if they are sensitive to certain tastes during the U of A Health Sciences Wellness and Wonder community event.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Theodore Tong, PharmD, a professor and the R. Ken Coit Endowed Chair in the U of A Coit College of Pharmacy, gives a tour of the Coit Museum of Pharmacy and Health Science as part of the U of A Health Sciences Wellness and Wonder community event.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Hilary Lease works on a frog anatomy puzzle with her son Osirus Murray inside the Health Science Innovation Building during the Wellness and Wonder community event.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
Christine Childers, PT, PhD, director of the developing Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the College of Health Sciences, leads the “Dance for Wellness” workshop during the U of A Health Sciences Wellness and Wonder community event.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications
(From left) Juliana Parks and Samira Bustamante paint tiles at ArtWorks inside the College of Medicine – Tucson’s Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities as part of the Wellness and Wonder community event.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, U of A Health Sciences Office of Communications