Since its creation three years ago, the Wellness Series has brought prominent speakers to the Wooster campus with the goal of informing the students and faculty and Wooster community about diverse aspects of health and wellness. All of the speakers this year have national credibility and recognition as researchers, authors or spokespeople.
The series began this year with a talk on Jan. 20 by Michael Roizen, a best selling author and respected Cleveland Clinic Doctor who has made numerous appearances in the media, including The Oprah Winfrey Show and 20/20. He also serves as the chief medical consultant for “The Dr. Oz Show.” Roizen’s talk focused on the science of controlling your genes, and the ways in which you can control your own health by making positive choices.
On Thursday, Jan. 28, Stephen Post gave a lecture entitled “It’s Good to be Good: Happiness, Health, and Giving.” Post is a professor of Preventive Medicine and Director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University, as well as the co-author of “Why Good Things Happen to Good People.” His lecture focused on the attitudes that can help people to feel healthier both physically and mentally. By having healthier attitudes, Post believes that one will be at peace and feel more connected with others. His ideas are all research based.
Deborah Madison, accomplished chef, founder of Green’s Restaurant in San Francisco and author of 10 cookbooks including “Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone,” will be speaking on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Madison is also a proponent of sustainable agriculture and she will be discussing her experiences in this area as well as her culinary background.
The final speaker, Heidi Adams, will be appearing on campus on Wednesday, Feb. 17. Adams is the founder of Planet Cancer, a non-profit organization that exists to support young adults battling cancer, as well as the Director of Grassroots Engagement for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Adams’ lecture will focus on the unique needs of young adults who have cancer. In opposition to the young children or older adults that oncologists most typically treat, young adults with cancer have different needs and questions, such as concerns about fertility and sex and worries about insurance. She will speak to the lack of support for young adult patients as well as attempt to address some of their own distinctive concerns.
“I’m really excited about Heidi,” said Dan Dean, substance abuse and prevention coordinator of the wellness center as well as organizer of the series. “I’ve heard her speak twice already. She’s really an engaging speaker and I hope that students will take advantage of her in particular.”
Though there is usually a good turn-out for the events (last year’s series averaged 350-400 people per event), Dean would like to see more students take advantage of the opportunity the series offers, especially as the series tries to address students’ needs and concerns. For example, Madison was brought in to address student environmental concerns, and Adams’ talk focuses specifically on young adults. Dean also welcomes student input.
“I’m open to suggestions, if students want to try to get anyone particular to come or to address any particular topics that fit within the series,” said Dean.
For a further preview of upcoming lectures, works by all of the speakers are currently available in the bookstore. All of the lectures are held in McGaw Chapel at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public.
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