What does wellness mean to you? The UC Davis Health Office of Wellness Education is paving the way for insightful conversations about this subject with the launch of the UC Davis Wellness Academy.

Hosted by the Office of Wellness Education within the UC Davis School of Medicine, the academy features virtual lectures from 9 a.m.-noon on four Saturdays this fall — Oct. 14, Oct. 21, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4. These lectures are open to the public and led by UC Davis faculty members and health care experts. Topics include improving diet for disease prevention, the well mind, how exercise and nutrition can extend life and are presented by orthopaedists, internists and physiologists.

While there is no fee associated with attending the lectures, participants must register online in advance.

Each online lecture includes a morning session followed by optional electives in the afternoon. These electives are designed to give participants the opportunity to put into practice the information they have learned. The lectures cover a wide array of topics that impact overall well-being, including:

• Physical health
• Emotional health
• Societal impacts on health
• Environmental factors
• Global issues

From evidence-based practices to innovative perspectives, participants can expect a well-rounded discussion about the ever-evolving landscape of wellness. 

Scott Fishman, the inaugural Jacquelyn Anderson Endowed Chair in Wellness Education and executive director of the Office of Wellness Education, recognizes the importance of providing reliable information from experts that consumers can incorporate into their choices and actions. Fishman is a professor of anesthesiology, executive vice chair for the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, and the Fullerton Endowed Chair in Pain Medicine at the School of Medicine.

The UC Davis Wellness Academy is designed to facilitate critical conversations about wellness, empowering participants to navigate their own journeys toward a balanced and enriched life.—Scott Fishman, executive director of the Office of Wellness Education

“We believe that wellness education is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It's about acknowledging the multifaceted nature of wellbeing and providing individuals with the tools to make informed choices," Fishman said. "The UC Davis Wellness Academy is designed to facilitate critical conversations about wellness, empowering participants to navigate their own journeys toward a balanced and enriched life."

The academy is the latest project of the Office of Wellness Education, which launched in 2022 to transform the health care paradigm from mere disease care to proactive well care. Navigating wellness can be perplexing due to conflicting information and the prevalence of sensationalized advice. The office cuts through the noise by offering balanced insights and trusted perspectives from scientific experts.

Inaugural UC Davis Wellness Academy

Virtual sessions from 9 a.m.-Noon PDT 
Saturday, Oct. 14
Saturday, Oct. 21
Saturday, Oct. 28
Saturday, Oct. Nov. 4
Register online

Additionally, the office seeks to equip health care professionals with the tools to guide patients toward wellness, advocating for an integrated wellness curriculum for future doctors, nurses, and health care providers.

For more information about the UC Davis Wellness Academy, email wellness@ucdavis.edu. To register for the upcoming sessions, visit https://health.ucdavis.edu/wellness/. Upon registration, attendees are sent a to Zoom link to join the sessions.