Office of Wellness Education announces Jacquelyn Anderson Wellness Innovation Award winner

The UC Davis School of Medicine Office of Wellness Education recently announced Department of Family Medicine physician Victor H. Baquero as the winner of the inaugural Jacquelyn Anderson Wellness Innovation Award at the 2024 UC Davis Health Wellness Academy. The $2,500 award recognizes an individual from the university community for outstanding innovation in wellness research, education or advocacy.

Awardee focuses on ‘whole health’ care

Baquero was selected from a competitive pool of staff and faculty nominees from across UC Davis Health and the main university campus. Baquero was instrumental in establishing the Folsom Medical Office Building and serves as its medical director, focused on providing “whole health” care.

"Whole health" is a comprehensive approach to health care that considers an individual’s entire life experience – mind, body and spirit. In his practice as a physician, Baquero emphasizes the importance of wellness and “whole health” care, reflecting an innovative approach to primary care that emphasizes prevention and supporting well-being for his patients.

“Victor Baquero is a champion for bringing the power of lifestyle and prevention to the patient experience in primary care,” said Scott Fishman, the inaugural Jacquelyn Anderson Endowed Chair in Wellness Education and executive director of the Office of Wellness Education. “Early in his career as a primary care physician, Dr. Baquero recognized that health care had to be more than just a response to diseases – he committed himself to helping his patients avoid disease through healthy lifestyles.”

Fishman, who is a distinguished professor emeritus in anesthesiology and pain medicine and the Jacquelyn Anderson Endowed Chair in Wellness at the UC Davis School of Medicine, added that the award recognizes Baquero’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the importance and impact of wellness within the university community and beyond.

“This award is very meaningful to me as it validates my efforts to promote lifestyle in a traditional medical setting and encourages me to further pursue additional training and education in this field,” Baquero said. “Throughout my nearly 25 years in medicine, I’ve come to realize that the traditional model of diagnosing and treating often falls short in delivering lasting, meaningful health outcomes. In the latter half of my career, I’ve focused on understanding the root causes of disease and how we can prevent it through lifestyle interventions. This shift has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my practice.”

Award honors memory of Jacquelyn Anderson

The award honors artist and photographer Jacquelyn “Jackie” Anderson, who met Fishman while undergoing cancer treatment at UC Davis Health. During her care, Fishman noticed their conversations focused more on wellness than illness, reflecting Anderson’s determination to be well, even in the face of her sickness.

A year after she died in 2021, her husband Jim Anderson gave a $5 million gift to UC Davis Health to establish the Office of Wellness Education and the Jacquelyn Anderson Endowed Chair for Wellness, honoring her commitment to living well and inspiring others to do the same.

“Jackie’s passion for wellness lives on through the work of this office and the UC Davis School of Medicine. This award, in Jackie’s name, encourages a culture of wellness by inspiring the university community to pursue knowledge and embrace impactful change in support of resilient healthy and happy lives,” Fishman said.

Commendation for Excellence in Advancing Wellness

In addition to the primary award, the Office of Wellness Education recognized 18 people for their efforts to promote wellness awareness within the university community. The Commendation for Excellence in Advancing Wellness award winners include:

• Uma Anand, UC Davis Health Academic and Staff Assistance Program: Anand led a successful initiative incorporating virtual "Meet and Greet" sessions for UC Davis Health trainees to reduce barriers to mental health care, resulting in increased willingness to seek care, greater well-being, and the integration of the program into both faculty and trainee onboarding.
• Colleen Anthonisen, UC Davis School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Research Unit: Anthonisen has been a Wellness Ambassador at UC Davis Health for seven years, using wellness grants to create wellness libraries, organize more than 30 wellness challenges and events, and advocate for equitable access to workplace well-being programs.
• Samantha Clark, UC Davis Health 12 Shared Services Unit: Clark advocates for staff self-care by promoting participation in wellness programs, securing funding for shared relaxation and exercise equipment, and serving as a role model for healthy habits.
• Shalveena Dayal, UC Davis Health Facilities Planning and Development: For more than 20 years, Dayal has promoted wellness through yoga, meditation, healthy eating, and education on aligning food choices with nature, striving to create a balance of body, mind and spirit across communities and organizations.
• Maureen Gomez, UC Davis Finance, Operations and Administration, Administrative Innovation and Technology: Gomez provided crucial communications, scheduling and graphic design support for the department’s Wellness Olympics, significantly raising awareness of healthy living initiatives and positively impacting employees.
• Annette Hanna, UC Davis Health Pharmacy Refill Optimization Team, Primary Care Clinics: A certified personal trainer and health coach, Hanna has been leading UC Living Fit Forever fitness classes and promoting wellness for more than five years, supporting her department as a Wellness Ambassador, encouraging co-workers to adopt healthier lifestyles, and actively participating in wellness events.
• Melanie Hunt, UC Davis Health Rancho Cordova Primary Care Network: Hunt cultivates a positive and supportive work environment that inspires her colleagues to pursue fitness goals, using her infectious positivity and sense of humor to motivate them.
• Haven Kiers, UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Human Ecology: Kiers leads the UC Davis Sheepmowers Project, which collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to explore the health benefits of nature and animal interactions, promoting the design and operation of urban-grazed therapeutic outdoor spaces that enhance environmental and human well-being.
• Dan Kistler, UC Davis Police Department: Kistler serves as the Wellness Coordinator for his department, using his expertise in exercise science to promote health through wellness presentations, monthly challenges, and collaboration with local agencies, while also working to establish a wellness committee to enhance program development.
• Jesse Koskey, UC Davis Health Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science: Koskey created a new "Drawing and Observation in Medicine" elective as part of the I-RESTORE curriculum, designed to improve medical students’ mindfulness, empathy and observational skills through a 120-hour exploration of drawing and the visual arts.
• Kathleen Lorain, UC Davis Health CARE project, Creative Arts and Recreation Therapy: Lorain promotes wellness through initiatives such as Reiki sessions, pet therapy and live music, while also facilitating empathetic support for health care professionals, creating a healing environment for patients, staff and visitors alike.
• Graciela Mejia, UC Davis Health Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program: As a Wellness Ambassador, Mejia motivates her peers by providing information about wellness resources and organizing challenges that promote healthy lifestyle choices while advocating for inclusivity, work-life balance and transparent communication.
• Caroline Miller, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis: As a yoga instructor, Miller emphasizes the physical and mental health benefits of exercise, offering free yoga classes and individualized instruction to faculty, staff and students.
• Neesha Patel, UC Davis Staff and Faculty Health and Well-Being, Work Strong Program, Occupational Health: Patel leads weekly guided mindfulness meditation sessions on Zoom for the UC Davis community, promoting resilience and well-being through her welcoming approach, community-building efforts and encouragement of artistic expression, significantly impacting participants since launching the program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Leticia Warter Sanchez, UC Davis Health Patient Contact Center: Sanchez is dedicated to fostering the well-being and growth of staff at the Patient Contact Center by encouraging mindfulness, personal development and creating a supportive, positive work environment.
• Kathryn Teixeira, UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences: Teixeira fosters communication and community among students, organizing Wellness Day in the Arboretum to provide students with valuable resources and tools for managing stress and reflecting on their experiences at UC Davis.
• Xong Veu, UC Davis Health Primary Care Clinics Call Center: Vue demonstrates exceptional triaging skills and advocates for her patients by providing same-day appointments for those struggling with mental health issues, showing great empathy and building strong relationships with them.
• Jonathan Villavert, UC Davis Finance, Operations and Administration, Administrative Innovation and Technology: Villavert led his department's Wellness Olympics event by posting daily wellness challenges that promoted physical activity, mental health and community connection, greatly enhancing employees' awareness of healthier lifestyles.