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Employee Wellness Newsletter
for all FACULTY, STAFF, RESIDENTS, and FELLOWS of UTHealth Houston
JUNE 2026
The Employee Wellness Program
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Wellness Week is Coming!
July 6-10
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From therapy animals and resilience training to AI-powered productivity tips and reflective writing, the UTHealth Houston Office of Faculty Affairs and Development Wellness Committee in collaboration with the UTHealth Houston Employee Wellness Programs is sponsoring Wellness Week July 6-10 and is inviting employees to pause, recharge, and reconnect.
The weeklong series offers virtual and in-person opportunities designed to support the well-being of faculty, staff, residents, and fellows across the university.
Programming will focus on practical strategies for reducing stress, preventing burnout, and building healthier routines in and outside the workplace.
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Jennifer Bahrman, PhD
Assistant Professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
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June podcast
Unburnt: The Resilience Reset
Burnout has become the silent epidemic of modern work. High performers, leaders, caregivers — no one is immune. We invite you to use this episode to slow down, understand what burnout really is, reflect, and rediscover the resilience you already carry. Through real stories, practical tools, and honest conversation, we’ll explore how to recover, rise, and rebuild your energy, your boundaries, and your sense of purpose.
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World-Class Benefits & Wellness Fair July 10
Open Enrollment Starts July 15
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Visit us July 10 with the World-Class Benefits and Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston’s fifth-floor banquet room.
The soccer-themed event will give employees an opportunity to connect with the Benefits team, retirement vendors, and wellness partners prior to the start of annual benefits enrollment on July 15.
| | Winners! Manager Recognition for Team Wellness Initiatives | Twice per FY, the Employee Wellness Team recognizes managers who take extra steps to promote the wellbeing of their team members. The "call for submissions" occurs in this Monthly Employee Wellness Newsletter and by special announcement to our newsletter subscribers. For the first half of FY26, we received 15 submissions. A team of five wellness team members from UTHealth Houston ranked the submissions and selected the top three winners. In the September newsletter, look for the next opportunity to submit your initiative for a chance to be recognized! | | |
Image above:
Meaningful Moments Team Building
Each week our team takes turn sharing and leading Meaningful Moments, this particular day was lead by Carla Harper, coordinator.
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First Place - Initiative of Distinction
Noemi Orellana, M.Ed.
Manager, Education Outreach
Children's Learning Institute
McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston
“Employee well-being strengthens our team, helping us build meaningful relationships where we work hard, support one another, and celebrate success together.” - Noemi Orellana
Our team is deeply committed to advancing well-being initiatives that support occupational, spiritual, environmental, and social wellness. With intention, creativity, and heart, we cultivate a workplace culture rooted in connection, celebration, and purpose.
Social connection and encouragement are woven into our daily rhythm through initiatives like the Sparkle & Shine Committee’s encouragement buckets and the Sweet Vibes Corner. We keep our environment vibrant, welcoming, and energizing and we hold events with themed décor, personalized treats, coordinated team attire, and group photos to foster joy and belonging.
Beyond organized events, our culture of care is reflected in spontaneous acts of generosity, such as team members independently bringing coffee, donuts, and other specialized menu themes demonstrating the thoughtfulness and support we extend to one another every day. We honor identity, culture, and life moments through meaningful celebrations and traditions.
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Second Place - Initiative of Excellence
Maria L. Hernandez, BSN, RN
Clinical Nurse Manager
Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston
"A healthy team will deliver compassionate care and turn any challenge into a great opportunity. We work hard to show others how much we care. A healthy team will build healthy relationships." - Maria L. Hernandez
We foster emotional well-being through team education, regular huddles, individual one-on-ones, mental health awareness training, confidentiality, family support, and an open-door policy with the clinical nurse manager. We support intellectual growth through continued job coaching, stress management, performance reviews, clear expectations, recognition, and encouraging team members to reach their goals. We promote spiritual well-being by helping clinical staff understand the meaning and purpose of their roles, recognizing those who go above and beyond for patients, and encouraging a positive practice environment.
The result of these efforts include: Reduced historically high turnover rate, improved patient experience, engaged teams, personal and trusting relationships, loyalty, individual support, cultural acceptance, respect, and encouragement.
| | Maria L. Hernandez, BSN, RN | | | | |
Third Place - Initiative of Merit
Melisa Smith, M.Ed.
Assistant Director Texas State Initiatives
Texas Infant-Toddler Specialist Network
Children's Learning Institute
McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston
Elise Cohen, MA
Manager, Outreach Education
Texas Infant-Toddler Specialist Network
Children's Learning Institute
McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston
“Employee well-being directly impacts how our team collaborates, communicates, and performs. The ITSN team intentionally incorporates mindfulness, psychological safety practices, and values-based discussions into our meetings and events to create healthy environments where people feel supported, heard, and empowered to do their best work.” Melisa Smith and Elise Cohen
The Texas Infant-Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN) Team, which is part of the Children's Learning Institute (CLI), recognizes the importance of well-being and we prioritize integrating regular self-care practices into our staff meetings and in the trainings we host. Four of our team members are Certified CARE specialists and regularly lead sessions that promote physical, emotional, and mental health. CARE stands for Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education.
Since our CARE certifications, we have established a mental health and mindfulness initiative not only for our external stakeholders but within our team. We begin meetings with mindfulness activities which include 3 deep breaths and breath awareness, setting an intention, and other activities aimed at bringing us all together to conduct meetings where everyone is relaxed, present, and focused.
Our team members who are in office do monthly networking lunches where we intentionally set aside time to have lunch together and to talk about things in our lives unrelated to work. Time is cleared on the calendar from other activities so everyone has the chance to participate. Recently our team began discovering our personal values related to Dare to Lead by Brene Brown. In this activity we spent time narrowing our values to two and sharing them with each other. This helped team members understand where we are each coming from and what is important to us.
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Free Financial Wellness Program
UTHealth Houston offers a program to help employees plan for their financial future. Your Money Line (YML) is a financial wellness program consisting of a live financial call-in helpline and an interactive online financial dashboard. The program focuses on changing spending behaviors to promote financial change, regardless of income. Your Money Line is also available to spouses, partners, and dependents (over 18 years old).
Your Money Line services are completely confidential, free and you will never be sold anything.
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Time for Tranquility
June topic: Strengthening Courage and Clarity
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Join online in the privacy of your workspace for 15 minutes of calm. With participants' cameras off, our leader will guide you in an exercise of quiet breathing, focusing on the monthly topic.
Note: Your attendance in this session is not confidential. Although most participants will have their camera off, participants' names will display on the screen as having joined the session.
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Employee Wellness Program
713-500-3394 or email wellness@uth.tmc.edu
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