MyWay to Health: Health Coaching, Weight Management Program, and Presentations
MyWay to Health at WashU is an on-site wellness program available to benefits-eligible employees. Deeply rooted in scientific evidence, expert opinion, and 25 years of research, MyWay to Health provides sound advice, as well as guidance and tips to help you take charge of your well-being.
1) Meet with a MyWay to Health Wellness Consultant
Meet with a MyWay to Health Wellness Consultant to create an individualized plan for adopting the 8ight Ways to Wellness. Our experts provide holistic advice and accountability to help you take charge of your well-being.
Common session topics include nutrition, physical activity, weight management, condition management, sleep, and stress. Sessions are free of charge and available by phone, Zoom, or in person on the Medical Campus. If needed, language translation services are available.
Offering Update: For individuals interested in diabetes prevention or management, you are encouraged to schedule sessions with our Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Maggie Aikin.
2) Enroll in the MyWay to a Healthy Weight Program
The MyWay to a Healthy Weight Program is a free year-long weight management program featuring weekly support from a dedicated Registered Dietitian. This is an individualized behavior-based program to enhance a personal desire for achieving healthy eating and physical activity goals, while promoting self-esteem and positive body image.
Interested individuals must attend an orientation before enrolling in the program. Orientation for new enrollments takes place in March, July, and December with sessions beginning the following month. Capacity is limited, and participation is subject to availability. Participation criteria: benefits-eligible WashU employee or immediate family member with a BMI of 27.0 or greater.
Please register for one of the orientation options below. A video recording is available upon request for individuals unable to attend a live orientation session. Please email MyWayToHealth@wustl.edu with any questions.
Wednesday, December 4th at 4:00 PM
To attend virtually, click here.
Friday, December 6th at 11:00 AM
To attend virtually, click here.
To attend in person, click here.
In the interim, we encourage participating in our other programming to initiate healthy lifestyle changes. The Getting Started Group Series provides an introduction to key elements of the MyWay to a Healthy Weight program. Click here to learn more about the series and to register for the monthly Zoom sessions. A recording and materials will be available to registrants unable to attend the live session.
We also encourage those waiting to begin the program to meet with one of our Registered Dietitians for a wellness consultation to begin individualizing healthy lifestyle recommendations. Click here to schedule a Wellness Consultation.
3) Attend Upcoming Workshops & Events
Additional MyWay to Health Resources
Employees who participate in MyWay to Health wellness consultations or the weight management program are eligible for a discounted membership to Move by BJC. This fitness center is located in the Cortex. Simply let your dietitian wellness coach know you are interested and you will receive a special application that gives you a membership for $32/month, 3 month minimum with no start-up fees.
Access to cooking classes, weekly wellness content, and support from your WashU wellness consultants.
MyWay to Health Wellness Consultants are available to offer presentations for departments in-person or via Zoom. These presentations are a great way to promote wellness among coworkers. Available presentations include:
- Healthy Habits While Working From Home
- The Importance of Physical Activity
- Healthy Eating
- Meal Planning
- Nutrition Myths and Food Trends
Additional topics available by request.
Please submit the Request A Wellness Program for Your Department form and allow up to three weeks lead time.
Looking for healthy recipe inspiration? Our team has collected a variety of nutritious and delicious recipes to take the guesswork out of meal planning.
Partnership with American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking®
To support WashU benefits-eligible employees who are ready to quit smoking, HR Well-Being and MyWay to Health have partnered with the American Lung Association to provide FREE access to their Freedom From Smoking® (FFS) behavior change program.
- Specialized professional counseling is provided by nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacist and addiction counselors all nationally certified as Tobacco Treatment Specialists.
- Participants receive 8 proactive calls from the FFS team, educational resources and tools to support the quit attempt.
- Employees are highly encouraged to complete the program within 6 months and earn the completion certificate.
- Nicotine replacement therapy is available for those who qualify.
For more information and to enroll in the program, contact MyWay to Health at mywaytohealth@wustl.edu or 314-286-0078.
Read our holistic curriculum and handouts in the MyWay to Health WUSTL Box.
About MyWay to Health
MyWay to Health is an on-site employee wellness program developed by leading experts in health and wellness at WashU. Deeply rooted in scientific evidence, expert opinion, and 25 years of research, MyWay to Health provides sound advice, as well as guidance and tips to help you take charge of your well-being.
Maggie Aikin, RD, LD, CDCES, CPC
MyWay to Health | Registered Dietitian Wellness Consultant
- Phone: 314-548-9566
- Email: DMaggie@wustl.edu
Alexandra Ishmael, RD, LDN
MyWay to Health | Registered Dietitian Wellness Consultant
- Phone: 314-626-4661
- Email: Ishmael@wustl.edu
Erin McGraw, MS, RD, LD
MyWay to Health | Registered Dietitian Wellness Consultant
- Phone: 314-275-0559
- Email: merin@wustl.edu
Reshaunda Thornton, MS, RD, CSSD, LD
MyWay to Health | Registered Dietitian Wellness Consultant
- Phone: 314-286-0242
- Email: Reshaunda@wustl.edu
Lisa Tigges, MS, RD, LD
MyWay to Health | Registered Dietitian Wellness Consultant
- Phone: 314-286-0245
- Email: TiggesL@wustl.edu
Carla Velarde, MS, RD, LD
MyWay to Health | Registered Dietitian Wellness Consultant
- Phone: 314-273-3773
- Email: Carlavelarde@wustl.edu
Our mission is to help individuals champion strengths, overcome barriers, and create supportive networks to improve their health and quality of life. Combining individualized wellness consulting with online tools and educational resources, you will learn to make personalized lifelong changes to your health.
The program is designed to help you:
- Set goals to improve your health and well-being
- Monitor your weight and other important health measures
- Improve the nutritional quality of your diet
- Build routines for regular physical activity
- Establish healthy sleep, stress, and emotion management practices
- Enhance personal motivation, self-esteem, and body image
- Foster a supportive network at home, in your community, and at work
- Become an advocate for a well-balanced healthy lifestyle
MyWay to Health at WashU is a voluntary wellness program available to benefits-eligible employees. The program is administered according to federal rules permitting employer-sponsored wellness programs that seek to improve employee health or prevent disease, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, as applicable, among others.
If you are unable to participate for MyWay to Health to earn an incentive, you may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation or an alternative standard. You may request a reasonable accommodation or an alternative standard by contacting the well-being team at employeewellbeing@wustl.edu or by calling 314-935-3654.
The information from your HRA and participation in the program will be used to help you understand your current health and potential risks, and may also be used to offer you services through MyWay to Health. You are encouraged to share your results or concerns with your own doctor.
Unless specifically authorized by you, or legally required, MyWay to Health will not release any personally identifiable data. MyWay to Health uses aggregate data to produce reports for WashU. This data cannot be used to identify any individuals. WashU uses aggregate data to better understand the needs of their organization and to design appropriate health improvement programs to meet those needs.
MyWay to Health is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your personally identifiable health information. Your health information will not be sold, exchanged, transferred, or otherwise disclosed except to the extent permitted by law to carry out specific activities related to the wellness program. You will not be asked or required to waive the confidentiality of your health information as a condition of participating in MyWay to Health or receiving an incentive.
More information on how WashU values your privacy and protects your health information.
MyWay to Health is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your personally identifiable health information. Please be aware that we must break this confidentiality if you share any intention to harm yourself or others or if you report the abuse of a child or an elderly person.
Good health, energy, and confidence to live our lives to the fullest.
Join the Wellness Champion Network
Advocate for healthy living in your department!
Request A Wellness Program
Our experts are available to offer presentations for departments in-person or via Zoom.