Join The Whole U for two days of inspiring, expert-led sessions to support your mental, emotional and physical well-being—at work and beyond. Open to all UW faculty and staff, the 2025 UW Wellness Symposium sessions will feature trusted voices across our campuses, practical tools and thoughtful conversations to help you thrive.

Attend the 2025 UW Wellness Symposium

• Improve your mental and physical health through expert-led discussions
• Gain practical strategies to enhance well-being in everyday life
• Participate in any session that fits your schedule—recordings available for later viewing

Schedule Overview

Wednesday, May 21:

• 9 a.m. – Faculty Well-Being Roundtable
• 9 a.m. – Financial Wellness: Planning for Life’s Milestones
• 10:30 a.m. – Cultivating Healthy Relationships at Work
• 12 p.m. – Lunch Break and Optional Connection Time
• 1:15 p.m. – Fueling Well-Being through Nutrition and Movement

Thursday, May 22:

• 9 a.m. – Financial Wellness: Mental Health & Money
• 10:30 a.m. – UW Voices on Emotional Well-Being: Managing Stress and Anxiety
• 11:45 a.m. – Lunch Break and Optional Connection Time
• 1:00 p.m. – Sleep Health: Aligning with Your Body’s Natural Rhythm

Wednesday, May 21

Faculty Well-Being Roundtable – register here!

9:00 – 10:15 a.m.

Join The Whole U for a dynamic virtual roundtable focused on the evolving landscape of faculty well-being at UW. This opening session for faculty will bring together leaders from across the University to share insights, resources and opportunities to foster a healthier, more supportive academic culture.

Panelists will explore what well-being looks like in today’s academic environment, highlight emerging challenges and offer practical strategies for meaningful and lasting change.

Featuring:

Megan Kennedy
Director, UW Resilience Lab

Megan Kennedy leads the UW Resilience Lab, focusing on building healthy and compassionate learning communities. Her leadership emphasizes collaborative relationships to develop high-quality wellness and educational programs.

Tabitha Kirkland
Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Psychology

Tabitha Kirkland specializes in courses that combine scientific research on happiness with practical activities to enhance well-being. She emphasizes the importance of valuing progress over perfection in educational settings.

Liliana Lengua
Professor of Psychology; Director, Center for Child & Family Well-Being

Dr. Lengua is an internationally recognized expert on children’s responses to stress. Her research identifies protective factors that promote children’s social, emotional, and academic competence in the face of adversity.

Dushyant Sahani, MD
Professor and Chair of Radiology

Dr. Sahani is a distinguished radiologist whose research focuses on innovative CT technologies and their impact on patient care. He has over two decades of experience in diagnostic radiology. Dr. Sahani is a leader in workplace well-being, emphasizing strategies for connection, wellness and resilience within Radiology.

Moderated by Lauren Updyke, MS, ACSM HFI
Executive Director for Employee Experience; UWHR Chief Wellness Officer

Lauren Updyke leads the Employee Experience team, encompassing The Whole U, UW Combined Fund Drive and WorkLife programs, dedicated to supporting the holistic well-being of UW faculty and staff.

Additional contributions from Dr. Cynthia M. Dougherty, Professor, UW School of Nursing and Dr. Christina Fong, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, Foster School of Business will be included in the session.

Financial Wellness: Planning for Life’s Milestones with TIAA

9:00 – 10:15 a.m.

Life is full of changes—marriage, job shifts, caregiving and even loss. Join this TIAA-led webinar to explore how these transitions impact your financial and emotional well-being. This session offers practical strategies to help you prepare for and manage these transitions, ensuring your financial plans remain on track. Whether you’re navigating a new chapter or planning ahead, this webinar provides valuable insights to support your financial journey.

Featuring:

Kevin Collins
Director, Financial Consulting, TIAA Retirement Advice & Consulting

Kevin has over a decade of experience in financial services and specializes in optimizing retirement outcomes through tailored solutions, personalized advice and exceptional service. Kevin’s expertise spans consulting and relationship management, supporting clients nationwide with strategies to build financial confidence. Kevin holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 registrations, as well as Life, Health, and Variable Annuity licenses.

Cultivating Healthy Relationships at Work

10:30 – 11:45 a.m. 

Discover how to strengthen and build professional workplace relationships through effective communication, conflict resolution and inclusive practices.

Featuring:

Ujima Sands, M.Ed, NLPP, CPC
Assistant Vice President, Total Talent Management; Inclusion Strategist, UWHR

Ujima is both a leader and a practitioner. She has served as the lead
facilitator for the award-winning Strategic Leadership Program for more than 15 years while also frequently being called upon as a consultant or sounding board for UW leaders and organizations. Ujima manages staff across multiple units within Total Talent Management, including Professional & Organizational Development, Recruitment and Staffing, and UWHR’s internal DEI team, and she serves on numerous University committees.

Lunch Break and Optional Connection Hour

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. 

Join The Whole U team and fellow attendees for informal conversation and community building over lunch.

Fueling Well-Being Through Nutrition & Movement

1:15 – 2:30 p.m. 

What we eat and how we move has a profound impact on how we feel—mentally, emotionally and physically. In this interactive session, UW experts will guide you through the foundations of mindful eating, practical nutrition strategies, and simple ways to integrate movement into your day, no matter your schedule.

This session will help you reconnect with your body through intentional practices that are simple, sustainable and backed by science. You’ll walk away with new tools to nourish yourself—physically and mentally—throughout the day.

Featuring:

Lauren Updyke, MS, ACSM HFI
Executive Director for Employee Experience; UWHR Chief Wellness Officer

Lauren Updyke leads the Employee Experience team, encompassing The Whole U, UW Combined Fund Drive and WorkLife programs, dedicated to supporting the holistic well-being of UW faculty and staff. She will highlight the role of movement in reducing stress and boosting health.

Ruth Foster Koth, MSW, LICSW
Mental Health Specialist, UW Medicine Center for Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery

Ruth Foster Koth assists clients in clarifying personal health goals and developing targeted strategies aligned with their values, focusing on mental health aspects of weight management. She will explore the principles of mindfulness and mindful eating, helping you understand how habits, emotions, and awareness shape our food choices. She’ll also lead a short mindful eating exercise.

Emily Ball, MS, RDN, CD

Thursday, May 22

Financial Wellness: Mental Health & Money

9:00 – 10:15 a.m. 

Finances are one of the leading causes of stress in the U.S., with more than half of adults reporting a negative impact on their mental health. This interactive session will explore how financial challenges affect emotional well-being—and what you can do about it.

Join financial wellness experts from BECU to understand the deep connection between financial and mental health, learn practical strategies for managing financial stress and discover tools and resources to support your long-term financial wellness.

Featuring:

Ruth Kaneko
Member Consultant and Financial Educator, BECU

Ruth Kaneko is a dedicated financial educator with over 14 years of experience in the financial industry. Ruth has served as both a Member Consultant and Financial Educator at BECU, helping members achieve their financial goals through personalized consultations and community-based education.

UW Voices on Emotional Well-Being: Managing Stress and Anxiety

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. 

Stress and anxiety are a part of life—but how we recognize and respond to them makes all the difference. In this interactive session, UW Counseling Center clinicians will lead a candid, supportive panel conversation exploring the real ways UW staff manage stress and promote emotional well-being at work.

Through shared stories and expert insights, panelists will offer personal strategies for managing workplace stress and anxiety, explore how different roles experience stress at UW, share practical tools and “stress hacks” that really work and reflect on lessons learned and advice they’d give their past selves. This panel will feature a cross-section of UW employees along with expert clinicians offering perspectives.

Whether you’re seeking ideas for yourself or ways to support your team, this session will provide space for reflection, connection and new coping strategies.

Featuring:

Dr. Mehvash Ali, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist, UW Counseling Center

Dr. Mehvash Ali is a licensed clinical psychologist at the University of Washington Counseling Center. She brings extensive experience in providing mental health support to students, focusing on areas such as stress management, anxiety, and cultural identity. Dr. Ali is dedicated to fostering inclusive and supportive environments.

Emma Buchanan, LICSW
Clinical Social Worker, UW Counseling Center

Emma Buchanan is a licensed independent clinical social worker at the University of Washington Counseling Center. She specializes in supporting students through challenges related to stress, anxiety, and life transitions. Emma is committed to creating a safe and empathetic space to explore mental health and develop effective coping strategies.

Ryan Burt, Ph.D.
Director, Academic Support Programs

Dr. Ryan Burt oversees UW’s Academic Support Programs, including CLUE and Academic Success Coaching. A triple UW alum, he brings a deep commitment to student success, inclusive learning environments, and peer-based academic support.

Rachel G. Firebaugh, PharmD, BCACP, BCGP, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor & Department Academic Support Coach
Faculty, Plein Center for Aging, Host, Pharmacy Fridays Podcast

Rachel Firebaugh is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Academic Coach in the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy. She is also Program Faculty for the Plein Center for Aging and is a certified ASHP Well-Being Ambassador. Additionally, Rachel serves as a Student Professional Development Specialist and is the Host/Co-creator of the UWSOP’s Pharmacy Fridays podcast.

Pranika Laing
Associate Administrator for UW Medicine Primary Care

Pranika is the Associate Administrator for UW Medicine Primary Care.  She is responsible for providing direction and oversight of our clinical network of 17 Primary Care Clinics.  The UWMPC clinics are located in Seattle and surrounding areas as well as one clinic on Lopez Island. Pranika has been a UW employee for 24 years and has worked at the different entities and in various positions, starting her first UW position while being a student in 1999.

Lunch Break and Optional Connection Hour

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. 

Join The Whole U team again to relax, connect and reflect with peers.

Sleep Heath: Aligning with your Body’s Natural Rhythm

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. 

Sleep is not just a nightly routine—it’s a vital process deeply connected to our mental clarity, emotional resilience and physical health. In this engaging session, Dr. Horacio de la Iglesia, a leading expert in circadian biology, will explore how our internal clocks interact with environmental cues to regulate sleep patterns.

Drawing from his extensive research, including studies on adolescents and diverse communities, Dr. de la Iglesia will discuss how exposure to natural and artificial light influences our circadian rhythms and sleep quality, the impact of urban environments, screen time, and irregular schedules on our sleep health and share practical strategies to enhance sleep hygiene and align daily routines with our biological clocks.

Whether you’re seeking to improve your own sleep habits or understand the broader implications of sleep health, this session offers valuable insights grounded in cutting-edge science.

Featuring:

Horacio de la Iglesia, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology

Dr. de la Iglesia studies how neural systems encode time and generate rhythmic physiological and behavioral outputs. His research has contributed to understanding sleep patterns in adolescents and the impact of sleep on various populations.

Thank you to BECU and TIAA for sponsoring the 2025 UW Wellness Symposium!