Binghamton University adopts Okanagan Charter to become a U.S. Health Promoting Campus

Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, vice president for health promotion and chief wellness officer for The Ohio State University, spoke to students during the Roger L. and Mary K. Kresge Center for Nursing Research lecture and B-Healthy Summit on Feb. 28. Her message focused on battling burnout and promoting mental resiliency in nurses, but also spoke to bigger themes of the importance of preventative care and the prioritization of wellness in the population at large.

“We have to shift the paradigm in the United States from sick and crisis care to prevention and well-being,” she said.

Following Melnyk’s keynote address, Binghamton University reinforced its own commitment to fostering a culture of health, well-being and sustainability by formally adopting the Okanagan Charter as a member of the United States Health Promoting Campuses.

The Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting University and Colleges calls on higher education institutions to embed health into all aspects of campus culture and to lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally. Created in June 2015, the Charter provides institutions with a common vision, language, principles and calls to action to become health and well-being promoting campuses.

Health Promoting Campuses comprise an international community that aspires to transform the health and sustainability of current and future societies, strengthen communities, and contribute to the wellbeing of people, places and the planet. Evidence shows that people who are well are more productive, are better able to engage in deeper learning, have a greater sense of belonging, and have a stronger sense of community. The network allows members to support each other and collaborate on the work of becoming a health promoting campus.

“By adopting this charter, Binghamton University reaffirms its dedication not just to the health of individuals, but to the well-being of the larger community — the places we call home and the planet we share,” said Johann Fiore-Conte, associate vice president of student affairs and chief health and wellness officer. “Binghamton University is committed to promoting health and well-being and has been doing great work that aligns with the principles of the Okanagan Charter for more than a decade. It seems only natural that Binghamton would adopt the charter as a formal and public commitment to the continuation of this work in a systematic and sustainable way.

President Harvey Stenger signed the charter, along with Fiore-Conte and representatives of leadership from the Divisions of Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Operations, the Binghamton University Foundation, Office of Sustainability, Student Association and Graduate Student Organization.

“Adopting the Okanagan Charter is a significant step in enriching the University’s commitment to health and well-being for its students, faculty and staff,” Stenger said. “This is a holistic approach to prioritizing health that will allow us to build on Binghamton’s strengths in health science and research and in communicating important ideas about personal health to members of the University community. My thanks go out to all of the people who will make this a healthier and more sustainable place to live, work and study.”

A poster session and break followed the charter adoption. Then, Melnyk led a panel of wellness and healthcare experts who discussed evidence-based strategies to reduce stress, enhance mental resilience, and improve well-being among the healthcare workforce and students.

The panelists were Alice Teall, senior director of wellness at Kenyon College; Dr. Ann Teng, vice president and chief wellness officer at Uniter Health Services; and Jennifer Wegmann, lecturer in the Division of Health and Wellness Studies at Binghamton’s Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Teall, Teng, and Wegmann showcased their innovative approaches to reducing stress and building mental resilience. They discussed the challenges they encountered within their organizations and shared their “wish list” of actions organizations should take to enhance mental health and well-being.