Receiving Healthy U program certification recently at UW were, left to right, Eva
Wasseen and Kelly Sugihara, both from Rock Springs; Crissy Jensen, of Afton; Rachel
Conrad, of Gillette; Kim Proffit, from Evanston; Jackie Grubb, of Green River; Cheri
Bjornsrud, from Ten Sleep; and Barb Bauer, of Evanston. Back row, Becky Bercier, of
Fort Washakie; Jon Fisher, of Jackson; Irene Lujan, of Fort Washakie; David Stafford
and Nancy Stafford, both from Kemmerer; Kelsey Werner, from Afton; Melissa Gorsuch,
of Gillette; Cora McGee, from Ten Sleep; Kara Beech, a WyCOA senior project coordinator
in Rock Springs; Aimee Ottley, from Evanston; Catherine Carrico, WyCOA associate director;
Brenda Brown, of Wheatland; and Dominick Duhamel, WyCOA senior project coordinator.
(UW Photo)
Nineteen people from around the state recently received certification through a series
of workshops sponsored by the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Department of
Health to become leaders of the Healthy U program.
The Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA), located in the UW College of Health Sciences,
conducted training for participants earlier this month on campus.
Healthy U workshops are available to participants with an interest in or who have
chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart
disease, pain, anxiety or depression.
“Workshops also are available to anyone who cares for someone with a chronic health
condition or who simply wants to learn more about improving their health,” says Catherine
Carrico, WyCOA associate director and clinical assistant professor.
Receiving certification, listed by hometown, were:
Afton -- Crissy Jensen and Kelsey Werner.
Evanston -- Barb Bauer, Aimee Ottley and Kim Proffit.
Fort Washakie -- Becky Bercier and Irene Lujan.
Gillette -- Rachel Conrad and Melissa Gorsuch.
Green River -- Jackie Grubb.
Jackson -- Jon Fisher.
Kemmerer -- David Stafford and Nancy Stafford.
Rock Springs -- Kara Beech, Kelly Sugihara and Eva Wasseen.
Ten Sleep -- Cheri Bjornsrud and Cora McGee.
Wheatland -- Brenda Brown.
The six-week program is provided in communities throughout Wyoming. Healthy U participants
learn valuable skills to help them take control of their conditions and live happier,
healthier lives, Carrico adds.
Healthy U Master Trainers Carrico and Dominick Duhamel, who manage and coordinate
the program in UW’s WyCOA, instructed the leaders. WyCOA has trained more than 70
individuals to provide the program throughout Wyoming.
“I am honored to say that I am now a leader for the Healthy U program,” says Kelly
Sugihara, from the Wyoming Cancer Resource Services in Rock Springs. “I look forward
to sharing this amazing program with the patients at the Cancer Center and our community.
This training will help anyone continue on a healthy path while bringing awareness
and accountability to our everyday actions.”
For more information about local Healthy U program workshops, visit www.healthyuwyoming.org.
Residents who are interested in becoming a Healthy U leader should call Duhamel at
(307) 766-2765 or email dduhamel@uwyo.edu.
