{"id":76565,"date":"2026-04-29T08:09:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T12:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?p=76565"},"modified":"2026-07-15T16:09:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T20:09:48","slug":"how-utcs-mocs-wellness-initiative-is-reshaping-health-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/how-utcs-mocs-wellness-initiative-is-reshaping-health-on-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"How UTC\u2019s\u00a0Mocs\u00a0Wellness Initiative is reshaping health on campus\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Dr. Betsy Myers is the director of UTC\u2019s Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

On a weekday afternoon inside the Aquatic and Recreation Center, a group of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga employees moves through a workout they didn\u2019t design on their own.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They\u2019re not guessing at exercises. They\u2019re not following a generic plan. And they\u2019re not doing it alone.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, they\u2019re working with a team.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Graduate students in physical therapy focus on movement and strength. Nutrition students talk through food choices and habits. Health coaching students help connect the dots\u2014what\u2019s realistic, what\u2019s sustainable and what gets in the way. Alongside them are faculty and staff members providing mentorship and guidance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Together, they are the backbone of the Mocs Wellness Initiative, an interdisciplinary program designed to support employee health while preparing UTC students for the realities of collaborative care.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And in just two years, it has started to show what\u2019s possible.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t really shared data with the campus or talked much outside of our departments about what successes we\u2019ve had with the program,\u201d said Megan McKnight, director of the Center for Wellbeing. \u201cWe wanted to highlight what this has been like for employees and for students\u2014and what we\u2019re learning from it.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Woman

Megan McKnight<\/p><\/div>\n

The Mocs Wellness Initiative launched in fall 2024 as an expansion of UTC\u2019s Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic, with a simple but ambitious goal: help faculty and staff build healthier, more sustainable lifestyles while giving students hands-on experience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Department of Physical Therapy Professor Betsy Myers is the architect of the Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic, which has become one of the most distinctive student learning environments on campus. She directs the clinic, housed in University Health Services, where first- and third-year doctoral students treat members of the campus community under faculty supervision.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Myers said the idea for the Mocs Wellness Initiative grew from a gap she had seen for years, and the program\u2019s structure is intentional.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Participants move through a 10-week program that blends weekly physical therapy sessions, nutrition assessments and education, and ongoing health coaching. The work is individualized, but the approach is shared\u2014each discipline contributing to a broader understanding of health.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have people who want to change behaviors, but they don\u2019t know how,\u201d Myers said. \u201cThey don\u2019t know how to exercise. They don\u2019t know what a healthy diet is. They don\u2019t know how to fit it in.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, she saw an opportunity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The clinic already existed. The students were already learning. The question became \u201cWhat could happen if those pieces\u2014and others across campus\u2014came together,\u201d Myers said. \u201cAnd what would that look like if we worked across disciplines?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

The answer has been a program that serves two groups at once.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For employees, it offers structure, support and access\u2014often to services they may not otherwise pursue.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Young

Hadyn Tjornhom<\/p><\/div>\n

For students, it provides something harder to replicate in a classroom: experience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been an amazing way to see what it will be like to work in clinical care,\u201d said Hadyn Tjornhom, a graduate assistant in the Center for Wellbeing and a Master of Public Health student in nutrition and dietetics. \u201cWe work alongside physical therapy students and health coaching students and talk through goals together. It really broadens your knowledge.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That collaboration is central to the model.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s shown me the possibilities when academic and student affairs work together,\u201d McKnight said. \u201cWe\u2019re creating opportunities not just for employees to improve their health, but for students to grow as professionals working alongside other disciplines.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Students meet regularly in interdisciplinary settings to discuss shared clients and align their approaches. The result is a more complete picture of each participant and a more realistic preview of professional practice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a really cool way to see what interdisciplinary work will look like and how it benefits the clients,\u201d Tjornhom said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Woman

Dr. Candace Ricketts<\/p><\/div>\n

For Dr. Candace Ricketts, who earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in health and human performance from UTC in 2022 and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2025, the experience started at the ground floor of the program\u2019s first cohort.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were the tester round where they were still doing the research project on it,\u201d Ricketts said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As part of that first group, she and her classmates helped shape how the program would operate on the physical therapy side, building evaluation templates that went beyond treating a single injury to include a patient\u2019s full health picture.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to come up with what evaluations look like that are tailored toward a more well-rounded physical therapy program than just, \u2018I\u2019ve got some knee pain, fix my knee, send me out,\u2019\u201d she explained.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That meant asking different questions, adjusting approaches and working alongside students from other disciplines who would carry the conversation further.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the program progressed, the results became clearer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt the start, we were like, \u2018I don\u2019t know if this is going to work,\u2019\u201d Ricketts said. \u201cBut by the end, to see some of those positive results\u2014even if it just seems kind of tiny\u2014was like, \u2018We\u2019re onto something here.\u2019\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now working at Erlanger Outpatient Physical Therapy, she said the experience continues to shape her approach to patient care.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to be able to have that general idea of concepts from different disciplines,\u201d Ricketts said. \u201cSo that way, if there\u2019s more investigation needed, we know where to refer and how to help.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Academic<\/p>\n

The impact on participants has been just as clear.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Across the first two cohorts, employees attended 96% of scheduled appointments and showed measurable improvements in strength, balance and aerobic capacity. Participants also reported increased knowledge around nutrition and benefited from individualized plans.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In many cases, the program uncovered needs that had gone unaddressed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thirty-one percent of participants required consultation or referral for previously undiagnosed or poorly managed medical conditions, while others faced barriers such as food insecurity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat was alarming,\u201d Myers said. \u201cThere are people who want to change, but they don\u2019t have the resources or don\u2019t know how to access them.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The program also saw strong satisfaction\u2014100% of participants reported being extremely satisfied, with high marks for student professionalism and support.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But the results also revealed something else.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Change takes time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Participants reported an average 18% increase in self-efficacy during the program. However, some saw that confidence dip after the program ended, particularly over the holidays when structure and support fell away.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey were like, \u2018I just got into a rhythm,\u2019\u201d Myers said, \u201cand then life happens.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

McKnight added, \u201cIt\u2019s really about showing the investment in employee wellbeing and what we\u2019re learning as a campus. We\u2019re seeing areas of need\u2014unmanaged health concerns, food insecurity\u2014and that helps us think about how we move forward.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

That insight is shaping what comes next.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Program leaders are working toward expanding the initiative into a two-semester model, extending support through the spring and adding more individualized nutrition sessions and group-based learning opportunities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Woman

Dr. Ashleigh Pipes<\/p><\/div>\n

The goal is simple: give participants enough time to turn short-term progress into long-term habits.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTen weeks wasn\u2019t enough for lasting confidence,\u201d Myers said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, demand continues to grow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The program has drawn nearly 100 applications for just 16 spots over two years, highlighting both interest and need.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For some participants, the experience has extended beyond personal health.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Ashleigh Pipes, an assistant professor in the Applied Leadership and Learning program, initially joined to address her own shift to a more sedentary, online teaching schedule.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What followed was something unexpected.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t imagine how much this was going to evolve,\u201d Pipes said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her experience in the program, combined with her academic work in positive psychology and language learning, led to a new research focus on doctoral student wellness\u2014particularly around isolation, stress and access to support.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI realized there was a strand of consistency in a lot of the things I was doing,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, she is exploring how those same principles\u2014connection, structure and access to resources\u2014can support graduate students as they navigate the most demanding phases of their programs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

***********<\/p>\n

Back in the ARC, the work continues.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Students adjust plans. Participants ask questions. Conversations move from workouts to meals to schedules to stress.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not one thing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And that\u2019s the point.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt shouldn\u2019t be that hard to be healthy,\u201d Myers said. \u201cSo what can we do to make it easier?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is work that benefits both sides of the campus,\u201d McKnight said. \u201cIt\u2019s about supporting our employees while also preparing students for what it looks like to care for people in real-world settings.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Center for Wellbeing<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Department of Physical Therapy<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Visit UTC<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On a weekday afternoon inside the Aquatic and Recreation Center, a group of UTC employees moves through a workout they didn\u2019t design on their own.\u00a0
\nThey\u2019re not guessing at exercises. They\u2019re not following a generic plan. And they\u2019re not doing it alone.\u00a0Instead, they\u2019re working with a team.<\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1493,"featured_media":76586,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_slider":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_featurette":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[661,70,123864,15,56,3,7712,52,12806,83654,64,12760,48007,8288,8325],"tags":[126420,127057,125947,125263,119195,123827,123826,127059,127092,127071,127058,123828,127060,123680,124776,126242,123829,123263],"class_list":{"0":"post-76565","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-academics","8":"category-advancement-and-alumni","9":"category-campus","10":"category-college-of-health-education-and-professional-studies","11":"category-community","12":"category-faculty-and-staff","13":"category-graduate-school","14":"category-health-and-human-performance","15":"category-health-and-wellness","16":"category-news","17":"category-physical-therapy","18":"category-research-academics","19":"category-school-of-education","20":"category-service","21":"category-students","22":"tag-applied-leadership-and-learning","23":"tag-ashleigh-pipes","24":"tag-betsy-myers","25":"tag-candace-ricketts","26":"tag-center-for-wellbeing","27":"tag-creating-the-mocs-experience","28":"tag-cultivating-a-culture-of-innovation","29":"tag-erlanger-outpatient-physical-therapy","30":"tag-goal-2-1-faculty-staff-experience-strategic-plan-2030","31":"tag-goal-2-2-faculty-staff-success-strategic-plan-2030","32":"tag-hadyn-tjornhom","33":"tag-leveraging-our-special-place-as-chattanoogas-university","34":"tag-master-of-public-health-nutrition-and-dietetics","35":"tag-megan-mcknight","36":"tag-mocs-learn-mocs-do-mocs-lead","37":"tag-mocs-wellness-initiative","38":"tag-operating-with-excellence","39":"tag-pro-bono-physical-therapy-clinic","40":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nHow UTC\u2019s\u00a0Mocs\u00a0Wellness Initiative is reshaping health on campus\u00a0 | UTC News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"On a weekday afternoon inside the Aquatic and Recreation Center, a group of UTC employees moves through a workout they didn\u2019t design on their own.\u00a0 They\u2019re not guessing at exercises. 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