Resilience in Action
We asked UI Health Care leadership and staff to share
how they de-stress or cope in the face of COVID-19.
Time to Explore
Click on a person to view their resiliency tip.
"I like variety: cycling, building things, and fostering bunnies with iowarabbitrescue.org."
- Bradley Ford, MD, PhD
Clinical Microbiology Medical Director
"I've been helping my husband install and tend to our new garden."
- Bianca Strack, ARNP
Nurse Practitioner, ILI Clinic
"Coming home to my two sweet puppies and going on long walks."
- Brandi Hansel, BS, RRT
Respiratory Therapist
"Sleeping as much as I can, talking with my therapist, cooking, cleaning, and running."
- Jaci Albrecht, RN, BSN, BA
Staff Nurse, 6RC Family/Internal Medicine
"Exercise and walking have always been top self-care activities for me in an effort to relieve stress."
- Cindy Dawson, MSN, RN, CORLN
Chief Nurse Executive & Associate Director
"Playing with my son!"
- Emily Ward, BSN, RN, MBA, CENP, CCRN-K
Associate Chief Nurse Executive
"I like to enjoy the great outdoors on the Ranger."
- Heather Schnittjer, BS, RRT-NPS
Senior Respiratory Therapist
"I like to play sports, primarily with my boys. Shooting hoops is therapeutic."
- Michael Brownlee, PharmD, MS, FASHP
Chief Pharmacy Officer
"I've been spending time out in my yard to take a break from the stress of COVID-19."
- Jaime McCray-Helm, RN, BSN
Staff Nurse, ILI Clinic
"One way of coping is to lean on my fellow co-workers. I work with a great team of health care professionals."
- Jason Schunter, RRT
Senior Respiratory Therapist
"Taking walks with my spouse after work. Taking time to enjoy the spring weather has been uplifting."
- Jennifer Miller, MHA, MPH, RD
Support Services Assistant Director
"I try to immerse myself in the outdoors."
- Justin Kuhn, BS, RRT-NPS-ACCS
Respiratory Therapist
"I love spending time in the garden with my kids."
- Jorge Salinas, MD
Hospital Epidemiologist
"Playing catch with my boys."
- Katie Imborek, MD
Director of Offsite Primary Care
"I love listening to music or playing my piano."
- Lou Ann Montgomery, PhD, MAN, RN, NPD-BC, RN-BC
Director, Nursing Professional Development, Advanced Practice and Informatics
"Learning to make homemade brats and pork burgers. This batch was jalenpeno/pineapple!"
- Lynn Mellecker, RRT-ACCS
MICU Senior Respiratory Therapist
"We love to explore in the woods to truly get away for a little bit."
- Tera Kringle, MS
Patient Experience Coach
"Drawing with my son is a terrific way to reset."
- Matthew Reed, RRT-NPS
Respiratory Therapist
"I walk my dogs to relax – they are a man’s best friends!"
- Alexander Nance, MHA
Director, Office of the Patient Experience
"My dog, Tyson, is always ready for a walk when I get home. It’s great for both of us!"
- Sheri Austin
Supervisor, Concierge Services
"I like to bike the country roads. It keeps me fit and clears my head."
- Kirsten Hanrahan, DNP, ARNP
Director, Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
My daughter and I like to play a highly interactive version of the Plants vs. Zombies video game.
- Melanie Wellington, MD, PhD
Associate Hospital Epidemiologist, UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital
"I go for frequent walks with my dog. She’s a good listener to vent my frustrations to."
- Anna Hernandez
Labor Pool Staging Center
"Fishing, hunting, and spending time with my happy son and husband."
- Kristen Van Scoyoc, BSN, RN
Assistant Nurse Manager, Adult Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit