Message From the Executive Director and CEO

Dear 1199SEIU Members,

Spring is finally in full bloom! I am so happy that the days are getting longer and warmer. I love the warm weather—it boosts my mood and makes me feel like getting out and moving more. Speaking of which, this issue of For Your Benefit is chock-full of great information about the importance of the mind-body connection and the impact it makes on our health journeys.

I continue to be grateful that I am making this journey with you, my 1199 family. We know that self-care is a vital component of preventive healthcare, and an important part of self-care is “knowing your numbers.” Knowledge is power, and finding out your blood pressure, blood sugar, Body Mass Index and cholesterol numbers can provide a guide for the choices you make. To find out more, please take a moment to read or listen to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Van H. Dunn’s column in the links on the right side of this page. He discusses the importance of “knowing your numbers” with our new Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lela Mayers.

Here at the Benefit Funds, we are always on the lookout for partnerships that allow us to expand the menu of program options available to you. So, I am excited to announce our new partnerships with Ochsner Digital Medicine and FlyteHealth. Ochsner Digital Medicine is a program to improve diabetes and hypertension medication management, and FlyteHealth is a medical weight-management program. I encourage you to learn more about these programs and the many other programs and resources available to you as an 1199SEIU member.

In this issue, you’ll also hear from 1199er Yolanda Acevedo, a Constant Observer of Nurse Flow from Garnet Health, who began her health journey so that she can remain strong to care for her father and her patients. You can read more about her journey here.

This promises to be a busy spring and summer! We’re well into our second season of our Health Is the Key podcast, where you’ll get the latest information from leading medical experts, mental health professionals and other industry leaders. You can listen to our most recent episode, plus all of our previous episodes by visiting the Health Is the Key page. And keep an eye on your email to get a monthly dose of inspiration with our Members’ Voices video series!

Finally, we are always looking for new ways to reach out to you, so please visit the Member Contact Form page to make sure we have the most up-to-date information to connect with you.

In good health,

Donna Rey, EdD

Executive Director, 1199SEIU Benefit and Pension Funds

CEO, 1199SEIU Funds Administrative Operations