A range of wellness career opportunities are available for graduates of the University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management master’s degree and stackable, graduate certificate programs, in healthcare, employee wellness, human resources, health insurance, public schools, non-profit agencies, and other industries. Graduates say earning their degree helped them achieve their goal of working as a wellness professional for companies that value health and well-being.
Health and Wellness Management Careers
Theresa Crawford, 2021 MS graduate, UW-Green Bay
Service Coordinator at PA Health & Wellness
PA Health & Wellness is a health insurance agency based in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Its mission is to improve the health of its beneficiaries through focused, compassionate, and coordinated care.
How her degree improved her career: “This degree has allowed me to develop a new look at the healthcare industry and my perspective toward healthcare for our vulnerable population (the elderly residing in nursing facilities). It has allowed me to fully understand the importance of quality care and personal interactions.”
What she loves about her job: “I love being able to go into the nursing homes and meet with the residents, to hear their stories, and to help ensure that they are getting the best care possible.”
Jennifer DiBiasi, 2019 MS graduate, UW-Parkside
Account Executive at Healics, Inc.
Healics, nurse-owned and operated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, offers professional health coaching, biometric screenings, and face-to-face, customized services to companies and their employees.
How her degree improved her career: “What I have learned so far in the Health and Wellness Management graduate program has allowed me to regain confidence and apply for jobs I may not have previously felt qualified for. In my current role, I assist with the implementation and management of my clients’ health assessment and biometric screening processes. Using the class learning resources and text, I am able to understand a more comprehensive view of how decisions in wellness are made and bring new, fresh ideas to the table.”
What she loves about her job: “I enjoy the diversity and autonomy of my current client-facing role. Many of the individuals I advise have heavy human resource backgrounds, and I enjoy bringing a wellness perspective to the conversation. There is often a heavy focus on how to save money versus how to save employees and their health. Using what I have learned in the Health and Wellness Management program regarding trends and programming combined with my past employee-facing roles, I provide insight as to how to foster a more supportive atmosphere for successful wellness programming and a healthier workforce.”
Chelsea Hurst, 2019 MS graduate, UW-Superior
Program Manager at Essentia Health and Wellness Coach at Healics Inc.
Essentia Health is an integrated health system serving patients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. Healics Inc. is a cutting-edge industry leader in preventive health and wellness programs.
How her degree improved her career: “The UW HWM program improved my career by enhancing my time management skills and helped me keep updated on evidence-based practices within the field. I enjoyed learning the many facets our learnings can be applied within, and I met wonderful connections and friends.”
What she loves about her job: “I like the variety of tasks within my two positions. Whether or not I directly communicate with patients, I feel like I am still making a direct impact for the patients and communities I serve. I appreciate the knowledgeable and strong leaders I have within both of my positions. I also really enjoy learning new ways to improve processes and utilizing technology to enhance population health efforts.”
Alex Schieber, 2019 MS graduate, UW-Green Bay
Corporate Manager of Benefits at Brakebush Brothers, Inc.
Brakebush Brothers, Inc. is a value-added processor of chicken products headquartered in Westfield, Wisconsin.
How her degree improved her career: “I have always had a passion to help people, which is why I became a nurse. However, after three years of working in a hospital, I found that my passion was not only to help people, but that I also wanted to help them remain healthy before their illnesses brought them into the hospital. With my UW HWM master’s degree, I am now able to help our employees get the healthcare and resources they need.”
What she loves about her job: “The healthcare industry in the United States is nearly impossible to navigate, and it is the source of great anxiety for most people. As a benefits manager, I love that I can be a resource to our employees who may not have anyone to help them navigate the healthcare system. I can be the person who can help them through some of the hardest times in their lives. I enjoy helping people find high-quality providers who really care for patients and charge reasonable rates for those services.”
Kirstie Skul, 2019 MS graduate, UW-Parkside
Wellness Account Manager at HealthCheck360
HealthCheck360 is a corporate wellness and health management company focused on reducing medical costs, workers compensation claims, and absenteeism while increasing employee engagement and productivity.
How her degree improved her career: “The program opened my eyes to the vast opportunities in the wellness field. You meet so many unique individuals working in different areas of wellness, and the collaboration is unmatched.”
What she loves about her job: “I love being a consultant for my clients’ wellness programs. I’m able to provide strategic planning based off of yearly reporting. I also love my brilliant coworkers!”
Laura Kuglitsch, 2018 MS graduate, UW-Parkside
Wellness Coach at Treo Wellness
Treo Wellness provides proactive wellness services to organizations who choose to empower their employees in making positive lifestyle choices.
How her degree improved her career: “The UW Health and Wellness Management master’s degree has given me the knowledge of how to effectively create a brand new wellness program for a company and the confidence to carry it through. This degree has given me the ability to reference what is needed to do in tough times, and it has provided me with many valuable connections and friendships in the field.”
What she loves about her job: “I love that I get to spread my excitement about health and wellness to others. I get to improve people’s lives every day through a variety of wellness offerings, such as mindfulness activities, fitness challenges, coaching, programming, and so much more. Becoming a wellness professional was the best decision I made. I always loved to help people and care for them, and this career path has provided me a sense of purpose and helped me to recognize my own values of who I am and where I want to be.”
Read Laura’s Story: Why a Wellness Master’s? This Health Coach is Preparing for Leadership
Danielle Waldhart, 2018 MS graduate, UW-Green Bay
Employee Wellness Specialist at Dean Health Plan
Dean Health Plan, based in Madison, Wisconsin, is the insurance arm of one of the largest healthcare systems in the country.
How her degree improved her career: “Many of the degrees I researched were niche, with a narrow focus in population or community health. Working with employees, one needs a wide range of skills. In one week, I can meet with sales, marketing, human resources, IT, and the medical or clinical staff. So, I must be able to communicate effectively. Having a strong foundation in project management, research, policy, and management, helps my communication with the teams and makes the programs I develop more effective.”
What she loves about her job: Danielle is passionate about her role at Dean. One day she’s writing a promotion for the national American Heart Association Wear Red Day. The next, she’s creating a program leading into Earth Day, to raise awareness of proper medication disposal. “I feel I’m blessed. I like what I do.”
Erin Wentworth, 2018 MS graduate, UW-Green Bay
Member and Program Coordinator at Wellness Council of Wisconsin
Wellness Council of Wisconsin (WCWI) is a nonprofit dedicated exclusively to helping employers design results-oriented wellness programs to maximize the health and productivity of employees.
How her degree improved her career: “As a former teacher coming into the field of health and wellness, earning this degree helped me tremendously to gain the information and higher level concepts I needed to work in the industry. This degree has opened doors for me to network by providing me with a volunteer opportunity that led to my current position at WCWI. The courses I completed for my UW HWM degree gave me insight into understanding the different career options I could explore along with looking at wellness and well-being through a very different perspective than I originally had.”
What she loves about her job: “I have the opportunity to provide premier resources on employee well-being for our member community across the state of Wisconsin. I enjoy being able to connect our members to these resources, best practices, and industry trends. As part of my role, I have the opportunity to be a lifelong learner by staying up-to-date on all things worksite wellness-related, and I am part of a team that truly believes in supporting the whole employee.”
Your Next Career Step—Health and Wellness Management
As a graduate of the online UW Health and Wellness Management master’s degree or certificate program, you’ll be qualified to lead wellness programs in a variety of wellness settings, across the country. Enrollment advisers can help with all of your program questions. Call 608-262-2011 or email learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu.