About Healthy for Life

• 1999: University of Missouri (Columbia campus) Health Coalition provided recommendations for the program.
• 2001: Thomas Atkins appointed curator and prioritizes employee wellness as a key concern.
• 2004: Wellness Steering Committee appointed and work begins on University of Missouri Health Care Wellness pilot program. Atkins provided a generous donation to launch the wellness program.
• 2004-2006: University of Missouri Health Care Pilot Wellness Program developed more and than 1,000 employees receive the health risk assessment at the first health fair. The wellness program introduced initiatives addressing exercise, weight management, stress and smoking. Board of Curators extends the wellness program to span all four campuses, and the program is named for Thomas Atkins.
• 2007: Health fairs are conducted at University of Missouri Health Care and University of Missouri-Columbia campus. Programs expanded at MU and University of Missouri Health Care.
• 2008: Health fairs are conducted at UM-St. Louis, UM-Kansas City and Missouri University of Science & Technology. Programs launched on all four campuses.
• 2009: Programs grow; new programs launched. Self-management groups piloted in University of Missouri Health System (formerly UMHC) and University of Missouri-Columbia campus.