Kristina Janousek has been named program manager of the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging (HICSA) EngAge Wellness program through the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine. She succeeds Jeannie Hannan, who served as the inaugural program manager from 2010-2018.
Since 2008, Janousek has been serving as an exercise physiologist and certified diabetes educator at the Nebraska Medicine Diabetes Center. From 2001 to 2007, she served as a health/fitness specialist at Union Pacific Railroad/MediFit Corporate Services in Omaha.
Janousek said she has a passion to show that people can live well and thrive with chronic health conditions.
“Being a part of an evidenced-based, medically managed, whole-person wellness program integrated with UNMC sets Engage Wellness apart from any other fitness center in the Omaha-metro area,” Janousek said. “Being able to collaborate with Dr. Al Fisher and Dr. Jane Potter, the knowledgeable and helpful staff, and the community of members is very gratifying.”
She said her role will include emphasizing educating participants in health and wellness and training students from UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha in the role of exercise in the treatment of chronic conditions, as well as community engagement.
“We offer a wide array of fitness classes, so I’ll sharpen my line-dancing skills,” Janousek said. “As health systems move toward value-based care, Exercise is Medicine® can be part of a population health approach to stratifying at-risk patient groups and providing opportunities for healthy lifestyle interventions.
“This position requires ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking, so I’m brainstorming effective ways to communicate Exercise is Medicine® to health care providers and community members that everyone has access, and that exercise is the one medicine so powerful that it can treat and prevent dozens of diseases. If exercise were a pill, we would all take it.”
Janousek is impressed with what HICSA has going.
“Engage Wellness is truly a magical place,” she said. “The staff and members genuinely care about each other’s well-being. Participants feel safe being prescribed exercise by a certified fitness professional who regularly keeps in contact with their referring provider for feedback. In addition to the physical dimension of wellness, we offer a comforting social aspect as well.”
Janousek holds a master’s degree in public health from UNMC and a bachelor’s degree in wellness and exercise science from Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb.
Congrats Kristina!
Congratulations Kristina!