Susanne Koch, DPH worksite wellness coordinator

With a master's degree in exercise physiology and experience training elite athletes and military forces, Susanne Koch is well-prepared to guide Department of Public Health (DPH) employees to optimal levels of health as the new worksite wellness coordinator.  

Koch came to DPH from Kansas and though she has only been in Georgia one month, she has hit the ground running. While it's unlikely she'll be pushing employees through 40-yard dashes or vertical jumps, she has big plans for implementing fitness, nutrition and general wellness activities for DPH employees.  

"I want everyone to participate in something," said Koch. "Whether it is joining the walking group, taking a group exercise class or getting a chair massage, I'm hoping that everybody takes advantage of the exciting opportunities that will be coming to 2 Peachtree."  

Those exciting opportunities have already started, with Koch reigniting the workday walking groups, open to all of DPH. The walks occur on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon and Tuesday and Thursday at 8 a.m. The group leaves from the front of the 1st floor fitness center.

Koch also hopes to reopen the fitness center, which will offer access to cardio and strength equipment, along with group fitness classes.  

"Even if we can't reopen the fitness center, we will have group fitness classes," said Koch. "I will find a space for those to take place."

Along with getting employees moving, Koch has ideas for "The Biggest Loser" type weight loss programs, bi-monthly workshops or webinars on exercise and nutrition topics and a stairwell beautification initiative that will update the stairwells with paint, artwork and other aesthetic improvements.

"Even if people only start by walking the stairs, that's a start!" said Koch, who hopes improving the look and feel of the stairwell will encourage employees to take the stairs, especially between the DPH floors of nine through 16.

She is also putting together a guide for healthy options for local dining in which she highlights the healthiest options for eating out around 2 Peachtree.

"With a little planning, people can prepare healthy foods to bring to lunch each day," said Koch, who cooks extra for dinner each night to pack for the next day's lunch. "Eating lunch out sometimes can be OK, but I want to make it simple for people to make a smart, healthy choice. This guide should make picking a balanced meal the easy choice."

Koch encourages employees to keep healthy snacks like fruit on hand so they are not tempted to head to the vending machine during a late afternoon slump. She also reminds employees that every day is a new day.

"If you make unhealthy choices one day and fall off the wagon, you have to remember that tomorrow is a new day and a chance to start over and make better choices."

Koch is now the contact person for the InSTEP program, a pilot program for 2 Peachtree DPH employees in which participants aim to make healthy choices to increase their health and lower or maintain optimal insulin levels. Koch is currently incorporating feedback from participants in order to improve the program. InSTEP will open for enrollment of new participants this fall. An announcement will go out to all 2 Peachtree DPH employees when the new enrollment period begins.

To help support change, a new physical fitness policy for all DPH employees will include a flexible 30-minute "exercise" break that takes the place of the previous "2 each 15-minute breaks" policy. This would allow employees to fit in fitness in conjunction with their lunch breaks or anytime throughout the day that works best with their schedule. She has the support of the commissioner in encouraging meetings to never be scheduled from noon to 1 p.m to ensure staff are able to take their scheduled lunch time. "Lunch time, whether your schedule includes 30 minutes or an hour, is really a necessary time to decompress and refuel the body. People need this time to push away from their desks and move around, particularly," Koch states.

Koch is working on a policy for wellness ambassadors throughout the state DPH locations to serve on a committee. If you have an interest in health and fitness and would like to serve as a DPH wellness ambassador, please contact Koch. She also would love to know what DPH employees would like to see in a worksite wellness program. If you have any ideas for programs or topics you would like to see covered in a lunch and learn or a webinar, send them to Koch at eskoch@dhr.state.ga.us.

-Story by Kimberly Stringer, DPH Communications