IU Department of Health & Wellness Design

07/30/2026

🎙️ New Podcast Feature: Indiana University & Military Recreation

How does a university become one of the nation's leading talent pipelines for military recreation professionals?

In the latest episode of On The Front Line – The Military Rec Show, host John Prue sits down with Dr. Julie Knapp, Tara Culbertson, and Kristen Riddle to discuss how Indiana University's Parks, Recreation, Outdoor, and Tourism program has prepared generations of professionals to serve military communities around the world.

The conversation explores:
⭐ The impact of internships and mentorship
⭐ Career pathways in Military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR)
⭐ Leadership and service
⭐ The lasting legacy of Professor Dan Sharpless

Whether you're a current student, an alumnus, an MWR professional, a military family member, or someone interested in meaningful careers that strengthen communities, this episode is well worth a listen.

🎧 Watch the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/gDLvM2y18G8?si=B5yESbWff5_qlMLA

07/27/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Brandon Howell, lead author, and HEWD faculty members Dr. Jordan Hill, Dr. Edmond Ramly, and Dr. Richard Holden on their recent publication in Frontiers in Public Health.

Their article, "Designing Hospitality for Health: An Emerging Approach to Public Health," introduces a new approach to public health that explores how hospitality principles can create more welcoming, person-centered environments that improve health and well-being.

📖 Read the article: https://go.iu.edu/T8mCbw

07/23/2026

🎉 Congratulations to HEWD faculty member Dr. Armando Peña!

The Department of Health & Wellness Design is proud to celebrate Dr. Armando Peña on receiving two Indiana CTSI funding awards that will support innovative health research:

🔹 Translational Population Health Award
Principal Investigator: Dr. Armando Peña
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Camila Arnaudo

🔹 Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Pilot & Feasibility Award
Principal Investigator: Dr. Armando Peña

These awards recognize innovative research that advances population health and research on diabetes and metabolic diseases.

Learn more about Indiana CTSI funding opportunities:
https://go.iu.edu/ek2k6T

Congratulations, Dr. Peña!

07/20/2026

🌊 Make water safety part of your summer wellness routine.

Whether you're spending time at the pool, lake, or beach, practicing safe swimming habits can help prevent injuries and keep you and your loved ones safe. A few simple precautions can make all the difference.

Read these expert-recommended swimming safety tips from Everyday Health:
https://go.iu.edu/r2sbV9

07/16/2026

📚 Congratulations to HEWD faculty on a new publication!

The Department of Health & Wellness Design is proud to celebrate the publication of Health and Leisure: Making the Connections (2nd Edition), co-edited by Dr. Megan Janke, Associate Professor in HEWD.

This groundbreaking text is the only book in the world dedicated to the connection between health and leisure. It explores today's most pressing public health issues through a holistic lens, examining physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being across the lifespan.

We're also proud to recognize Dr. Megan Janke and Dr. Jordan McIntire, who both contributed chapters to this edition.

Topics include:
🌿 Nature's Prescription for Health
👨‍👩‍👧 Designing Leisure for Family Health
🍽️ Mindful Dining as Leisure
🧘 Leisure and Stress Management
🌎 Environment and Climate Change
💙 Leisure as a Context for Prevention

Learn more about the book or order a copy here: https://go.iu.edu/cWTK6E

Congratulations to Dr. Janke, Dr. McIntire, and all of the contributors on this outstanding achievement!

07/04/2026

🎇 Stars, stripes, and summer skies! 🇺🇸

Health & Wellness Design wishes you a happy, safe, and healthy Fourth of July. May your holiday be filled with celebration, connection, and lasting memories.

06/29/2026

This summer, Dr. Čedomir Stanojević, Assistant Professor at IU School of Public Health-Bloomington, is in Novi Sad, Serbia, building partnerships and laying the groundwork for a first-of-its-kind autism study in this part of the world.

Alongside site Co-I Dr. Daniela Tamaš and students from the University of Novi Sad School of Medicine, Dr. Stanojević is leading hands-on training in digital health tools, including wearable sensors, eye-tracking systems, and virtual reality, while preparing the research infrastructure for the study ahead.

The project "Physiological and Gaze Correlates of Distress in Adults with Profound Autism" is scheduled to launch in Fall 2027 in collaboration with the Institution for Social Welfare Services of the City of Novi Sad and the University of Novi Sad.

By building international collaborations and leveraging multidisciplinary technologies to improve health outcomes for an underserved population, this work reflects the SPH-B’s mission to promote health among individuals and communities in Indiana, the nation, and the world through research, teaching, and community engagement.

Photographs in this post feature individuals whose legal guardians and caregivers provided prior permission for photography and public use.

06/26/2026

We're excited to share the publication of "Designing Hospitality for Health: An Emerging Approach to Public Health" in Frontiers in Public Health.

This innovative work explores how hospitality principles can help create public health experiences that foster dignity, trust, belonging, and well-being. The publication was led by Dr. Brandon Howell through the Experience Design Collaboratory at the Center for Health by Design and co-led by Health & Wellness Design faculty members Dr. Jordan Hill, Dr. Edmond Ramly, and Dr. Rich Holden.

Congratulations to the entire team on this important contribution to the fields of public health, design, and hospitality.

Read the publication here: https://lnkd.in/gtEW79by

Health is shaped not only by clinical care but also by the environment and interactions people experience in health spaces such as health centers, long-term ...

06/24/2026

Dr. Bill Ramos is just returning from the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council Meeting. This group of scientists, medical experts, academics and practitioners support the Red Cross mission by utilizing the most current research to make informed decisions about programs and organization direction. Dr. Ramos serves as the chair for the sub-council working in the area of aquatics which includes drowning prevention.

This summer the meetings were hosted by the Canadian Red Cross in Ottawa, CA. Dr. Ramos would like to send out his sincere thanks to the CRC for hosting an amazing and productive event.

06/17/2026

Indiana University School of Public Health–Bloomington faculty member Dr. Brandon Howell, Clinical Associate Professor of Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management, was invited by the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, through the IU Mexico Gateway Office, led by Molly Fisher, to participate in Aldea Global 2026, a free multicultural festival celebrating the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City.

During his visit, Howell met with staff at the IU Mexico Gateway, his second IU Gateway visit, following a visit to the IU Gateway in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2019. He also toured the historic 1968 Summer Olympic Stadium and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the largest university in Latin America.

As part of the official World Cup festivities, Howell delivered a presentation titled, “Healthy Fans, Healthy Venues: Hospitality Strategies for Enhancing Spectator Well-being at Sporting Events,” highlighting the growing intersection of hospitality, public health, and sport event management.

Drawing from his “Hospitality IS Health” agenda, Howell emphasized how hospitality environments can directly influence human well-being.

“As a leader in hospitality, it is not only my goal to create memorable experiences, it’s my mission to help design environments that influence how people feel, behave, and even recover physically, mentally, and emotionally,” Howell said. “Sports stadiums—from seating to food to airflow—have a direct impact on health outcomes.”

The presentation showcased how thoughtful venue design and hospitality practices can support healthier, safer, and more positive experiences for spectators attending major sporting events around the world.