OSDH Employees Added to Nationwide List of Work at Health Certified Program Trainers

OKLAHOMA CITY – The U.S. spends more than $2.9 trillion a year on medical costs, 86% of those costs are related to chronic conditions. That, many of times, translates into productivity loss related to personal and family health problems costing U.S. employers more than $225 billion every year.

“These statistics are why we are passionate about helping to implement science-based workplace wellness programs through Work@Health at OSDH, and across the state,” said Dr. Julie Dearing, a Certified Master Trainer.

Work@Health is an initiative of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is a free training program for employers to improve worksite wellness with strategies to reduce chronic disease and injury risk to employees.  

The program provides employer education, training, and ongoing technical assistance to create sustainable, evidence-based wellness programs that can reduce health care costs and increase worker productivity.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has added one more certified master trainer and three certified trainers to the list of trainers in the agency. Now, OSDH has a total of five certified trainers out of six total in the state.

New trainers include:

• Karin Leimbach, MPH, Certified Work@Health Master Trainer providing trainings statewide
  • Certified Healthy Consultant, Oklahoma State Department of Health
• Wendy Frankenburger, MPH, CHES, Certified Work@Health Trainer providing trainings in Creek, Kay, Lincoln, Noble, Osage, Pawnee and Payne counties 
  • Health Educator, Oklahoma State Department of Health
• Kieulia Blackmon, MAHS, MPH, CHES, Certified Work@Health Trainer 
  • Health Equity Fellow, Oklahoma State Department of Health
• Jeanean Yanish, PhD(c), MA, CFRE, Certified Work@Health Trainer providing trainings statewide
  • Executive Director, Health Alliance for the Uninsured

In addition to:

• Julie Dearing, PhD, MS, Certified Work@Health Master Trainer providing trainings statewide 
  • State Programs Coordinator, Oklahoma State Department of Health
• Chrissy Swift, BS, CHES, Certified Work@Health Trainer providing trainings in Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Nowata, Ottawa, Rogers, Wagoner, and Washington counties
  • Health Educator, Oklahoma State Department of Health 

Any employer who is U.S. based, offers insurance and has over 20 employees, is eligible to have an employee of their own go participate in the program.

For more information on the program visit our website or contact Karin Leimbach at KarinL@health.ok.gov.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) protects and improves public health through its system of local health services and strategies focused on preventing disease. OSDH provides technical support and guidance to 68 county health departments in Oklahoma, as well as guidance and consultation to the two independent city-county health departments in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Learn more at Oklahoma.gov/health.

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