Wellness | Penn Today

Two hands holding a cotton swab in an X formation.

Quit removing wax from your ears

For the vast majority, ear wax does not cause any problems and there’s no need to remove it—not only do cotton swabs not remove ear wax, but they can pose a risk of hearing loss.

Person getting their blood pressure checked.

Biometric screenings for wellness return to campus

Be in the Know, Penn’s faculty and staff wellness campaign, begins a new year and is bringing back on-campus biometric screenings.

Cat Hammer named head sports dietitian at Penn Athletics

Hammer served as part-time sports nutritionist at Penn Athletics and oversaw the nutritional strategies and approach for 16 of the University’s intercollegiate teams.

An older sibling helps a younger sibling put on a mask outside of school.

Adjusting to back to school while prioritizing family well-being

Penn Medicine experts offer tips on how to manage anxiety over COVID-19 variants, monkeypox, and other stressors as the new school year begins.

Two people standing in front of a wall of art. One of them is holding up a second piece of art in gloved hands. The other gestures toward the art, holding a computer or clipboard in the other hand.

Do art museums prioritize visitor well-being enough?

Research from the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project in Penn’s Positive Psychology Center reveals that the people working in these institutions want to see greater emphasis on human flourishing, but they feel ill-equipped to make it happen.

Illustration resembling a cosmic square with stars.

‘In These Times’ explores the intricate riddles of life through art

Episodes 6 and 7 of the latest season of the OMNIA podcast explore how art like music and dance have been the pulse of social movements, and how individual artistic experiences impact mental health and well-being.

People walking on campus, some with face coverings, some without.

Five things to know about COVID-19 protocols for the fall semester

In an effort to keep everyone within the Penn community healthy, Benoit Dubé, Penn’s chief wellness officer, says it is critical that University students, staff, and faculty adhere to the recommended public health guidelines.

A person, Helaine Heggs, standing outside in front of a tree.

‘Trusted messengers’ distill science, debunk myths about COVID-19 vaccine

VaxUpPhillyFamilies, led by Penn’s School of Nursing, engages Philadelphia parents and caregivers as vaccine ambassadors to identify concerns and provide support related to COVID-19 vaccines, increase vaccine uptake, and address social support needs.

Q&A

How to improve accessibility and digital inclusion

Tonya Bennett discusses a recent accessibility awareness panel discussion where higher education leaders focused on physical and digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people worldwide with disabilities and impairments.

Headphones and a stethoscope on a table.

Combating provider burnout and stress with music

Health care providers, long susceptible to burnout, have turned to music to alleviate the stress of the pandemic.

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