Leveraging the Power of a Virtual Team to Promote Health in Northeast Georgia

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While the pivot to virtual programming during COVID-19 was challenging, many area agencies on aging and disability have embraced the opportunities that virtual education provides to reach a wider audience of older adults and persons with disabilities. A related opportunity is the ability to engage partners across geographical locations to enrich health promotion activities in rural areas where access to specialized providers may be limited. In this presentation, we will share the challenges and successes of a virtual team located in three southeastern states in providing wellness programs to older adults in Northeast Georgia.

Whitney Bignell

Assistant Professor and Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics

East Tennessee State University

Dr. Whitney Bignell is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics in the Department of Rehabilitative Sciences at East Tennessee State University. As a registered dietitian nutritionist, she partners with two Area Agencies on Aging and Disability (one in Tennessee and one in Georgia) to provide virtual nutrition and wellness education and evidence-based programs. As a 2021 ACL Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services grantee, she is currently collaborating with colleagues at University of Tennessee Extension to develop a virtual social supper club nutrition education experience for congregate meal participants in Northeast Tennessee.

Rachel Anthony

Graduate Assistant

University of Georgia

Ms. Rachel Anthony is a graduate student in the Master of Health Administration program at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. She is a graduate assistant working with the aging services in Northeast Georgia to provide evidence-based wellness and nutrition programming.

Madison Copeland

Graduate Research Assistant

University of Georgia

Madison is a Graduate Research Assistant and Graduate Student in the Master of Health Administration Program at the University of Georgia College of Public Health in Athens, GA. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Commerce from Mercer University in Macon, GA. Madison serves as the Graduate Research Assistant on an ACL funded project with Open Hand Atlanta. She provides direct support in implementing telehealth nutrition services in the 12 senior centers within the Northeast Georgia area. Madison is also a Licensed Emergency Medical Technician in Georgia.

Lesley Clack ScD, MS

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Health Sciences

Florida Gulf Coast University

Dr. Lesley Clack serves as the Wellness Coordinator of the Northeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging. She is also an Associate Professor and Department Chair of Health Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University. She holds a Doctor of Science degree in Health Systems Management from Tulane University, a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of West Alabama, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science from the University of Georgia. Her research expertise spans the field of aging to focus on disparities and quality of life.