| Dr. Steve Aldana |
 I was one of those strange young men who actually liked school. I graduated from college with a degree in physical education and minors in mathematics and geology. I thought I was really learning a lot when I got my master's and doctorate degrees and even when I took a job teaching and doing research at a university. But the most important part of what I know today was learned while consulting with companies and worksites who were offering worksite wellness programs. In 20 years in academia, I did lots of research, wrote 5 books, and published over six dozen research articles. Still, I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated at the gap that exists between academia and the real world. So, in 2007 I resigned my position as a tenured full-professor at Brigham Young University. That's right, I walked away from the most secure job in America because I knew that my ability to help Americans change behaviors would be limited if I stayed behind the walls of academia. I can summarize my passion in three sentences: Most of the chronic diseases and deaths in the civilized world are not caused by genetics or by some act of God. They are the direct result of poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and tobacco use. All we have to do to reverse these problems is change behaviors. It's that simple. Now that I'm a "recovering" academic, I'm free to develop WellSteps and to be part of a national effort to improve the health of all Americans. I get to speak to groups all over the U.S. and I get to help worksites provide outstanding wellness programs. The ability to help people adopt new behaviors and dramatically improve health is one of the most rewarding things in my life. |