Bobbie G. Paull-Forney, Nurse Health Educator, started her career with Via Christi Regional Medical Center in 1998 as an exercise specialist in the hospital-owned Health & Fitness Center. Prior to that, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science from Wichita State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Friends University.
In 1999 she accepted an offer from the Prevention & Health Center (later renamed Solutions For Life) to be a health educator. To broaden her scope of skills and patient care responsibilities, Bobbie continued teaching at Solutions For Life while she went back to school at Hesston College and received her Associate of Science-Nursing degree in 2003. As a registered nurse, she worked briefly as a staff nurse before returning to her chosen profession as a nurse health educator in wellness and weight management at Solutions For Life in 2003.
A key aspect of the Solutions For Life programs that helped Bobbie choose her career is the use of outcomes data to guide behavioral and medical patient care decisions at SFL. She enjoys managing and analyzing data as a means of supporting the team in providing excellent patient care and outcomes. Bobbie is currently enrolled in the Master of Public Health program at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita.
Bobbie's motivation
"I desire to reach the public through health education and promotion. Solutions for Life provides an opportunity to teach a special population of people how to improve their quality of life and how to prevent chronic diseases through data-driven behavior modification. I have a passion for my career because of past personal issues surrounding food. I believe there is hope for every person to overcome their personal challenges surrounding body weight and eating issues. Solutions for Life provides valuable behavioral modification tools that assist individuals on their journey to overcoming these challenges."
Dena Marten, Nurse Health Educator, joined the Solutions For Life team in 1998. Prior to working for Via Christi, she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a Psychology minor from Fort Hays State University and her Master of Education in Counseling from Wichita State University She worked as an inpatient and outpatient nurse in medical, surgical and oncology units before she redirected her career to Behavioral Health, where she coordinated and delivered stress management programs in the hospital and throughout the community.
Dena began work as a nurse health educator with the HMR Program for Medical Weight ManagementTM and in 2002 further developed her knowledge and skills for the Surgical Weight Management Program. For both programs she provides nursing assessments and care coordination, and she teaches classes.
Dena's motivation
"I have the best of all worlds. As a health educator, I enjoy helping patients learn and practice the tools that will help them manage their health long term, and as a nurse, I'm privileged to see the improvements in patients' health as they practice these skills. I am also fortunate to be surrounded by a wonderful team of professionals, who make working at Solutions for Life a pleasure."
Jayne Dunlap, Health Educator, has worked in prevention, wellness and fitness for 20 years. To prepare for this career she graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a master's in Education. Both degrees focused upon exercise science.
