For more than two decades, I’ve worked in the field of health promotion—first as a faculty member at Duke University, then leading workplace wellness at the Medical University of South Carolina. I’ve seen the industry evolve from step challenges and biometric screenings to more holistic approaches that emphasize emotional wellbeing, resilience, and burnout prevention. Even so, I kept coming back to one question: What if the environment itself was the intervention?

That insight changed the way I viewed my work—and deepened my curiosity about how nature could be more intentionally integrated into everyday environments. I started to notice how often people felt their best when they were outdoors. I paid attention to the science behind blue and green spaces. I listened to leaders who said they needed fresh ways to support their teams, not just more programs to manage

The spark for Nature at Work came when I recognized that although the research connecting nature and health is expanding rapidly, there’s still no clear model for how to implement nature-based health promotion—especially in the workplace. That gap became my calling.

Nature at Work is my way of helping to fill it. It’s a statewide initiative rooted in science, connection, and action. It’s a platform for employers, communities, and changemakers to support healthy people and healthy places. It’s a home for those of us who believe the outdoors can be our greatest asset in shaping the future of work, health, and sustainability.

If you’re ready to join a growing movement that prioritizes nature, wellbeing, and community, we invite you to become a member of the SC Nature, Health & Business Group. Let’s build something transformative—together.