Health and Human Services News

He gained the tools he needed to succeed in corporate health

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Matt Hancock earned a bachelor’s in exercise science, became a personal trainer and managed a gym.

The Springfield native eyed MSU’s health promotion and wellness management graduate program because he wanted to make change on a larger scale.

“I really wanted to get into corporate health,” Hancock said. “It has been blowing up over the past couple of years. There’s a lot of opportunity. Companies are realizing healthier employees are more productive, too.”

Working while completing his degree

Missouri State’s program was attractive because it was flexible and offered a mix of seated and online courses. He worked full time at Mercy and was able to go to school part time and tackle his degree in chunks.

“I really liked the core classes because they let me learn a lot more about the direct areas I was going into, such as how to build up a program, how to look at a population health approach. My undergrad was more studying facts. My master’s was more applicable to everyday life and translating into a working situation,” Hancock said.

As part of a clinical requirement for his master’s, Hancock completed a 420-hour internship at Bass Pro working for the company’s wellbeing program.

He added on a certificate in health education because Hancock felt it would give him an edge in the job market and it did.

Shortly after graduating in spring 2019, Hancock left Mercy and joined Prime Inc., as Driver Health and Fitness Coordinator.

Matt Hancock giving presentation at work.
At Prime, Inc., Matt Hancock oversees programs that improve employee health.

Making a difference

At Prime, Hancock was able to use the knowledge he learned in his master’s courses to directly impact driver health.

He revamped the wellness program and reaches nearly 8,000 drivers.

“In the past, Prime focused on a 13-week weight loss program for drivers,” Hancock said. “We have evolved to focus on a whole person virtual approach now. When COVID entered our lives, we had to look at our health initiatives in a different way. In-person services were no longer an option, so in October 2020 we began designing our own online wellness platform using a learning management system called Learn Dash.”

“The master’s program really helped prepare me for my career by giving me the base of knowledge I needed. I didn’t know anything about corporate health when I started. I learned a lot to prepare for the position I am in now.”

Through this platform they created health risk assessments, collected health data and designed and evaluated programs more efficiently to suit drivers needs based on the health risks that are prevalent in the occupation, such as fatigue and back pain.

A holistic approach to employee health

The platform will allow them to offer fitness, nutrition and mental health programs around-the-clock to fit drivers’ unique schedules over the road.

“All aspects will be gamified so we can create an engaging, competitive atmosphere by offering points to our drivers for completing certain health-related activities and tasks,” Hancock said.

Drivers can access virtual personal training and nutritional counseling with their registered dietitian.

Taking a holistic approach, they also addressed:

  • Mental health, which is so important during the pandemic.
  • Created a tobacco cessation program since 60 percent of drivers use tobacco products, said Hancock.
  • Formed a healthy driver task force and put together exercises that drivers can do at truck stops or using equipment on the truck
  • Showed employees how to make healthier choices on the road.

“Not everyone is interested in losing weight or eating right, but if we have several initiatives they can focus on, then we can let them hone-in on one that helps them lead a healthier life,” Hancock said.  “It has gotten a lot of traction. We are starting to see improvement in employee health. It’s really a rewarding job. This is what I’ve been wanting to do for many years. I want to make a big impact on driver health, satisfaction, happiness and lifestyle.”

Explore a master’s degree in health promotion and wellness management

MCHHS forms student diversity council

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Before the start of the 2020-21 school year, the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) at Missouri State University established new diversity and inclusion initiatives.  

One such initiative was the formation of a student diversity council, representing MCHHS student voices and concerns. It is now officially up and running.  

“A lot of what we’ve done in the past regarding diversity and inclusion has been faculty and staff driven, with little input from the students” said Dr. Ashley Payne, assistant professor of psychology and faculty advisor for the student council.  

Read more about the faculty council 

“The formation of this council encourages students to voice their concerns, which then helps the faculty council implement necessary changes.”  

Student council mission 

The student diversity council has two ideas that drive its work:  

  • Everyone is an individual with value. 
  • The council exists to drive solutions.  

“We can sit and discuss things for hours, but unless we come up with solutions, we aren’t promoting real change,” said Carsten Warner, co-chair of the student council.  

Since the council is newly formed, the group of about 20 students is still in the process of determining specific functions. But it has some ideas.  

The council is working with the office for institutional equity and compliance to create a forum for students to express concerns. The plan is for both the equity office and the student council to monitor the forum and act when a student voices a concern.  

 It also wants to host community town hall discussions, contribute to GEP diversity curriculum and help implement diversity training and education in MCHHS departments without it.  

“Curriculum changes take time,” Payne said. “But it’s something we’re striving for and that we think is important across the college.”  

Forming the council and looking forward 

The leaders of each MCHHS department nominated the students on the council, in an effort to have representation from every department in the college.  

Warner and Derek Rowe volunteered to serve as co-chairs.  

“After we pulled together the nominations, the students took charge,” Payne said. “We wanted them to be the driving force behind everything the council does.”  

Warner and Rowe come from opposite backgrounds when it comes to diversity. Rowe grew up in diverse California. Warner grew up in a small town where most people looked the same and had similar experiences.  

But their convictions to celebrate and encourage diversity are the same.  

“I know what it looks like when diverse opinions and experiences aren’t taken into account, and I want to make sure that doesn’t happen here,” Warner said.  

The council also believes it can implement lasting change in the college, which it hopes will promote diversity in the healthcare industry as a whole.  

“Bias and stereotyping in the healthcare industry can affect the way a person receives treatment,” Rowe said. “People in healthcare hold others’ lives in their hands, so the need for diversity training and education at the ground level is that much more important.” 

MCHHS back to campus guide

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Missouri State released a Return to Campus Guide on July 6. Since then, they’ve added some updates and additions. 

This guide is here to let MCHHS students know what to expect when they return on August 17. 

Masks: 

Masks must be worn in all buildings on campus this fall.

Read the full masking policy. 

Masking exceptions: 

In the event that an individual cannot wear a Mask due to an underlying disability, they may initiate the university’s interactive accommodations process in order to request a “reasonable accommodation. Students who wish to request an accommodation may contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Meyer Library, Suite 111, and available at DRC@MissouriState.edu; 417-836-4192; or TTY (417) 836-2792.

Mask enforcement: 

Students who have not been granted an accommodation and who refuse to wear a mask while in the classroom or other academic settings are subject to administrative withdrawal, consistent with Op3.04-11 Class Disruption. Additionally, students who fail to comply with this policy in areas outside the classroom or other academic settings are subject to disciplinary action consistent with the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

If you show symptoms and need to get tested:

You must first be assessed by a physician. Options for assessment by a physician include:

  • Contact Magers at 417-836-4000.
  • After hours, contact the Mercy Nurse On-Call at 417-820-6055.
  • Contact your primary care provider.
  • In case of medical emergency, go to a local hospital emergency room or call 911.

COVID-19 testing is available on campus at Magers for students, faculty and staff who have been referred by a physician for testing. If you have insurance, your insurance company will be billed for the test. If you do not have insurance or if your insurance does not pay for the entire cost of the test, the university will not bill you for the balance.

Additional information about testing, including information about other testing locations in the Springfield area, can be found on the Springfield-Greene County Health Department’s webpage.

Missouri State is also tracking confirmed cases on campus. 

Keep an eye on your class schedule.

Your method of instruction may have changed since you registered, so do a check of your detailed schedule. You can find your detailed schedule under the registration tab in My Missouri State.

Any relevant updates will be added to this guide as we approach the first day of class. 

Additional information can be found on Missouri State’s COVID-19 webpage.