Gillian Schauer, Manager, Training and Outreach Unit, Clinical & Behavioral Sciences Department

My goal in life is to make a difference in the world. I do that every day at work by helping state and community partners to develop training and outreach programs and systems to address and treat health risk behaviors in a sustainable way.

I care deeply about improving population health. Risky behaviors like smoking, poor nutrition and stress contribute to an overwhelming number of the chronic diseases that plague our health care system today. Free & Clear allows me the opportunity to help reduce these behaviors in a creative and innovative way – working with states, employers and healthcare systems to develop sustainable solutions to health.

I like to walk to the grocery with a backpack and turn a routine errand into a practical workout. It also makes me think about what I’m buying because I know I have to carry it home.

I love to do sprint triathlons. I hope to do one at the Olympic distance. I’d also like to do the three-day, 60-mile breast cancer walk in Seattle with my two sisters in memory of our grandmother.

My family inspires me to maintain a healthy and balanced life. I started hiking and backpacking with my family when I was old enough to carry a tiny pack with just my socks and underwear. My dad and I started climbing one mountain each year when I was eight and have climbed many of the mountains in the Pacific Northwest together by the time I was in college. My sister is now a back country park ranger at Mount Rainer and my parents are now in better shape than I am. They all inspire me to find balance in my busy life to continue to bike, hike and enjoy our beautiful region.

My favorite topics to write about are state health initiatives, healthcare provider advice or involvement in patient behavior change, health policy change, international tobacco control, and health disparities.

Read my blog posts here.