An Interview with Jamy McGee and the UNC Wellness Center – Meadowmont

Jamy McGee, MA, ACSM EP-C, FMFA, is a health education director for UNC Health Care and UNC Wellness Centers  

1. What is your organization’s interest in the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance?

Our interest with the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance is very personal. A good number of our members at our UNC Wellness Centers, live with arthritis. The opportunity to partner with the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance provides us with a direct link to education, advocacy, and awareness for our community and the population we serve.

2. What do you think is the most important issue today related to osteoarthritis?

In our medical fitness facility, we get to work with people of all ages and abilities. We hope we are creating an environment that welcomes movement, physical activity, and fitness that fosters overall more movement for all, including those living with osteoarthritis. While we do provide group exercise classes and non-weight bearing exercise environments like the aquatics area, we want to ensure safety and appropriateness for all levels. We understand that with further community awareness, education, and advocacy that anyone living with arthritis or other limiting conditions can move. We hope we are proving that every day at the UNC Wellness Centers.

3. How does your work connect to issues in osteoarthritis?

We directly connect to issues in osteoarthritis by providing physical activity and movement options for our members and community through programs like Walk with a Doc. In addition, we have also supported the annual Arthritis Walk in the Triangle. Finally, as I mentioned previously, we provide a variety of movement options through our robust group exercise program.

4. What is a headline you’d like to see about osteoarthritis in five years?

Movement and physical activity is possible for everyone, especially those living with osteoarthritis!

5. What is one interesting fact you’d like people to know about your organization?

UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont has been a medical fitness facility in Chapel Hill since 2002. We’re open to everyone, even if you think you can’t move well. We’d like to be that place you go to help you move better.