MUIH Appoints New Health and Wellness Coaching Department Chair

Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) has announced that it has appointed Dr. Duston Morris as the new chair of its health and wellness coaching department. He brings a wealth of professional experiences to the role as a health and wellness professional, faculty member, researcher, and academic administrator.

Dr. Morris’ career includes a strong emphasis on individual and community health and wellness. Since 1990, he has developed and managed health, wellness, fitness, personal training and recreation programs in a variety of clinical and community settings. He is also the recipient and nominee of numerous professional awards and currently serves as the president of the Arkansas Society of Public Health Education and is an education/credentialing ambassador for the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC).

He has an extensive record of research and scholarly publications and presentations. His research activities include work in physical activity and exercise, health behavior, and inter-professional education. He is a senior editor of the international multidisciplinary MedCrave Online Journal of Public Health and serves as a reviewer for the International Journal of Psychological Studiesand the American Journal of Men’s Health. Dr. Morris is professionally active with the Society of Public Health Education, the American Council on Exercise and USA Triathlon.

“Health and Wellness Coaching is a critical component of the client support and care continuum. It’s a profession that helps people move forward on that care continuum by developing a genuine partnership with each person, where coaches use creative and engaging techniques and strategies that help facilitate the behavioral change process,” said Dr. Morris.“With lifestyle-related disease and illness accounting for about half all mortality and a large majority of health care costs, people would greatly benefit from health care professionals that address how the interaction between personal choice, behavior and their environment impact health and overall quality of life. This is exactly the role of the health and wellness coach. Coaches go beyond general health and well-being. They help their clients thrive and flourish.”

Dr. Morris holds a PhD in Health Behavior and Health Promotion from the University of Arkansas and an MS in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He is certified as a health education specialist through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing and a certified health coach through the American Council on Exercise.

“Dr. Morris brings a student-centered perspective with an emphasis on preparing graduates for both current and future job markets,” noted Dr. James Snow, dean of academic affairs. “His background as a health education specialist broadens the expertise within the department, and his combination of research, teaching and administrative experience is ideal for leading the academic programs forward.”

For more information, visit www.muih.edu.