“Well, I’m a Capricorn, so I’m very determined. And I’m extremely passionate about wellness and the people were so great. Those were my two incentives to get things rolling. It was a rough start, but I had a vision, and I was going to see it through.”
When she was hired in 1989, the faculty and staff bet she wouldn’t last more than six months. She was the third person hired for the wellness director position that year. Now, 35 years later, Joy Schiller, director of the wellness center at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, has proven them wrong and built a thriving, double platinum-level Well Workplace award-winning program and facility.
As she transitions to retirement, Schiller leaves behind a lasting legacy — one that is deeply embedded at DMU.
From Zero
“When I first started, there really wasn’t a wellness program in place. They had no idea what to do with me,” Schiller says. “I was told to go for it, so I did.”
The gym space at the time was not ideal. Most of the spaces deemed “gym” or “wellness” were remnants of St. Joseph’s Academy that had never been remodeled. “We used the old gym for classes, which had windows so high you couldn’t even open them,” Schiller says. “We had to bring in these massive industrial-sized fans and set them up in the corners just to get some airflow. If you walked by them, you’d practically get blown away!”
“Don’t even get me started on the weight room,” Schiller laughs. The space had been a converted cadaver room that carried the lingering smell of formaldehyde, and the window-box air conditioner only worked half the time.
The showers took minutes to warm up. “The alumni who used this space in the early 90s shared they were thankful to have the space to lift weights, blow off steam and take a break from the stress of medical school,” Schiller says.
A vision for what wellness would look like at DMU changed when Richard M. Ryan Jr., D.Sc., DMU president from 1996-2002, personally championed wellness’ role in the holistic approach of osteopathic medicine and developed the concept of a dedicated wellness space in the student education center. Schiller was part of the team who helped bring it to life.
“The space wasn’t perfect, but we made it work,’ Schiller says. “The weights were brought in, and we established a consistent schedule for group exercise classes.” Schiller also introduced ideas incorporating broader wellness aspects into the university’s culture.
“I owe a lot of my success in those early days to Dr. Spreadbury, who became my mentor and helped get a lot of things off the ground,” Schiller says. “The two of us chipped away at our goals until they became a reality.” Schiller and David Spreadbury, Ph.D., professor emeritus and former chair of biochemistry and nutrition, are responsible for bringing a teaching kitchen to campus, which lead to the creation of a healthy cooking elective for DMU students and a noon-time lunch-and-learn for students and employees.
A Holistic Approach
“When you talk about wellness, you need to look at all its dimensions.” Schiller says. “Wellness is about being the best you can be, and that will look different for everybody.” Schiller reflects on the various “fads” that shaped the industry during the early days of her career — achieving a specific weight, following workout trends and adhering to restrictive diets. Since then, the understanding of wellness has evolved, encompassing a more holistic approach to health and well-being. Schiller led with this mindset.
“Joy is extremely genuine and always meets you where you are,” says Amanda Sedlacek, D.O.’15, a former student worker in the wellness center. “She pushes you to grow and try new things. Joy taught us about healthy lifestyles, but she also made sure we were supported in other areas of life.”
Schiller stresses the importance of incorporating mental health into overall well-being. “I have been teaching and taking classes for over 45 years. When it comes down to it, it’s all about your mental outlook that will ultimately help make you feel more relaxed. Moving your body is a great way to work through emotions and find greater emotional health and balance,” Schiller says.
By establishing a wellness center on campus and emphasizing wellness in curriculums, Schiller helped make wellness a core value at DMU. A key initiative is the Wellness Pays program, which recently celebrated its 20th year of supporting DMU employees on their wellness journeys.
“Our goal with Wellness Pays was to make it easy for employees to prioritize their wellness and reward them for doing so,” Schiller says. The program offers DMU employees financial incentives for tracking wellness activities across various dimensions, including fitness, community service, spiritual growth, preventative health checks, social connections and financial wellness.
“Joy’s impact goes far beyond the role of a traditional wellness director,” says Phil Blumberg, M.H.A., executive director of the DMU Clinic and Schiller’s supervisor for a decade. “The Wellness Pays program, and everything she has implemented at the university, is rooted in the eight dimensions of wellness, reminding us that self-care is about much more than physical fitness and healthy eating.”
Setting the Bar for Wellness
Under Schiller’s directorship, DMU’s wellness programs and facilities are nationally ranked models of excellence. In 2009, DMU won its first platinum-level Well Workplace Award, the highest distinction from the Wellness Council of America. This award was the first and remains the only one given to an educational institution in the nation. In 2013, DMU received a second platinum-level Well Workplace Award.
“Killer” Workouts and Legacy
To help employees hit Wellness Pays program goals, the university encourages faculty and staff to find time in their day for movement. On DMU’s new campus, there are many options: walking on the indoor track, enjoying the two-mile outdoor loop around campus or participating in group exercise classes.
“I love teaching spin. We have an amazing spin studio here on the new campus with colored lights, a beautiful sound system and other high-tech aspects that amplify the energy in the room,” says Schiller, who earned the nickname “Schiller the Killer” for her intense classes. Participants know the workout will be tough, but Schiller reminds them that they are tougher — and they’ll leave feeling better than when they arrived.
“Joy hasn’t just developed a program; she developed an entire culture,” says Missy Gripp, wellness center manager and Schiller’s colleague of 13 years.
During DMU’s Grand Celebration weekend, alumni formed a line outside Schiller’s office to reconnect with their favorite wellness director. “It shows her profound impact on so many students,” Gripp adds.
As she moves into retirement, Schiller won’t be a stranger to DMU’s campus and community. She has agreed to stay involved to help train the next wellness director and help with the healthy cooking elective, which will take place for the first time in the Groben Wellness Lab, DMU’s teaching kitchen.
And if she had to do it all again, Schiller says she would without hesitation. “This journey was a wellness center
director’s dream come true,” Schiller says.
“It was a hard decision to make but I am excited to see what the next director will do, and I wouldn’t mind still teaching a class or two once I’m retired.”
— Joy Schiller
DMU’s Wellness Center
DMU’s Wellness Center provides a range of resources and activities to help students maintain their well-being. In addition to daily group exercise classes, students can also take advantage of the indoor walking track, state-of-the-art workout facility and basketball courts that can be used for various activities. Intramurals, such as basketball, volleyball and pickleball, are organized throughout each term. DMU also offers students physical and mental health support through the university clinic and student counseling center.
