Robert J. Mullaney, OTD, DBA, MBA-HSA, OTR/L
Meet Dr. Robert J. Mullaney, UTK’s new Be Well / Employee Wellness Coordinator. As a state licensed and nationally certified Occupational Therapist, Dr. Mullaney brings to this role a unique mix of experiences including clinical, non-clinical, entrepreneurial, higher education, and leadership. His roles in clinical practice have spanned over hospitals and rehabilitation centers including acute-care, in-patient rehabilitation, hand therapy, brain injury, business consultation, and community mental health and wellness. In non-clinical and entrepreneurial roles, he has practiced in corporate and individual occupation-based coaching with a focus on human productivity, life-balance, strategic planning, and physical and mental health enhancement.
In higher education, Dr. Mullaney has held leadership roles at colleges/universities in Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee and has most recently held the role of tenured, full professor earned by traditional methods over 16 years. His specialty was starting from scratch new Associate, Masters, and Doctorate-level Occupational Therapy academic programs in traditional, hybrid, and remote formats. Other specialty areas developed over his career have focused on curriculum design and development, program development (clinical, non-clinical, and creative COVID-era), accreditation compliance, teaching, student advisement, faculty/staff mentorship, study abroad program development and facilitation, and much more. He has served on IRB committees, faculty senates, and various President-Appointed Committees.
Time for a Change
After working to develop 7 different academic programs over the past 16 years in higher education with the same accrediting bodies and attending the same annual conferences, he has determined it was a time for some change. Upon meeting some personal and professional career milestones, it was time to bring it back to the roots and focus on what drives his passion as an Occupational Therapist. That passion is helping people through use of his experience, therapeutic use-of-self as a therapist, and education. His aim is to truly encompass the Volunteer Sprit and give back to those working so hard to prepare our students for successful futures in the various ways we do (i.e. custodial and landscaping crews for the beautiful and clean work and learning environments, faculty for the lessons and competencies, staff for facilitating and administering, dining for ensuring nourishment, and so many others). Mental and Physical Health programming are his areas of interest in practice and in research and what better than to work with such a wonderful, dedicated, and diverse employee population at the University of Tennessee.
What particularly drew Dr. Mullaney to working with the Center for Health Education and Wellness as the Be Well / Employee Wellness Coordinator is their use of the guiding principles of the 8-Dimensions of Wellness, also created by a fellow Occupational Therapist (Swarbrick, 2006). For those unfamiliar, these cover the 8 life domain areas of: Occupational, Social, Emotional, Intellectual, Spiritual, Physical, Environmental, and Financial (see link above to learn more). The programming of BeWell / Employee Wellness will aim to offer supportive and engaging learning activities and events meant to stimulate healthy behavioral changes by addressing each area at least once per month, year-round. Communications via various social media outlets (i.e., X, Instagram, Facebook) and newly revised monthly BeWell Newsletters will also share recent, relevant, and evidence-based knowledge and tips, upcoming events, and more. Dr. Mullaney will also be tailoring wellness-related presentations and trainings to the needs of the various departments and employee groups on the UTK campus, scheduled and upon request.
Milestones Achieved and a Personal Note
Dr. Mullaney is creative and determined and is ready to work with you, your faculty or staff, or other employee groups to tap into their creativity to find solutions and establish interdepartmental wellness partnerships.
As a personal note, remember that no task or goal is too big to achieve with the right supports and team to guide you along the way. Dr. Mullaney is proud to serve as your new BeWell / Employee Wellness Coordinator to help you set, work, adjust, and achieve your goals at UT.
References
Swarbrick, M. (2006). A Wellness Approach. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 29(4), 311–314.