Kathleen's Deepest Inspirations

July 9, 2025

This week, we talked with wellness program manager Kathleen Yumul, about her best well-being advice and deepest inspirations.

It stuck with me that employers may be the only avenue for some people to get information about how to support their health, so I take that seriously in my role.
Kathleen Yumul
‌Welcome Program Manager
HR Wellnesss

Kathleen's Deepest Inspiration

Tell us about your role.

I’ve been at UCSF for 10 years, six of them in a wellness role. I am the wellness program manager, and my focus is on staff and faculty wellness. How can we make sure we are taking care of the people who are doing such great work at UCSF? How do we connect people to resources to support their well-being? We create tools to help with all aspects of their well-being, such as the seven pillars of wellness model, to help people think about their well-being holistically. We offer cyclical events like Step It Up and Wellness Bingo. Then we also advocate for well-being on a more systematic level, like the Well-being Committee and, one of my favorites, the Wellness Champions program.‌

How did you become interested in wellness?

I have always been interested in preventive care. Starting in my undergraduate days at UC Davis, I did a health education and promotion internship to educate college students on healthy behaviors. I loved being able to provide information to people and tell them things that weren’t even on their radar, like healthy eating tips and de-stress practices. I would dress up as a vegetable at the farmer’s market, meet people, and connect them with resources, and I found I really enjoyed it. When I first came to UCSF, I was working in a very different role on the Health side and noticed how my work was impacting my well-being. When my current role opened up, I was excited by the opportunity to support the well-being of the institution.

‌On a deeper level, both my parents immigrated here, and I remember my mom telling me that they never learned about wellness and well-being topics until she came to America and was introduced to wellness and health education through her employer. It stuck with me that employers may be the only avenue for some people to get information about how to support their health, so I take that seriously in my role.

What advice would you give your colleagues to care for their well-being during tough times?

We need well-being more than ever. Take a self-assessment: How am I doing? How am I feeling? What am I bringing into this space? Acknowledging that times are difficult is an important aspect of managing our well-being. Practicing empathy and kindness goes a long way every day, especially in times like these. We don’t know what people are experiencing or carrying with them through their workdays. We need to remind ourselves that we are human beings, and we’re entitled to our own feelings, reactions, and emotions, as are others.

‌Focusing on what you can control is another good tip when things feel overwhelming. What can I control right now? You can get up for five minutes, get a cup of tea, stand up and stretch, or even take a deep breath. In that moment, even the smallest things you can control can help take you out of an overwhelming spiral.‌

‌Find one thing that works for you and your well-being, and start small there. We call them “micro-actions” — micro moments of wellness in your daily routines. Maybe you can take a deep breath before starting a Zoom meeting or get off on Muni one stop early to get extra movement. The little things will stack up, and those little moments are examples of you taking care of your well-being.‌