The Stanford Health Improvement Program (HIP), a component of the Stanford Prevention Research Center seeks to enhance the health and quality of life of the Stanford community through a wide range of health classes, programs, and services. Faculty and staff work also with local companies to offer a wide range of health promotion and disease prevention programs for the general public. HIP focuses on a range of health promotion and disease prevention programs for the general public. HIP focuses on wellness - to optimize health and enhance physical functioning by increasing awareness of a healthy lifestyle.

The Stanford Prevention Research Center (SPRC), a division of the Stanford University School of Medicine, is dedicated to improving the health and functioning of individuals in communities and other populations. Our interest is in preventing disease and in advancing society's understanding of the determinants of health, such as regular physical activity, healthy nutrition, weight management. etc.

The YMCA, builds strong kids, strong families and strong communities — together, the nation's more than 2,500 YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in America, working to meet the health and social service needs of 18.9 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities in the United States. YMCAs stretch beyond the United States. They are at work in more than 120 countries around the world, serving more than 45 million people. Y's are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay. The strength of the YMCA lies in the people it brings together. The YMCA is dedicated to improving the quality of human life and to helping all people realize their fullest potential through development of the spirit, mind and body.

— Joyce Hanna
 

Joyce Hanna, MA, MS (joyce.hanna@stanford.edu) is the Director of Living Strong Living Well and has been with HIP since 1991. She is an exercise physiologist, health educator and health promotion specialist. Her community leadership is valued as a consultant to the former Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, the Stanford Health Library Advisory Board and past President of Fifty-Plus Fitness Association, a national organization involved in research and education on physical activity and aging. Joyce has graduate degrees from Stanford in Education, and from Cal State Hayward in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition.

Joyce has worked extensively as a behavioral health consultant, helping people make positive lifestyle changes. She has designed and conducted health education seminars with a focus on healthy aging, exercise and cancer, women's health, nutrition, fitness, and behavior change in a wide range of settings from academia to corporate work-sites. She especially enjoys spending time with her five young grandchildren, family, and friends. She also enjoys mountain hiking, running, biking, golfing, tennis, reading, and good movies.

— Julie Anderson
 

Julie Anderson, MPH (julie.anderson@stanford.edu) is the Assistant Director of the Living Strong Living Well program. She has been at HIP since 1991 and is their Manager of Health Promotion. Julie has a masters degree in Public Health with an emphasis in community health education. She is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a fitness instructor and personal trainer. Her health promotion work involves facilitating behavior change groups, conducting health and fitness assessments, coordinating healthy living classes for the Stanford Community and managing the Health Promotion Resource Center.

Originally from Chicago, she received her undergraduate degree in Health Fitness from Springfield College in Massachusetts. She does not miss the cold winters in Chicago and New England. Julie enjoys reading, hiking, knitting, and training for and participating in triathlons. She recently completed her first marathon.