Saint Francis University Hosts UPMC Workpartners, LifeSolutions Professionals to Celebrate Public Health Week
Loretto, PA (04/01/2021) — The Department of Public Health & Graduate Health Sciences at Saint Francis University is celebrating National Public Health Week (April 5-11), with three renowned health and wellness presenters.
Saint Francis University's partnership with UPMC LifeSolutions EAP, is offering a three-part webinar series to enhance and support wellness on self-care, improving health in rural communities, and mindfulness.
Cindy Grindel, LSW is a licensed social worker with a wide range of experience in organizational training, critical incident response, and individual and group counseling. As a Program Manager with LifeSolutions EAP, she provides workshops and training for businesses throughout the region and support to workplaces experiencing trauma or loss. Her previous experience includes work as a Hospice Bereavement Coordinator and as a counselor for a community mental health agency.
Michael D. Parkinson, MD, MPH, FACPM is the Senior Medical Director overseeing employer health and productivity strategies for UPMC Health Plan and Workpartners. Following his retirement from the US Air Force as Chief of Preventive Medicine and Associate Director, Medical Programs and Resources in the Office of the Surgeon General, Mike was a principal founder of Lumenos, a pioneer in consumer-directed health plans acquired by Wellpoint. A graduate of Cornell University and George Washington University Medical School, Dr. Parkinson trained in family medicine and preventive medicine at UCLA and Johns Hopkins. He is a Past President of the American College of Preventive Medicine and serves on the Advisory Board NIOSH Midwest Center of Workforce Excellence, the Department of Defense Health Board, and the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Erin Commendatore, M.A.Ed./CN is a certified mindfulness and meditation instructor who has been leading workshops, courses and retreats for several years at Workpartners. In her previous position, she led and oversaw a national wellness program at a large Pittsburgh-based engineering firm. She has also facilitated an after-school mindfulness program at a school for students with learning disabilities and attention disorders in Charlotte, NC. Erin has a Master's degree in Educational Counseling and works as a Program Manager at LifeSolutions, Employee Assistance Program, which is a division of Workpartners. She is also a trained and certified yoga instructor and has been teaching since 2001.
Saint Francis University
Marie Young (814) 472-3127 myoung@francis.edu, Erin McCloskey (814) 472-3938 emcccloskey@francis.eduShare this Story
Recent News
- Saint Francis University to Host Aviation Education Center Open House Saturday, June 28, 2025
- Saint Francis University Celebrates First Graduates of Executive Ed.D. Program
- Six stand-out educators receive Dr. John Powers Outstanding Educator Award
- Saint Francis University to host will 43rd Annual Red Mass/Law Day on April 25, 2025
- Saint Francis University Announces a Move from NCAA Division I Athletics to Division III Athletics
- Saint Francis University Names Jim Brazill as New Director of Athletics
- Saint Francis University Announces 2025 Summer Academies for High School Students
- Experience the World Through the Lens of Brother Shamus McGrenra
- Saint Francis University to hold MLK and Stokes Legacy Week
- Penn Highlands Community College and Saint Francis University Expand Articulation Agreement to Support Students in Pursuing In-Demand Career Fields