Mental and Emotional Well-being

• Stress Reduction: Being in nature has been shown to lower cortisol levels, helping to reduce stress.
• Improved Mood: Exposure to greenery can boost serotonin and dopamine, promoting feelings of happiness and relaxation.
• Enhanced Creativity: A natural environment can inspire new ideas and improve problem-solving skills.

Physical Health

• Encourages Movement: Greenspaces encourage walking, jogging, and outdoor exercise, promoting better physical health.
• Boosts Immune System: Fresh air and natural surroundings can help improve overall immunity and well-being.
• Better Sleep: Spending time outside during the day can regulate circadian rhythms, leading to improved sleep quality.

Cognitive and Academic Benefits

• Better Concentration: Time in nature has been linked to improved focus and reduced mental fatigue.
• Increased Productivity: Short breaks in a green environment can enhance efficiency and problem-solving skills.
• Higher Academic Performance: Studies suggest that access to nature can improve memory retention and cognitive function.

Social Benefits

• Encourages Social Interaction: Greenspaces provide a natural gathering place for students to connect and collaborate.
• Community Building: Shared outdoor experiences can strengthen friendships and foster a sense of belonging.

Environmental Awareness

• Promotes Sustainability: Exposure to natural spaces can increase awareness and appreciation for environmental conservation.
• Encourages Eco-friendly Behaviors: Students who engage with nature are more likely to adopt sustainable habits.

Barbara Walker, Ph.D.

Integrative Health and Performance Psychologist
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, College of Medicine
Associate Adjunct Professor Department of Psychology
Clinical Director, Nature as Medicine Programs
Affiliated Faculty, Osher Center for Integrative Health
Diplomate, American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Dr. Walker currently serves as an Integrative Health and Performance Psychologist within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and UC Health, where she provides consultations to a wide variety of patients to facilitate their optimal effectiveness, whether for performance in sport or within their career, coping with illness or injury, and/or a desire to improve areas associated with lifestyle for overall health and well-being. She specializes in the use of biofeedback, mind-body techniques, high performance strategies, and lifestyle medicine as tools for teaching self-regulation. Barbara also teaches Sport and Positive Psychology as an associate adjunct professor in the Psychology Department, as well as Nature-Based Therapies and Ecopsychology, and co-teaches The Science and Practice of Mind-Body Medicine within the College of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati.

Dr. Walker earned her master’s degree in health psychology, her doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in exercise and sport psychology and is a licensed clinical psychologist. Barbara has consulted with multiple professional and university athletic teams and individuals, Fortune 100 and 500 companies and their executives, physicians, and first responders. Barbara is a regular presenter at local and national professional conferences and workshops, has authored multiple chapters in professional texts, and is a regular contributor to national periodicals. She has appeared as a guest expert on multiple radio and television programs. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association of Applied Sport Psychology, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, as well as a member of the sport psychology registry with the United States Olympic Committee. Barbara demonstrates a lifelong passion for peak performance principles applying them in her own professional and personal life as a former competitive athlete in the sports of marathon, triathlon, duathlon, and cycling. She now mindfully trains for life- currently cycling, hiking, practicing yoga, organic gardening and spending time with family, friends, being outside as much as she can!

Mladen Golubic, MD, PhD, has worked in the fields of immunogenetics and molecular and cancer biology, contributing to the understanding of interactions between the environment and our genes. His clinical work focuses now on lifestyle-related chronic diseases.

As an internist, Dr. Golubic has practiced and directed educational and research activities within integrative and lifestyle medicine since 2009 with a group of exceptional lifestyle medicine professionals (dietitians, chefs, yoga instructors, exercise physiologists, meditation teachers, etc.) within the Wellness Institute at the Cleveland Clinic.

Outside of the health system, he enjoys time with his family and spending time outdoors.