Student Profile: Anthony Mavros Combines Exercise Science and Nutrition Majors to Meet Career Goals

Anthony Mavros, who is pursing a double major in exercise science and wellness and nutrition, came to Bastyr with a massage therapy license and a background in occupational risk management and wellness promotion. He plans to use the knowledge and credentials he's gaining at Bastyr to build a successful career in workplace wellness. We recently caught up with Mavros to find out more about his path to Bastyr and his future plans.

What is your background?
I was born in North Hollywood, California, in a family where diet and exercise were treated as important elements in maintaining lifelong health. Both my father and my younger brother have type 1 diabetes, so they've always watched their health closely. At 65, my dad is at the pinnacle of health because of his lifestyle. He has always been committed to eating whole foods and exercising.

Because of my upbringing, I wanted to be a personal trainer and dietitian, but I didn't think I could afford to go to school. I joined the military at 25, planning to have the military eventually pay for school. I was in the air force for 12 years, where I obtained great experience in occupational risk management. After leaving the military, I was offered a job as a director of risk management at a company in Hawaii. Within two years I helped the company become profitable again. Then I became interested in corporate wellness, and I went to massage school so that I could treat the illnesses for which our company consistently paid worker's compensation benefits, including headaches, backaches, tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. I was responsible for more than 1,200 employees. The only reason I left: the company decided against a formal corporate wellness program. I realized I should go out and start my own health-promotion company.

What brought you to Bastyr?
I looked into schools where I could gain the credentials I needed to achieve my goals in health promotion. Bastyr was my first choice because I wanted to attend a school where the community collectively believes that the mind, body and spirit are intrinsically inseparable. I decided to double major because I know it’s possible to maintain a healthy weight through proper nutrition, but to reach optimal fitness and health, exercise is the capstone.

How have you liked being at Bastyr?
It's a joy to go to Bastyr University. There is so much to experience here. The student to instructor ratio allows me to have immediate access to faculty members who are working hard to see me succeed. And the small class sizes promote a group cohesion that I truly appreciate. There is a community here that is willing to help you 100 percent of the time.

I've been able to pursue my interests both inside and outside of class. I am the leader of the Exercise Science Club, and I created the Massage Practitioner Society. Both clubs work together to offer Wellness Days, during which students provide wellness services to fellow students such as fitness assessments and massages. I also have a work-study job giving massages to staff and faculty, so I'm able to use my skills to help many people.

What are your career goals?
Bastyr encourages me to think outside the box and pursue my dreams. As an exercise science and wellness student, I'm interested in building a career around improving the health of America's workforce through wellness education and training. I believe I can create a paradigm shift in the way people view work and health, moving them away from the popular perception that busy schedules mean no time for wellness. Our exercise culture right now consists of "go to the gym and lift weights." But people can exercise any place, anytime. You don't need all of the equipment. So much of our lives is spent at work, so it's important to understand it is possible to exercise at work without costing the employer money. There are things people can do at work quickly and efficiently to improve their health and fitness. My focus is on retraining the worker on how to use their musculoskeletal system to maintain postural alignment in and out of the workplace.

On the whole, West Coast companies are not implementing health promotion programs and strategies in the same ways as those on the East Coast. Washington is one of the healthiest states in the nation, so I figure it's a great place to do this kind of work. There is a better way to do things, and I'd like to show people that way.

Interviewed November 2009.