It is always inspiring for students to learn of alumni who have found success in the professional world. Last Wednesday, attendees of the first lecture of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Professional Development Lecture series learned of the accomplishments of alumnus Dr. Robert Sloan, who has worked in health promotion overseas.
Dr. Eddie Hebert, the head of the kinesiology department, came up with the idea for the series, feeling it would be beneficial for students.
“The purpose of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Professional Development Lecture Series is to give students opportunities to hear from and interact with professionals in the health sciences field,” said Hebert. “An SLU alumnus who has had a unique and impressive career history in health promotion happened to be visiting. I wanted our students to have the opportunity to hear his story.”
Sloan graduated from Southeastern with an MA in Health Promotion and Exercise Sciences, which he said was “the foundation for everything that I did.” After graduation, he worked in health promotion for the U.S. Navy and then subsequently put in as the head of the Health Promotion Department in Yokosuka, Japan. He has spent eight years in Japan and then five in Singapore. He teaches as an associate professor at the Kagoshima Medical School in Kagoshima, Japan.
The lecture drew in-between 50 and 60 students and faculty to the Student Union Theater. Before Sloan took the stage, Hebert gave an introduction and named Sloan the university’s Alumnus of the Year.
When giving advice to those in the audience, Sloan said the key to success is “[to] really get into whatever you’re studying” and that “you need to meet people in your field [and] make networks.”
Sloan described his time working to develop public physical activity guidelines in Singapore. While the population has one of the highest life expectancy rates in the world, there has been growing concern for rising rates of diabetes and obesity. Their amount of sedentary time ranks among the highest in the world, which is a great risk to one’s physical and mental health. Sloan also pointed out that 74 percent of the population eats out every night.
Sloan worked with local and international scientists in Singapore to develop programs to get the population moving. Bicycle infrastructures have been built around the nation. School systems are now giving students credit for visiting parks with their families in order to make physical activity more of a lifestyle for children and teenagers. They also targeted the older demographics with the National Wellness Program aimed at adults over age 50, which he says has yielded great success with keeping people more active and socially connected.
Sloan was rewarded with a powerful ovation after the end of the presentation. The audience was impressed with his passion and knowledge.
“It was just interesting to see what he’s done since graduation and how Southeastern had a huge impact on him,” said Gabrielle Riccobono, senior health education major. “It’s great to see how he has affected so many people in Singapore.”
For more information on upcoming events associated with the kinesiology department, contact Dr. Hebert at ehebert@southeastern.edu or call the department at 985-549-2129.