Alison Waldman, BA, RYT-200, AY, y4c (she/her) is a Washington, D.C.-based wellness consultant and facilitator. She works in healthcare settings to foster cultures of community building and radical inclusivity to their spaces through the arts. She is leading and collaborating on groundbreaking programs in partnership with healthcare systems, service organizations, and the country’s top leaders in arts and health. Alison has proven experience in:
Corporate and Employee Wellness Programs • Community Engagement • Facilitation • Business Growth Strategies • Accessibility and Equity • Strategic Planning • Event Planning • Program Design and Implementation • Communications and Design • Partner Relationship Building • Public Speaking
Overview
ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM AT INOVA SCHAR CANCER INSTITUTE – Staff Care Lead, Resident Artist (2022-Present)
Strategic planning on and implementation of the Smith Center Healing & The Arts' Artists-in-Residence (AIR) program's staff-focused arts offerings across Inova Schar Cancer's four locations in Northern Virginia.
Strategic planning on and implementation of the Smith Center Healing & The Arts' Artists-in-Residence (AIR) program's staff-focused arts offerings across Inova Schar Cancer's four locations in Northern Virginia.
GEORGETOWN LOMBARDI ARTS & HUMANITIES PROGRAM – Movement Artist-in-Residence (2016-Present)
Serves the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) in Washington, DC. Leading onsite wellness breaks, adaptive yoga, and mindfulness encounters; Began virtual class program; Direction of the annual Day of Dance; Co-leadership of Movement for Multiple Sclerosis pilot program and research.
Serves the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) in Washington, DC. Leading onsite wellness breaks, adaptive yoga, and mindfulness encounters; Began virtual class program; Direction of the annual Day of Dance; Co-leadership of Movement for Multiple Sclerosis pilot program and research.
AVAILABLE WELLNESS – Founder & Lead Facilitator (2017-Present)
Independently advising on and facilitating artistic and wellness experiences in healthcare and corporate settings. Each session – whether group or one-on-one – is customized to the clients’ ask and strategic goals and serves the employees, leadership, and/or members. Clients include faith communities, healthcare clinics, multisite and tech companies, advocacy nonprofits, and government agencies.
Independently advising on and facilitating artistic and wellness experiences in healthcare and corporate settings. Each session – whether group or one-on-one – is customized to the clients’ ask and strategic goals and serves the employees, leadership, and/or members. Clients include faith communities, healthcare clinics, multisite and tech companies, advocacy nonprofits, and government agencies.
CREATIVE CAREGIVERS for the ONCOLOGY NURSING FOUNDATION – Co-Director (2021-22)
Co-directed with Tara Rynders & The Clinic. A four-month pilot of monthly arts- and play-based workshops for five regional Oncology Nursing Society chapters across the United States. A documentary about the process was premiered and presented at the 2022 ONS Congress in Anaheim, CA.
Co-directed with Tara Rynders & The Clinic. A four-month pilot of monthly arts- and play-based workshops for five regional Oncology Nursing Society chapters across the United States. A documentary about the process was premiered and presented at the 2022 ONS Congress in Anaheim, CA.
MILI HEALTH – Advisor and Founding Provider (2020-21)
Worked directly with the physician-founder team to advise on the design of the offerings, patient experience, and how to incorporate their mission of a patient-centered approach centered on empowerment, convenience, and proactiveness.
Worked directly with the physician-founder team to advise on the design of the offerings, patient experience, and how to incorporate their mission of a patient-centered approach centered on empowerment, convenience, and proactiveness.
ACCESSIBLE YOGA INSTRUCTOR (2018-present)
Lead community groups, corporate clients, and private lessons in extra gentle yoga classes customized to welcome people with various mobilities including chair, wheelchair, multiple sclerosis, extreme scoliosis, and injury. Ongoing and recent public programs include holiday programs for Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, a virtual Extra Gentle Mat and Chair Yoga class that sees 50+ attendees weekly from around the world, and the Jewish Mindfulness Center of Washington.
Lead community groups, corporate clients, and private lessons in extra gentle yoga classes customized to welcome people with various mobilities including chair, wheelchair, multiple sclerosis, extreme scoliosis, and injury. Ongoing and recent public programs include holiday programs for Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, a virtual Extra Gentle Mat and Chair Yoga class that sees 50+ attendees weekly from around the world, and the Jewish Mindfulness Center of Washington.
DANCE EXCHANGE (TAKOMA PARK, MD) – Marketing & Communications Manager (2015-18)
Managed the organization's marketing strategy for local programming, performance engagements, and residencies including local outreach, advertising, community partnerships, and social media.
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT – Marketing & Design (2013-20)
Consulted on marketing strategy, website design, messaging, and designed promotional materials for arts and social justice organizations.
OTHER WORK
Managed the organization's marketing strategy for local programming, performance engagements, and residencies including local outreach, advertising, community partnerships, and social media.
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT – Marketing & Design (2013-20)
Consulted on marketing strategy, website design, messaging, and designed promotional materials for arts and social justice organizations.
OTHER WORK
- SPARKACTION (2011-14)
- DENISON UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE (2010-13)
- AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL (2010)
Community Engagement
PANELS AND PRESENTATIONS
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NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR ARTS IN HEALTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE Expressive Pathways to Resilience for Healthcare Workers 2022 Baltimore, MD |
DANCEMETRODC
DC DANCE SUMMIT Dance Presenters and their Visions (Moderator) 2018 Washington, DC |
DENISON UNIVERSITY CAREER CENTER Crafting Careers in the Arts 2021 Granville, OH DANCEMETRO DC
Grant Panel 2016 Washington, DC |
IN THE FIELD
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR ARTS IN HEALTH – ARC Working Group Member (2021-present)
Worked in partnership with art therapists, health care administrators, arts in health administrators and health care professionals in the working group to build an online platform for the ARC project and collaborate with NOAH leadership in their initiative to offer resources for burnout awareness and prevention.
ACADEMIC LECTURESHIP
- AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Guest Lecturer, Dance Department (October 2022)
EVENT DIRECTION
Vital Care: A Community Performance Residency for Healthcare Workers with The Clinic (2022)
A virtual ensemble experience for healthcare professionals interested in arts for creative healing. Led by artist facilitators, the cohort used devised theater and community building to create a final informal showing.
Creative Caregivers with The Clinic (2021-22)
A pilot of virtual arts- and play-based workshops for members of regional chapters of the Oncology Nursing Society across the United States.
Resiliency Moments with The Clinic (2021)
An intervention for frontline and other staff to feel seen, heard, and cared for in real time by highly skilled artist facilitators. Resiliency Moments are virtual, one-on-one sessions for healthcare workers to spend 10 minutes of creative time with an artist.
Day of Dance in Healthcare with Georgetown Arts & Humanities Program (2018-2022)
A day of integrated, site-specific dance performance at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. A signature program of the AHP and the is the first dance programming of its kind in a hospital setting.
Awaken: A Self-Care Social with Woven Psyche + the Lavender Junkie (2018)
A workshop and accompanying social hour that offered an accessible approach to mindfulness through yoga, tarot and embodiment.
Duet Roulette with Recreative Spaces (2015)
A community interactive improvisation event randomly pairing together visual and performing artists to make short duets on the spot.
Summer Screen series pre-show dance performances with NoMa BID (2015)
Uprising Festival - TASK Party with Recreative Spaces (2016)
Vital Care: A Community Performance Residency for Healthcare Workers with The Clinic (2022)
A virtual ensemble experience for healthcare professionals interested in arts for creative healing. Led by artist facilitators, the cohort used devised theater and community building to create a final informal showing.
Creative Caregivers with The Clinic (2021-22)
A pilot of virtual arts- and play-based workshops for members of regional chapters of the Oncology Nursing Society across the United States.
Resiliency Moments with The Clinic (2021)
An intervention for frontline and other staff to feel seen, heard, and cared for in real time by highly skilled artist facilitators. Resiliency Moments are virtual, one-on-one sessions for healthcare workers to spend 10 minutes of creative time with an artist.
Day of Dance in Healthcare with Georgetown Arts & Humanities Program (2018-2022)
A day of integrated, site-specific dance performance at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. A signature program of the AHP and the is the first dance programming of its kind in a hospital setting.
Awaken: A Self-Care Social with Woven Psyche + the Lavender Junkie (2018)
A workshop and accompanying social hour that offered an accessible approach to mindfulness through yoga, tarot and embodiment.
Duet Roulette with Recreative Spaces (2015)
A community interactive improvisation event randomly pairing together visual and performing artists to make short duets on the spot.
Summer Screen series pre-show dance performances with NoMa BID (2015)
Uprising Festival - TASK Party with Recreative Spaces (2016)
Education
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Communications, Dance – Denison University
Study abroad semester: Umbra Institute • Perugia, Italy
Communications, Dance – Denison University
Study abroad semester: Umbra Institute • Perugia, Italy
CERTIFICATIONS
Women’s Entrepreneurship Executive Certificate – Cornell University (2020)
Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) – Yoga Alliance & yogafit
Oncology Yoga Teaching Certification – yoga4cancer
Accessible Yoga Teaching Certification – Accessible Yoga
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Intro to Dance for Parkinsons – Dance for PD, Mark Morris Dance Group
Trauma Informed Yoga – yogafit
Introduction to Narrative Medicine – Columbia University
Gaga Summer Intensive – Batsheva Dance Company (Tel Aviv, Israel)
Advanced Training Program – ProDanza Italia (Castiglioncello, Italy)
Women’s Entrepreneurship Executive Certificate – Cornell University (2020)
Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) – Yoga Alliance & yogafit
Oncology Yoga Teaching Certification – yoga4cancer
Accessible Yoga Teaching Certification – Accessible Yoga
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Intro to Dance for Parkinsons – Dance for PD, Mark Morris Dance Group
Trauma Informed Yoga – yogafit
Introduction to Narrative Medicine – Columbia University
Gaga Summer Intensive – Batsheva Dance Company (Tel Aviv, Israel)
Advanced Training Program – ProDanza Italia (Castiglioncello, Italy)
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Clients & Affiliations
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