case study:
Navigating Burnout and health Equity:
How Attemla Consulting Unified Two Leading Public Health Institutions to Create Healing-Centered Support Systems
Community Partner :
University of Washington – School of Public Health (Seattle)
Project Duration: 4.5 Years (Since 2019- Present)
challenge
As the syndemic of COVID-19 and increased racism unfolded in late 2019, the University of Washington’s School of Public Health faced overwhelming stress and burnout among staff and students, particularly those from historically marginalized + Black, Brown, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
These individuals were experiencing ‘Racial Battle Fatigue”, heightened anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and disconnection, which impacted their ability to engage fully in academic and professional settings. The institution needed a comprehensive, culturally-attuned approach to support their community’s well-being and build a more inclusive and supportive environment.
Solution
Attemla Consulting introduced Somatic Wellness & Anti-Racist Practices™ (SWAP) our proprietary framework to foster collective healing and build sustainable support systems rooted in health equity.
Identity-Based Affinity Spaces: Created restful and accountable spaces for BIPOC and white-identifying employees to discuss experiences, build mutual aid networks, and develop strategies for shared healing and well-being.
Wellness Workshops & Check-Ins: Facilitated workshops on breathwork, mindfulness, and somatic practices to help participants manage stress, release tension, and reconnect with their bodies.
Anti-Racism Integration & Collaboration: Brought together the University of Washington and Mount Sinai’s Department of Environmental Medicine into a unified partnership focused on embedding anti-racism into daily practices and building inclusive environments.
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Over the course of 4.5 years, Attemla Consulting’s health equity-rooted approach provided transformative support to the University of Washington’s School of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at Mount Sinai. Through our proprietary Somatic Wellness & Anti-Racist Practices™ (SWAP) framework, we became the catalyst for merging these two prestigious institutions. This collaboration first took shape at the 2022 NIEHS Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) Core Centers meeting in New York City, the first in-person meeting since 2019, where we facilitated workshops that laid the groundwork for a unified approach to health equity and community well-being. Our framework enabled both universities to develop shared practices that addressed burnout and systemic inequities, ultimately leading to a cohesive, cross-institutional partnership.
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Attemla Consulting’s work set a new standard for cross-institutional collaboration by bridging two of the nation’s leading public health universities. Our framework provided a structured, healing-centered response to the ongoing syndemic of COVID-19 and systemic racism. By prioritizing culturally-attuned practices, we created spaces for collective care, mutual support, and innovative strategies to promote racial equity. The merger of these two institutions highlighted the power of unified efforts in addressing the needs of BIPOC staff and students during uncertain times, making health equity a central pillar in their organizational cultures.
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As the infrastructure behind this groundbreaking partnership, Attemla Consulting’s SWAP framework helped the University of Washington and Mount Sinai transform their organizational cultures, reduce burnout, and strengthen their commitment to health equity. By fostering intentional pauses and integrating anti-racist strategies, we enabled both institutions to build sustainable support systems and mutual aid networks. This collaboration positioned both universities as leaders in health equity and well-being, demonstrating that investing in culturally-attuned practices leads to stronger engagement, reduced turnover, and a lasting impact on community health and organizational stability.