A new article from UNC highlights how Brianne Tomaszewski, PhD, a faculty fellow at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute and assistant professor in the UNC School of Medicine’s psychiatry department and Carolina’s TEACCH Autism Program, goes the extra mile to help new moms prioritize their well-being.

Tomaszewski was pregnant with her second child when COVID-19 changed everything in spring 2020. A lifelong runner who had completed nearly a dozen marathons, she wanted to find a way to keep active during her pregnancy. That’s when she found FIT4MOM, a fitness and wellness program tailored to women in all stages of motherhood. Tomaszewski joined virtual classes designed specifically for expecting moms with her local Chapel Hill FIT4MOM group multiple times a week.

“It was such an isolating and strange time for everyone,” said Tomaszewski. “But we were all in it together. It gave me a community and a way to be physically safe during my pregnancy. We were really a tight-knit group, and that was when I knew I would have FIT4MOM in my life forever because it connected us and helped us get through our pregnancies.”

As the world returned to in-person gatherings, Tomaszewski wanted to stay connected to her new community. She jumped at the opportunity to teach FIT4MOM’s Run Club and also led Stroller Strides. This class for moms with children in strollers offers a unique combination of exercise, kid-friendly music and games, and much-needed socialization during what can be a very isolating and challenging time.

A faculty member at Carolina and a principal investigator on multiple clinical trials focused on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Tomaszewski had never taught fitness classes before. But the transition to instructor was an easy one. Her leadership background and experience working with families and patients of all ages helped make this new role a perfect fit.

“I think my mission has always been to support those individuals and families and advocate for them and the lives they would love to have,” said Tomaszewski. “As a mom and knowing people whose children have been diagnosed or have different disabilities, FIT4MOM opened my eyes to the different experiences parents have as they navigate the services system, and it inspired me to want to provide more information and be a resource. It’s given me a perspective I might not have had before and allowed me to be even more empathetic towards research participants and communities we interact with.”

Read the full article.