Karen Mathews is the Director of Work Life Services for WellStar Health System, which operates five hospitals, a Physicians Group and other ancillary services with more than 11,000 employees in metro Atlanta. WellStar serves more than one million residents with areas of excellence in cardiac, cancer, medical imaging and women’s services. In her role, Karen works with management and leadership to identify opportunities and programs to further WellStar’s efforts to be an `employer of choice.` She leads a collaborative effort across the organization aimed at providing a set of innovative programs and services that help employees balance work and life. Work Life Services include community involvement, workplace flexibility, employee wellness, family friendly benefits and other services that build community awareness, employee engagement and create a Best Place to Work culture. In the 18 months that Karen has served in this role, WellStar employees have benefited through a more robust employee communication strategy which has led to greater awareness of programs and resources such as world-class, on-site childcare centers, health and benefit programs and services, flexible work arrangements, and discount and savings program. In addition, Karen has collaborated with leaders across the organization to bring new programs such as WellStar Cents, a program to help employees save money and deal with fuel prices during these tough economic times. Components of this program include discount purchasing programs for computers and electronics, health and benefit savings, flexible work options enhancements, WellStar Rides, the vanpool/carpool program, and financial pathways. Karen has a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Covenant College and an Associate of Divinity in Christian Adult Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She is also a Work Life Certified Professional (WLCP) from World at Work. Karen has been in healthcare for the past 17 years, and has been with WellStar since 2005.