ABOUT LANA
Lana VanAuker has been a recreational therapist for over 30 years, and since 1988 she has been with Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren, Ohio. Ms. VanAuker addresses the individual needs of patients and their illnesses and/or disabilities by utilizing recreation and other activity-based interventions as a means to promote psychological and physical health, recovery, and overall well-being. Ms. VanAuker is also a dance instructor, having established Lana’s Dance Studio in 2005. Prior to her work as a recreational therapist, she worked as in physical education. Beginning her career as a physical education teacher at St. Joseph School in 1973, she would go on to work as a program director at the YMCA, and as an exercise technician at Youngstown State University.
She became involved in her profession because of her love for physical education, and respect for teachers that affect their student’s lives in positive ways. Particularly fond of working with the elderly, one of her biggest successes was when she produced a video, “Exercise is the Fountain of Youth” in 1993, which was later sold to 1,000 facilities across the country. The video was not only based on physical education but also positive thinking. Throughout her career, she has been honored and recognized for her service multiple times. Among these honors are the Excellence Award from the State Activity Personnel Convention, and the Excellence Award from the Resident Activity Association Ohio State Convention. Ms. VanAuker has been featured in multiple editions of Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare.
