Barbara Walker, PhD, is a licensed Integrative Health and Performance Psychologist at the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Cincinnati. In her clinical work, she helps individuals optimize personal performance whether in sports, in their careers, while coping with illness or injury, or when making meaningful lifestyle changes that support long-term health and well-being. She also leads mindfulness groups and teaches courses in positive psychology, sport psychology, ecopsychology, and mind-body medicine. 

Dr. Walker played an instrumental role in developing the Osher Center’s Nature as Medicine program and now serves as its director. UC Health is the first and only health system in the region to incorporate Nature Prescriptions (Nature Rx) directly into its EPIC electronic health record, enabling providers to prescribe time in nature and offer patients personalized recommendations for bringing more outdoor experiences into their daily lives. 

Through a partnership with the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, the Nature as Medicine program offers guided hikes, outdoor yoga, Tai Chi, and other structured wellness experiences. Dr. Walker leads many of these hikes herself, guiding participants through intentional practices such as quiet reflection, sensory awareness, and [Barbara—please add your description of what else occurs during a guided hike]. 

“People are grateful for an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the outdoors without phones or cameras,” said Dr. Walker. “After the sessions, participants always report feeling happier and more at peace.” She noted that participants also appreciate learning about the science behind nature’s impact on the brain and how time outdoors supports mental clarity, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. 

Dr. Walker is deeply grateful to have found a community of like-minded colleagues through the Osher Collaborative’s Planetary Health Taskforce. “My personal philosophy is that what nurtures the mind nurtures the body, and also supports the health of the planet,” she said. “It’s inspiring to be united with colleagues across the globe who share these beliefs and are committed to improving the health of both people and planet.” 

A lifelong athlete, Dr. Walker experienced her own transformative journey after a severe cycling accident forced her to stop running and slow down. This past summer, she completed the John Muir Trail—a 21-day, 246-mile trek through wilderness—with her daughter. “It was my opportunity to practice what I tell my patients about determination and resilience: dig deep and finish strong,” she said. “I felt like I got my life back—physically, mentally, and emotionally.” 

Barbara Walker, PhD, is a licensed Integrative Health and Performance Psychologist at the Osher Center for at University of Cincinnati. In her clinical practice, she specializes in helping patients optimize personal performance, whether in sports, their career, coping with illness or injury, or making impactful lifestyle changes to support health and well-being. She also leads a number of mindfulness groups and teaches courses in positive psychology, sports psychology, ecopsychology, and mind-body medicine.  

Dr. Walker played a key role in developing the Nature as Medicine program at the Osher Center, and now she serves as the director of the program. UC Health is the first and only health system in the region to integrate Nature Prescriptions (Nature Rx) into their EPIC electronic health record system, and providers can prescribe time in nature and patients receive personalized recommendations to incorporate nature into their daily routines. 

In partnership with the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, the Nature as Medicine program offers structured wellness programs, such as a guided hiking and outdoor yoga and Tai Chi. Dr. Walker leads nature hikes, where she guides participants through the art of noticing, quiet reflection, and XX [Barbara, can you edit/add what happens during a guided hike?]. 

“People are grateful for an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the outdoors without phones or cameras,” said Dr. Walker. “After the sessions, participants always report that they feel happy and peaceful.” She has also found that participants enjoy learning about the science of why our brains benefit from spending time in nature.  

Dr. Walker is grateful to have found a group of likeminded individuals in the Osher Collaborative through the Planetary Health Taskforce. “My life philosophy is, ‘what nurtures the mind nurtures the body and also supports the health of the planet,’ and it feels amazing to be united with colleagues across the globe who share these beliefs and are working to improve the health of people and planet.   

On a personal note, Dr. Walker has always been a lifelong athlete, but after a severe cycling accident a few years, she had to stop running and was forced to slow down. This summer, she completed the John Muir Trail, a 21-day, 246-mile journey through wilderness with her daughter. “This was my opportunity to practice what I tell my patients: dig deep, finish strong through determination and resilience,” said Dr. Walker. “I felt like I got my life back— physically, mentally, and emotionally.”