About Wellness Elevated
Empowering Adults to Take Control of Their Heart Health Through Education, Advocacy, and Action
Wellness Elevated is a heart health education brand dedicated to empowering adults and communities with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to take control of their heart health.
Powered by Uniquely Defined, LLC, our work centers on raising awareness about congenital heart defects (CHDs) in adults and addressing the gaps in early detection, education, and advocacy.
About Dr. Jacklyn Sanders
Advancing heart health awareness through research, education, and community engagement.
Dr. Jacklyn Sanders is a community nutritionist, health educator, and the founder of Uniquely Defined, LLC, the organization behind Wellness Elevated™.
Her work focuses on strengthening heart health awareness, promoting early recognition of symptoms, and empowering individuals to advocate for their health through accessible, community-centered education.
Her work focuses on strengthening heart health education and empowering individuals to better understand the signs, symptoms, and prevention strategies related to heart disease and congenital heart defects.
Through community education, research-informed curriculum development, and facilitator training, Dr. Sanders is committed to helping communities recognize early warning signs and advocate for better heart health outcomes.
Dr. Sanders’ passion for heart health education grew from recognizing how often individuals normalize symptoms that may indicate underlying heart conditions.
Many adults experience fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, reduced stamina, or recurring symptoms for years before receiving an accurate diagnosis. These experiences often lead to delayed care and unnecessary health complications.
This realization inspired Dr. Sanders to focus her research and community work on strengthening heart health awareness and promoting early recognition of symptoms
Research & Academic Foundation
Dr. Sanders completed doctoral research examining the lived experiences of adults diagnosed with congenital heart defects later in life.
Her research revealed that many individuals spent years adapting to symptoms without understanding their underlying cause. These findings highlighted a critical need for community-based health education that helps individuals recognize potential warning signs and seek appropriate medical evaluation sooner.
This research ultimately led to the development of the Rhythm of the Heart™ curriculum, an educational program designed to translate research insights into accessible community health education.
Professional Leadership
In addition to her work through Uniquely Defined, LLC, Dr. Sanders serves as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, where she works closely with community partners to develop educational programs that strengthen health literacy and promote chronic disease prevention.
Her work integrates research, Extension programming, and community engagement to ensure that health education is both evidence-informed and accessible to the communities it serves.
The Creation of Rhythm of the Heart™
Rhythm of the Heart™ was developed to bridge the gap between research and community health education.
The curriculum equips facilitators with tools to introduce heart health awareness in community settings and encourages individuals to recognize potential symptoms, advocate for their health, and engage in preventive lifestyle practices.
Through facilitator certification and training programs, Dr. Sanders is expanding access to Rhythm of the Heart™ so that educators and community leaders can deliver this important education in their own communities.
Vision for the Future
Dr. Sanders’ vision is to strengthen heart health awareness nationwide by equipping educators, health professionals, and community leaders with the tools needed to bring research-informed heart health education directly into communities.
Through Wellness Elevated™, she continues to develop programs that promote health literacy, early detection, and community-centered wellness education.
Professional Highlights
• Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist
• Doctoral researcher in adult congenital heart defect diagnosis
• Founder of Uniquely Defined, LLC
• Creator of the Rhythm of the Heart™ curriculum
Speaking & Community Engagement
Dr. Sanders regularly collaborates with community organizations, health programs, and educational institutions to deliver heart health education and promote community wellness initiatives.
