A stepwise approach to launching a lifestyle medicine practice 

Determining how to incorporate lifestyle medicine into clinical care may seem daunting but there are steps you can take to support financial viability and stability along the way. 

After developing foundational knowledge and skills in the field of lifestyle medicine, you may find yourself asking “now what?” Considering the many ways you could incorporate this valuable new knowledge into clinical practice can feel overwhelming. However, taking a stepwise approach to launching new workflows and services, as well as expanding your lifestyle medicine care team, can help with financial viability and stability and avoid a few headaches along the way. Outlined here is a stepwise approach that has been successful for seasoned clinicians in the field.  

1. Incorporate lifestyle medicine assessment questions and patient-facing resources into clinical encounters, particularly annual wellness visits. Most evidence-based chronic disease clinical practice guidelines list lifestyle change as a preventive measure, as well as a first-treatment approach and helpful adjuvant to other treatments. Assessing for lifestyle medicine vital signs should arguably be part of every clinical encounter. Offering patient educational handouts on lifestyle medicine is an easy way to bring lifestyle medicine into any visit. You can download several complimentary resources in ACLM’s Connect platform with a free account. 
2. Launch shared medical appointments (SMAs) or group medical visits. Group consultations allow you to see more patients with the same condition at one time, expanding access to care and efficiency, especially when delivered virtually. SMAs can also allow for the incorporation of interprofessional care team members who may not normally be a part of the patient’s care team, while also addressing the positive social connection pillar and providing peer support and learning. Consider using existing shared medical appointment program resources like UC San Diego’s Supervised Lifestyle and Integrative Medicine SLIM Weight Loss Program, Ardmore Institute of Health’s Full Plate Living program, or ACLM’s Lifestyle Empowerment Approaches to Diabetes Remission (LEADR) program. Be sure to leverage ACLM’s Lifestyle Medicine Shared Medical Appointment resources, including ACLM’s toolkit, six pillar introduction videos, group visit consent forms and financial calculator tool.

Content for this blog was adapted from its original version featured in the image above and in ACLM’s full Reimbursement Roadmap.  

3. Launch chronic care management (CCM), collaborative care management (CoCM), and/or remote patient monitoring (RPM). These services allow for frequent engagement with patients who have multiple chronic conditions and can support patient empowerment through self-monitoring using various approved remote monitoring devices. If you are not in a position to bring on staff to support these services or don’t want to spend time on the administrative aspects, consider third-party vendors that can expand your clinical care team and handle some of the administrative work on your behalf. Look to ACLM certified programs and ACLM partners as trusted third-party vendors.
4. Bring in other lifestyle medicine-trained team members. You can add team members by contracting time as you ramp up your services or as full-time staff members to support the expansion of existing services or the launch of new ones. In some cases, a backlog of patients waiting for lifestyle medicine services or a new referral source might prompt you to grow your care team. Focus on expanding the services that you already offer or bring in team members who can support new services. For example, nurses and medical assistants have been used to support chronic care management in the field of lifestyle medicine. If you are not surrounded by team members who are versed in lifestyle medicine, consider building a network of lifestyle medicine champions by sharing our free CME/CE offerings and inviting them to join ACLM.  
5. Leverage Existing Implementations. Build or expand your lifestyle medicine offerings using ACLM’s suite of documented implementation briefs as inspiration. Consider offering unique opportunities that differentiate your services from others in the area. Some ideas include culinary medicine experiences, produce prescriptions and medically tailored meal programs, Walk With a Doc or other physical activity programs, gardening groups, health and wellness coaching, support groups, biofeedback or bioimpedance scales. If you’re really motivated, consider launching an intensive cardiac rehabilitation program, which is the only CMS-reimbursed intensive therapeutic lifestyle change program available today. If you are doing something innovative that should be shared in the ACLM network, let us know!

Content for this blog was adapted from its original version featured in the image above and in ACLM’s full Reimbursement Roadmap.  

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a guide to billing and coding. In all cases, a final determination as to whether specific lifestyle medicine services will be reimbursed by a third-party payor will be subject to several conditions that may vary on a case-by-case basis, including but not limited to: applicable law regarding the clinician’s permitted scope of practice, whether the services being billed are covered services under an applicable health plan, and the specific billing and coding requirements of the payor. ACLM represents a diverse group of clinicians and recognizes that not all strategies outlined above will be applicable to all members of our interprofessional association.

Dr. Michael Suk on leadership in lifestyle medicine

The chairman of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees—an ABLM diplomate since 2020—has emerged as a high-profile and passionate advocate for lifestyle medicine and its potential to transform health and healthcare  

American Medical Association (AMA) Board of Trustees Chair Michael Suk, MD, JD, MPH, MBA, DipABLM, is a vocal leader on public health issues, healthcare transformation, payment models, high-value care, addressing the social drivers of health, as well as clinician and resident doctor satisfaction. He also speaks passionately about supporting health through connections with nature, outdoor recreation and unstructured play.

Certified in lifestyle medicine by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine since 2020, Dr. Suk has emerged as powerful advocate for the integration of lifestyle medicine in healthcare. Recently, he was featured on AMA news channels discussing why lifestyle medicine is growing so quickly, the benefits of earning certification and how applying the lifestyle medicine pillars can help prevent chronic disease.  

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) was inducted into the AMA House of Delegates in 2024.  

In January, ACLM launched the campaign “Leadership Matters: Influence, Inspire, Impact!” to showcase leaders in lifestyle medicine and how leadership can inspire meaningful change. As part of that initiative, ACLM asked Dr. Suk about his thoughts on leadership, how leadership positioned him to advocate for lifestyle medicine and how other lifestyle medicine clinicians can prepare themselves for leadership roles.  

Q: How do leadership positions enhance one’s ability to promote and advance lifestyle medicine? 

A: Leadership positions provide a platform to amplify the principles of lifestyle medicine on a systemic level. As an orthopedic surgeon and executive leader, my position allows me to influence organizational strategies, prioritize prevention and wellness, and integrate lifestyle medicine principles into clinical care pathways. For example, leaders can advocate for policies promoting physical activity, better nutrition, and stress management in healthcare systems and broader communities. Leadership also enables the development of interdisciplinary collaborations, such as integrating lifestyle medicine into orthopedic rehabilitation programs or public health initiatives. 

By leveraging a leadership role, a clinician can bridge the gap between individual patient care and population health, demonstrating the cost-effectiveness and transformative potential of lifestyle medicine on a larger scale. This approach aligns with a focus on connecting nature, health, and the outdoors, creating a sustainable impact that resonates with personal and professional values. 

Q: What are examples of your successes advocating for lifestyle medicine from a position of leadership? 

A: A notable example of success has been my role in promoting outdoor activity and nature as a form of preventative health. Through leadership in organizations like the AMA, one may influence initiatives that highlight the health benefits of connecting patients with nature and encouraging outdoor play. That can include advocating for green spaces and parks as integral to public health planning. 

Another example has been the integration of lifestyle medicine principles into orthopedic care. For instance, promoting weight management through nutrition and exercise programs to improve joint health, prevent injuries, or aid in recovery. These efforts demonstrate the efficacy of lifestyle medicine in reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes. 

Looking ahead, I envision furthering this mission by developing programs that incorporate lifestyle medicine into postoperative care protocols, using data analytics to track outcomes and prove the model’s value. 

Q: What advice would you give other lifestyle medicine diplomates who would like to position themselves for leadership positions?  

It’s important to remember that anyone can be a leader. But here is some advice I give to individuals interested in positioning themselves for organizational leadership roles.  

• Develop a vision and narrative: Clearly articulate how lifestyle medicine can address current healthcare challenges such as chronic disease burden, healthcare costs, and patient engagement. Your ability to connect lifestyle medicine to larger organizational goals will make you a more compelling leader. 

• Leverage your unique expertise: Highlight the connection between your clinical experience and lifestyle medicine principles. For example, as an orthopedic surgeon, I emphasize the role of physical activity and nutrition in musculoskeletal health, and I connect this to system-wide initiatives. 

• Expand your influence: Seek out leadership opportunities in multidisciplinary teams, advocacy groups, and public health organizations. Building coalitions and fostering partnerships is critical to advancing lifestyle medicine. 

• Focus on outcomes: Use data and success stories to demonstrate the tangible benefits of lifestyle medicine. Leaders who can tie lifestyle medicine initiatives to measurable improvements in health outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost savings are more likely to gain institutional support.

• Cultivate emotional intelligence (EQ): Build trust, inspire others, and foster collaboration. A leader’s ability to connect with and motivate diverse stakeholders is essential in advancing lifestyle medicine within organizations. 

Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality in Lifestyle Medicine Summit: A resounding success 

Summit attendees are constructing outlines and content for the development of four publications for disseminating actionable material to lifestyle medicine colleagues and a broader audience. 

The Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality (MPS) in Lifestyle Medicine Summit was held March 13-15, in San Diego, Calif. The multidisciplinary gathering was organized by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) in collaboration with the Global Positive Health Institute (GPHI), with generous support from the Ardmore Institute of Health and Point Loma Nazarene University. From the expertise shared by leaders in the field of MPS and health to the insightful discussions with the remarkable individuals who gathered, this event was a shining example of passion, purpose and collaboration in service of the best healthcare.    

As lead faculty, I worked with ACLM Senior Director of Research Dr. Micaela Karlsen, PhD, MSPH, and ACLM Associate Director of Events Dasha Ross to assemble an all-star lineup of subject matter experts who presented and discussed the integration of MPS into training and practice and medical education and in support of health professional well-being. We also explored differences in defining purpose and spirituality, for example when used in research versus clinical practice, acknowledging that we do not have standard definitions and need transparency when using these terms. 

Adding to the significance of the event, we were joined by four of ACLM’s past presidents:  Marc Braman, MD, MPH, FACLM, FACPM, Wayne Dysinger, MD, MPH, DipABLM, FACLM, Dexter Shurney, MD, MPH, MBA, DipABLM, FACLM, Beth Frates, MD, DipABLM, FACLM, and the current President Padmaja Patel, MD, DipABLM, FACLM, CPE. Their presence underscored the importance of this gathering and its potential to shape the future of lifestyle medicine. A short video in which all ACLM presidents showcased their vision and advice for integrating MPS into lifestyle medicine further emphasized how our leaders value this element of well-being and health. 

The connection between meaning, purpose, and spirituality with behavior change is undeniable; people are far more likely to embrace lifestyle modifications when they have a clear sense of purpose in their lives. Behavior change, in turn, is the cornerstone of lifestyle medicine, and lifestyle medicine is fundamental to whole-person health. Moreover, scientific literature demonstrates the significant association between MPS and health beyond the link with health behaviors. One example is a study by Eric Kim, PhD, on the sense of purpose in life and subsequent physical, behavioral, and psychosocial health. The elements of a healthy lifestyle and MPS are deeply intertwined and have the potential to powerfully achieve and sustain holistic well-being and positive health, i.e., the best outcomes in physical, mental, social, and spiritual health and well-being.   

Key takeaways from the Summit discussions included: 

• Connection, whether horizontal (with other people, pets, etc.) and/or vertical (with one’s higher power), is essential to one’s meaning and purpose in life
• Life purpose is significantly associated with health and longevity
• Medical practitioners can begin brief dialogues with patients on the level of importance of MPS in their lives and help them leverage MPS to promote well-being
• Medical trainers can integrate MPS into case-based learning
•  A sense of mattering – demonstrated by health co-workers expressing how they value each other’s contributions – is essential to prevent burnout

On the final day of the Summit attendees participated in four working groups to discuss the proceedings and begin constructing outlines and content for the development of publications for disseminating this actionable material to our lifestyle medicine colleagues and a broader audience. The papers will focus on MPS in medical education, clinical practice, research, and health professional well-being. Furthermore, advocacy efforts, a clinical practice toolkit and implementation pilot projects are expected to take shape as a result of this collaboration.  

Attendees described the experience as inspiring and transformative. “It was a privilege to be surrounded by such a compassionate and driven community,” ACLM CEO Susan Benigas said.  “Witnessing this vision come alive in such a fantastic way was deeply moving.”  

From my perspective, the active participation of leaders and practitioners in lifestyle medicine alongside researchers with significant expertise in MPS and health gives me hope that together we are moving into the next phase of the transformation of lifestyle medicine and health care. We are propelling further research and effective practice and training that support a person-centered, whole-healthcare approach to achieve positive health. 

This event is only the beginning of what promises to be a groundbreaking movement in lifestyle medicine. The enthusiasm and momentum generated at the Summit have left everyone eager for what’s next.    

Stay tuned for updates as we continue to build on this exceptional foundation. 

How each lifestyle medicine pillar supports good nutrition 

Prescribing food as medicine to treat chronic disease is gaining support from health leaders and policymakers, but focusing narrowly on nutrition without applying the other five lifestyle medicine pillars is short-sighted. To achieve optimal health, including the other five lifestyle medicine pillars is essential. 

The high value of food as medicine (FAM) is finally catching on. For 20 years, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) has emphasized the critical role of nutrition in treating chronic disease and led the way in educating clinicians on evidence-based FAM approaches. Now health leaders, policymakers, and payers are recognizing that, if we are to alter the trajectory of chronic disease in the U.S., our health care system must begin to address the poor state of nutrition. 

However, we should not pursue the practice of FAM in a vacuum. Optimal nutrition is just one of the six pillars of lifestyle medicine. To fully harness the power of FAM and achieve the best possible outcomes, it should be integrated with the other five pillars: physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, positive social connections, and avoidance of risky substances.  

Lifestyle medicine clinicians are uniquely positioned to lead the integration of food as medicine into health care due to our holistic, whole-person approach to treating, reversing, and preventing noncommunicable chronic diseases. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle clinicians can apply the pillars to individuals in under-resourced communities while acknowledging individuals’ social determinants of health and helping them discover ways to make affordable and sustainable lifestyle behavior changes.  

I’ll briefly highlight examples of the connection between the pillars of lifestyle medicine and optimal nutrition. In a new textbook that I co-edited titled, “Essentials of Clinical Nutrition in Healthcare,” I co-authored a chapter that discusses these connections at length.  

A whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern 

We know that our food has a powerful role in our health. Extensive scientific evidence supports the use of a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern as an essential strategy in the prevention of chronic disease and treatment of chronic conditions. In intensive, therapeutic doses, lifestyle medicine interventions can put chronic illnesses, like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure into remission. ACLM promotes eating a variety of whole-food, minimally processed vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Eating in season is ideal, but not everyone has access to a farmer’s market. Frozen fruits and vegetables are a good option. Additionally, finding food pantries that provide healthy food options is critical for many. ACLM has resources for eating healthy on a budget that help make it accessible to all.  

Physical activity 

Physical activity significantly influences how we eat. As we build more muscle, our metabolic rate increases. An increased metabolic rate allows us to burn more calories, even while resting. Physical activity also stimulates the release of irisin, a myokine that affects appetite regulation in the brain. Even taking brisk walks can help reduce sugary snack cravings. Staying active can naturally support better nutrition choices and metabolic health. The guidelines are to accumulate 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, such as walking or following an exercise class online in the safety of your own home.   

Restorative sleep 

Like food, sleep affects our physical and mental energy levels. That’s why when we are low on one of these energy sources, we likely try to compensate with increased desire for the other. Sleep deprivation increases levels of ghrelin, the hormone that signals the brain to feel hungry, and reduces levels of leptin, the hormone that suppresses appetite. This imbalance leads to increased appetite and a tendency to crave foods high in sugar, fat, and salt. Guidelines call for seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Using an eye mask to block out street lights or a white noise machine to neutralize street sounds may be helpful.  

Stress management 

We have all heard of “stress eating” or “emotional eating.” Under stress, our cortisol levels rise, prompting many people to seek comfort in highly processed, calorie-dense foods. Chronic stress also keeps the body in a sympathetic “fight or flight” mode, which directs blood flow away from the digestive tract and toward large muscles. This mode impairs digestion and nutrient absorption. Learning to manage stress effectively and transition into a parasympathetic “rest and digest” state before meals is important for optimal digestion and nutrient utilization. In addition, healthy eating patterns are often disrupted in times of stress, and having routine stress resilience practices like meditation, yoga, listening to music or taking mindful walks can help people when tensions are high.  

While many stressors can affect how much and what we eat, food insecurity is of particular concern. When a household doesn’t have consistent access to enough food for everyone to live a healthy life, it is challenging to eat healthfully and, therefore, may impair sleep and physical activity. Checking in on a person’s social determinants of health is critical to make sure healthcare professionals are doing all they can to reduce stress and referring patients to the appropriate services for help.  

Positive social connections 

Social influences also play a significant role in eating patterns. Household dynamics determine who buys and prepares food, what foods are readily available, and whether the family supports or hinders healthy eating habits. When family members and social circles align with healthy nutritional goals, individuals find adhering to their dietary plans easier. Social support also helps to alleviate stress. A supportive community fosters accountability and long-term success. 

Avoidance of risky substances 

The use of risky substances, particularly alcohol, is linked to poor dietary patterns. In addition to containing alcohol, which is toxic to the body, alcoholic beverages are high in caloric content and often leads to the consumption of high-fat foods during, after, or while recovering from drinking. Studies show that consuming alcohol before a meal leads to increased calorie intake during the meal. Heavy drinking or binge drinking is also linked to poor adherence to healthy food consumption guidelines.  

These examples illustrate why physicians and other health professionals should not consider nutrition in isolation when working to help patients adopt and sustain healthy eating patterns. By addressing nutrition in connection with physical activity, sleep, stress management, positive social connections, and avoidance of risky substances, we can better create lasting, positive health outcomes. True health transformation occurs when we recognize each lifestyle medicine pillar’s interconnectedness and apply them holistically to patient care. Only then can we fully unlock the full potential of food as medicine and its ability to restore health. 

Expanding Access to Lifestyle Medicine for All

Health equity is at the heart of ACLM’s mission. Through the HEAL Initiative, our members are breaking down barriers to make lifestyle medicine accessible to all—because where you live, work, and play shouldn’t determine your health. Learn how clinicians across the country are leading the way.

The ACLM HEAL Initiative 

The Health Equity Achieved through Lifestyle Medicine or HEAL Initiative is a growing community of ACLM members who are dedicated to addressing lifestyle-related chronic disease health disparities. It supports the Community-engaged Lifestyle Medicine (CELM) model, an evidenced-based, participatory framework capable of addressing health disparities through lifestyle medicine.  

Supporting patients no matter the barrier 

Working through the nuances of complex healthcare delivery systems, ACLM members, many of whom are part of the HEAL Initiative community, still manage to overcome obstacles to lead CELM framework principles—community engagement, cultural competency, and application of intersectoral and multilevel approaches—in various healthcare settings. Here are examples of each principle in action: 

1. Community Engagement: an example of lifestyle medicine application would involve training health coaches or other members of the interdisciplinary team who may be from the very community that is historically under-resourced. In 2023, for instance, NYC Health + Hospitals rolled out a city-wide Plant-based Lifestyle Medicine Program. The pilot program staffed up a clinician team that included health coaches and community health workers to help patients navigate cultural, familial, socioeconomic, psychosocial, health literacy, and other factors that may shape eating patterns.
    
2. Cultural Responsiveness: comes alive in practice when a patient’s culture, context, and practices are at the core of each encounter, including providing access to translating services and bilingual providers. The Eliminating Barriers Initiative at Northwell Health in New York City was created to improve self-efficacy by reducing SDoH and addressing the disproportionate rates of diabetes among Black, Hispanic, and Southeast Asian patients. The program’s care team is multilingual, addressing the language barrier many of the patients experience.
    
3. Multilevel: an innovative approach in this domain involves, for example, holding a lifestyle medicine educational session and/or class in the region’s largest grocery store. HealthPoint Community Health Center in Kent, Washington partnered with local grocery stores in a Pacific Islander community to make informed recommendations on traditional ingredients to patients seeking nutritional guidance without compromising their culture. In addition, the clinicians partnered with the local church, a huge influential component of this community’s culture, to learn more about the community needs around health and nutrition.
   
4. Intersectoral: cross-sector organizations come together to understand the community needs of the population and identify unique resources of each organization to land on a coordinated approach to lifestyle-based change. By fostering collaborative community projects and partnerships with organizations like the YMCA and community health centers, the Be Healthy QC, a program of the Quad City Health Initiative in Iowa and Illinois, works to align all sectors from policy to environmental changes to create a “culture of wellness” that supports healthy lifestyle habits anchored in nutrition and physical activity. 

Creating a Lifestyle Medicine Workforce Rooted in Cultural Humility
 

The HEAL Initiative Scholarship Program 

The HEAL Initiative Scholarship, a companion program to the HEAL Initiative, was created to help diversify the medical workforce. Now in its fifth year, the scholarship is for clinicians who self-identify as a member of a group historically underrepresented in medicine (UIM). Research tells us that when a patient is treated by a provider who looks like them, the patient is more likely to have better health outcomes. To date, ACLM has awarded nearly 80 clinicians with the HEAL Initiative Scholarship. In 2024, more than 70% passed the ABLM/ACLM board exam and are now board-certified in lifestyle medicine. 

The National Training Initiative

Regardless of ability to pay, more than 30 million people from some of the most under-resourced communities seek care from Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which are uniquely positioned to partner with a wealth of community resources to help patients navigate social drivers of health that impede their ability to live healthy lifestyles. Last year, ACLM launched the National Training Initiative (NTI) to equip health center clinicians with training and education to address lifestyle-related chronic disease health disparities. In general, health center patients are uninsured, publicly insured, have low incomes, or are people of color. These groups are also disproportionately burdened by lifestyle-related chronic disease. Through the National Training Initiative, primary care providers at health centers nationwide are eligible for scholarship funding to support training and education in lifestyle medicine. Learn about the first NTI cohort.  

At ACLM, we believe lifestyle medicine is the foundation for all health and healthcare. We also believe in and support efforts that make lifestyle medicine accessible to all people—those living in rural communities, those living in neighborhoods where safe places to exercise are out of reach, and those who simply can’t afford fresh produce. Together, our members are actively meeting the needs of all and are generous to share their strategies.   

Join the HEAL Initiative today and be part of the work our members are doing to connect patients to lifestyle medicine solutions and resources where they work, live, work, play, and pray.  

A step-by-step guide to lifestyle medicine certification 

Looking to get certified in lifestyle medicine in 2025? Follow this step-by-step guide to learn about eligibility requirements, exam prep, and how certification matters for your practice and career.

In today’s healthcare climate, patients are demanding more from their clinicians. They don’t just want prescriptions—they want proactive solutions for treating, reversing and preventing chronic disease. That’s why more healthcare professionals are turning to lifestyle medicine. 

By integrating evidence-based lifestyle interventions—optimal nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, positive social connections and avoidance of risky substances—clinicians are reshaping the future of medicine. And as rates of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity continue to rise, the need for providers trained in lifestyle medicine has never been greater. 

“We’re at a tipping point in healthcare where the solution to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and chronic disease makes healthy lifestyle habits inevitable,” said American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM) Board Member and ACLM Director of Guidelines and Quality Richard Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, MBA, DipABLM. “That’s what lifestyle medicine is all about—sustainable, healthy living.” 

Why Certification Matters 

Lifestyle medicine certification isn’t just a credential—it’s a statement. It signals that a clinician has mastered the science of lifestyle-based interventions and is committed to addressing the root causes of disease. 

“We all know that our modern medical system is ill-equipped to deal with the chronic disease burden we face every day,” said ABLM Board Member Jonathan Bonnet, MD, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM. “Pills and procedures are incredible tools, but they won’t enable us to achieve the health we desire. Lifestyle medicine is the key to treating the root causes of chronic disease and transforming lives. If you believe we can do better as a medical system and society, becoming certified in lifestyle medicine is the right place to start.” 

Today, over 8,000 clinicians worldwide are certified, taking a leading role in reshaping patient care and driving change across the healthcare system. Beyond its immediate impact on patient outcomes, certification is also an opportunity to advance careers and enhance job satisfaction. Healthcare employers increasingly recognize the value of clinicians with lifestyle medicine certification, appreciating the role of root-cause care in reducing healthcare costs and improving long-term health outcomes. 

The Path to Certification 

Clinicians seeking certification in lifestyle medicine can follow one of two pathways: an educational pathway for medical students and residents and an experiential pathway for currently practicing physicians and healthcare professionals and health care professional students. 

The educational pathway is available to those currently in medical training, including residents and fellows participating in the Lifestyle Medicine Residency Curriculum (LMRC), as well as medical students and residents whose programs are approved as educational equivalency pathways. These structured programs integrate lifestyle medicine education into formal training, allowing participants to become eligible to sit for the certification exam upon residency graduation. 

For currently practicing physicians, nurse practitioners, physician associates, registered dietitians, and other healthcare professionals, the experiential pathway provides a structured route to certification through demonstrated clinical experience and continuing medical education (CME).  Master’s and doctoral candidates in approved academic pathway programs can qualify for certification by completing equivalent experiential training. 

The following step-by-step guide outlines the key requirements and milestones for practicing clinicians pursuing certification through the experiential pathway.  

Step 1: Understand the Experiential Pathway Eligibility Requirements 

The ABLM offers certification to licensed physicians. To certify as a Lifestyle Medicine Physician, U.S. physicians must be primary board certified for at least two years by an American Board of Medical Specialties- or American Osteopathic Association-approved board; Canadians must be licensed to practice as a physician. 

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) offers certification to healthcare professionals. To certify as a Lifestyle Medicine Professional, you must hold a masters’ or doctorate degree in a health discipline. 

Step 2: Complete Your Prerequisites 

Before sitting for the exam, candidates must complete the following continuing medical education (CME) requirements. All CME must be completed within 36 months of the exam date, allowing individuals to begin preparing up to three years in advance. This flexibility helps candidates pace their studies and manage costs in a way that fits their budget. 

Note: Consider becoming an ACLM member to take advantage of discounts on CME/CE/MOC and exam fees. Membership also provides access to a network of lifestyle medicine professionals who can offer valuable support throughout your certification journey. 

30 Hours of Online CME from an Approved Course 

The “Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine Board Review” course fulfills this requirement and provides an evidence-based foundation in lifestyle medicine. For a full list of eligible online CME options, visit ablm.org/eligibility-prerequisites/. 

20 Hours of Event CME from an Approved Event 

Earn live CME at an approved event. ACLM’s annual conference is a premier option, bringing together thousands of professionals for the latest research and practical tools. For a full list of eligible event CME options, ablm.org/eligibility-prerequisites/. 

Case Study (Physicians Only) 

Physician candidates must complete a case study outlining their personal experience with lifestyle medicine. A template is available at ablm.org/eligibility-prerequisites/. 

Step 3: Register for the Exam 

The ABLM administers the lifestyle medicine certification exams for physicians as well as for doctoral and master’s level health professionals on behalf of ACLM. 

The exam is offered annually in late November/ early December, with this year’s test window running from Nov. 22 to Dec. 7, 2025. The registration deadline is Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. PST. To register, visit ablm.org, create an account, and follow the instructions for exam registration. 

Exam Fees

The exam fees range from $1,369 to $1,798, depending on professional category and ACLM membership status.  

Test Site Selection

Once registration closes, candidates will receive an invitation to select a testing location through Prometric and reserve a seat at a preferred testing center. 

Prerequisite Submission

Prerequisites do not need to be completed before registering for the exam. However, proof of credentials and completion of required prerequisites must be submitted to ABLM no later than 30 days before the exam date. 

Important Note: LM2025 (scheduled for Nov. 16-19, 2025) may be used to fulfill the event CME prerequisite, even though it takes place after the prerequisite submission deadline. Attendees should submit their LM2025 CME certificates as soon as possible after the conference. 

Step 4: Prepare for the Exam 

Effective preparation is key to building confidence and readiness on exam day. Begin studying three to six months in advance, depending on schedule and availability. ACLM offers additional resources to help candidates prepare for the exam including the Lifestyle Medicine Question Bank and a members-only group to connect those preparing for the exam. A structured, consistent approach increases the likelihood of success. 

Prior to the exam, review key concepts, but avoid cramming. Instead, focus on reinforcing your understanding of core principles. Adequate rest the night before and a balanced meal on the day of the exam are essential for maintaining focus and mental clarity throughout the test. 

Exam Details 

• The multiple-choice exam consists of 120 questions for healthcare professionals and 150 questions for physicians. All questions are written to the National Board of Medical Examiner standards. 

• Candidates will have four hours to complete the exam. 

• Results are typically made available within 10 to 20 days following the exam. 

Step 6: Celebrate and Look to the Future 

Earning certification as an ABLM diplomate (DipABLM) or an ACLM diplomate (DipACLM) is a significant achievement. Take a moment to celebrate! This milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter in a healthcare professional’s career and reflects an ongoing commitment to improving patient outcomes through lifestyle medicine. 

Shortly after receiving exam results, new diplomates will be invited to join the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) pathway to ensure their certification remains active. As a benefit of membership, ACLM supports diplomate members by providing opportunities to earn complimentary MOC credit to maintain their certification.

Take a Step Toward Meaningful Change

Certification positions clinicians to play a pivotal role in transforming healthcare through evidence-based lifestyle interventions.  

“While it is the fastest growing area of medicine, the reality is we need far more providers delivering this type of care to the people who need it most,” said Dr. Bonnet. “So come join us and let’s change the world.” 

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of healthcare. It’s time to take the next step. 

Why get certified in lifestyle medicine? Hear from four clinicians who just did. 

Establishing themselves as lifestyle medicine leaders within their organizations, earning credibility with patients and delivering high-value, whole-person care were among the reasons clinicians said they pursued certification in 2024.  

Physicians and health professionals who passed the 2024 lifestyle medicine exam took LinkedIn by storm in January, announcing their new certification status and celebrating others who joined them as diplomates of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) or American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM).   

Since lifestyle medicine certification launched in 2017, more than 8,000 physicians and other health professionals have earned certification worldwide. ABLM certifies physicians while ACLM certifies health professionals. Lifestyle medicine certification indicates that someone has mastered the science of treating, reversing and preventing chronic disease in an evidence-based manner.  

To celebrate the new diplomates, ACLM asked four clinicians who earned certification in 2024 to share why they chose to pursue it and how they hope certification will impact how they practice medicine or teach and prepare the next generation of health care providers. Their stories differed in details but a common theme was the importance and effectiveness of utilizing ACLM resources to successfully prepare for the exam.  

ACLM offers “Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine Board Review, 4th Edition,” a course that serves as a prerequisite to the certification exam, and includes a 350-page manual, 10 sections, 12 online review lectures by lifestyle medicine experts and 180 review questions (Read testimonials from clinicians who utilized the course here). ACLM also offers the Lifestyle Medicine Question Bank, a compilation of 200 practice questions to help individuals prepare for the exam.  

The deadline to register for the 2025 certification exam is 6 p.m. PST, Sept. 30.  

Barbara A. Slusher, MSW, PA-C, DFAAPA, DipACLM
Rheumatology Physician Assistant
Hope Health Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) 

PA-C Barbara Slusher has found the adage “genetics loads the gun, and lifestyle pulls the trigger” to be true in her rheumatology clinical practice. Growing research linking lifestyle behaviors and risk of autoimmune disease motivated her to earn lifestyle medicine certification. 

As a clinician at a FQHC, Slusher earned a scholarship through ACLM’s Lifestyle Medicine National Training Initiative (NTI) designed to train and certify one primary care provider in lifestyle medicine within each of the nations’ FQHC and community health centers. 

“The financial and administrative support was so beneficial and much needed for a newbie to ACLM and lifestyle medicine concepts,” she said. “The regular NTI meetings helped guide me on next steps to stay focused on the goal of passing the board exam.  I also loved the social aspect of meeting other providers within FQHCs. 

“My education has led me to feel so much more prepared to help my patients find ways to care for themselves and decrease risk of disease flare ups and progression,” she said.  

Slusher views lifestyle medicine and rheumatology as a natural fit for shared medical appointments (SMAs). Her patients have chronic diseases without known cures and are often taking multiple medications with many side effects. SMAs allow clinicians to exponentially increase their impact.  

“I’m still in the brainstorming stage for implementation, but my heart is set on this goal so that we can reach as many individuals as possible,” she said.  

Eliza Ng, MD, MPH, FACOG, DipABLM
Chief Medical Officer
CAIPA, Inc.  

Dr. Eliza Ng knew that something must change. Her professional and personal demands accumulated while her body and mind flashed warning signs that she had to start taking better care of herself. That pressure led her to learn about lifestyle medicine and start incorporating the lifestyle medicine pillars into her daily behaviors.  

“As I practiced lifestyle changes, I came to realize the power of lifestyle change in impacting physical and mental health and work performance,” Dr. Ng said. “My goal became to democratize lifestyle medicine and make it accessible to all.” 

She said the process of earning lifestyle medicine certification helped her become more intentional, engage in lifestyle changes more productively and develop a deeper appreciation for the health benefits. As chief medical officer for an Accountable Care Organization that manages more than 350,000 patients, Dr. Ng said certification signified her high level of competence in the specialty while demonstrating to her stakeholders her commitment to advancing clinical care and quality. She now has the opportunity to lead the integration of lifestyle medicine into population health and chronic disease treatment. 

“With lifestyle medicine, our patients benefit from access to the knowledge and tools to improve their health in a way that gives them a sense of agency and empowerment,” she said.  

Jorge Otañez, MD, DipABLM
Associate Chief Medical Officer
TrueCare 

As a family medicine physician at a Southern California FQHC, Dr. Jorge Otanez sees how chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity disproportionately affect underserved communities. He also understands how barriers, such as limited access to nutritious food, safe spaces for physical activity and stress from economic instability, limit his patients’ healthy lifestyle behaviors. 

“By integrating lifestyle medicine into our FQHC setting, we can empower patients with tools for better health while reducing reliance on medications and costly interventions,” he said. “This approach aligns perfectly with TrueCare’s mission of delivering high-quality, whole-person care to those who need it most.” 

Dr. Otanez is a recipient of an ACLM Health Equity Achieved through Lifestyle Medicine (HEAL) Initiative Scholarship that supports medical professionals who are working to reduce lifestyle-related chronic disease health disparities for high-risk minority and rural-based populations. Certification enhanced his clinical toolkit and his ability to practice self-care. As a result, he was better prepared to empower patients through education, help them become less reliant on medications and improve their quality of life.  

“With chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease driving health care costs and patient suffering, we need a more sustainable and proactive approach,” he said.  

Cheryl Cavaliere PhD, MS, RDN, LDN, DipACLM Lecturer,

Department of Health Sciences
University of Central Florida  

Dr. Cheryl Cavaliere has found that the next generation of health care professionals is energized by delivering health care in a manner that is meaningful to them. That means embodying the healthy lifestyle behaviors that they will encourage patients to embrace into their lives.  

Dr. Cavaliere chose to pursue lifestyle medicine certification to ensure she had the evidence-based knowledge to be a reliable resource for students.  

“Directly, the credentials signify an evidence-based knowledge and skill set for addressing the six pillars of health,” she said. “Indirectly, I believe patients and the public view the credentials as a practitioner who cares deeply about patient well-being. While the challenges in health care are real and will not be resolved overnight, this is something that each provider and practitioner can do today to make a small but tangible difference.” 

Her students integrate aspects of the lifestyle medicine pillars into their lives. Some are following a more plant-based eating pattern. Some have added runs or walks to their routines. Others meditate regularly or have stopped smoking. The students are aware that each pillar applied to their lives builds credibility with future patients while improving their own health.  

“I feel that the certification process is an important part of moving health care forward and establishing behavior modification as the gold standard in first-line treatment,” she said.  

ACLM, Aspen Institute event highlights food as medicine for type 2 diabetes treatment and prevention 

A white paper summary is planned about the two-day event that highlighted the value of multi-level partnerships between healthcare and community sectors to properly and effectively address type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions.

Event attendees

American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) was thrilled to partner in January with the Aspen Institute Food & Society team to host the “Food is Medicine and Diabetes Convening.” The two-day event in Tulsa, Okla. showcased innovations at the vital intersection of “clinical” and “community” in advancing Food as/is Medicine (FAM) approaches to treat, prevent, and even achieve remission of type 2 diabetes. This convening was supported through a generous donation from the Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) and supplemented by the Coretz Family Foundation. 

Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health conditions in the U.S. and beyond. This burgeoning chronic disease creates human suffering among both adults and children, reduced workforce productivity, clinician burnout, and financial unsustainability for families and the nation as a whole. Something must be done about this preventable, treatable, and reversible problem. Multi-level partnerships between healthcare and community sectors are imperative to properly and effectively address type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions, and this event shone a bright light on some of those innovative partnerships. 

Insights and information shared at the convening will inform the Aspen Institute’s guide on Food Is Medicine for Community Based Organizations. A white paper summary is also planned.

Food bank partnership a key strategy

The event kicked off at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma with a welcome reception, facilities tour and dinner graciously hosted by Chief Culinary Officer Jeremy Johnson and his amazing staff. This tour gave attendees a great understanding of the food bank’s vital role in supporting community-based food assistance and community enhancement initiatives, as well as highlighted some of the innovative ways that the food bank is making a huge impact on the local community. Partnership with local food banks is a key strategy for supporting food assistance in communities, and there are opportunities to enhance the great work that is already underway to improve the health of communities.  

Making the healthy choice the easy choice 

The second day started with inspirational opening announcements from Executive Director of Food & Society at the Aspen Institute Corby Kummer, Senior Vice President of Ardmore Institute of Health Janet Calhoun, Vice President at University of Oklahoma-Tulsa (OU-Tulsa) Susan Bynum, and ACLM CEO Susan Benigas.  

Longstanding ACLM leader and CEO/Co-founder of the non-profit Kellyn Foundation Meagan Grega, MD, FACLM, DipABLM, led the first session showcasing Kellyn Foundation’s diverse set of initiatives that aim to “make the healthy choice the easy choice.” Kellyn offers various community programs for all ages across the spectrum, from prevention all the way to intensive therapeutic lifestyle intervention for disease treatment and remission. Kellyn is also always looking for ways to enhance its FAM/FIM offerings through opportunities like 1115 Medicare waivers as well as by bringing a FAM lens to the local Meals on Wheels program. Dr. Grega also shared how local food systems and farmers can be part of the solution to address food and nutrition security through the creation of food hubs, where there can be sustainable supply and demand, as well as coordinated distribution across various systems/entities within communities.  

FAM for special populations 

Another long-time ACLM member and Associate Professor of Health Promotion Sciences and Family and Community Medicine at OU-Tulsa Marianna Wetherill, PhD, MPH, RDN/LD, DipACLM, shared her incredible work as the principal investigator of the Nutrition to Optimize, Understand, and Restore Insulin Sensitivity in HIV for Oklahoma (NOURISH-OK) study. The NOURISH-OK study will address important research gaps to inform the development of FAM interventions to support healthy aging for those living with HIV. 

Tracking, measuring and paying for food 

Katie Ettman of Coding4Food, a community-informed initiative aiming to create new Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) codes to define a spectrum of FAM interventions, shared the organization’s phased approach to getting food tracked, measured and paid for across the healthcare ecosystem by leveraging HCPCs level II codes. The first phase of this work has been to standardize the language of these food access interventions (medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, medically tailored groceries and healthy groceries) to present to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The next phase will be to standardize skills-based interventions like culinary medicine training.  

The work of Coding4Food is closely connected to the Gravity Project, a national public collaborative that develops consensus-based data standards to improve how we use and share information on social determinants of health (SDOH). Ettman shared two other organizations involved in SDOH work more broadly, including the Partnership to Align Social Care and Sync for Social Needs. You can stay up to date on the work of Coding4Food by subscribing to its email list at here. They also host public calls, which can be accessed here.  

ACLM members and representatives

Shared medical appointment resources 

Shared medical appointments (SMAs) made their debut as a financially viable solution for reaching more patients with FAM interventions efficiently within community-based settings. ACLM President-elect, Michelle Hauser, MD, MS, MPA, FACP, FACLM, DipABLM, Chef, ACLM Board of Directors  Member Mahima Gulati, MD, DipABLM, and ACLM Health System Council member Ajay Joseph, MD, FACC, DipABLM, spoke to various aspects of SMAs. Their presentations included the steps needed to stand up a lifestyle medicine SMA in clinical settings, the importance of supportive patient and provider resources like the free culinary medicine curriculum. They also stressed the value of using return on investment and cost savings examples to ensure leadership support for SMAs, especially in value-based payment arrangements. Other SMA resources mentioned included ACLM’s SMA toolkit and free SMA curricula including AIH’s Full Plate Living program for increasing fiber-filled foods, UC San Diego Health’s SLIM program for weight management and ACLM’s LEADR program for diabetes remission.  

Lifestyle interventions a necessity with or without GLP-1s 

President of the Obesity Medical Association and Chair of ACLM’s GLP-1 Taskforce Lydia Alexander, MD, DipABOM, DipACLM, MFOMA, gave a tour of the complex world of obesity, type 2 diabetes and GLP-1 use. She emphasized the absolute necessity for lifestyle interventions to wrap around and support complex and multi-dimensional lifestyle-related diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes. 

Bolstering local food economies 

Dean and Professor of The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University Christina Economos, PhD, shared updates on The Delta GREENS (Growing a Resilient, Enriching, Equitable, Nourishing food System) Food is Medicine Project in the Mississippi Delta region. The Delta GREENS FIM Project’s primary goal is to improve health outcomes by bolstering the local food economy and developing an FAM program at the Delta Health Center, which ideally will generate both economic and health benefits for the community. Read more about the project here.  

Value of teaching kitchens and culinary medicine 

Director of Culinary Nutrition at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University David Eisenberg, MD, highlighted the successes of the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative and the explosion of teaching kitchens across the country and world. Many of the kitchens are in medical schools and health systems. He also highlighted the importance of the recently Proposed Nutrition Competencies for Medical Students and Physician Trainees published in JAMA. Dr. Eisenberg pointed out that the OU-Tulsa campus has the first federally funded teaching kitchen in the nation, which was toured during the event and is led by Dr. Wetherill. 

ACLM member Jaclyn Albin, MD, CCMS, DipABLM, showcased the robust culinary medicine program she directs at UT Southwestern, one of the many initiatives she leads. She highlighted several ideas that could support additional FAM solutions, including the use of CTSA funding to support programming or partnering with Cooperative Extension Services to expand educational reach. Her novel approach to community-based SMA delivery at a local church included securing leases for the building space to circumvent Place of Service challenges of delivering healthcare services outside of the clinic walls.   

Also featured in the culinary medicine panel was UCLA Associate Vice Provost for the Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center Wendelin Slusser, MD, MS. During Dr. Slusser’s 30-plus years at UCLA, she has launched many initiatives focused on well-being, including leading one of four academic medical centers taking part in the Teaching Kitchen Research Trial to evaluate the benefits of participating in a teaching kitchen.  

Ajay Joseph, MD, FACC, DipABLM, described his leadership of a lifestyle medicine and culinary medicine program aiming to transform patient care at the Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa. Dr. Joseph hopes to demonstrate with research the cost savings associated with a lifestyle medicine approach to care.  

Food for diabetes 

Director of Nutrition Studies at Stanford Prevention Research Center Christopher Gardner, PhD, known for his involvement in the Netflix Documentary, “You are What you Eat,” offered thought-provoking questions about what science says are the best foods for FAM and diabetes. ACLM offers a FAM for Type 2 Diabetes Remission course to learn more about this topic. New T2D clinical practice guideline coming 

ACLM Senior Director of Research Micaela Karlsen, PhD, MSPH, gave an overview of ACLM’s upcoming clinical practice guideline (CPG), Lifestyle Interventions for Treatment and Remission of Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes in Adults. The guideline will support a range of efforts from clinical integration to advocacy and policy change. This new CPG will accompany ACLM’s other type 2 diabetes resources, including CME/CE courses Remission of Type 2 Diabetes and Reversal of Insulin Resistance, expert consensus statements, and the Diabetes Bill of Rights.  

ACLM Education Committee Chair Melissa Bernstein, RD, FAND, DipACLM, FACLM, rounded out the event with a description of the role of registered dietitians in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes in both clinical and community care settings. 

Power of Partnerships 

A major takeaway from this convening was the power of partnerships for achieving sustainable, scalable and lasting health outcomes for communities. Community-Engaged Lifestyle Medicine as a Framework for Health Equity: Principles for Lifestyle Medicine in Low-Resource Settings – PMC is a 2019 publication from the ACLM group now known as the HEAL (Health Equity Achieved through Lifestyle Medicine) Initiative. The published framework, which has been used to guide ACLM’s HEAL efforts, includes the evidence-based principles of community engagement, cultural competency, and application of multilevel and intersectoral approaches.  

The conclusion of this framework emphasizes the value of bringing groups together in partnership to solve for today’s chronic disease burden: “Sustainable partnerships boosting capacity of lifestyle medicine practitioners and community-based organizations at the national, regional, and local levels are needed, engaging stakeholders to address upstream causes of poverty and increasing grassroots community momentum and ownership of health-building programs.” 

Transforming Healthcare with Lifestyle and Food as Medicine: The Impact of ACLM’s Essentials Course 

The “Lifestyle Medicine and Food as Medicine Essentials” course is transforming healthcare by equipping thousands of clinicians with the knowledge and confidence to address the root causes of disease. From improving clinician well-being at University Hospitals to empowering patients at Atrium Health, this free course is making a tangible impact—and helping drive true health restoration.

The “Lifestyle Medicine and Food as Medicine Essentials” course is empowering thousands of healthcare professionals with the knowledge and confidence to integrate evidence-based lifestyle interventions into their practice—unlocking the potential to address the root causes of disease and drive true health restoration.

Since its launch, more than 56,000 clinicians have registered for the Essentials course. Offered at no cost as part of ACLM’s commitment to the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, this initiative aims to train clinicians across the country in lifestyle medicine and food as medicine. The goal? A healthcare system that prioritizes prevention and reversal of disease through nutrition and lifestyle interventions. 

Real-World Impact: How Clinicians Are Using Essentials

The Essentials course isn’t just another online training—it’s a versatile tool that organizations, physicians, and healthcare leaders are creatively applying to improve patient care, enhance clinician well-being, and address public health challenges across the country. 

University Hospitals: Using Essentials to Support Clinician Well-Being

University Hospitals (UH) integrated Essentials as part of a clinician wellness initiative, helping providers improve their own health while gaining the skills to support their patients. Since launching the program, UH has trained more than 2,100 clinicians, representing nearly 10% of its care team. 

Chief Whole Health & Well-Being Officer Francoise Adan, MD, credits the program’s success to strong leadership support, frequent communication, and integration into existing initiatives. Originally introduced as an employee well-being offering, Essentials quickly became a system-wide initiative after securing buy-in from key stakeholders, including top executives. The program was promoted consistently through weekly communications from leadership across multiple departments, ensuring broad visibility and engagement. By aligning Essentials with UH’s existing well-being program, the organization also incentivized participation through its established rewards system, making it easy for clinicians to take advantage of the opportunity. 

What started as a free course has now grown into a thriving community of providers who share stories, successes, and new initiatives inspired by Essentials. Leaders across UH have embraced the program, further amplifying its impact. Reflecting on the program’s success, Dr. Adan encourages others to take the leap. “A few resources are required to get started, but it’s been absolutely wonderful,” she said. “It’s taken on a life of its own. Do it, do it, do it!” 

Kentucky Medical Association: Training Physicians to Improve Public Health

The Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) is leveraging Essentials to train physicians as part of a statewide public health initiative, ensuring a consistent, evidence-based approach to lifestyle medicine. With 80% of chronic diseases and 40% of cancers linked directly to lifestyle choices, KMA recognizes the urgent need to equip physicians with the tools to address these root causes. 

After being elected KMA president, ACLM member Evelyn Montgomery Jones, MD, made improving Kentucky’s health a top priority. In August, she issued an innovative challenge to KMA’s 7,000 members: complete the “Lifestyle Medicine and Food as Medicine Essentials” course and apply its principles in clinical practice. To encourage participation, KMA partnered with ACLM to offer exclusive incentives, including complimentary registrations for ACLM’s 2024 annual conference, the Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine Board Review course, and the Remission of Type 2 Diabetes and Reversal of Insulin Resistance with Lifestyle Medicine course. 

Momentum is building, with KMA already announcing its first prize winners and continuing to drive interest in Essentials. Discussing the initiative’s significance, Dr. Montgomery Jones said “I’m excited to be able to offer this opportunity from ACLM to KMA physicians, especially as we look for ways to improve the health status of our patients and our state.” 

Atrium Health: Empowering Patients Through Education

Andrew Nance, MD, DipABLM, saw firsthand how lifestyle medicine could transform lives, but he also recognized the challenge of equipping patients with the knowledge they needed to take charge of their health. That’s when he turned to the “Lifestyle Medicine and Food as Medicine Essentials” course as a patient education tool. After introducing his patient, Ebony Benjamin, to small, realistic lifestyle changes, he realized she was eager to learn more. He offered her the 5.5-hour course, and to his surprise, she completed it over a single weekend. The course gave her the confidence and knowledge to take her health journey even further—eventually leading her to start a walking group and become a peer support specialist. 

For Dr. Nance, the course provided structured, evidence-based education that reinforced the principles he introduced during his visits. By combining personalized guidance with accessible learning, he empowered Ebony to take ownership of her health—proving that education is a powerful catalyst for lasting lifestyle change. 

Research Confirms the Impact

The Essentials course has shown significant benefits for clinicians. A study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine found that those who completed the course reported notable improvements in: 

• Knowledge of lifestyle and food as medicine interventions 
• Confidence in discussing and implementing lifestyle medicine in practice 
• Frequency of applying lifestyle medicine principles with patients 

This research reinforces the idea that when clinicians are equipped with the right education and tools, they can more effectively support lifestyle changes that lead to better patient outcomes and help shift healthcare toward a focus on health restoration. 

Getting Started with Essentials

Access to the “Lifestyle Medicine and Food as Medicine Essentials” course remains available for free until September 2025. This is a valuable opportunity for clinicians to enhance their practice and improve patient care with practical, evidence-based lifestyle interventions. Whether you’re an individual provider or part of a healthcare organization, now is the time to explore how this course can help support better health outcomes for patients and the broader community. 

Enroll today or contact us to learn how to deploy the course within your organization. 

ACLM Advocacy Update February 2025

As a new administration takes office, ACLM is closely monitoring the evolving policy landscape and opportunities to advance lifestyle medicine. Explore our key priorities and recent advocacy efforts to shape policies that support a healthier future.

Political Climate—by Bob Siggins, Alston & Bird

The 4th quarter, of course, witnessed the election of a new and very different President and Administration from those we have witnessed in recent history, presenting both threats and opportunities for ACLM as we closely track the arrival of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement. The increased focus on addressing the root causes of the epidemic of chronic disease that has been enveloping our country over the last half century is long overdue and should very much play to our strengths. It will be our job, though, to make sure those in positions of authority in this Administration recognize the big role the healthcare system and properly trained physicians and allied health professionals can play in helping to address this crisis.

Secretary Designate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and many of his adherents have focused heavily on issues related to the food system that have driven a dramatic increase in the amount of ultra-processed foods in our diet, and correctly so, as well as other issues related to food labeling and ingredients. All of those issues are important pieces of the puzzle, as is changing our medical education system to produce a workforce trained to address the chronic conditions that are rampant in this country and developing and testing payment models that reward them for doing so. That will be the message ACLM will be driving along with allied stakeholders as we work with this new Administration.

We have already seen for the formation of new MAHA caucuses in both the House and Senate, in each case led by physicians we think will be aligned with our message in these and other areas.

First up for the new Administration will be extending government funding, which is scheduled to expire on March 14th. This will also present an opportunity for Congress to address the 2.8% payment cut to the conversion factor in the 2025 physician fee schedule (PFS), as well as to extend the telehealth regulatory relief that has become so vital to many of the care delivery models so many of our members employ, as well as to their patients. We will be tracking both of those issues and many others very carefully through this process.

Once Congress is able to clear the decks on the spending bill, and the new Administration is able to get its nominees in place at the Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies, including CMS and FDA, where nominees Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Marty Makary have some significant alignment with the ACLM approach, we look forward to looking for opportunities where we can find common ground and work with them to truly make America healthy again. At the same time, we do recognize there will be areas where their approach goes in directions ACLM and its members will find questionable, and we will be careful to distinguish between those policies they pursue and which ACLM supports and those we do not.

Preparation for New Administration and Congress

• ACLM developed background documents to share with the new Administration and Congress, identified new Committees of Jurisdiction, caucus and other Congressional champions, and made introductory contacts with expected department leaders.
• These include our Policy Priorities 2025 document.

Responses to Requests for Information (RFIs)

• To House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith and Health Subcommittee Chairman Vern Buchanan in response to the hearing “Investing in a Healthier America: The critical role preventive medicine and healthy living play in combatting chronic disease and the growing obesity epidemic”
• To Senate Finance Committee on proposed legislative improvements to Graduate Medical Education, including suggested language for inclusion of lifestyle medicine in the bill and a request for a GAO report on GME

Sign-on Letters

Facilitated ACLM sign on to the following originated by other organizations:

• Food is Medicine Institute’s letter to leadership of the Senate and House subcommittees on Labor, Health, and Human Services regarding the FY 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill to request that the subcommittee provide robust funding and include language to better integrate nutrition into our healthcare system.
• The American Medical Association’s letter to House and Senate leadership urging Congress to include provisions addressing the latest round of Medicare physician payment cuts. More specifically, the letter highlights and critiques Congress for not stopping the cuts in the American Relief Act, which was enacted in December 2024, as well as urges the House and Senate to include the recently introduced Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act in the forthcoming March 2025 government funding bill.

Key Meetings

• Met with Sen. Michael Bennet staff (D-CO) as a follow-up to ACLM’s summer comments on GME RFI
• Met with Rachel Ferencik of the CDC Foundation as a follow-up on progress of White House Conference commitment and introduction to Nutrition in Pregnancy Provider Education Workgroup
• Met with Dr. Anthony Pick as follow-up to Illinois district town hall on type 2 diabetes
• Supported preparation for military readiness meetings with Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA)
• Supported preparation for meeting with Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) staff
• Participated in the planning committee for Food is Medicine Institute’s planned Advocacy Day scheduled for March 13, 2025.