It is our mission to equip and inspire healthcare professionals and patients, with the knowledge and skills to support sustainable lifestyle changes and here, we take the opportunity to recognise those that are doing this day in and day out, inspiring others to go on to do the same within their community. Whether it’s creating a programme or initiative for sustainable change, or building careers from which to do some, we’d love to showcase it.
It’s such an exciting time for lifestyle medicine – the need is evident, the evidence-base is being recognised, and confidence is building in the difference it can have in today’s society. With that comes the need, and opportunities, for health professionals to continue to learn, embed the principles and design and sustainable future for them, and our healthcare system. It’s great to see Lifestyle Medicine being integrated across general practice, anaesthesiology, nursing, psychiatry and, more. The number of programmes and initiatives continue to grow and opportunities for us to leap from and customise for our communities. Share with us what’s happening in your area.
Lifestyle ClinicInitiative
Dr Nerys Frater
Wales
We created a clinic designed to use lifestyle as medicine. We have a multi-disciplinary team which includes a diabetes specialist nurse, lifestyle coach, a dietitian and a GP with an interest in obesity, weight management and diabetes remission.
Lifestyle Medicine PhysicianCareer
Dr. Kate McCann
International
Dr McCann has been incorporating lifestyle medicine into her practice, ensuring all 6 pillars are appropriately covered with her patients. She also has a monthly slot (first Wednesdays) on local LMFM radio to discuss lifestyle medicine and get the message out there. Dr McCann also launched Walk with a Doc as a monthly event in Ireland for patients and staff.
Arts in Health CoordinatorCareer
Dr Catherine Jenkins
Wales
The role of an “Arts in Health Coordinator” is to promote and encourage the use of arts in a healthcare environment. We aim to develop, embed and implement an “arts in health” strategy within the health board, and to develop and deliver arts programmes for the benefit of patients, families and staff.
Neighbourhood Wellbeing ServiceInitiativeCareer
Dr Rodriguez Benito
London
Working as a population health and lifestyle lead in Sutton has been key to contribute to the creation of a new model of care that aims to provide personalised care to reduce health inequalities and promote health and wellbeing of our communities from a co-production model.
Online Support ProgrammeInitiativeCareer
Suzy Bolt
Online
Set up by Suzy Bolt (an NLP Master coach and Yoga teacher) after her own long covid journey, in response to the lack of availability for ongoing peer-supported rehab, for those with Long Covid symptoms and post-vaccine injury. She decided to set up her own business offering online gentle physical sessions, relaxation classes, breath work and group chat support sessions. It’s now widely used, and referred into, by Long Covid clinics, GP’s and health professionals from around the world and provides a live community of people who understand, for people to feel a part of.
Rohini – Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional NutritionistCareer
Rohini Bajekal
London
Rohini Bajekal is a nutritionist (MA Oxon, MSc Nutrition and Food Sciences, Dip BSLM/ IBLM) and a Board-Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional. Rohini has used her IBLM/BSLM Certification to create a career in which she is able to off evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle advice to her clients around the world.
A keen recipe developer, Rohini is passionate about making delicious, affordable and nourishing plant-based meals. In her spare time, she volunteers as a Cookery Teacher at Made in Hackney, the UK’s only plant-based cookery school and charity. Rohini is a Board Member and Communications Lead at Plant-Based Health Professionals UK – an organisation that provides education around the benefits of plant-based diets in the prevention and management of chronic disease. She also provides expertise around South Asian diets as part of the Dietitian and Nutritionist Advisory Committee at Diet ID. She is the co-author of Living PCOS Free along with her mother Dr Nitu who is an ObGyn and Board-Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician. Rohini has personal experience of PCOS and reversing insulin resistance after a diagnosis of prediabetes in her 20s.
A Lifestyle Medicine Approach to Management of Post-Covid SyndromeInitiativeCareer
Dr Caroline Gibson
North East England
The long-COVID service in County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has embedded a personalised care and lifestyle medicine approach throughout it’s service. Our aim is to provide a person-centred approach to care for patients who are experiencing ongoing symptoms of long-COVID; delivered by a Multi-Disciplinary Team via a cross-system biopsychosocial model – avoiding many “hand offs” to ensure joined up holistic care. This includes a personalised individual pathway of care depending on the specific needs of the patient. As part of our service we offer a group support programme, delivering online structured education and support for recovery based on lifestyle medicine principles.
Flourish for Life Lifestyle Medicine Clinic
InitiativeCareer
Dr Helen Kini
North West England
LM clinic offering LM appts but also LM to Corporate as a well-being offer, using the pillars/evidenced
based LM and supporting
individuals and organisations to improve their health and well-being
The Healthy Island Partnership (HIP) Wellness Team
InitiativeCareer
Dr Sonal Shah
London
The HIP Wellness Team is a peer led service, which works within primary care and the community to prevent
the development of both physical and mental ill health. It also strives to teach all local residents the
tools to keep themselves well, and also to spot ill health and manage it.
The multi-faceted service is supported by health coaches, social prescribers, first contact physios and uses
a volunteer coordinator to recruit and manage volunteers and bring together existing local community
partners and healthcare providers.
Through the creation of a centralised team we aim to develop a program of work that supports and promotes
holistic health, well-being and self empowerment. The aim is to reduce loneliness and improve other measures
of health and well-being for all residents.
Lifestyle Medicine – Practical Strategies to Menopause
InitiativeCareer
Dr Reeta Karamchandani
North West England
I lead first of the many planned drop-in session for our ICS (NHS) workforce. The aim was to start a conversation around menopause , sharing experiences at work and at home
It was well attended ,37 attendees, who shared how it affects their work and what changes they have made to their lifestyle to
overcome these ,what barriers they faced and how they navigated through them
We talked about menopause in very general terms (as it wasn’t meant to be a teaching session nor for diagnosis of menopause)
We then addressed each pillar of lifestyle medicine -impact of menopause and shared tips how to identify and overcome barriers-
some being lack of motivation, worries around strength training and how women may be concerned being perceived as not so productive in this
stage of life.
Woodwork to Wellness
InitiativeCareer
Dr Graham Stephens
North West England – Wales
The creation of a craft creation centre for embedding LM genuinely in the community.
Wellness Improvement Service (WISE)
InitiativeCareer
Dr Liza Thomas-Emrus
Wales
The Wellness Improvement Service (WISE) is a new NHS service in Wales for the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health board.
Patients with chronic symptoms and chronic disease are at risk of general deconditioning and their physical and mental health
declining with increased risk of poly-pharmacy and multi-morbidity. WISE offers Wellness Coaches to support patients for up to 9
months to help mitigate these risks.