This article, authored by Full Plate Living Program Director, Amy Hanus, emphasizes how clinicians can utilize dietary interventions to improve patient well-being and mental health outcomes.

“Clinicians interested in leveraging culinary medicine possess tools to transform patients’ health, one meal at a time. By emphasizing the simple, actionable culinary prescription of maximizing whole, unprocessed fiber diversity (aiming for 30+ plants per week) and fermented foods, it directly nurtures the gut microbiome. This targeted approach is a powerful intervention for promoting a healthy gut and mind.”

This American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine publication suggests that lifestyle medicine training can improve patient care and support provider well-being.

Abstract

Lifestyle-related factors and obesity contribute significantly to the burden of chronic disease. In response, Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) implemented the Lifestyle Medicine Residency Curriculum (LMRC) and launched a lifestyle and obesity medicine (LOM) consultation clinic within its family medicine (FM) residency program. The LOM clinic was embedded within a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) affiliated with LLUH. It expanded from a biweekly half-day clinic to a weekly half-day model with 21 appointment slots per session to achieve financial sustainability. Key stakeholders were engaged across the FQHC and LLUH obesity medicine teams. In June 2024, senior residents were surveyed to evaluate educational impact and perceived value of the clinic experience. Quality improvement efforts established electronic referrals, standardized assessments, documentation templates, and a scheduling system to streamline operations. Ongoing challenges included non-unified nutrition messaging, social and psychological barriers to behavior change, and systems-level constraints related to staffing, education, space, and access. The LOM clinic model demonstrates operational scalability and sustainability within a residency-based FQHC setting. Early outcomes suggest it enhances resident engagement, supports patient-centered chronic disease management, and may serve as a replicable framework for other institutions integrating lifestyle medicine into primary care training and underserved settings.

With grant support from Ardmore Institute of Health, Massachusetts General Hospital published Parent Perspectives on the Interactive Role of Charitable and Federal Nutrition Assistance.

Abstract

Objective: Child-level food insecurity threatens the health and well-being of one-in-three Massachusetts households with children. Federal and charitable nutrition assistance programs are the most important safeguards against food insecurity, but underutilization is common. This qualitative study explored how food pantry users with children leveraged multiple charitable and federal nutrition assistance programs during and since the COVID-19 pandemic to address household food needs and promote child health.

Methods: In 2024, we conducted 26 semistructured virtual interviews in English and Spanish with parents who used a plant-based food pantry incorporated into a community-based, academic medical clinic. Trained qualitative researchers audio-recorded, professionally transcribed, coded, and analyzed transcripts via thematic analysis.

Results: Resources offered through federal and charitable nutrition assistance programs return agency to parents over child diet decisions amidst destabilizing environmental change (eg, inflation and grocery shortages). However, participation in multiple programs is necessary to meet household food needs, and coordination across programs incurs learning, adherence, and psychological costs. Although pandemic-era outreach and policy change temporarily improved multibenefit program enrollment and related diet outcomes for some, many did not benefit from federal efforts, given immigration or income restrictions. Further, the rollback of these reforms threatened food security and the child's diet. Ultimately, charitable food systems filled critical gaps that were unmet by federal programs due to eligibility shortfalls and rollbacks.

Conclusions: The experiences of pantry users with children underscore the need to reinvest in charitable and federal nutrition assistance programs, broaden the eligibility criteria, and alleviate the administrative burden associated with federal nutrition program access.

With grant support from Ardmore Institute of Health, Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) Revere HealthCare Center launched the Healthy Families Clinic and Teaching Kitchen program, a three-year pilot initiative designed to address food insecurity and chronic disease among families in the Revere community. The program integrates healthy food access, patient and family education, psychosocial support, and rigorous evaluation to create a sustainable model for improving community health. 

While research and toolkit production are ongoing, MGH has released new digital cookbooks (in English and Spanish) to help patients and communities cook and enjoy healthy, delicious meals.

Download the English cookbook here.

Download the Spanish cookbook here.

Continue Exploring:

• Mass General Brigham's Teaching Kitchen prescribes food as medicine

• Full Plate Living

• Loma Linda University Health: New Patient Handbook and Healthcare Resource Guide

• Now Available in Spanish: Full Plate Living Shared Medical Appointment Program and Group Program

This article, authored by Full Plate Living Program Director, Amy Hanus, highlights the clinical application of whole grain oats, specifically within the framework of Culinary Medicine.

"Whole grains cooked in liquid, especially in their less processed forms, such as steel-cut oats, offer a powerful, affordable, and accessible tool for patients aiming to manage or prevent insulin resistance and chronic diseases. By prioritizing larger whole grain particle sizes and incorporating high-fiber additions, such as fruits, vegetables, and beans, clinicians can guide patients toward optimized nutritional choices that help stabilize glucose levels."

This article, authored by Full Plate Living Program Director, Amy Hanus, emphasizes the powerful synergy between Lifestyle Medicine and Culinary Medicine for optimizing Whole Person Care.

"Lifestyle Medicine addresses the root causes of chronic illness through proven pillars: movement, sleep, stress resilience, relationships, avoidance of harmful substances, and nutrition, the most frequently used clinical pillar. Culinary Medicine, as highlighted by the work of Hauser et al, brings the nutrition pillar to life by enabling practitioners to advise and to cook, plan, and guide food behavior. This integration is essential for providing comprehensive, transformative care."

With grant support from Ardmore Institute of Health, Loma Linda University Health has developed two resources to advance the use of whole-food, plant-based nutrition for chronic disease treatment and prevention.

The Patient Handbook for Restorative Diet Recipes is designed to help patients treat chronic diseases through dietary changes. The handbook introduces nutrition's role in overall health and includes the dietary spectrum from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. It offers recipes, practical tips for overcoming barriers like cost and time constraints, guidance on reading food labels and meal planning, and meal planners and grocery lists to help patients get started.

Click here to download the patient handbook.

The Healthcare Resource Guide is designed to help hospital systems meet nutritional guidelines, emphasizing plant-based nutrition for hospitalized patients. Created by a task force team of physicians, nutritional services administrators, an executive chef, and registered dietitians at Loma Linda University Health, this guide can be immediately implemented into food service departments and can be adapted to food service departments in other healthcare facilities such as nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, and rehabilitation facilities.

Click here to download the resource guide.

Continue Exploring:

• Loma Linda University Health Implements Therapeutic Meals in Inpatient Setting

• Full Plate Living

Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), in partnership with Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH), Blue Zones, and Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation, has announced the establishment of The Dexter Shurney, MD Well-being Fellowship by HERO, a new endowed research fellowship dedicated to integrity, healthy lifestyle, and equity. The fellowship celebrates the ongoing leadership and legacy of Dr. Dexter Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH, who currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Health Officer for Blue Zones and Chair of HERO's Board of Directors.

Dr. Shurney has spent his career pioneering innovative approaches that bridge healthcare systems, workplace wellness, and community health. As Chief Medical Officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Healthways, Chief Medical Director for Cummins, Inc., and through faculty appointments at Vanderbilt University where he directed the Employee Health Plan, he has consistently championed the idea that true health equity requires changing the environments where people live, work, and receive care. His leadership, from chairing Tennessee's Diabetes Prevention and Health Improvement Board under Governor Phil Bredesen to leading the CDC's National Diabetes Education Program Business Strategies Committee and serving as President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, has transformed how organizations think about prevention and population health. Board-certified in Preventive Medicine, Public Health, and Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Shurney is a fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and co-author of "Integrating Wellness into Your Disease Management Programs."

AIH, Blue Zones, and Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation have provided initial funding for the endowment. The partners are actively seeking additional inaugural support to reach the $100,000 fundraising goal that will enable 3-4 annual research awards for researchers, clinicians, policy analysts, and community-engaged scholars working to reduce financial barriers to healthcare and advance health equity.

Click here to contribute to the endowment.

"I am deeply honored and grateful to HERO and the inaugural benefactors—Ardmore Institute of Health, Blue Zones, and Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation—for committing to this research that will keep health equity and access at the forefront of research for workforce health and well-being,” said Dr. Dexter Shurney. “For the many years that I've been associated with HERO, it has been emblematic of what a true research organization should look like—without fear or favor, going about the job of understanding what works and what doesn't, with integrity. It is my hope that this fellowship will lead to transformation of our healthcare system and resolve barriers to access that prevent so many from achieving optimal health outcomes."

Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) is proud to welcome Dr. MaryEllen Eller to its Board of Trustees.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. MaryEllen Eller to the AIH Board,” says Dr. Ron Stout, President and CEO of AIH. “Her expertise in behavioral health and commitment to Whole Person Care will be invaluable in helping us change the way people are cared for in America.”

Dr. MaryEllen Eller is a board-certified psychiatrist recognized for her clinical expertise, leadership, and holistic approach to mental health. Her background as a gymnast and coach laid the foundation for her appreciation of the powerful connection between mindset, health, and performance. Dr. Eller’s training spans general adult psychiatry, interventional psychiatry, and leadership-focused care. A graduate of Andrews University and Loma Linda University School of Medicine, she completed her psychiatric residency at Loma Linda University Health and holds advanced certification as a Master Psychopharmacologist through the Neuroscience Education Institute.

Her leadership experience includes co-founding RxPerformance Therapy and Remission Psychiatry, as well as serving as Medical Director across multiple inpatient and outpatient psychiatric programs. Currently, Dr. Eller serves as the Southeast Regional Medical Director for Radial, where she leads initiatives to expand access to interventional psychiatric treatments across the United States. The Radial team is dedicated to revolutionizing psychiatric care through patient-centered, outcome-driven treatment, expanding access to effective interventions, and ensuring that every client receives the highest quality care.

In addition, Dr. Eller provides whole-person psychiatric consultation and professional supervision at Remission Psychiatry, emphasizing the vital role of healthy living in promoting brain health, resilience, and recovery. Her approach integrates the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of well-being—helping clients optimize performance and live purpose-driven, meaningful lives.

“I am honored to join the AIH Board and excited to collaborate with such a dedicated group of professionals. I believe that effective chronic disease management begins with Whole Person Care, grounded in lifestyle optimization. I look forward to supporting evidence-based strategies that improve health and vitality in our communities,” says Dr Eller.

Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) is delighted to feature the outcomes of a Community Health Worker (CHW)-led study which assessed the effectiveness of an adapted Full Plate Living intervention for low-income, overweight or obese Latinas in Southern California.

This project, facilitated by Loma Linda University with grant support from AIH, was successfully implemented during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study focused on a population that historically faces significant health disadvantages and was disproportionately affected by the pandemic and related food insecurity.

Despite the immense challenges associated with the pandemic, participants in the program showed significant improvement in weight and waist circumference over the one-year follow-up period. “While most of their fellow community-members gained weight, obese and overweight low-income, food insecure Latinas enrolled in a CHW-led intervention were able to lose weight and reduce their risk of obesity related chronic diseases during the peak of the pandemic.”

Notably, participants experiencing food insecurity benefited as much as those who were food secure, demonstrating that the intervention did not exacerbate, and may have reduced, the health disparity gap. The success was largely attributed by participants to the emotional and social support received, affirming that Whole Person Care – person-centered, relationship-based care that takes into account the social, spiritual, emotional, and behavioral aspects of health – is critical for achieving positive health outcomes.

Read the full study here: Supporting healthy weight in times of crisis: results of a one-year community health worker-led intervention among food (in) secure low-income Latinas.

Continue Exploring:

• Esperanza Health Center: Utilizing Full Plate Living Shared Medical Appointments to Support Patients and Community

• Now Available in Spanish: Full Plate Living Shared Medical Appointment Program and Group Program

• Grant Funded Latino Group Program for Community Health Setting

Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) is delighted to announce its Fall 2025 grant recipients. Through grant-making, AIH partners with mission-aligned organizations by funding innovative projects that support AIH's strategic objectives.

This fall, AIH awarded $1,894,818 across 17 projects that will help advance our vision: a future where healthy environments and lifestyles provide equitable and preferred methods to prevent, treat, and reverse chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Continue reading to learn more about each project.

Fresh Rx: Advancing Lifestyle Medicine Education for Equitable Chronic Care

Albany Area Primary Health Care Inc | Albany, GA

$70,113

Fresh Rx: Advancing Lifestyle Medicine Education for Equitable Chronic Care expands a proven produce prescription and lifestyle medicine program at Albany Area Primary Health Care (AAPHC), serving rural and underserved communities in Southwest Georgia. In partnership with A.T. Still University (ATSU), the project embeds Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) into two adult AAPHC clinics and two PEDS school-based health centers, targeting high rates of chronic disease, food insecurity, and poverty. Using the Full Plate Living curriculum, Fresh Rx integrates plant-forward nutrition, mindful eating, cooking demonstrations, and community to build self-efficacy and support sustainable behavior change. Participants receive fresh produce boxes and set SMART goals within supportive group visits led by PAs, NPs, and ATSU trainees. Goals include reducing HbA1c, BMI, and blood pressure; increasing plant-based food consumption and physical activity; and improving resilience, depression, and stress outcomes. Measurements will include biometric data, dietary surveys, and validated psychosocial tools, analyzed with IRB oversight as needed. The initiative also trains future providers by embedding lifestyle medicine into ATSU’s curriculum, building capacity for prevention-focused care. Anticipated outcomes include healthier patients, stronger community partnerships with local farmers, and a replicable model for chronic disease reversal and health equity in underserved populations nationwide.

Paying for Obesity Care: A National Forum on Lifestyle Medicine and Coverage Innovation

Alliance of Community Health Plans | Washington, DC

$100,000

To integrate Lifestyle Medicine and Whole Person Care into the U.S. health system, payers must recognize and reimburse these approaches. The Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP), representing nearly three dozen nonprofit, community health plans covering 24 million Americans, proposes a national forum on transforming obesity care through policy and payer innovation. Through a decade-long ACHP Chronic Disease Pledge our member plans have committed to improving outcomes in diabetes, hypertension and childhood obesity by 2030. This forum will bring together C-suite executives and policy experts to explore how value-based payment models and informed benefit design can enable ACHP plans to reach their pledge goals through supporting evidence-based, lifestyle-focused interventions for obesity. Discussions will highlight the cost-effectiveness of lifestyle medicine, tackling the growing financial pressures from weight loss drugs and opportunities for systemic change. Through expert panels and peer-to-peer exchange, the event aims to catalyze systemic change, embedding lifestyle medicine into payer strategies and empowering health plans to lead the transition toward Whole Person, value-based obesity care. Central to this vision are federal policy reforms that shape coverage, reimbursement and care models across the nation.

Nourishing Generations: Cultural Food, Motherhood, and a Full Plate Approach 

Cardea Services | Seattle, WA

$100,000

Nourishing Generations is a culturally centered pilot to improve maternal health outcomes for Black mothers in Central Texas. Rooted in the evidence-based Full Plate Living framework, the program blends cultural food traditions with lifestyle medicine to promote heart-healthy eating, stress management, and community connection during pregnancy and postpartum. Key objectives are to:

• Deliver culturally affirming nutrition education through group sessions, workshops, cooking demonstrations, and meal planning with affordable, accessible foods.

• Foster supportive peer groups for mothers and engage family, clinicians, and nutritionists.

• Address stress and mental well-being through mindfulness, movement, and self-care practices.

• Promote sustainable behavior change via continued access to Full Plate Living resources.

In partnership with People’s Community Clinic, Cardea will conduct a needs assessment, design a program grounded in cultural traditions with an interdisciplinary advisory group, and implement an 18-month pilot. Activities include food prescriptions, nutritional education sessions, peer support, and integration into clinical workflows. A mixed-methods evaluation approach will assess clinical, behavioral, and engagement outcomes. Anticipated outcomes include improved maternal health, enhanced lifestyle practices, stronger social support, and evidence to advance food-as-medicine policy and replication.

Community of Hope Healthy Lifestyle Program

Community of Hope | Washington, DC

$20,000

Community of Hope (COH) plans to continue our Healthy Lifestyle Program to reach additional patients by offering a new series of in-person group health education classes. As before, COH will convene three separate cohorts, with each group lasting eight weeks, using the AIH’s Full Plate Living Healthy Lifestyle Program® curriculum. We will focus on recruiting patients who have some type of chronic health condition. For each cohort, we plan to include up to 10 participants, resulting in the engagement of approximately 30 patients over the three cohorts. One of the three cohorts will be held in Spanish, to provide an option for patients who would prefer to receive the session information in Spanish. The overall goal of the program will be to enhance participants’ awareness and understanding of how good nutrition, physical activity, and mindfulness can improve health outcomes. Patients will identify personal goals related to healthy nutrition practices, physical activity routines, and/or mindfulness approaches based on the Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound (SMART) model. We expect that through the support provided by the classes, patients will achieve at least one of their SMART goals. We also anticipate that participation in the program will lead to positive health outcomes such as improvements in blood pressure and/or BMI reductions. Further, we expect the program will help patients feel better equipped to manage their chronic diseases overall.

Lifestyle Medicine-framed Primary Care using Full Plate Living Shared Medical Appointments at an FQHC in North Philadelphia

Esperanza Health Center | Philadelphia, PA

$103,000

Our project, Lifestyle Medicine-framed Primary Care using Full Plate Living Shared Medical Appointments at an FQHC in North Philadelphia, will expand the scope and breadth of Esperanza Health Center’s current Lifestyle Medicine (LM) program. Utilizing shared medical appointments (SMAs) with Full Plate Living (FPL) as the core curriculum, our current 10-week bilingual LM course covers four key domains: 1) nutrition education through the FPL curriculum; 2) interactive plant-forward recipe demonstrations; 3) behavioral health-led activities; and 4) guided group physical movement. Our project adds two new cohorts—one focused on nutrition, sleep, stress, and spirituality, and the other an adaptation of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s Lifestyle Empowerment Approach to Diabetes Remission (LEADR) curriculum, incorporating hands-on Culinary Medicine and utilizing FPL—in addition to continued FPL cohorts. All cohorts, to be offered to both patients and community members, will be implemented as culturally-relevant group visits with behavioral health support and a focus on social connectedness, and will provide opportunities for experiential learning to build skills for health-promoting lifestyles. Data about participants’ health outcomes and program delivery for all cohorts will be captured and analyzed. We hope to observe improvements in participants’ markers of chronic disease, including blood pressure, weight, and mental/emotional health.

Demonstrating the Value of Activating Employers as Agents of Change in Promoting Whole Health for Low-Wage Workers via Lifestyle as Medicine

Health Enhancement Research Organization | Raleigh, NC

$83,810

The Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) successfully executed 2 previous Ardmore Institute of Health-funded grants to develop and refine a model for, and to demonstrate the value of, activating employers as agents of change in the implementation of Lifestyle as Medicine (LM). HERO will conduct additional intensive case studies with employers who employ low-wage workers, including at least one health system, to promote whole health. The case studies will involve strategic planning, technical assistance, and evaluation. These case studies will ensure that 1) the model and tools being disseminated to employers have the maximum potential to advance health equity; 2) the LM framework being applied explicitly addresses meaning and purpose to optimize whole health; and 3) health systems recognize the significant opportunity they have to foster whole health for their employees via LM and see the path to and benefit of doing so. Assisting health systems in infusing LM into the foundational elements of whole health initiatives for their employees could pave the way for broader adoption of that approach for patients and the communities in which they operate. A diverse array of outcome measures of particular interest to health systems (e.g., retention, burnout) will be considered. The results will be widely shared as practical, applied guidance and tools for employers of all sizes to adopt as they chart their own course to sustainably implement LM to promote whole health.

Validating the Lifestyle Medicine Assessment for Use in Lifestyle Medicine Clinics and Research

HealthPartners Institute | Bloomington, MN

$100,000

Lifestyle Medicine is an expanding field within healthcare that focuses on reducing the risk of chronic disease through promoting engagement in healthy behaviors. As more clinicians and researchers develop and implement Lifestyle Medicine programs, there is an increasing need for concise, comprehensive, and validated tools to assess the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine. Such assessments help pinpoint areas needing improvement at the start of these programs and measure progress over time, which can be helpful in both clinical and research settings. To address this need, Bonnet (2024) created the Lifestyle Medicine Assessment (LMA), a 21-item screening tool designed to evaluate the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine. Although the LMA has already demonstrated face and content validity, it requires further research to confirm its reliability and its construct and criterion validity. This project aims to strengthen the evidence for the LMA by conducting a cross-sectional survey of 315 patients within a large health system. Participants will complete the LMA, as well as several established measures related to each pillar of Lifestyle Medicine. Researchers will link survey responses to data from participants’ electronic health records to examine how the LMA relates to objective health metrics. The findings from this study will be shared through scientific presentations and publications, with the goal of further disseminating the LMA in both clinical and research settings.

Evaluating the Outcomes of Community Efforts to Improve Population Health and Well-Being in Eight Blue Zones and Wellville Communities

Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD

$150,000

Blue Zones Project (BZP) and Wellville (WV) aim to improve community health and well-being through community-based efforts, such as environmental and policy changes. The ultimate aim is for residents to adopt healthy lifestyles by making healthy choices easy, normative, and affordable. While there is strong evidence that the setting in which one resides is predictive of good health, there is limited evidence for long-term population health improvements attributable to community initiatives such as those promoted by BZP and WV. Data are now available, accessible, and of sufficient quality to evaluate the population health impacts of BZP and WV initiatives. This project, a collaboration between Johns Hopkins University and the University of Missouri Extension Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES), conducts a “deep dive” evaluation of eight BZP and WV communities. Using a jointly developed methodology and data framework, the project examines the health impacts of these community initiatives to determine whether they “work.” Multi-year trend lines are investigated for key health risk measures, disease prevalence rates, and social determinants of health. BZP and WV data trends are contrasted with comparator sites and national norms to determine whether community-based initiatives can successfully “bend” population-wide metrics in a healthy direction.

Accelerating the Scalability of Sustainable Models of Whole-Person Health in Community Health Centers: An Innovation Incubator for Lifestyle Medicine

National Association of Community Health Centers | Bethesda, MD

$150,000

Led by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) in partnership with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), this project aims to advance whole-person care models across Community Health Centers (CHCs). CHCs serve nearly 34 million individuals each year, many of whom face barriers to health due to poverty, limited access to nutritious food, and high rates of chronic disease. As the primary care provider for these communities, CHCs are uniquely positioned to transform chronic disease care through scalable, nutrition-forward, and team-based models of care. This initiative focuses on equipping CHCs with tools and Continuing Medical Education (CME) accredited training to integrate lifestyle medicine and nutrition-forward care into primary care, including the integration of Full Plate Living and Lifestyle Medicine Shared Medical Appointments (LMSMAs). Over 12 months, NACHC will launch a national CME-accredited learning series, featuring five 90-minute interactive webinars. Pre/post assessments will track knowledge, confidence, and implementation readiness gains. NACHC will also co-develop an LMSMA incubator curriculum with tools and implementation guidance for CHC settings. All activities will be shared through NACHC and ACLM communication channels. By strengthening the CHC workforce, this project aims to reduce chronic disease burden and improve health outcomes for medically underserved populations.

FreshRx Latinx Food is Medicine Program

Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. | Tulsa, OK

$100,000

FreshRx Oklahoma is launching an innovative pilot program in East Tulsa that integrates Lifestyle Medicine principles with the Full Plate Living model to improve health outcomes in the Latinx community with 100 participants. This initiative recognizes the cultural, linguistic, and systemic barriers many Latinx adults face when managing or preventing Type 2 Diabetes, a condition disproportionately impacting this population. Our goal is to empower adults at risk for, or living with, Type 2 Diabetes to improve metabolic health, build sustainable nutrition habits, and reduce disparities in chronic disease management. Participants referred through local clinics will receive a biweekly prescription for regeneratively grown produce, hands-on bilingual cooking demonstrations, and wraparound support from trusted UMA Tulsa promotoras who provide culturally responsive guidance and encouragement. We will measure program impact by tracking clinical outcomes (HbA1c, blood pressure, weight), monitoring dietary behavior change, and capturing engagement data at three-month intervals. By pairing food access with culturally relevant education and peer support, this pilot aims to demonstrate a scalable, evidence-based Food is Medicine model that can be integrated into Oklahoma’s Medicaid reimbursement framework. Ultimately, FreshRx Oklahoma seeks to improve health equity and empower communities through accessible, culturally resonant nutrition interventions.

Spreading & Scaling Community As Medicine to Provide Clinically-Integrated Lifestyle Medicine in Low-Income Communities to Improve Health & Wellbeing

Open Source Wellness | El Cerrito, CA

$300,000

Building on the success our 2024 AIH grant, which launched Open Source Wellness’s (OSW’s) inaugural Community As MedicineR (CAM) Learning Collaborative (CAMLC), our project aligns with AIH’s priority of making “lifestyle medicine-infused whole person care” integral to the healthcare system. AIH’s funding will support one-time expenses associated with building our capacity to spread and scale CAM - our evidence-based model of trauma-informed, culturally-relevant health and wellness coaching - in partnership with community-based organizations and clinical healthcare entities across the U.S. Members of CAMLC’s 2024 cohort (n=3) are in various stages of implementing their CAM programs in collaboration with clinical partners. The 2025 cohort members (n=5) are designing CAM programs for launch in 2026. Five (5) or more are expected to join the 2026 cohort. AIH’s funding will build OSW’s infrastructure to support the spread and scale of CAM. This includes developing tools to support organizations in building capacity to deliver CAM in partnership with clinical healthcare and to sustain their CAM programs beyond their participation in CAMLC. Funds will support OSW’s strategic expansion of clinical partnerships and institutional alliances to integrate the CAM model of lifestyle medicine into mainstream medical practice as the standard of care and to elevate CAM as the overarching framework for promoting holistic health and wellbeing.

Better Together - Building a Collaborative SMA Model in a Residency Program

Swedish Health Services | Seattle, WA

$60,895

This project will demonstrate the financial and clinical benefits of integrating lifestyle medicine shared medical appointments (LM SMA) with a community organization behavior change group. The project focuses on determining how to improve the blood pressure of our BIPOC (Black Indigenous and People of Color) patient population by integrating five physician-led LM-SMA with the YMCA coach-led Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program. The LM SMA uses content from the 4-session slide deck of the Full Plate Living SMA program. We will assess objective changes in blood pressure and weight, and subjective measures of patient reported lifestyle changes, autonomy in chronic disease management, and resource engagement pre and post-participation. We will review billing data to determine if a percentage of the revenue from LM SMA billing can be used to cover the cost of the YMCA patient fees. A secondary goal of this project is to demonstrate the scalability potential at a residency training site or other low resource setting. This component will be integrated into the experiential part of our LM Residency Curriculum to fulfill the experiential board certification eligibility requirements. We hope to provide proof of principle that this model creates a financially synergistic relationship with a community organization that improves patient engagement, increases long-term positive health behavior, and improves physician confidence in LM counseling and LM SMA delivery.

Food as Medicine Community Educational Forum

The 4R Foundation | Orlando, FL

$50,000

Physicians and health care workers are deeply committed to patient care but often lack the tools to address the root causes of chronic illness. Too frequently, treatment relies on medications rather than holistic, lifestyle-based approaches. The Culinary Health Institute at 4Roots Farm aims to change this model by equipping providers with the knowledge and skills to use Food as Medicine in clinical and community settings. On February 6–7, 2026, we will host a two-day Train-the-Trainer Continuing Medical Education Conference in Orlando, Florida, led by Dr. Monica Aggarwal. Participants will earn 16–18 CME credits while gaining evidence-based education, practical culinary skills, and tools to implement Shared Medical Visits using the Full Plate Living program. Through a mix of lectures, hands-on cooking, gardening, and teaching kitchen demonstrations, HCWs will learn to integrate nutrition, lifestyle interventions, and culturally responsive patient education into practice. This train-the-trainer model prepares participants to replicate programs in their own settings, creating a ripple effect of impact. Success will be measured through participant assessments, skills competency, and follow-up surveys at 3 and 6 months to track implementation. The anticipated outcome is a growing network of Food as Medicine champions who advance health equity, reduce reliance on pharmaceuticals, and improve patient outcomes by addressing nutrition, behavior, and the social drivers of health.

Whole Person Care Initiative – 2026 National Convening

The University of Arizona Foundation fbo The Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine | Tucson, AZ

$120,000

The Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (AWCIM) proposes a primary convening to advance Whole Person Care (WPC) as a unifying framework for transforming healthcare delivery in the US. It will take place over 2.5 days at AWCIM’s campus in Tucson, AZ. For decades, leaders across Lifestyle Medicine (LM), Integrative Medicine (IM), Functional Medicine (FM) & other associations have each worked to shift healthcare toward prevention, equity, & person-centered care. Despite overlapping tenets, they often remain siloed, resulting in diffuse messaging & fragmented influence. Well-structured convenings have a validated record of catalyzing systemic change. As a convener of landmark gatherings, AWCIM has the trust, infrastructure, & interdisciplinary relationships to bring diverse stakeholders together. Event concept:

• Curated participation of 30 influential cross-sector leaders in healthcare & public health

• Professional facilitation to move beyond conversation toward action

• Pre-post baseline data collection, outcome deliverables, impact tracking

• WPH resource availability & access

Outcomes include concrete proposals, toolkits, collaborative initiatives to develop aligned external messaging around whole health care to improve public messaging across organizations & hasten the adoption of new care models, policy shifts, & funding collaborations. These results will have positive effects after the event, ensuring impact toward transforming healthcare delivery beyond the convening.

Sprouting Health through Interactive Nutrition Education (SHINE)

The University of Massachusetts | Hadley, MA

$75,000

This project builds upon two previously AIH funded projects, “Let’s Grow: Food and Farm Summer Camp” with Stanford University and "Resources and Outreach for Ongoing Teaching (ROOT)." During the Let's Grow project, an open access/free children’s activity book, “Full Plate for Kids,” based on Lifestyle Medicine and Whole Health Best Practices was created. The ROOT project focuses on development of a parent/teacher facilitator guides and a healthcare provider quick guide. Since completion of the book, there have been numerous requests from healthcare providers, educators, and families for additional books, and translations. Through the SHINE project, we plan to translate and culturally tailor “Full Plate for Kids” into five languages (the six official working languages of the World Health Organization—including English), as well as parent/teacher facilitator guides and a healthcare provider quick guide. Collaborating with the original activity book team to scale this project, we plan to work with the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Edwin C. Gentzler Translation Center. Surveys and interviews will be conducted to obtain feedback and evaluation on the books and guides. We believe these resources will engage pediatric populations, nationally and internationally, while helping to share Full Plate Living principles with future generations.

Developing an Ongoing Lifestyle Medicine Academic Council (LMAC)

UMass Chan Medical School | Worcester, MA

$220,000

We propose to develop and execute an academically focused physician organization which we are calling the “Lifestyle Medicine Academic Council (LMAC).” We are seeking funding from AIH to provide seed money to assist in this development. Materials utilized for the LMAC will be those already developed with the initial funding from AIH to develop a “High Level Medically Oriented Lifestyle Medicine Curriculum.” We will also utilize a book and embedded curriculum in the book written by Dr. Rippe and Dr. Elizabeth Frates entitled Academic Lifestyle Medicine: A Curriculum for Medical Educators which has been developed with our first AIH Grant. We also intend to engage various cardiology groups both within academic medical schools and private practice settings. In addition to engaging medical schools and cardiology groups, we also intend to seek collaboration from multiple professional organizations including the American Academy of Family Practitioners (AAFP), the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), the American Medical Association (AMA) and/or the American Association for Medical Colleges (AAMC), and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. We will also seek collaboration with the organizations which have previously received funding in the area of undergraduate medical education from AIH. We will emphasize that this effort does not intend to compete with their work but rather expand the field of lifestyle medicine.

Evaluating the Implementation and Outcomes of Full-Plate Living Group Medical Visits for Educators: A Mixed-Methods Analysis

Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, TN

$92,000

This project evaluates and expands the implementation of Full-Plate Living (FPL), a program that emphasizes increased dietary fiber intake through a whole-food, plant-based approach, delivered through either 4- or 8-week Group Medical Visits (GMVs) at Vanderbilt Health at Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). Serving over 11,000 school district employees and their family members, the program addresses the high prevalence of chronic illness, burnout, and nutritional disparities in this workforce through weekly 90-minute sessions that combine nutrition education, culinary demonstrations, and peer support. Using a mixed-methods design, the study evaluates implementation feasibility and acceptance while assessing changes in fiber intake, health, and well-being, measured through validated PROMs, nutrition assessments, attendance, surveys, and interviews with participants and clinic staff. Findings will inform subsequent program enhancements, including the establishment of a clinic-based teaching kitchen and culinary garden, and support the development of a scalable implementation guide. Anticipated outcomes include improved dietary habits and overall measures of health, and a replicable model for lifestyle medicine GMVs in employer-sponsored care. Findings will be disseminated broadly, through presentations at national conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and policy recommendations to support reimbursement of nutrition-focused group care.

Learn more about AIH grant-making, funding priorities, and the process for applying for funding below.

Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) is delighted to support the AAFP’s Scaling Whole Health Strategies in Primary Care Convening in Alexandria, VA this week (November 5-6, 2025).

“The central focus of this convening is on identifying the ways payment and workforce training can best facilitate broader implementation of whole health strategies across a range of primary care settings.”

Convening goals include:

1. Identify commonalities across primary care models and disciplines that incorporate whole health strategies in primary care.

2. Identify current enablers and barriers in health care payment and physician and care team training that facilitate implementation of whole health care strategies in primary care.

3. Develop broad agreement around recommended actions that should be taken to ensure primary care practices are well equipped to fulfill their essential role in the whole-health-oriented system.

Click here to access the convening executive summary.

Continue Exploring:

• AAFP and Ardmore Institute of Health Partner to Enhance Lifestyle Medicine, Transition to Value-Based Care

• AAFP and Ardmore Institute of Health: Advancing Whole Health Through Primary Care

• Family Physicians: Leaders in Whole Health

Ardmore Institute of Health is delighted to share this new article that makes the case for a "vital shift in healthcare" through deeper integration of Lifestyle Medicine and behavioral health. AIH staff members, Dr. Ron Stout and Steven Mauro, and board member, Dr. MaryEllen Eller, co-authored this article.

Abstract

Mental health in the United States faces a mounting crisis, with rising prevalence, inadequate outcomes from pharmacologic treatments, and compounding social and environmental stressors. Traditional care models often neglect the biopsychosocial factors that shape psychological well-being, underscoring the need for a deeper integration of lifestyle medicine and behavioral health. Lifestyle interventions including nutrition, physical activity, sleep hygiene, stress resilience, social connection, and reduction of harmful substance use are biologically active treatments that influence neuroplasticity, inflammation, circadian rhythms, and emotional regulation. Framing these as first-line, rather than adjunctive, interventions repositions them at the center of mental healthcare. Behavioral health professionals are uniquely positioned to facilitate this shift through therapeutic alliance, motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, and interprofessional collaboration. Clinical integration requires systematic assessment of lifestyle domains, incorporation into psychotherapeutic modalities, and deployment within community and digital platforms to enhance access and adherence. Emerging fields such as lifestyle psychiatry, positive psychology, and community-based health models highlight the promise of synergistic care that addresses meaning, purpose, and connectedness. By embedding lifestyle medicine into behavioral health practice, clinicians can foster resilience, reduce disease burden, and expand the scope of preventive and therapeutic strategies, advancing whole-person care for individuals and communities.

See also: Lifestyle Medicine and Behavioral Health: Synergies, Opportunities and Challenges

This article, authored by Full Plate Living Program Director, Amy Hanus, highlights the benefits of legumes and their role in cardiovascular disease prevention and management and includes nutritious recipes for black-eyed peas, chickpea spread, and lentil chili.

“Legumes represent one of the most potent yet underutilized tools in cardiovascular health. Their accessibility, affordability, and powerful nutrient package support a range of cardiometabolic benefits, from cholesterol reduction to weight management. Integrating legumes into familiar meals, starting small, and embracing culinary creativity can foster meaningful and lasting dietary change. Whether through a chickpea salad, black-eyed pea stew, or a hearty lentil chili, legumes provide a practical and evidence-based path to heart health, one humble bowl at a time.”

Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) proudly names Dr. Jonathan Bonnet as Chief Medical Officer.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Bonnet to the AIH team,” says Dr. Ron Stout, President and CEO of AIH. “His expertise, leadership, and commitment to Lifestyle Medicine infused Whole Person Care will be instrumental in expanding our impact and advancing our mission.”

Dr. Jonathan Bonnet is a board-certified family, sports, obesity, and Lifestyle Medicine physician. He is an associate professor (affiliate) at Stanford University School of Medicine and the program director of medical weight loss at the Clinical Resource Hub weight management center at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs. Dr. Bonnet completed his undergraduate and medical school degrees at Ohio State University before finishing his family medicine residency at Duke University and his sports medicine fellowship at the University of Florida. He also holds a master’s degree in public health from Harvard.

Dr. Bonnet serves on the board of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and co-chairs the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s (ACLM) 30-hour CME board review course. He also serves as the advisor for the Emory University Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group and previously served on the ACLM board. Dr. Bonnet has co-authored two editions of the Lifestyle Medicine Handbook and the first edition of the Medical Fitness Bible. He has published research in sleep medicine, nutrition, sports and exercise, obesity, and behavior change and serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

“I am honored and delighted to join AIH as Chief Medical Officer,” says Dr. Bonnet. “I look forward to working with this team to advance the principles of Lifestyle Medicine and Whole Person Care to create a healthier future for all.”

Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) is delighted to offer a AAFP credit system approved, free CME, Prescribing GLP-1 RA Medications and Lifestyle Habits to Maximize Patient Success.

This CME provides an in-depth, evidence-based review of GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA) medications in treating obesity, emphasizing their clinical application alongside Lifestyle Medicine. Presented by Dr. Jonathan Bonnet, a board-certified physician in family, sports, obesity, and Lifestyle Medicine, the session explores prescribing strategies, expected outcomes, patient counseling, and real-world considerations that family physicians commonly encounter.

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the mechanisms of action, therapeutic effects, and limitations of GLP-1 RAs

2. Develop individualized treatment plans that integrate GLP-1 RA therapy with lifestyle interventions to support sustainable weight loss and improve management of related comorbidities

3. Apply best practices in medication titration, side effect management, and patient counseling to support safe and sustainable care

Click here to enroll for free.

Continue Exploring:

• Prescribing GLP-1 RA Medications & Lifestyle Habits to Maximize Patient Success

• Beyond the Headlines: GLP-1’s Role in Whole-Person Primary Care

• Free CME Available: Implementing Shared Medical Appointments Utilizing Full Plate Living

The AAFP has reviewed Prescribing GLP-1 RA Medications and Lifestyle to Maximize Patient Success and deemed it acceptable for up to 2.00 Enduring Materials, Self-Study AAFP Prescribed credit(s). Term of Approval is from 09/22/2025 to 09/22/2026. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AMA/AAFP Equivalency - Providers may choose to include the following in addition to the AAFP credit statement: AAFP Prescribed credit is accepted by the American Medical Association as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™ toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. When applying for the AMA PRA, Prescribed credit earned must be reported as Prescribed, not as Category 1.

Ardmore Institute of Health is delighted to support Lake Region Healthcare’s Rural Lifestyle Medicine Pilot Program, an initiative that integrates Lifestyle Medicine into patient care.

Last year, Lake Region Healthcare facilitated two 8-week Shared Medical Appointment (SMA) programs – one for patients with obesity and one for patients with diabetes. Each program utilized a curriculum grounded in Lifestyle Medicine principles including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and social connections.

Among the 18 participants in the obesity SMA, 11 experienced a reduction in BMI between the start of the class and six months post-program. Of those 11, 4 reduced their BMI from the obese to the overweight category.

For the 15 participants in the diabetes SMA, the average HbA1c level decreased by 1.25% from the start of the program to six months post-program. After six months, 10 participants achieved an HbA1c level below 7%.

Many participants shared powerful testimonials about their experience:

“This class connected me with a CGM, and my A1C has dropped from 9.1 to 6.7. I am walking more, drinking more water, and understanding how food choices impact my readings.”

“The group support is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I don’t feel alone in this journey, knowing that other patients are experiencing what I am. I looked forward to coming every time! Thank you for the building blocks to better health!”

“I recently lost my husband and have been unable to pull myself out of the grief. The connections of this group and some of the topics presented really hit me hard, and I have begun taking steps to care for myself again.”

“I am new to diabetes and this group has really taught me a lot about what I may be stepping into and motivating me to possibly reverse the diagnosis. As a result of the class, I have made some lasting lifestyle changes. My A1C has dropped to 5.7, which is now prediabetic.”

Alongside the SMA programs, Lake Region Healthcare has successfully hosted five food preparation classes, where participants learn about basic cooking skills, high-fiber foods, and healthy preparation methods.

AIH is thrilled to highlight Lake Region Healthcare’s success in transforming patient care through the power of Lifestyle Medicine.

Continue Exploring:

• Free Full Plate Living Shared Medical Appointment Program

• Esperanza Health Center: Utilizing Full Plate Living Shared Medical Appointments to Support Patients and Community

• Now Available in Spanish: Full Plate Living Shared Medical Appointment Program and Group Program

Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) is delighted to announce that the Full Plate Living Shared Medical Appointment Program and Group Program are now available in Spanish!

Full Plate Living is an experience-centered, evidence-based nutrition program that has helped hundreds of thousands of people and is offered free of cost by AIH. Full Plate Living uses small-step behavior change to help people add more whole, unprocessed fiber foods to their meals. This approach promotes achievable and sustainable lifestyle changes that can result in big health benefits for patients.

The Full Plate Living Shared Medical Appointment Program equips physicians, who often lack the necessary time and support, to effectively educate patients on the power of healthy lifestyle habits. Using presentation-ready slide decks, presenter notes, and a provider documentation note template, physicians can meet with patients in a group setting and bill insurance for their time.

Learn more and download the free materials below:

In English

In Spanish (NEW)

The Full Plate Living Group Program is designed to support individuals in promoting better nutrition and health in their community or workplace. Full Plate Living provides everything needed to make program delivery seamless and doable, including presentation-ready slide decks and an easy-to-use facilitator script for individuals with little or no experience leading programs.

Learn more and download the free materials below:

In English

In Spanish (NEW)

Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) is delighted to support the Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) in promoting whole person primary care to transform the way people are cared for in America.

As defined here, “whole person primary care promotes the full health of individuals and their communities by not only treating disease but by promoting wellbeing. It approaches people holistically—supporting their physical, mental, social and spiritual needs—and as partners at the center of their own care.”

The PCC’s multi–year whole person primary care initiative, funded by AIH and The Healing Works Foundation, aims to deepen the primary care community’s understanding of Whole Health and Lifestyle Medicine concepts and cultivate alignment among stakeholders for a shared vision of whole person primary care.

 The PCC has made significant strides, laying the groundwork to influence policy and practice. Since January 2024, the PCC:

1. Established and convened a multi-stakeholder workgroup of Whole Health champions.

2. Conducted two annual surveys of the primary care community to gauge understanding and receptivity to whole person approaches and compiled data to better understand why some hesitate to embrace whole person primary care.

3. Hosted a convening to reach consensus on recommended revisions to the Shared Principles of Primary Care and discuss how to effectively pursue whole health approaches to care, given hesitancies identified among the primary care community. Click here to access the revised principles.

4. Hosted the PCC 2025 Conference, where leaders came together to explore how innovative new approaches to primary care delivery and payment may be successfully scaled.

5. Engaged the PCC Policy and Advocacy Committee on whole person primary care concepts to begin laying the groundwork for future policy work.

6. Organized three webinars:

• The Evidence Behind Whole-Person Primary Care

• Delivering Results: Whole-Person Primary Care in Action

• Beyond the Headlines: GLP-1’s Role in Whole-Person Primary Care

AIH is proud to partner with organizations like PCC to advance the adoption of Whole Health and Lifestyle Medicine to create a future where healthy environments and lifestyles provide equitable and preferred methods to prevent, treat, and reverse chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Click here to learn more about PCC's efforts to advance whole person primary care.

Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) is delighted to support MedStar Health’s Culinary Medicine and Nutrition Learning Curriculum for Residents in Training, designed to equip residents to treat diet-related diseases and chronic conditions.

Despite nutrition’s essential role in preventing chronic disease, most physicians feel inadequately trained to offer nutrition counseling. MedStar Health’s curriculum is bridging this gap by empowering residents with the knowledge and tools needed to provide Whole Person Care.

The curriculum, which has been developed and adapted from other successful programs, includes lecture series, videos, culinary skill workshops, and patient cases for motivational interviewing. It encompasses five content approaches that address varying learning experiences and clinical needs: referential (academic/scientific papers), didactic, procedural (knife skills), experiential (meal prep), and simulation (residents interacting with actor patients) learning modalities. Residents who complete the program should:

• Understand nutrition’s role in improving health outcomes

• Gain confidence in speaking to patients about healthy cooking

• Master basic hands-on culinary skills

• Translate current research in nutrition science to practical implementation

• Become familiar with flavors from multicultural cuisines and use this to support patients

• Practice cultural humility

• Acquire motivational interviewing and SMART goal-setting skills

• Use culinary medicine as a modality to advance health equity

“I now make nutritional recommendations more confidently and have already referred a couple of patients to culinary medicine. It is a really valuable experience.” – Internal Medicine MWHC Resident

“I see myself referring more patients to culinary medicine…I just had my first referral!” – Cardiology Fellow at MWHC

“It has given me hope that Lifestyle Medicine and changes in diet can drastically impact health and motivates me to do more in-depth counseling on it with my patients.” – Family Medicine Resident at MFSMC

“It has given me time and space to learn and grow as a physician to be more creative, thoughtful, and specific to counsel patients about diet and exercise.” – Internal Medicine-Peds Resident at MGUH

Moving forward, MedStar Health will offer ACLM’s LMRC, developed with grant support from AIH, across its healthcare system, which will embed the Culinary Medicine and Nutrition Learning Curriculum. In the future, a manual and resources will be freely available to all residency programs interested in replicating MedStar’s model.

Continue Exploring:

• Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine: Empowering Future Physicians Through Lifestyle Medicine

• New Study Recommends 36 Nutrition Competencies for Medical Students and Physician Trainees

• Medical Education Transformation: Lifestyle Medicine in Undergraduate and Graduate Medical Education, Fellowship, and Continuing Medical Education