IN-PERSON WORKSHOP: Building a Foundation for Health - Advancing Lifestyle Medicine Beyond Clinic into Community

Workshop Description: There is widespread understanding of why integrating the community and the clinic is important for optimal health outcomes, but few examples exist of how to achieve this collaboration. The workshop will provide a roadmap and real-world examples of current clinic/community initiatives and facilitate open discussion for better understanding, resulting in a roadmap for success in attendees' own communities.
Lifestyle medicine’s clinical awareness is increasing, but the financial model to support it in both clinics and the community is lagging. Community non-profits are engaged in lifestyle medicine programming without clinical engagement. Both community organizations and clinics lack understanding of how to collaborate effectively.

Community-based nonprofits and healthcare clinics need evidence of successful models elsewhere to confidently implement their own programs. This workshop explores how clinics can collaborate with local non-profits and foundations to effectively implement lifestyle medicine practices in the community, with emphasis on vulnerable populations. The existing fee-based medical payment structure poses funding difficulties for clinics, but collaboration with community-based non-profits can extend opportunities for lifestyle programs.

The workshop will be a practical “how-to” session, presenting examples of successful partnerships across the country and offering insights and opportunities for those interested in expanding lifestyle medicine in their communities.

While lifestyle medicine certification and passion are growing rapidly, reimbursement through healthcare insurers remains slow. This situation may lead to frustration and loss of engagement over time, contributing to “burn-out” both among physicians in general and newly board-certified lifestyle medicine physicians. Engaging with communities helps sustain enthusiasm, provides additional funding streams and builds the movement from the ground up, while awaiting broader advocacy and policy support.

The session will include examples of current work, active discussions, and collaborative planning for building out lifestyle medicine in various communities.