The Lifestyle Medicine Residency Curriculum (LMRC) is a comprehensive, applicable, and flexible curriculum designed for integrated implementation into medical residency programs. Educational components include 40 hours of didactic material, 60 hours of practicum application, and 400 patient encounters, with all activities completed over a 1 to 3-year period. Residents will demonstrate the principles of lifestyle medicine in clinical settings with patients. Upon completion of both the educational and practicum components of the curriculum, residents will be qualified for the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine certification exam.
“Lifestyle Medicine involves the use of evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic approaches, such as a predominantly whole food, plant-based diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substance use, and pursuit of other non-drug modalities, to treat, reverse and prevent chronic disease”. ACLM
Interested residents will designate interest to pursue the track to their advisor and complete and submit the application to the lifestyle style medicine faculty leader and the Residency Director. The declaration may be accepted until July 1st of PGY2. Acceptance and continued participation are contingent on good academic standing and active participation in the residency LM team, including meetings and tasks as delegated. Lifestyle Medicine Residency Curriculum (LMRC) completion is designed to meet all competency objectives of the education pathway for board eligibility to the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. An overview of the LMRC may be found at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Each participant will receive a certificate acknowledging additional training in Lifestyle Medicine upon graduation. Residents completing all program requirements will be qualified to sit for the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine certification exam and following a passing score, be certified as a Lifestyle Medicine Physician.
Quotes from our current LMT residents:
“The track is designed to train interested residents to use behavior modifications such as improved nutrition, exercise, and sleep to prevent disease and improve health, especially chronic diseases. In addition to medication prescription, Lifestyle medicine could help a physician address other aspects influencing the disease process affecting a patient.”
"Lifestyle Medicine to me means having a more detailed and emphasized look at the more social contributors that impact our patient's health on a day-to-day basis and being able to offer therapy that incorporates long lasting healthy habits. "
- Didactic Learning
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Residents will complete the following 10 learning modules constituting 40 hours of didactic material. Content may be studied asynchronously or via regularly scheduled resident lectures. Content access will be provided for asynchronous study.
- Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine (2 Units, 4 hr.)
- Role of Physician Health and the Physician’s Personal Health (2 Units, 4 hr.)
- Nutrition Science, Assessment, and Prescription (10 Units, 26 hr.)
- Physical Activity Science and Prescription (6 Units, 14 hr.)
- Sleep Health Science and Interventions (3 Units, 8 hr.)
- Managing Tobacco Cessation and Other Toxic Exposures (3 Units, 8 hr.)
- Fundamentals of Health Behavioral Change (4 Units, 10 hr.)
- Key Clinical Processes in Lifestyle Medicine (3 Units, 8 hr.)
- Emotional and Mental Well-Being Assessment and Interventions (4 Units, 10 hr.)
- The Role of Connectedness and Positive Psychology (3 Units, 8 hr.)
- Application Activities
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Residents will complete 60 hours of independent application activities. Activities may be selected from any community, private or professional activity within the 6 core domains of Lifestyle Medicine: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, healthy relationships, and avoidance of risky substances. Activity completion must be submitted for review and tracking. Any proposed activity may be submitted for consideration. Suggested activities may include:
Nutrition
- Teaching Kitchen training or participation
- Nutritional/Dietician/Chef Observation
- Athletic Trainer Observation
- Any organized community athletic event
- Personal physical fitness (Max 10 hours claimed)
- Motivational Interviewing training or practice
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy training or practice
- Any organized residency social activity
- Sleep physician or lab observation
- MAT Clinic patient care
- Any addiction/substance use treatment program
- Each LMT participant will present one critical appraisal of a published article related to Lifestyle Medicine and lead associated discussion for McK Journal Club
- Presentation of LMRC modules during Core Content Series (CCS)
- Practicum Time
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Residents will complete a minimum of 400 documented precepted patient encounters incorporating the following specific domains of lifestyle medicine interventions:
- Nutrition – 40
- Physical Activity – 40
- Emotional & Mental Wellbeing, Sleep, & Connectedness – 40
- Tobacco & Toxic Substances – 30
Encounters may include regularly scheduled phone, virtual, or in-person visits during any precepted session at a continuity practice site. Encounter completion must be tracked and submitted for review.
- Additional 40 hours of Intensive Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (ITLC) Program Participation and/or observation (i.e., CHIP)
- Additional 40 hours of Support or Coaching Group observation, recording &/or facilitation
- QI and Scholarly Projects
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LMT residents should complete their projects in one domain of lifestyle medicine. This may overlap with the required community medicine project and elective opportunities. Consideration of Family Health Center-based, quality, or process improvement projects regarding Lifestyle Medicine practice implementation will be encouraged.