Lifestyle medicine is an exciting new movement to empower practicing clinicians and aspiring physicians to facilitate behavioral change and promote a culture of health and wellness in patients. Focus is on both concrete, evidence-based findings and tangible, practical tools to readily translate into everyday clinical practice. A series of leading experts and guest lectures guide students through interactive, patient-focused activities in topics including, but not limited to: nutrition, exercise, sleep, motivational interviewing, meditation, and mindfulness techniques. Students enrolling for 2 units use a fitness and lifestyle monitoring wristband and prepare a report on your results.

Lifestyle medicine is a specialty that utilizes lifestyle changes to treat chronic disease and is fundamental for a transformed, value-based, and equitable healthcare system that culminates in holistic care. Healthy lifestyle choices and sustainable behavior modifications can improve physical and mental health outcomes to improve the overall quality of life for all, including those already diagnosed with chronic illnesses or at higher risk for disease. The Practical Applications of Lifestyle Medicine lunch seminar elective will build upon Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine ( Ortho 120/220) by integrating clinically relevant modalities and interactive activities with curriculum from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. The goal of the class is to equip students with skills to evaluate new information to optimize health and apply it in their practice, counsel patients with chronic diseases or conditions linked to behavior like smoking or obesity, and empower students to take care of their own health. Students who are enrolled for 1-unit are required to attend all sessions and participate in case-based activities. Students who are enrolled in 2-units are required to attend all sessions, participate in case-based activities, and write a short paper to be featured in the Stanford Lifestyle Medicine newsletter.