Mission
The Global Positive Health Institute, Inc. (GPHI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the integration of “positive health” in medical practice and health care settings. We define “positive health” as a journey and destination that emphasizes a person-centered whole health approach, integrating lifestyle medicine, positive psychology and other elements of the biopsychosocial model.
Vision
To transform health care by making positive health practices an integral and standard part of care delivery
Unique Value
GPHI makes the science of positive health applicable to a full spectrum of medical/health professionals and health care settings. We achieve this by:
- Creating a network of champions and partners to advance the movement to advance positive health
- Showcasing people and organizations that successfully apply positive health practices in health care
- Highlighting relevant scientific studies and interpreting their applications for health professionals
- Providing training programs and practical tools for positive health practice that leverages person-centered whole health care and integrates positive psychology with healthy lifestyle strategies
- Promoting initiatives that implement positive health and specifically positive psychology interventions as part of treatment and health maintenance plans
OUR LONG TERM VISION
The health care community effectively and efficiently leverages best practices from the science of positive health, positive psychology, lifestyle medicine, and person-centered whole health care to achieve flourishing for medical practitioners and their patients.
With environmental supports, these practices, lead to the population enjoying increased longevity with high quality of life, excellent physical, mental and emotional health, and flourishing during all life stages and in the face of adversity.
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Board of Directors
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Liana Lianov
President
Liana Lianov, MD, MPH, FACLM, FACPM, DipABLM
President, Global Positive Health Institute
As an innovative global leader in lifestyle medicine, Liana Lianov, MD, MPH, FACLM, FACPM, DipABLM has advanced the movement for integrating positive psychology into health care. She led the development of the original lifestyle medicine core competencies for physicians and health professionals, which have recently been expanded to include positive psychology-based knowledge and skills. She serves as the President of the Global Positive Health Institute, chair of the Happiness Science and Positive Health Committee of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), lead faculty for the ACLM Physician and Health Professional Wellbeing Program, and vice-chair of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine.
Dr. Lianov is the immediate past president of the Positive Health and Wellbeing Division of the International Positive Psychology Association, A few of her notable past roles include president of the ACLM, director for the Healthy Lifestyles Division of the American Medical Association and board regent for the American College of Preventive Medicine. She also directed programs in heart disease, stroke and cancer prevention at the California Department of Health Services.
In 2018, Dr. Lianov convened the inaugural Summit on Happiness Science in Health Care cosponsored by the ACLM and Dell Medical School, which led to scholarly publications and a groundbreaking book on how to integrate happiness science into medical practice, Roots of Positive Change, Optimizing Health Care with Positive Psychology. To further this mission, she founded the Global Positive Health Institute (https://www.positivehealth.world) which provides positive psychology education and practical tools for health professionals to use in their clinical practices and support their personal well-being. You can follow her work with the GPHI on FB and Instagram @globalpositivehealth. Her latest book, Strengths in the Mirror, Thriving Now and Tomorrow (to be published August 30, 2021) shares inspirational stories from colleagues and sums up how we all can flourish through healthy lifestyles, positive activities and personal strengths.
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Joe Raphael
Treasurer
Joe Raphael, DrPH, FACLM, MBA, MA, LMFT, CHES, HAPM
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Joe Raphael, DrPH, FACLM, MBA, MA, LMFT, CHES, HAPM, earned his BA and BS from St. Mary’s College, Moraga, his MA in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University Post Doc in Neuropsychology, an MBA in Healthcare Administration from Loma Linda University, and a DrPH Preventive Care Specialty from Loma Linda University. He is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, American College of Lifestyle Medicine fellow, a certified Health Education Specialist, and a board-certified Holistic Alternative Psychology Master.
He has dedicated his career towards purposeful collaborations that transform healthcare. He has supported purposeful collaborations between the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Society of Behavioral Medicine, American College of Healthcare Executives and the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Joe is Chair of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Clinical Practice Management Committee and member of the Happiness Science and Positive Health, Executive, Reimbursement, and Lifestyle Medicine Provider Network Committees.
He began his career in clinical psychology nearly two decades ago focusing predominantly on multi-axis co-occurring patients within inpatient, outpatient, acute, and prison systems working alongside Psychiatry, Endocrinology, Bariatrics, Cardiology, Neurology and Gastroenterology. He is an internationally featured speaker, frequent publisher and featured in syndicated media. His research has been published in major media, medical journals and textbooks. He has held clinical, research, advisor, consultant, and executive roles in health systems, start-ups, software as service and technology, population health, behavioral medicine, and medical clinics. He is an authority in transforming healthcare through operationalizing lifestyle as medicine with positive psychology solutions. He is currently in private practice following a decade of Healthcare Executive roles, consulting with E4 Diabetes Solutions and Switch Healthcare, advising with Wellian, co-leading Lifestyle Medicine Pro, and teaching at Pepperdine University, Graziadio Business School.
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Simon Matthews
Secretary
Simon Matthews, FASLM, MHlthSci, DipIBLM, MAPS
CEO of Wellcoaches® Australia School of Health Coaching.
Simon Matthews, FASLM, MHlthSci, DipIBLM, MAPS is a Psychologist, Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional and Fellow of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. He’s a Certified Professional Health and Wellness Coach and the CEO of Wellcoaches® Australia School of Health Coaching. Wellcoaches® trains health professionals to support their clients to achieve long lasting health behaviour change.
He is an Adjunct Lecturer at Avondale College University Lifestyle Medicine & Health Research Centre and is on teaching faculty with Wellcoaches USA. Simon is also Director of Coaching for First in Wellness LLC, whose mission is to improve the health, well-being and resilience of first responders.
Simon consults nationally and internationally in the areas of health coaching, behaviour change, positive psychology and lifestyle medicine. He presents at national and international conferences on health coaching and the psychology of behavioural change. He has published and writes regularly about these topics also and is a popular podcast guest.
When not working, Simon also loves talking about his other passions as a pilot, barista, gardener and self-taught cook.
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Kristen Pascucci
Director
Kristen Pascucci, PhD has been in corporate human resources and learning and development for over 20 years where she has focused her efforts on leadership development, employee engagement, and workplace well-being. Kristen is the VP of Learning & Organizational Development at Cure for the Common Company, LLC where she designs and develops programs for organizations to create or improve their well-being culture. She is a faculty member at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and has created and contributed to lifestyle medicine and positive psychology industry publications and training programs, including work with the Gallup Organization. Kristen has spent time researching interventions for disabled children and seniors and her volunteer work has centered around disadvantaged schools and individuals. Kristen has a Ph.D. and M.S. in industrial-organizational psychology from Alliant International University, Marshall Goldsmith School of Management, and a B.S. in psychology and family studies from Arizona State University.
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Gail H. Ironson
Director
Gail H. Ironson PhD
Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry
University of Miami
Gail Ironson, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Miami and a Board certified Psychiatrist. She received her MD from the University of Miami, her PhD from the University of Wisconsin, and she did her residency training in Psychiatry at Stanford University. She has more than 250 publications in the field of behavioral medicine and positive psychology. She is past President of the Health Division of IPPA, past President of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, and is President – Elect of the American Psychosomatic Society. She is also a current or past member of the editorial board of five journals. She has directed federally funded research studies investigating psychological factors in long survival with illness (especially HIV), stress management, and treatments for traumatized individuals. Her current areas of focus include examining positive psychological factors (including a focus on spirituality) in health and recovery from trauma.
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Eddie Phillips
Director
Edward M. Phillips, MD,
Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Harvard Medical School and is Founder and Director of the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine (ILM) at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
He serves as Whole Health Medical Director at VA Boston Healthcare System and is integrating lifestyle medicine training for health professional trainees across the VA as National Whole Health Education Champion for Professional Trainees. Phillips is a Fellow of American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM) and serves on the executive council that developed the Exercise is Medicine global initiative. He co-hosted the NPR Daily Exercise Podcast, WBUR’s Magic Pill which was awarded an Edward R. Murrow award for Excellence in Innovation. Phillips is on the Advisory Board of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the Health Sector of the United States National Physical Activity Plan and is a founding committee member of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine.
Advisory Council
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Jonathan Fisher
Cardiologist, Author "Just One Heart" Organizational Well-Being & Resiliency Leader
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Luis Allen
Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Kaylan Baban
Chief Wellness Officer
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Carrie Barron
Associate Professor of Medical Education, Psychiatrist
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Alicja Baska
Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Marc Braman
Lifestyle Medicine Physician, Healthcare Innovator
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Jolanta Burke
Psychologist
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Cate Collings
Lifestyle Medicine Physician, Cardiologist
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Rhonda Cornum
Brigadier General, Retired
Brigadier General Rhonda Cornum, PhD, MD, retired from the Army in 2012, having served over 33 years. Her last assignment was serving as the first Director of the U.S. Army’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness initiative, the model for universal implementation of physical and psychological health promotion within the Department of Defense. Dr. Cornum has a unique perspective on military medicine and the importance of psychological as well as physical fitness; in 1991 she was shot down and captured by Iraqi forces during the last days of Desert Storm. She survived the wreck, a gunshot wound, two broken arms, and a week in captivity before being repatriated.
Cristian Dellepiane
Primary Care and Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Ingrid Edshteyn
Preventive and Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Jordyn Feingold
Resident Physician, Psychiatry
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Shagufta Feroz
Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Catalina Figueroa
Internist and Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Jonathan Fischer
Clinical Cardiologist
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Kelly Freeman
Faculty, Science of Nursing Care
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Karen Garman
Medical Educator and Coach
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Prachi Garodia
Integrative Medicine Physician
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Maggie Grueskin
Lifestyle Educator and Coach
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Sley Tanigawa Guimaraes
Preventive and Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Emanuela Mercore Hutanu
Family and Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Erika Jackson
Vice-President, Training and Operations, Wellcoaches
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Ami Kapadia
Internist and Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Jenny Sunghyun Lee
Assistant Professor, Preventive Medicine; Founder and Director Korean College of Lifestyle Medicine
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Megan McDonough
CEO/Founder of Wholebeing Institute
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Gia Merlo
Psychiatrist, Clinical Professor, and Senior Advisor on Wellness
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Joel Milam
Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Public Health
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Suzen Moeller
Nutritional Epidemiologist
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Ifeoma Monye
Chief Consultant Family Physician/Lifestyle Medicine Physician
Ifeoma Monye, MD, serves as the President of the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria and as Chief Consultant Family Physician. She is a family physician, board certified in lifestyle medicine and fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners. She founded the Brookfield Centre for Lifestyle Medicine in Abuja, Nigeria. Dr. Monye is passionate about preventing, treating and reversing the course of chronic diseases, using lifestyle medicine. She is engaged in lifestyle medicine education, training clinicians, conducting lifestyle medicine research, and coaching individuals to achieve their goals.
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Darren Morton
Associate Professor and Director, Lifestyle Medicine
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Sheela Nambiar
Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Ike Nnene
General Practitioner/Family Physician
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Kathi Norman
Physician Assistant
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Elaine O’Brien
Human Movement Psychology
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Jane Oh
Hospice Physician
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Parneet Pal
Chief Science Officer
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Mechelle Palma
Family and Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Dani Pere
Bureau Chief, Behavioral Health
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Erin Phillips
Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy
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Rani Polak
Chef and Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Sivaneswaran Poobalasingam
Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Padmini Ranasinghe
Assistant Professor of Medicine
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Mark Rowe
Family Physician
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Jasdeep Saluja
Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Tamami Shirai
Researcher
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Samandika Saparamadu
Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Seema Sarin
Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Svala Sigurödóttir
Physician and Therapeutic Area Manager
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Michelle Tollefson
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Cheryl True
Lifestyle Medicine Physician
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Jill Waalen
Senior Scientist
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Wil Wong
Psychiatrist
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