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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Luis Allen, MD President, Costa Rica Association of Lifestyle Medicine Luis Allen, MD is the president and founder of the Costa Rica Association of Lifestyle Medicine (CALM). He works as a consultant for Policy Wisdom, shaping sustainable policy strategies. Previously he was consulting with CIPAE Consulting on sustainable health business development. He was also president of Costa Rica Lifestyle Medicine, the national organization of lifestyle medicine and social health organization. He was Director & Physician of the Wellness and Lifestyle Medicine Program at La Sagrada Familia Clinic (family and community medicine) in San José, Guadalupe.

Kaylan Baban, MD MPH Chief Wellness Officer George Washington University School of Medicine Kaylan Baban, MD, MPH is a lifestyle, preventive and mind-body physician. She serves as Chief Wellness Officer and Assistant Professor at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is also a clinical advisor for Maven Clinic. She earned her medical degree and master of public health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine of New York University. Dr. Baban is an advocate for accessible evidence-based holistic care to promote prevention, treatment of chronic diseases, patient empowerment, optimized health outcomes, and health justice.

Carrie Barron MD, DipABLM Director of the Creativity for Resilience Associate Professor of Medical Education Dell Medical School Carrie Barron, MD, Director of the Creativity for Resilience at Dell Medical School in Austin, is an Associate Professor of Medical Education, a board-certified psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and a Positive Psychology Coach. In addition to her book The Creativity Cure, Carrie has published in several peer-reviewed journals and the Harvard Business Review. Last year, the Hektoen Journal of Medical Humanities awarded her story the Grand Prize. Carrie has been interviewed by many journalists in podcasts, radio shows, magazines and newspapers. She maintains a blog that has had over four million readers on Psychology Today where she covers a variety of well-being topics.

Alicja Baska, MD Lifestyle Medicine Physician Polish Society of Lifestyle Medicine Alicja Baska, MD, is a public health resident physician certified by the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine. She serves as executive director and co-founder of the Polish Society of Lifestyle Medicine and a European Lifestyle Medicine Council Trustee. She is Director of Communications and teaching assistant at the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education Department of Lifestyle Medicine/School of Public Health. Dr. Baska is a co-author of the “Lifestyle Medicine” handbook, and enthusiast and propagator of culinary medicine, whole-food, plant-based nutrition and planetary health diet.

Marc Braman, MD, MPH, FACLM, FACPM Builder of and Former President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Healthcare Innovator Marc Braman, MD, MPH, FACLM, FACPM is a patient advocate, seeking to build health care as it could and should be – the kind of health care he would want as a patient. He dedicated 5 years of his career to building the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and continues to develop systems and organizations to transform health care.

Dr Jolanta Burke is a Chartered Psychologist specializing in Positive Psychology and an Associate Professor at the Centre for Positive Psychology and Health. She is a former program director of the Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology at the University of East London. She researches the application of positive psychology to help individuals enhance their wellbeing and flourish psychologically. She has authored eight books and was invited to speak at events worldwide. She regularly contributes to the media and wrote for newspapers, such as the Guardian and Irish Independent. She writes a column for Psychology Today, which is the largest global platform for sharing psychological knowledge and was acknowledged by the Irish Times as one of 30 people who make Ireland a better place.

Cate Collings MD, MS FACC DipABLM Director of Lifestyle Medicine for Silicon Valley Medical Development President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Cate Collings, MD, DipABLM, is director of Lifestyle Medicine for Silicon Valley Medical Development in the San Francisco bay area of California. She serves as President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Collings has dual board certifications in Cardiology and Lifestyle Medicine. She holds a graduate degree in exercise physiology, as well as professional culinary and wellness certifications. She received her education from the University of California, University of Wisconsin, and Stanford University Medical Center. After 25 years of clinical cardiology, she now focuses exclusively on lifestyle medicine consultations, culinary medicine, and developing clinical lifestyle medicine programs. Her personal interests are having fun in sports, cooking, and adventure travel with family and friends.

Ronda Cornum, PhD, MD 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.

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, MD, DipABLM Argentina Cristian Dellepiane, MD, DipABLM serves as the president of the Argentine Association of Lifestyle Medicine. He specializes in internal medicine, family medicine and geriatrics, working at the Austral University Hospital and in private practice.

Jordyn Feingold, MD, MSCR, MAPP Resident Physician, Psychiatry Jordyn Feingold, MD, MSCR, MAPP is a resident physician in psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Her research and clinical interests involve disorders of gut-brain interaction and the biopsychosocial model of digestive diseases, health care worker well-being, and incorporating positive psychology approaches into health care delivery. She is involved in research, curriculum development, teaching, and advocacy locally and nationally on these topics. Jordyn has developed and implemented evidence-based resilience trainings for physicians, including an online course open to all clinicians called Thrive-Rx. She is author of the book Choose Growth: A Workbook for Transcending Trauma, Fear, and Self-Doubt (out August 2022).

Shagufta Feroz, MD Founder Synchronized Lifestyle Modification Program, Pakistan Shagufta Feroz, MD, graduated in 1984 and started a private medical practice in 1988. She was inclined towards healing with nature since a young age and therefore specialized in Family Medicine, Holistic Nutrition, Lifestyle Medicine and Integrative Medicine. She is the founder of Synchronized Lifestyle Modification Program, and author of "Living as Nature Intended." After 15 years of clinical practice she realized the role of a healthy lifestyle in the prevention and reversal of a disease. That realization forced her to switch from drug dependent medical practice to drug less integrative medicine. Now, for the past 16 years she is managing a variety of patients through Synchronised Lifestyle Modification. She uses her knowledge to convert table foods into a remedy by applying her 8-Rules of correct eating. She is a regular speaker at various academic institutes, health forums, doctors’ forums and training institutes. In 2015 she spoke at TEDx Lahore on the importance of a healthy lifestyle for the young. In order to spread awareness about correct eating she is using the power of print, digital and social media. She has also appeared in over 100 TV health shows. You can read more on her work at: https://www.picchls.com/

Catalina Figueroa, MD Catalina Figueroa, MD is an internist and lifestyle medicine physician at Reloncavi Health Service in Puerto Montt, Chile. She also currently serves as the president of the Chilean Society of Lifestyle Medicine.

Jonathan Eliot Ester Fisher, MD FACC Clinical Cardiologist Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Organizational Resilience and Well-being Consultant and Program Facilitator Jonathan Eliot Ester Fisher, MD FACC is a clinical cardiologist, a staff physician at Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute, and a certified mindfulness meditation teacher. He serves on the Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute Human Experience Team, the Novant Health Corporate Onboarding and Engagement Program Design Team, and the Novant Health Clinical Ethics Steering Committee. He is also medical director for the Cardio-Pulmonary-Oncology Rehabilitation and Wellness Program, NHHMC. Dr. Fisher completed internal medicine internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at Mount Sinai Medical Center, receiving multiple honors and awards throughout his training. His prior work has included serving as a private practice general cardiologist, consultant in vascular diseases and teaching attending Mount Sinai Medical Center, Cardiac Intensive Care.

Kelly Freeman MSN, RN, AGPCNP-C, DipACLM Faculty, Science of Nursing Care Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Kelly Freeman, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, DipACLM, is an adult/geriatric primary care nurse practitioner who teaches at Indiana University and is also a PhD student in Health Policy and Management at IU Fairbanks School of Public Health. She received her undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska and her MSN at Indiana University. She strives to bring forward to clinical practice safe and effective, low cost interventions that improve both mental and physical health, including positive psychological tools.

Dr. Karen Garman, EdD, MAPP, is a medical educator and positive psychology coach. She serves as a consultant to academic and healthcare organizations in the design, preparation, delivery, and formative/summative assessment of professional curricula and training initiatives. Her expertise includes workplace solutions to improve professional performance, such as mentoring programs, job redesign, resiliency training, coaching, and positive feedback systems. Dr. Garman received her doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California.

Prachi Garodia M.D. ABIM, ABIHM, DipABLM Prachi Garodia, MD is a Whole Health Champion and National Education Champion for the Veterans Affair's Administration.VA, leading Whole Health implementation at Puget Sound Veterans Affair's Administration. She serves as the Whole Health Medical Director VA VISN 20 ECHO and VISN Educator. She also co-chairs the Happiness Science and Positive Health MIG at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Garodia has an Integrative and Internal Medicine practice and co-authored a book chapter on Ayurveda.

Margarita Grueskin is a lifestyle educator, speaker and coach. She has been studying yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda since 2004 and received certifications from the Chopra Center in Carlsbad, CA; the Kriya Yoga Institute in Chicago, IL; and the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA. Margarita’s academic background includes a BA in Economics and a Masters in Urban Planning (M.U.R.P.). She began her 15-year career as an Executive Consultant, working with KPMG, Andersen, and Ernst & Young; focused on working with Fortune 500 companies and in Community Development work. Currently, Margarita’s focus is developing whole-person health and well-being programs. As a wellness innovator and Socialpreneur, Margarita founded Ekam Yoga in Houston, TX in 2008. Serving as lead instructor and studio director, she created a community-based performance center for yoga and ayurveda. In 2015, she became co-founder of the civic engagement platform, iDoYoga San Antonio, which focuses on free yoga, workshops and conferences for at-risk and underserved members of the greater community. Most recently, Margarita received life coaching certifications from Optimize and Worldwide Yoga Health Coaching and is currently pursuing a Lifestyle Medicine Health & Wellness Coaching certification from Wellcoaches. She received her Diplomate in Logotherapy in 2020 from the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy. Her vision is to create whole-person, meaning-centered lifestyle programs, which combine Yoga and Ayurveda with modern theories from Logotherapy, Positive Psychology and Lifestyle Medicine. Margarita currently lives in San Antonio, TX with her husband and their two cats, Boris and Natasha.

Sley Tanigawa Guimaraes, MD, Dip IBLM Brazil Sley Tanigawa Guimaraes, MD, Dip IBLM serves as the president of the Brazilian College of Lifestyle Medicine and is the co-founder of the Instituto de Medicina do Estilo de Vida. She is a physician specializing in preventive medicine and acupuncture. She works as the coordinator of the postgraduate course Lifestyle Medicine and Health Coaching at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein.

Emanuela Mercore Hutanu, MD Emanuela Mercore Hutanu, MD is a family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician. She is the president and founder of the Romanian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. She currently works with the Suceava Ambulance Station, the Suceava Police Department and the Falticeni Football Team.

Erika Jackson VP, Training and Operations for Wellcoaches Erika Jackson is the VP, Training and Operations for Wellcoaches, leading a team of 30 coaching leaders from all of the world who have trained over 13,000 coaches since 2002. She is co-author of critical health and wellness coaching texts such as The Coaching Psychology Manual, The Complete Handbook of Coaching (Chapter 22) and A Pilot Study of Health & Wellness Coaching for Fibromyalgia. Erika is also an instructional design consultant for ImprovEdge, combining neuroscience and improvisation, and volunteer instructional designer for Braver Angels, designing workshops that bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide.    

Ami Kapadia, MD is a senior physician at Kaiser Permanente in the Department of Internal Medicine at Daly City, California and is board certified in lifestyle medicine. She also serves as the Regional ARTS Operational Co-Lead (ACE's, Resilience, Trauma-Informed Care, SDOH), Kaiser SSF ARTS Champion and Kaiser SSF Lifestyle Medicine Lead. Dr. Kapadia uses a patient-centered approach and is enthusiastic about positive psychology in health care. She is working to promote this health care integration with colleagues at Kaiser Permanente.

Jenny Sunghyun Lee, PhD, MPH, DipIBLM, FACLM Assistant Professor, Preventive Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine Founder and Director, Korean College of Lifestyle Medicine Adjunct Professor, Integrative Medicine, Cha University Graduate School of Medicine Jenny Lee, PhD, MPH, DipIBLM, FACLM, left Korea to pursue a doctoral specialty in neuro-motor behavior science, a Master of Public Health with concentration in health behavior, education, and promotion at University of South Carolina, and a master’s degree in therapeutic re-creation at the Ohio State University. Dr. Lee has dedicated her career to promoting comprehensive health and wellness among medical professionals and the broader community over a decade. In pursuit of that aim, she has served as an educator, researcher, healthcare innovator, community health promoter, columnist, essayist, public speaker, and medical contributor at radio talk show. Dr. Lee recently joined Loma Linda University as an assistant professor of Preventive Medicine where she is mainly responsible for helping incorporate lifestyle medicine aspects into the new Foundation Courses Curriculum for all four years of medical students while she conducts various research, such as study of lifestyle medicine among residents and medical students, a study of depression in the context of epigenetics, and health coaching in primary care practice. Dr. Lee was formally an assistant professor of family medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center where she served as a Director of the NIH-funded GoodNEWS (Genes/Epigenome, Nutrition/Nurturance, Exercise/Expression, Wellness, and Spiritual Growth) Wellnessand Lifestyle Medicine Program, and a Director of Community Engagement of Project PRECISION (Pain Registry for Epidemiological, Clinical, and Interventional Studies for North Texas) as her two signature projects along with a few notable projects. Before she joined medical school professorships, Dr. Lee served an associate professor in both Behavior and Community Health and Health Science areas in the School of Public Health. Dr. Lee is the first Korean Board Certified in Lifestyle Medicine and fellow of American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) while being the Certified Health and Wellness Coach, the Certified Health Education Specialist, and the Certified Wellness Practitioner in USA.

Megan McDonough, CNMT, RT (N) CEO/Founder of Wholebeing Institute Megan McDonough is the CEO and founder of Wholebeing Institute, a leading world-wide educational organization teaching the science of human flourishing. Megan is an expert in health—she’s held senior leadership positions in Fortune 500 healthcare companies and has a degree in Nuclear Medicine. Megan approaches wellbeing from a broad perspective—including mind-body skills and positive psychology interventions. Along with Wholebeing Institute, Megan has launched many new initiatives, including with Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, the largest yoga retreat center in North America, where she led the research team studying the impact of yoga techniques on stress for front-line workers. Megan’s the award-winning author of five books on mindfulness and well-being. She is a connector at heart—bringing together people, services, and ideas to help individuals and organizations thrive.

Gia Merlo, MD, MBA Gia Merlo, MD, MBA, is Clinical Professor of Nursing, and Senior Advisor on Wellness at New York University (NYU). She is also Clinical Professor of Psychiatry in the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Merlo is the author of the book Principles of Medical Professionalism, Oxford University Press, May 2021. She serves on the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine in the area of Psychiatry and Mental Health. She has been active on multiple national professional organizations including leadership roles of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) Pre-professional Member Interest Group (LMPP). In 2020, she was elected to the Board of Directors of Plant Powered Metro New York after serving on the Advisory Medical Board in 2019. Dr. Merlo has served on various boards including as a board member of the Academy of Professionalism in Health Care where she served as the Chair of the 2017 Annual Meeting in Chicago, as a member of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Alumni Board, as a member of the board of directors for Laurel House, and a member of the board of directors for Child Advocates of Houston.

Joel Milam, PhD Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Program in Public Health Co-Leader, Cancer Control Program, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine Joel Milam, PhD is a Professor at the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, California. Dr. Milam has training and expertise in the psychological and behavioral adaptation to stress and disease, with a focus on young adult cancer survivors. His research includes work that examines the role of positive and protective psychosocial and behavioral factors that influence health and wellbeing.

Suzen Moeller, PhD, MS Associate Professor, North Park University Adjunct Faculty, Northwestern University School of Professional Studies Suzen M. Moeller, PhD, MS, is a nutritional epidemiologist, educator, and spiritual director. She currently works in Chicago, Illinois (USA) as an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at North Park University and as an adjunct instructor in Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies. Previously, Dr. Moeller founded Eating Joyfully, Inc, which offered consulting, coaching, and workshops to help people eat more healthfully, with more joy, more often. She also worked as a senior scientist at the American Medical Association (AMA) on scientific and public policy issues related to diet and nutrition. She received her MS in human nutrition science and PhD in nutritional epidemiology from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston and holds a certificate in spiritual direction from the Claret Center in Chicago.

Ifeoma Monye, MD Chief Consultant Family Physician/Lifestyle Medicine Physician. President, Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigera Founder Brookfield Centre for Lifestyle Medicine, Abuja, Nigeria

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.

Darren Morton, PhD Associate Professor and Director of the Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre Avondale University College, Australia Founding Director Lift Program Darren Morton PhD, is an associate professor and Director of the Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre at Avondale University College, Australia. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine and certified by the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Darren is the developer of the Positive Health lifestyle intervention, called The Lift Project, that is used in several countries.

Sheela Nambiar, MD, BSLM President of the Indian Society of Lifestyle Medicine Sheela Nambiar, MD, is an Obstetrician Gynecologist practicing in India, a board-certified Lifestyle Medicine physician (British Society of Lifestyle Medicine - BSLM), fitness consultant (National Association of Fitness Certification, NAFC), and certified in positive psychology (University of Pennsylvania). She is the current President of the Indian Society of Lifestyle Medicine – ISLM, a council Member of Global conglomerates, True Health Initiative – THI, and on the editorial Board of the Lifestyle Medicine Journal of BSLM. She runs her own wellness program called training For Life -TFL Her website and contact: www.desheelanambiar.com and Sheela.nambiar@gmail.com

Ike Nnene, MBBS, MRCGP, MRCOG General Practitioner, Thorpewood Medical Group, Norwich, United Kingdom Ike Nnene, MRCGP, MRCOG, MBBS, is a UK based Family Doctor / General Practitioner in the NHS and Private Sector working at Thorpewood Medical Group, Norwich and Spire Norwich Hospital. He is a holistic primary care physician who is a lifestyle medicine advocate and coach. He is passionate about mental health and wellness. He founded Power & Beauty™ as a venture to help individuals manifest their best self. He currently serves as the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) East Anglia Faculty Vice-Chair to pursue issues pertaining to doctors’ wellbeing and more effective ways of healthcare delivery. He is looking to promote the application of the principles of lifestyle medicine and positive psychology in the health service.

Kathi Norman, DMSc,MAPP Founder and CEO, Positive Medicine. Kathi Norman, DMSc,MAPP is the founder and CEO of Positive Medicine. She is a speaker, trainer, coach and educator specializing in the components that help providers and patients flourish. Dr. Norman travels the globe training and lecturing in the factors that influence wellbeing.

Elaine O’Brien, PhD, MAPP Human Movement Psychology Elaine O’Brien, PhD, MAPP, received her PhD in Human Movement Psychology, at Temple University in 2015. In 2008 she was one of the first one hundred graduates worldwide of the Master of Applied Positive Psychology, MAPP, University of Pennsylvania, under Dr. Martin Seligman and in 2010 studied cross cultural positive psychology/well-being, University of Oslo with Dr. Antonella Delle Fave, MD. Dr. O’Brien is a speaker who leads presentations, customized workshops and trainings on positive movement psychology, mental health and physical well-being, positive adult development, group leadership, fitness science, optimal experience and performance for academia, business, and the health/medical professions. She has championed positive movement psychology, Meaning in Motion in her research and practice. Elaine has taught in France, Sweden, Hungary, China, Korea, Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico, Portugal, and throughout the United States. Elaine’s qualitative research demonstrated the power of combining music, movement, and community via group dance/exercise to lift up people’s hearts and health, promote generativity, lessen loneliness and reduce addictive behaviors in older adulthood. Elaine, a pioneer in the Health/Fitness Industry, led the development of the first Fitness industry leadership, standards, and certification guidelines. Elaine believes Positive Exercise Practices (PEP), including positive psychology, lifestyle as medicine, movement practices and fitness science, leads people to a happier Health Span and a flourishing life. Elaine’s website is: https://elaineobrienphd.com/

Jane Oh, MD Hospice Physician Methodist Home Care and Hospice Jane Oh, MD, DipABLM, is an internal medicine physician in primary care and practices hospice medicine and hospital medicine in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is certified in Stress Management and Resiliency Training through the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School and has conducted research study with neuroscience clinicians in the use of the SMART program in counteracting stress, burnout and building resilience. This work naturally led her to become board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine. She has a special interest in the work of Kristin Neff on self-compassion and its importance in our outlook, sense of well-being and capacity to live a healthier, happier life.

Parneet Pal, MBBS, MS Chief Science Officer Wisdom Labs Parneet Pal, MBBS, MS, is the Chief Science Officer at Wisdom Labs, a San Francisco-based company solving for stress, burnout, anxiety and loneliness in the workplace. A Harvard-trained physician, she focuses on the intersection of lifestyle medicine, behavior change and technology and building wiser workplaces using the science of mindfulness, resilience and compassion. She loves to speak, teach and write while connecting the dots between personal, social and planetary wellbeing and has presented at numerous national and international conferences. She is a podcast interviewer at Wise@Work podcast; a TEDMED scholar; writes for various publications including Harvard Business Review and was featured on the cover of Mindful magazine. Parneet made a shift from clinical practice to chronic disease prevention and has directed two wellness spas, expanded a private executive health practice and consulted with organizations on the design and implementation of lifestyle management platforms (nutrition, mindfulness, exercise, stress management). In addition to her medical training, Parneet holds a Masters in Exercise and Movement Science. Her decades-long meditation and mindfulness practice is key to her personal wellbeing. She envisions the creation of a compassionate society where health is the default.

Mechelle Acero Palma, MD, MMHA, DipIBLM, FACLM Mechelle Acero Palma MD, MMHA, DipIBLM, FACLM is a Family Medicine Physician and a Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She served as the education director of the Philippine College of Lifestyle Medicine and the Asian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. She is the current president of the Philippine College of Lifestyle Medicine, the President of Remnant Institute Inc., and the Medical Director of Zoeaid Philippines. She is also the founding director of the Lifestyle Medicine department of Bacolod Adventist Medical Center and the Antique Medical Center. Together with her colleagues, she pioneered the Lifestyle Medicine Education curriculum in the College of Public Health in 2 universities in the Philippines. She is also the founder of Culinary Medicine Asia that was launched in 2016, which is now utilized in many different educational platforms, including public health and medical education curriculum with students from different parts of the globe. Dr. Palma believes that integrating lifestyle medicine education in the medical and interprofessional curriculum is the key to advance the practice of lifestyle medicine in the country. Her passion is to provide education platforms and develop training programs for health care providers. She is currently an adjunct professor at the Adventist University of the Philippines College of Medicine and College of Health. Dr. Palma is the head faculty of the Philippine Lifestyle Medicine Competency Course, a member of the review team for the Lifestyle Medicine Core Competency by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the Director of the Philippine Board of Lifestyle Medicine, and a proctor for the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine

Dani Pere, MPM Bureau Chief Idaho Division of Behavioral Health Danielle Pere, MPM, is the Bureau Chief, Division of Behavioral Health, at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and has 20 years of health care policy and executive management experience. At the Division, she leads the state’s Central Office in overseeing healthcare services and programs, developing emergency response and situational reporting protocols, and oversees planning, performance, implementation, operations and evaluation of the behavioral health programs. Prior to her current role, Ms. Pere was Vice President of the American College of Preventive Medicine in Washington, DC and led programs and operations at the intersection of clinical care and public health focused on chronic disease prevention. Previously, as the Director of Field Mobilization for the Alliance for Retired Americans, AFL-CIO, she developed and managed the organizations legislative and political campaigns related to health care and retirement security. Ms. Pere holds a BA in Biology and Political Science from Whittier College, a Certificate in Project Management & Development from the University of Delaware, a Certificate in Program Design and Assessment from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters Degree in Public Policy Management from Georgetown University, and a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University.

Erin Phillips, OTD, MSOT, OTR/L, DipACLM, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy Founding Director of the Occupational Therapy Program at Carlow University, College of Health and Wellness. Previously she served as a tenured associate professor in the Occupational Therapy Department, St. Ambrose University, Center for Health Science Education. Her career focus has been on healthy living, with teaching and conducting research in the area, with multiple grants.

Rani Polak, MD, MBA Chef and Director, Sheba Lifestyle Medical Center, Israel Director, Spaulding CHEF Coaching Program, Harvard Medical School Rani Polak, MD, MBA, is the founding director of both the Culinary Healthcare Education Fundamentals (CHEF) Coaching program at the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and the Center of Lifestyle Medicine at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel; as well as an Assistant Professors, Part Time, at the Department of PM & R, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Polak’s focus, along with clinical care, is on clinical and translational research relating to the Culinary Coaching method which combine culinary training with health coaching principles. Dr. Polak is the PI of the Culinary CoRe (Culinary Coaching Research) group which aimed at expanding the culinary coaching as an effective, scalable telemedicine method to improve nutrition; and a course director of a medical education program at Harvard Medical School that disseminate culinary coaching to hundreds clinician worldwide. Dr. Polak work has been featured in many media outlets including Scientific American, Herald Tribute, US News and World Reports and USA Today.

Sivaneswaran Poobalasingam MD(Mal), Dip IBLM Dr. Sivaneswaran Poobalasingam is the Founder and President of the Malaysian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (MSLM) which is affiliated to the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance. Dr. Siva is on the Advisory Board of the International Journal for Disease Reversal and Prevention. He is also one of two Asian Physicians to be appointed as Exam Question Writers for the Lifestyle Medicine Board Certification examination. He is the Country Representative for the International Council of Integrative Medicine and the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance. Dr Siva has been appointed to sit on the council for the National Coalition for Mental Wellness in Malaysia. Dr. Siva founded and heads the Amrita Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine Center and Amrita Lifestyle Medicine Academy, a wellness academy. He is a Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician. His clinical expertise is in the management of stress and lifestyle diseases which include diabetes, hypertension and food intolerances amongst others. Dr. Siva has helped to pioneer Lifestyle Medicine in the country. He is frequently invited to speak on Lifestyle Medicine by government institutions. He has also conducted workshops on Lifestyle Medicine for programs jointly organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Malaysian Ministry of Health and University Era Ketiga (University Putra Malaysia). Dr. Siva has presented papers on lifestyle medicine and an integrative approach to managing and preventing illness both at local and international conferences. He is a published author and has written books on a mind body approach to wellness and on the importance of herbs and nutrition in healthy ageing. Dr. Siva has served as the Scientific Chairperson for Lifestyle Medicine of various organizing committees of conferences including “The First World Congress on Healthy Ageing in 2012” and the First Asian Conference on Healthy Aging in 2017. He has also chaired symposiums at national and international conferences on integrative and lifestyle medicine.

Padmini Ranasinghe, MBBS, MD, MPH Director of Education, Assistant Professor of Medicine Johns Hopkins Hospitalist Program Padmini Ranasinghe, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine in the Department of Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She holds board certifications in both Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine. She has an MPH from Yale School of Public Health, and is a fellow of ACP, ACPM, and SHM. She serves as a director on medical student education on the division. Her current research interests are in health and wellness of medical students, residents, and practicing physicians. Since 2009, Dr. Ranasinghe has been the Principal Investigator of an ongoing longitudinal survey dealing with medical student health and wellness at Hopkins. Dr. Ranasinghe joined the American Medical Association (AMA) in 2007 after she was awarded a Young Physician Leadership Award by AMA Foundation. She was the chair of AMA IMG Section for 2013-14. At MedChi, the Maryland Medical Society, she is a member of the board of trustees, treasurer, and an alternate delegate to the AMA. She is an elected member on AMA council on Science and Public Health.

Mark Rowe, MD Family Physician Waterford Health Park, Waterford, Ireland Mark Rowe, MD, has been a practicing family physician for over 20 years, having graduated from Medical School (UCD, Ireland) in 1991. He is the founder of the Waterford Health Park, which has become both the base for Dr. Rowe’s medical practice as well as the ‘Lifestyle Medicine Be Well Clinic’. The Healthcare Facility was a short listed finalist for World Building of the year at the World Architecture festival awards in 2010. In 2013, the Waterford Health Park received the Global Health Improvement Award, ‘A Place to Flourish.’ Dr. Rowe is the author of two books – ‘A Prescription for Happiness: The Ten Commitments to a Happier, Healthier Life’ and ‘The Men’s Health Book’. Mark is also a regular contributor for a number of publications including the Farmer’s Journal, where he shares his thoughts on positive health and wellbeing practices. As a Keynote speaker, Mark regularly delivers events and workshops for organisations around the world. His TEDx talk titled ‘The Doctor of the Future: Prescribing Lifestyle as Medicine’ took place in University College Dublin in 2017. Notable engagements to date have included UCD Smurfit Executive Development, the American House of Representatives and a number of Fortune 500 companies. Mark is among the first medical professionals globally to be certified as a Diplomate of the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Lifestyle Medicine is defined as an evidence-based ‘lifestyle first’ approach to prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Mark has always held a strong desire to change the culture of ‘a pill for every ill’. Instead he advocates lifestyle change as the best medicine for lasting wellbeing.

Jasdeep Saluja, MD Jasdeep Saluja is a Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and he is the Co-Founder and Medical Director of Aroga Lifestyle Medicine, Canada’s leading healthcare organization built on the foundation of Lifestyle Medicine. Jasdeep works within an interdisciplinary team at Aroga to address and treat the root causes of many of the cardio-metabolic conditions that patients are afflicted with. As the evidence for Lifestyle Medicine builds, he continues to be inspired by the innovative research that is highlighting the important role of positive psychology in a patient’s healing journey. To this end, Jasdeep is honoured and excited to be an Advisory Board Member of the Global Positive Health Institute!

Tamami Shirai, M.S., Ph.D. Researcher, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego Tamami Shirai, M.S., Ph.D., is a researcher at the Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, and a consultant in global research/healthcare research for major consulting firms. Dr. Shirai has a broad background in psychology, Mind-Body Medicine, research, and organizational development in global organizations. Dr. Shirai has worked on chronic disease management in interdisciplinary settings, and currently, she is working on a UCSD pilot study on a nutritional approach to affect cerebral blood flow among people with metabolic syndrome. Her dissertation focused on lifestyle and healthy behaviors among people with cardiovascular disease in the USA and Japan. She also brings lifestyle modification techniques to her practice: a mindfulness-based meditation class at a cardiac pulmonary rehabilitation center in San Diego. Dr. Shirai joined American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) in 2015. Since then she has worked with ACLM and Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance (LMGA) and is now taking important leadership in Japanese Society of Lifestyle Medicine (JSLM). Dr. Shirai is integrating her research, clinical practice and role as a social advocate both to provide effective solutions to people with chronic conditions and to increase awareness globally of new knowledge and techniques for leading healthier lives. Dr. Shirai is originally from Tokyo, Japan, and now lives in San Diego with her husband. She loves dancing and nature.

Samandika Saparamadu, MBBS, DipIBLM Samandika Saparamadu, MBBS, DipIBLM serbes as the anchor doctor at DA Clinic in Anchorvale, Singapore. He is board certified by the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine, a member of the Editorial Board of Lifestyle Medicine Journal and a charter member of the Sri Lankan Society of Lifestyle Medicine. He serves as the current president of the Sri Lankan Society of Lifestyle Medicine. Previously, he worked as a Medical Officer at MOH Holdings Private Limited, Singapore.

Seema Sarin, MD, DiplACLM Medical Director and Director of Lifestyle Medicine EHE Health Dr. Sarin is an accomplished physician, and a leader within the preventive health and lifestyle medicine fields. She is EHE Health’s Lifestyle Medicine Director, a nationwide preventive health company, where she spearheads a Health Mentorship Program to provide beneficiaries with year-round support, guidance, and motivation to develop positive behavior changes based on the principles of Lifestyle Medicine. By optimizing how we eat, think, and move, we can decrease the risk of chronic disease and promote health, longevity, and productivity. Dr. Sarin also provides clinical oversight of EHE Health’s programs including Digital and Virtual sCare programs, to ensure all beneficiaries have access to preventive care. Dr. Sarin is a subject matter expert, and often quoted in media outlets such as Bustle, Daily Beast, Yahoo Lifestyle, and CNBC about various topics in medicine. She also has given Preventive Medicine webinars, lectures and lead interactive sessions for Fortune 500 companies. Currently, she is currently co-authoring a book, Lifestyle Medicine Practice Guide: Essentials for the Busy Practitioner, to be published in 2021 by https://healthylearning.com . She is board certified in Lifestyle Medicine and Internal Medicine and obtained dual degrees in Biology and Psychology with Honors at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She then trained at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland where she completed residency. She is passionate about supporting her patients to lead healthier, happier, and more productive lives. Dr. Sarin lives in Virginia, where she enjoys hiking, dancing, and spending time with her family.

Svala Saduodittor, MD, PhD, Physician and Therapeutic Area Manager, Sidekickhealth Executive Secretary for the European Network of Positive Psychology, Reykjavik, Iceland Svala Sigurödóttir, MD, PhD, is an Icelandic physician who graduated from Aarhus University in 2002. Before medical school, Svala had studied nutrition and biology at the University of Iceland, as well as personal training. She has a diploma in positive psychology from the University of Iceland in 2015 and is currently the executive secretary for the European network of positive psychology (ENPP). Svala has always been enthusiastic about health promotion and preventive medicine, and a holistic approach to treating (preferably preventing) disease. But unfortunately, these areas are not well covered (yet) in the western medical curriculum. Through her studies on positive psychology she was properly introduced to health promotion, salutogenesis and positive health, mindfulness and self-compassion, all of which she feels need to be implemented to the current curriculum of medical studies around the world. This passion lead her to take a break from her specialisation in primary care medicine and go for a PhD in public health at the University of Iceland and Aarhus University (Denmark). Her focus is on Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for primary care patients (with mild to moderate symptoms of depression and/or anxiety). Alongside the PhD, she is working in digital health, for an Icelandic firm, Sidekickhealth, as therapeutic area manager and medical expert. There she is developing health-promoting remote health care programs for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and heart failure, using all she has learned, both in med school, public health and positive psychology.

Michelle Tollefson, MD, FACOG, DipABLM, FACLM Professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver Executive Board- American College of Lifestyle Medicine Michelle Tollefson, MD, FACOG, DipABLM, FACLM, is an obstetrician-gynecologist in Denver, CO, and a Professor in the Health Professions Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver where she created and oversees the Lifestyle Medicine Program and the Wellness Coaching and Lifestyle Medicine Pathway. Dr. Tollefson is a graduate of Creighton University, where she received both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees. She completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, and received her board certification in this specialty. She has also received her board certification from the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and a fellowship in Lifestyle Medicine from ACLM. As an ACLM member for more than a decade, she founded and co-chairs the Women’s Health Member Interest Group as well as the Pre-Professional Lifestyle Medicine Education Member Interest Group. She serves as the ACLM Board Secretary and serves on the Education and Membership Committees. She is a breast cancer survivor and thriver through the power of lifestyle medicine and enjoys spending time in the Colorado outdoors with her husband and three children.

Cheryl True, MD, DipABLM, FACLM, True Lifestyle Medicine Clinic Cheryl True, MD, DipABLM, FACLM, has a background in family medicine. Upon discovering the field of lifestyle medicine, she shifted her focus to embrace this as a foundation of health care. She has worked to educate pre-professional, undergraduates, residents and the general community on the pillars of lifestyle medicine. The component of positive psychology and social connections component is ready to be further developed, benefitting both providers and patients. She is excited to contribute to this area.

Jill Waalen, MD, MS, MPH, FACPM Senior Scientist, Digital Medicine Scripps Research Translational Institute Jill Waalen, MD, MPH is board certified in preventive medicine. She serves as a clinical biostatistician at Scripps Translational Science Institute and assistant professor at The Scripps Research Institute. She also is Associate Director for the General Preventive Medicine Residency Program. In addition Dr. Waalen serves as lead faculty for the American College of Preventive Medicine’s board review course.

Wil Wong MD, DipABLM Psychiatrist, Kaiser Permanente William Wong, MD, is a psychiatrist practicing at Kaiser Permanente in San Mateo, California. He has an outpatient practice where he treats a wide spectrum of general adult psychiatry conditions, with a specialty interest in the use of DBS for OCD. He is board certified in integrative medicine and lifestyle medicine. He is excited about the opportunity to promote and expand our awareness and understanding about the connections between emotional resilience, social connections and physical health. The practices of mindfulness and gratitude have truly resonated with him.

Colin Zhu, DO, DipABLM Family Medicine, Chef, Health Coach Founder of TheChefDoc™ & The THR5 Formula™ Colin Zhu, DO, DipABLM, is board-certified in family practice/OMT and lifestyle medicine. Passionate about the intersection of medicine, food, and nutrition, Dr. Zhu trained as a chef and a health coach at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition following completion of his medical degree. To share his unique blend of medical knowledge with a wider audience, Dr. Zhu launched TheChefDoc website, an online wellness and lifestyle education platform which has been featured in several publications. Dr. Zhu is an international speaker, the author of “Thrive Medicine: How To Cultivate Your Desires and Elevate Your Life,“ and is the podcast host of Thrive Bites in which he interviews the latest health and wellness experts about incorporating a plant-powered lifestyle, enhancing emotional wellness, and creating a thriving mindset! His latest venture is his signature event for 2021 is the first virtual summit experience called The THR5 Formula where he combines inspiration, education, and practical tools on how to THRIVE!