Welcome to the July edition of Whole Health Digest — featuring the latest research and practical tools for advancing whole health, provided by the nonprofit Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH).
In this newsletter, you will discover:
A new survey exploring US adults’ attitudes towards lifestyle medicine and behavioral health
A guide for bringing lifestyle medicine into workplaces from ACOEM and ACLM
Upcoming events, including a guided tour of Full Plate Living nutrition resources
This survey examines US adults’ knowledge of and attitudes toward lifestyle medicine, behavioral health, and their integration within primary care. “These findings should inform patient-centered care design, guide resource allocation, and support strategies that accelerate the transition of these essential, evidence-based services from specialized offerings to broadly covered, accessible, and foundational components of population health.” (Source: American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine)
This study highlights how virtual shared medical appointments (SMAs) can help primary care physicians safely and efficiently manage patients on GLP-1 obesity medications. In a 4-part virtual SMA program at Massachusetts General Hospital, patients learn about GLP-1 medications, side effect mitigation, protein and fiber intake, strength training and cardiovascular exercise, lifestyle changes for sustained weight loss, and more. (Source: Obesity Pillars)
This article highlights social prescribing as a low-risk, high-value framework to combat the converging US health crises of an aging population, rising rates of mental illness, and social isolation. “Social prescribing, which systematically connects patients from healthcare settings to community-based non-clinical supports, including social, cultural, physical activity, and nature-based programs, has been developed in over 30 countries and is emerging in the United States as a promising adjunct to clinical care.” (Source: Front Public Health)
Grants
Redesigning Primary Care Delivery at Loma Linda University Health
In partnership with Nudj Health, Loma Linda University Health launched a technology-integrated whole person care initiative to address some of the most significant challenges facing healthcare today.
Designed as an operational extension of primary care itself, this initiative combines Nudj Health’s lifestyle medicine, behavioral health, longitudinal patient engagement, connected monitoring, and analytics platform directly within Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Group Department of Family Medicine clinical workflows and Epic electronic medical record infrastructure.
Since 2014, AIH has granted over $25 million to whole health projects and initiatives. To learn more about AIH's granting work, click here.
Resources
ACOEM and ACLM: Guide to Bringing Lifestyle Medicine into Workplaces
The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine recently released the Guide to Bringing Lifestyle Medicine into Workplaces. The guide translates the pillars of lifestyle medicine into practical changes organizations can implement, and ties them directly to the outcomes leaders care about: lower healthcare costs, stronger engagement, better retention, and real performance.
Recording Available: Healthy Habits for Life: Rethinking our Relationship With Food
In this workshop, behavioral health expert Steven Mauro and psychiatrist MaryEllen Eller, MD, explore why lasting change is rooted in mindset and meaning—not willpower. Mauro and Eller focus on small steps that lead to big health outcomes, and participants will learn to celebrate small shifts, appreciate what's working, and use habit slips as helpful data rather than as failures.
Aspen Health Strategy Group Examines Food and Health, Receives Funding from Ardmore Institute of Health
Last month, AIH joined the Aspen Health Strategy Group to explore food and health. At AIH, we believe health is not created primarily in clinics, hospitals, or pharmacies. Health is created in the small habits of daily life: what we eat, how we move, whether we sleep, what gives us purpose, and whether our environment supports or undermines our best intentions. Food sits at the center of that reality.
We look forward to the forthcoming report from the convening, which will highlight "five big ideas" to guide the US towards better health through effective food policy.
Now Accepting Applications: The Dexter Shurney, MD Well-being Fellowship
The application window is now open for the inaugural Dexter Shurney, MD Well-being Fellowship — a one-year award up to $20,000, supporting research and innovation at the intersection of health equity, lifestyle medicine, and community-centered well-being. The fellowship honors the legacy of Dr. Dexter Shurney, a pioneering voice in workplace health and well-being, and seeks applicants committed to translating meaningful work into real change for underserved and historically marginalized populations.
Applications will be accepted through August 31, 2026, and the fellowship recipient will be announced at the HERO CMO Summit on November 8th.
A Guided Tour of Full Plate Living Nutrition Resources
In this workshop, clinicians will discover how to seamlessly integrate Full Plate Living into their practice to support patient well-being. Join us for a comprehensive guided tour of the free nutrition resources available for patients and clinicians.
Join AIH at the 2026 Community Health Conference & Expo, hosted by the National Association of Community Health Centers. The conference provides attendees with the latest in science, education, practice, and policy that health centers need to stay competitive and financially stable.
Join AIH at the 2026 Teaching Kitchen Research Conference, hosted by the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative. The 2026 conference will focus on strengthening the role of teaching kitchens in advancing health and well-being across clinical, community, and educational settings.
We hope you found today's newsletter informative and inspiring. We'll be back next month with another edition of Whole Health Digest.
Sincerely,
The AIH Team
P.S. This newsletter is offered by Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH), a nonprofit dedicated to improving people's health through the power of Whole Health. If it was forwarded to you by a friend or colleague, and you'd like to receive it regularly, subscribe here.
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June 19, 2026 Welcome to the June edition of Whole Health Digest — featuring the latest research and practical tools for advancing whole health, provided by the nonprofit Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH). In this newsletter, you will discover: Full Plate for Kids, a downloadable activity book that teaches children about healthy foods and where food comes from Lifestyle medicine scholarship and funding opportunities Upcoming events, including a guided tour of free Full Plate Living nutrition...
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