Welcome to the September 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:
Resources from Carilion Clinic to support organizations in embedding lifestyle medicine into primary care settings
An Indigenous Food Is Medicine Toolkit from the American Indian Cancer Foundation
Upcoming conferences and a free GLP-1 workshop, led by Dr. Jonathan Bonnet
“Family physicians can provide helpful dietary advice that is efficient and uncomplicated. Key themes include emphasizing whole foods that are primarily made from plants, limiting ultra-processed products, and flexibility to accommodate taste preferences and familiar foods. Healthy eating can be achieved across a range of dietary patterns, cultural traditions, and nutrient distributions. The best diet for any given patient will be one they can maintain.” (Source: American Family Physician)
“Given the known benefits of primary care, the detrimental health effects of shortages, and the current barriers, where do we go from here?... As clinicians, educators, researchers, community members, and patients, we need to return to the core principles of family medicine and demand that health organizations and political entities refocus resources to the services that will serve the American public the best.” (Source: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine)
John Findley, CEO of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, writes, “The question is whether we are willing to redesign clinical practice, healthcare delivery, education, research, reimbursement, and policy around what we now know to be true. Can we evolve from managing disease to creating health? Can we move from fragmented interventions to integrated care? Can we restore agency to patients, purpose to clinicians, and health to communities?” (Source: American College of Lifestyle Medicine)
Grants
Explore Whole Health Resources and Map
Each year, AIH funds innovative projects that help make our vision a reality: Advancing a future where healthcare and communities support whole-person care, and healthy choices are accessible and effective in preventing, treating, and reversing chronic disease.
Use our searchable grants database to discover grantee-created toolkits, publications, and resources for healthcare systems, physicians, and patients. Or use our grants impact map to locate whole health initiatives in your area and explore collaboration opportunities.
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
Carilion Clinic: A Model for Primary Care-Based Lifestyle Medicine
Carilion Clinic recently published, Lifestyle Medicine in Action: A 2-Year Evaluation of a Primary Care-Based Clinic in a Safety Net Population. With grant support from AIH, the Carilion Clinic team evaluated its primary care-based lifestyle medicine clinic two years after its inception. The research suggests, “A primary care-based lifestyle medicine clinic shows potential for improving patient outcomes in this safety net setting; broader impact requires improved access, support, and tailoring to context.”
The Indigenous Food Is Medicine Toolkit, created by the American Indian Cancer Foundation, explores the connection between Indigenous foods and health, emphasizing how traditional food practices can support cancer prevention and overall wellness. It provides educational materials and guidance for integrating food sovereignty principles into community health programs.
Fresh and Savory Cookbook: In Loving Memory of Dr. Terri Stone
Dr. Terri Stone was a passionate advocate for lifestyle medicine who spent her career improving lives. To honor her legacy, a medical student volunteer in the Fresh & Savory Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine program, co-founded by Dr. Stone, curated an e-cookbook featuring her favorite recipes. Download your copy below to celebrate Dr. Stone’s life and impact.
Recording Available: Why You Should Move It, Move It!
Physical activity is one of the most well-established determinants of health, with scientific research consistently showing the tremendous benefits of moving more, for both our bodies and our minds. In this workshop, Dr. Darren Morton explores why movement is so powerful and how we can build more of it into our busy lives.
2nd Annual Farm to Healthcare: 2026 CME Conference
Join the Culinary Health Institute at 4Roots Farm for the 2nd Annual Farm to Health Continuing Medical Education (CME) Conference. Presented by AIH, the event will bring together physicians, dietitians, faculty, and allied health professionals to explore food as medicine, lifestyle-based care, and culinary medicine through evidence-based lectures and hands-on, experiential learning.
Join AIH at FMX 2026, hosted by the American Academy of Family Physicians. This event is built to support physicians, residents, and all care team members dedicated to family medicine. FMX 2026 is where clinical expertise, practical strategies, and real connection come together to lead what’s next in primary care.
This workshop, led by Dr. Jonathan Bonnet, will explore GLP-1RA weight loss medications, how they work, their benefits, their side effects, and how they can be combined with lifestyle changes to optimize weight loss and body composition. Register to join below or share the workshop details with your patients, employees, or community members.
With support from AIH, the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) is convening chief medical officers, chief health officers, and corporate medical directors to discuss lifestyle medicine as a strategic lever for better brain health.
Join AIH at the 2026 Lifestyle Medicine Conference, hosted by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and learn from clinicians, researchers, health system leaders, educators, and innovators tackling today’s biggest healthcare challenges through evidence-based approaches that improve outcomes, reduce disease burden, and help people thrive.
We hope you found today's newsletter informative and inspiring. We'll be back next month with another edition.
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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