Lifestyle Medicine and the Primary Care Provider : A Practical Guide to Enabling Whole Person Care

Lifestyle Medicine and the Primary Care Provider: A Practical Guide to Enabling Whole Person Care is a comprehensive and practical guide for primary care clinicians seeking to incorporate lifestyle medicine (LM) principles into their practice. Edited by Ron Stout, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FACLM; Dan Reichert, MD, FAAFP; and Rebecca Kelly, PhD, MAE, RDN, FAND with series oversight from Jim Rippe, MD, this volume offers family physicians and primary care providers a roadmap to enabling lasting health improvements for their patients through whole person, behavior-based care. Covering over 27 chapters by leading experts in the field, the book delivers evidence-based LM interventions into actionable strategies for busy practices.

Each chapter provides practical, time-efficient approaches to implementing LM in real-world settings. Emphasizing core principles like patient history, screening tools, and lab testing, this guide focuses on streamlining workflows and facilitating behavior change through team-based approaches. For practices not in integrated care models, the book outlines effective methods for collaborating with external resources, including behavioral health specialists, dietitians, social workers, and pharmacists.

Readers will find valuable insights on maximizing reimbursement for LM services, from direct virtual visits to shared medical appointments, with examples from successful best-practice models. The book also includes considerations for reimbursement strategies and policy elements that enhance LM integration. Special chapters cover innovative practice models, offering practical examples of how to navigate reimbursement for lifestyle medicine.

A volume in the Lifestyle Medicine series, this resource goes beyond theory, giving primary care providers the tools to foster sustainable lifestyle changes that support patient health and resilience. With its pragmatic approach, Lifestyle Medicine and the Primary Care Provider: A Practical Guide to Enabling Whole Person Care serves as an essential companion for clinicians dedicated to transforming primary care with whole-health solutions that meet the demands of modern practice.

Dr. Ron Stout serves as President and CEO of the Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH), leading its mission to enhance health and vitality thus empowering individuals to live more meaningful lives. Dr. Stout's experience includes his tenure as Medical Director at Procter & Gamble (P&G), where he directed occupational health, pharmacovigilance, and Medical Affairs, contributing to major acquisitions and product launches in MDVIP, OTC, VMS, and pharmaceuticals. Prior to P&G, he served as Medical Director of Preventive Medicine and Occupational Services at Kettering Health Network in Ohio. His career also includes distinguished service in the United States Air Force (AF), where he worked as an Occupational and Preventive Medicine Consultant, served as a Principal Investigator for the Air Force Health Study, and provided leadership as IMA to the office of the AF Surgeon General.

Throughout his career, Dr. Stout has guided numerous primary care clinics and held served on prominent boards, including the NIOSH Board of Medical Advisors, the Preventive Medicine Section Council of the AMA, the American Board of Preventive Medicine, the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. He is board certified in Family Medicine, General Preventive Medicine & Public Health, and Occupational Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

After a life-altering bicycle accident in 2008 left him with a diagnosis of permanent paralysis, Dr. Stout leveraged Lifestyle and Integrative Medicine modalities to progress from a prognosis of lifelong wheelchair use to an active lifestyle that includes biking, walking, outdoor exploration, and a flexitarian diet. His journey is a testament to resilience and the power of hope. Dr. Stout’s partner, Pam Stout, BSN, MPH, is a Lactation Consultant with an extensive background in education, management, and hospital leadership.

Dr. Daniel Reichert serves as the Mark R. Keltner Endowed Chair in the Department of Family Medicine at Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) and is an Assistant Professor with the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, where he also serves on the School of Medicine Executive Committee. Dr. Reichert plays an integral role in the Loma Linda University Health Education Consortium (LLUHEC) Family Medicine Residency program, which provides continuity clinics and lifestyle medicine initiatives at the Federally Qualified Health Center SAC Health in San Bernardino, CA. His work in this medically underserved community addresses pressing social determinants of health and serves a patient population with significant health disparities.

Dr. Reichert also served as Medical Director for the Department of Family Medicine Faculty Clinics in Loma Linda and Beaumont/Banning, CA, where he and his team care for nearly 50,000 patients, including those from the “Blue Zone” community of Loma Linda. He has extensive experience in diverse primary care settings and completed his residency at Womack Army Medical Center, later joining its faculty. His career includes roles in a hospital-owned family medicine group and as co-owner and president of University Medical Specialties, where he successfully served diverse populations in southwestern Michigan.

A strong advocate for physician well-being, Dr. Reichert earned certification in the AAFP’s Leading Physician Well-being Scholar program. He champions a whole-person approach to wellness and lifestyle medicine, aiming to ensure positive health outcomes. Dr. Reichert has developed a concierge model of care for the LLUHEC residents and is spearheading a lifestyle medicine integration project in his department to create a sustainable model that can be replicated in other family medicine practices.

In his personal life, Dr. Reichert is passionate about outdoor activities, including running, marathons, triathlons, cycling, and alpine hiking. Known for his curiosity in philosophical and theological discussions, he is also deeply devoted to his family, who play a vital role in his well-being and motivation.

Dr. Rebecca Kelly is an esteemed educator, administrator, and consultant with a career spanning over 30 years dedicated to advancing health and wellness in workplace settings. As CEO and Founder of Element Health, Inc., a premier wellness consulting firm based in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Kelly has implemented evidence-based wellness programs across diverse industries, improving resilience and productivity for thousands nationwide.

Dr. Kelly has held pioneering roles, including her position as the first Director of Health Promotion and Wellness at the University of Alabama, where she also served as an Assistant Professor. She established WellBAMA, a comprehensive wellness program that achieved high engagement and significant health outcomes there. Her leadership as Wellness Program Manager at American Cast Iron Pipe Company set a national example for corporate wellness, earning recognition for measurable health improvements and a strong return on investment.

A registered dietitian, exercise physiologist, and diabetes educator, Dr. Kelly combines clinical expertise with strategic insight. The Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) honored her dedication to employee health with the inaugural Heart of HERO Award. Additionally, she was celebrated as one of 30 Women Who Shape the State of Alabama and is a graduate of Momentum, Alabama’s premier women’s executive leadership program. She also serves as Chair of The Health Project, guiding initiatives that reward excellence in health promotion.

Dr. Kelly’s influence extends into key roles with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, where she served as Chair of the Council on Future Practice and contributes to the Nutrition Services Payment Committee. She holds a PhD in Health Promotion and Education and an MAE from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, completed her dietetic internship at Indiana University Medical Center, and graduated with highest honors from Auburn University.

Dr. Kelly exemplifies her commitment to wellness through an active lifestyle and outdoor pursuits with her family. Her dedication to holistic health includes community service, where she develops faith-based wellness programs that inspire positive change and support lifelong well-being.