ST. LOUIS (PRWEB)
October 19, 2021

A town hall discussion with four former U.S. Surgeons General about how lifestyle medicine can address lifestyle-related chronic disease health disparities will headline the speakers at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine 2021 annual conference (LM 2021).

Drs. Richard Carmona, David Satcher, Joycelyn Elders and Antonia Novello will participate in the town hall during the virtual LM 2021 conference Sunday-Wednesday, Nov. 7-10. The conference, which is themed “Patient Centered, Values Based, Outcome Driven” was originally scheduled to be held in Grapevine, Texas, but transitioned to a virtual format as a COVID-19 safety precaution during the Delta variant surge.

Dr. Carmona, the 17th Surgeon General of the United States, has been a member of ACLM’s Advisory Council since the organization’s inception in 2004 and is currently co-authoring a book focused on the importance of lifestyle medicine. He will join the former Surgeons General on Sunday evening to discuss the cracks that 2020 revealed in the health system and why achieving health equity must include a focus on ways to prevent, treat and reverse chronic disease.

“It is clear that already existing disparities in chronic disease have left us even more vulnerable to a pandemic, and disproportionately so for our racial and ethnic minority populations,” said ACLM Past-President Dexter Shurney, MD, MBA, MPH, FACLM, DipABLM, who will moderate the town hall. “ACLM is honored to host these four distinguished former U.S. Surgeons General to share their unique insights and expertise on these unacceptable health disparities and to discuss how a lifestyle approach can contribute to potential solutions.”

The conference agenda will feature an impressive line-up of pre- and post-conference workshops and plenary sessions that cover topics such as incorporating mental health into lifestyle medicine, lifestyle medicine as a solution to health care debt and spending, group medical visits and the implementation of lifestyle medicine within large health systems.

Conference participants will include physicians, allied health professionals, medical residents, health care executives, researchers and leaders in the field of lifestyle medicine, as well as supporting organizations, political and civic leaders and members of the press.

A survey of 1,193 participants of the 2020 conference found attendees overwhelming positive about the experience: 84% agreed or strongly agreed that the information provided in the conference would improve their clinical practice or role within their organization; 91% indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with the event compared to other medical conferences.

“ACLM is the nation’s fastest growing medical professional association, and the annual conference is an invaluable opportunity to share ideas with and learn from some of the leading experts in lifestyle medicine,” LM2021 Conference Chair Meagan L. Grega, MD, FACLM, DipABLM, said. “As the past 18 months has shown, the time is now for medical professionals from all fields and specialties to commit to lifestyle medicine as the foundation of all heath and health care.”

The conference has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™️. Up to 24.5 CME/CE can be earned for the general conference and poster presentations, with up to 66.5 CME/CE for all workshops, general conference and poster presentations.

Registration to participate in conference workshops is required by Nov. 1. However, registration for the rest of the conference remains open throughout the duration of the event and includes access to conference recordings — so participants can collect CME — through Dec. 31.

For more information about the conference, visit the LM2021 FAQ page. The conference schedule and registration is available here.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINE: ACLM is the medical professional society for those dedicated to the advancement and clinical practice of lifestyle medicine as the foundation of a transformed and sustainable health care system. Lifestyle medicine is the use of a whole food, plant-predominant dietary lifestyle, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connection as a primary therapeutic modality for treatment and reversal of chronic disease.

More than a professional association, ACLM is a galvanized force for change. ACLM addresses the need for quality education and certification, supporting its members in their individual practices and in their collective mission to domestically and globally promote lifestyle medicine as the first treatment option, as opposed to a first option of treating symptoms and consequences with expensive, ever increasing quantities of pills and procedures. ACLM members are united in their desire to identify and eradicate the root cause of disease. Learn more at http://www.LifestyleMedicine.org.

Accreditation information

In support of improving patient care, Rush University Medical Center is jointly accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Rush University Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 66.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ANCC Credit Designation – Nurses

The maximum number of hours awarded for this CE activity is 66.5 contact hours.

This activity is being presented without bias and without commercial support.

Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge based CPE activity for 16.25 contact hours for pharmacists.

Rush University is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000272), occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, social work (159.001203), nutrition, speech-audiology, and psychology by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.

Rush University designates this live activity for 66.5 Continuing Education credit(s).

The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine has approved a maximum of 66.5 Maintenance of Certification credits for this learning activity.

Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending.

The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) has approved a maximum of 66.5 continuing education credits for NBC-HWCs who attends Lifestyle Medicine 2021.