December 11, 2017:    Two associate professors at Southern Adventist University were part of the first group of medical professionals in the world to be certified in lifestyle medicine.

According to The Chattanoogan.com Lilly Tryon and Cindy Roma were part of the inaugural group of 247 physicians and clinicians to be certified as “Diplomates of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM)/American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine.”

“We were thrilled with the news that two of our faculty passed the inaugural certification exam in lifestyle medicine,” said dean of Southern’s School of Nursing, Barbara James. “This focus in our graduate program parallels what the Seventh-day Adventist Church has long advocated. To have faculty earn these credentials validates our curriculum and gives broad recognition to our program.”

The ACLM defines lifestyle medicine as an evidence-based approach that focuses on a plant-based, whole food diet as well as healthy habits like getting sufficient rest and physical exercise to help patients combat chronic diseases. Stress management, cutting out smoking and various natural treatments are also key components of a lifestyle medicine approach.

“While pills and injections may temporarily relieve acute symptoms, they do not address the underlying problem—lifestyle,” said Tryon, the director of Southern’s lifestyle medicine program.

“For patients, having health care providers not only look at the symptoms but also at the underlying cause of disease will help them take charge of their health and prevent, arrest, and reverse chronic disease, thus returning years to their life and life to their years,” said ACLM President, George Guthrie.

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