SOL: Stanzas of Life

Lifestyle Medicine didn’t begin for me in a clinic or a textbook. It began as a question and a search for answers.

When I started medical school in the summer 2023, I was eager to understand the anatomy and physiology behind the human body. I moved through the first year focusing on memorizing structures, pathways, and processes while trying to adjust to the pace of medical training.

During second year, the focus shifted toward pathophysiology and pharmacology. We studied what happens when our systems break down and the medications used to treat disease. While the material was fascinating, I kept wondering when we would spend time discussing how to prevent disease in the first place.

Around the same time, I was working on a paper exploring the relationship between body mass index and prostate cancer. Soon after, I joined a group project examining fiber intake and how it relates to colon cancer incidence.

The data were compelling, but they also pointed toward something bigger. The research circled back to the same theme: daily habits.

What people eat.
How much they move.
Whether they sleep well.
How they manage stress.
Whether they feel connected to others.
The substances they choose to consume.

Those everyday choices kept appearing as powerful predictors of health outcomes. Yet in many traditional medical conversations, they often felt like side notes rather than the central focus.

It was during this period that I first heard about Lifestyle Medicine through the work of Dr. Regan Stiegmann.

Dr. Stiegmann is a double board-certified physician and former USAF Active Duty Flight Surgeon. She completed her Preventive Medicine residency at the Uniformed Services University and Walter Reed, with a subspecialization in Lifestyle Medicine. Today she serves as co-director of the Digital Health Track at Rocky Vista University’s Colorado and Utah campuses.

But what stood out most to me wasn’t just her credentials. It was the purpose behind her work.

Over the past decade, Dr. Stiegmann has served in leadership roles across several nationally and internationally recognized medical platforms, including the American College of Preventive Medicine and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She is also involved with numerous medical schools and healthcare organizations where she is helping integrate Lifestyle Medicine education into the training of future clinicians and allied health professionals.

Through her work, I began to see Lifestyle Medicine as more than a concept. It was a framework for rethinking how we approach health and disease.

At its core, Lifestyle Medicine focuses on empowering patients to make meaningful behavior changes across six interconnected pillars: optimal nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, social connection, and the avoidance of risky substances.

Rather than only treating symptoms after disease develops, Lifestyle Medicine aims to address the root causes that often drive chronic illness in the first place.

The idea felt both simple and profound.

In 2025, I had the opportunity to present my research at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine conference in Grapevine, Texas. Walking into that conference felt different from most academic environments I had experienced.

The energy in the room was contagious.

Researchers, physicians, medical students, dietitians, and health professionals from across the country had gathered around a shared belief: lifestyle interventions are powerful, evidence-based tools capable of preventing, managing, and in some cases even reversing chronic disease.

Listening to speakers and connecting with others in the field made something clear to me. This was not a small niche within medicine. It was a growing movement led by people who genuinely believed in empowering patients rather than simply managing illness.

In many ways, Lifestyle Medicine also reflected choices I had already been making in my own life, long before I had the language to describe them.

For the past eight years, I have followed a pescatarian diet. Like most people, I’ve had a few hiccups along the way, but the overall approach has shaped how I think about food and health. Much of my inspiration came from the Blue Zones, regions of the world where people consistently live longer and healthier lives.

The patterns in these communities are remarkably consistent.

A mostly plant-predominant diet.
Regular movement built into daily life.
Strong social connections.
Time for rest and recovery.
A sense of purpose and belonging.

When I first learned about the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine, the overlap was clear. Many of the principles I had been trying to follow in my own life aligned naturally with this framework.

Nutrition built around plants, whole foods, and fiber.

Movement treated as a daily habit rather than an occasional workout.

Sleep valued as a biological necessity, not a luxury.

Stress managed through intentional practices, meditation, and perspective.

Strong relationships and meaningful community.

And the thoughtful avoidance of substances that undermine long-term health, such as tobacco and excessive alcohol.

Lifestyle Medicine brings these ideas together into a clear, evidence-based model of care. It shifts the focus from reacting to disease toward creating the conditions for health.

For me, that shift changed how I think about medicine. It also reshaped how I think about my role within it.

Patients are not passive recipients of care. They are active participants in their health journey. When people are given the right knowledge, support, and environment, small changes in daily habits can compound into meaningful improvements in health over time.

Lifestyle Medicine does not replace traditional medicine. Instead, it strengthens it by addressing the upstream drivers of chronic disease.

As research continues to grow and more clinicians begin integrating these principles into practice, I believe Lifestyle Medicine will play an increasingly important role in how we approach prevention, treatment, and long-term health.

My introduction to this field began with research projects, a conference presentation, and the influence of mentors like Dr. Stiegmann. But it also resonated with values I already held about personal responsibility, prevention, and the power of everyday choices.

At the end of the day, the most powerful medicine often begins long before someone walks into a clinic.

It begins with how we live.

#SOL:Stanzas of Life #LifestyleMedicine #Prevention