Bridging Fitness and Medicine: A Conversation with Michael Stack

In the insightful episode of the CardioSEEDS podcast, Dr. Svetlana Chamoun, CEO of CardioSeeds, conducted a captivating interview with Dr. Beth Fates, President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM).
This discussion not only delved into the current landscape of Lifestyle Medicine (LM) but also emphasized its critical role in shaping the future of healthcare. Dr. Fates shared her journey and LM experiences, highlighting impactful strategies like nutrition, exercise, and social connections in patient care.

A key focus of the episode was the significant role LM plays for the next generation of healthcare professionals. In this conversation, aspiring LM physicians, allied professionals, and those considering joining ACLM will find valuable insights and inspiration. The episode underscores the growing importance of LM in the medical curriculum and its potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, making it a must-listen for those eager to be at the forefront of this transformative field.
Beth Frates, MD FACLM DipABLM

Beth Frates, MD is a trained physiatrist and a health and wellness coach, with expertise in Lifestyle Medicine. She is an award-winning teacher at Harvard Medical School, where she is an assistant clinical professor. Dr. Frates is one of the first Fellows of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and a pioneer in lifestyle medicine. She developed and taught a college Lifestyle Medicine curriculum at the Harvard Extension School in 2014 and it is still one of the most well-received courses offered at the school. She was voted president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine in August 2020. Dr. Frates serves as President from November 2022- November 2024.

She authored a Lifestyle Medicine syllabus, which can be downloaded through the ACLM website, to serve as a template for other instructors and professors. In addition, Dr. Frates co-authored The Lifestyle Medicine Handbook: An Introduction to the Power of Healthy Habits, which was ranked in the top 20 by Book Authority for medical books released in 2018. To accompany the syllabus and handbook, she also co-created Lifestyle Medicine 101, a full college curriculum with 12 weeks of PowerPoints and a teacher’s manual, which is free and accessible through the ACLM website. In addition, Dr. Frates co-authored The Teen Lifestyle Medicine Handbook, published in October 2020 which when paired with the Teen Curriculum consisting of a Teacher’s Manual and 12 PowerPoint decks can be used to teach and empower middle-school and high school students to adopt and sustain healthy habits.

As Director of Wellness Programming at the Stroke Institute for Research and Recovery at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, Dr. Frates has created and implemented a 12-Step wellness program, PAVING the Path to WellnessTM for patients and providers. In addition, she co-authored the book PAVING the Path to Wellness Workbook: A Guide to Thriving with a Healthy Body, Peaceful Mind and Joyful Heart. Most recently, in the fall of 2023, Dr. Frates co-authored the Lifestyle Medicine Pocket Guide available at Healthy Learning.

Since the fall of 2020, Dr. Frates serves as the Director of Lifestyle Medicine and Wellness for the Department of Surgery at Mass General Hospital. In addition, Dr. Frates has her own Lifestyle Medicine consulting/coaching practice where she sees patients 1:1 and in groups.