Food As Medicine / Dr. Leslie Wicholas

In navigating her own way through a severe chronic pain condition, Dr. Leslie Wicholas experienced for herself the role of inflammation in both pain and mood disorders. She is now at the fore in the burgeoning field of Nutritional Psychiatry. Join us as we dive into the many ways that inflammation and microbiome affect mood, pain and health. Diet is the foundation for healing.
About Dr. Leslie Wicholas
Dr. Leslie Wicholas graduated from the University of Calgary Medical School in 1998, and completed her specialty training in Psychiatry at UBC in 2003. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Wicholas practiced on the Provincial Child Inpatient Unit at BC Children's Hospital until 2016, working intensively with children and families facing a wide range of psychiatric and medical challenges. In her role as Clinical Director, she introduced and piloted a new model of trauma-informed care, transforming the way psychiatric care is delivered to patients.
Most recently, Dr. Wicholas' interests have focussed on the burgeoning field of Nutritional Psychiatry and the role of inflammation in both mood and pain disorders. She has trained with the Institute of Functional Medicine which utilizes a unique, mechanism-based approach to identifying and treating the root causes of chronic disease.
Dr. Wicholas designed the food as Medicine program to treat depressive mood disorders and fibromyalgia at the Mood Disorders Association of BC. She and naturopath Dr. Caroline Coombs first piloted this program in July 2016. Dr. Wicholas has continued to deliver this service at MDA since then.
More About Food As Medicine
Mood Disorders Association of BC (MDABC)
MDBAC's Food As Medicine Program
The "Smiles Trial:" A Randomized Controlled Trial of Dietary Improvement for Adults with Major Depression