Halfway Through 2026: Where We Are and Where We're Going | Leadership Lens

Welcome to The Leadership Lens, a twice-yearly conversation between ACLM President Dr. Padmaja Patel and ACLM CEO Dr. John Findley. This series offers a unique window into the evolving vision, priorities, and reflections of ACLM leadership as they navigate the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of lifestyle medicine. In this special 2026 Midyear Check-In, Dr. Patel and Dr. Findley come together during a significant leadership transition to reflect on the momentum behind lifestyle medicine, discuss ACLM's growing influence in policy and practice transformation, and share their vision for the next chapter of the organization. Throughout the conversation, they explore the importance of all six pillars of lifestyle medicine, the opportunities ahead for health system redesign, payment reform, advocacy, and implementation, and the critical role ACLM members play in advancing the field. They also reflect on leadership, personal well-being, and what it will take to make lifestyle medicine the standard of care for every patient, everywhere. Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Leadership Transition 01:44 John's Journey to Lifestyle Medicine 05:16 Why ACLM and Why Now? 08:07 ACLM's Momentum and Future Opportunities 11:49 A Leadership Philosophy for Change 15:00 Vision for ACLM's Next Chapter 16:45 Seizing the Current Moment in Lifestyle Medicine 21:25 Living the Six Pillars as a Leader 25:13 Why Now Is the Time to Get Involved 27:40 Looking Back on Padmaja's Presidency 29:15 Policy Progress and National Momentum 34:21 Practice Transformation and What's Next 38:14 Leadership Lessons for Emerging Leaders 44:00 Final Reflections and Closing Thoughts Subscribe to ACLM on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsjJ... The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) is the medical professional society for physicians and other professionals dedicated to clinical and worksite practice of lifestyle medicine as the foundation of a transformed and sustainable healthcare system. Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty that uses therapeutic lifestyle interventions as a primary modality to treat chronic conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.  Lifestyle medicine-certified clinicians are trained to apply evidence-based, whole-person, prescriptive lifestyle change to treat and, when used intensively, often reverse such conditions. Applying the six pillars of lifestyle medicine—a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connections—also provides effective prevention for these conditions. Connect with ACLM Online! Visit lifestylemedicine.org: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lifestylemedicine.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find ACLM on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Find ACLM on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/ACLifeMed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find ACLM on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/aclifemed/?... Find ACLM on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / american-college-of-lifestyle-medicine