Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth has introduced an innovative new way to train health care professionals in patient
care.
The new health care clinician track within the Master of Science in Lifestyle Health Sciences and Coaching program is fully online and designed for students who are actively treating patients or planning to enter clinical practice. This track empowers health care professionals to integrate the principles of lifestyle medicine into patient care, enhancing their ability to address the root causes of chronic diseases and promote long-term health and well-being.
The first cohort will begin this summer.
This specialized track differs from the traditional MSLS pathway by focusing on practical, clinical applications of lifestyle medicine. Designed for both practicing clinicians and health care students, the track provides the knowledge and skills to transform practices and improve patient outcomes through evidence-based lifestyle medicine.
“This program is an incredible opportunity for clinicians to bridge the gap between conventional medicine and lifestyle-based interventions,” said Dr. Misti Zablosky, director of the MSLS program. “By equipping health care professionals with these skills, we are not only improving patient outcomes but also shaping the future of medicine. The integration of lifestyle medicine into clinical practice allows providers to focus on disease prevention and overall well-being rather than solely reacting to illness. This approach empowers both clinicians and patients, fostering long-term health improvements and reducing the burden on the health care system. Our goal is to prepare the next generation of providers to lead this transformation and create a more sustainable, patient-centered model of care.”
Lifestyle medicine is a specialty that uses lifestyle interventions to treat chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Lifestyle medicine clinicians are trained to apply evidence-based, whole-health, prescriptive lifestyle change to treat and 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.
A study published in 2024, which analyzed the lifestyles of more than 276,000 U.S. veterans, found that adopting eight healthy behaviors could add up to 24 years to a person’s life. These included eating a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, sleeping well, managing stress, maintaining strong relationships, and avoiding smoking, abusing opioids and excessive alcohol consumption.
In 2020, UNTHSC launched the MSLS program, an intensive, blended curriculum designed to prepare students for careers in health and wellness coaching. In addition, the program includes a specialized focus on lifestyle interventions to reduce chronic disease risk as well as training in emotional intelligence, health professions communication and interprofessional team building.
The MSLS program, housed in the College of Health Professions’ Department of Personalized Health and Well-Being, is the first graduate degree in Texas to combine lifestyle medicine with wellness coaching.
“The MSLS program’s health care clinician track will equip providers with the ability to shift their focus from symptom treatment to addressing the root causes of chronic diseases through lifestyle changes,” said Dr. Glenn Forister, dean of UNTHSC’s College of Health Professions. “For physicians, this shift not only brings about a more fulfilling career but also contributes to a more sustainable health care system.
“Lifestyle medicine is more than a medical practice. It’s a movement toward a more holistic, patient-centered approach to health. It offers a way for physicians to reconnect with the core values of medicine — caring, healing and preventing illness.”
For more information about the program or to speak with an advisor, please email admissions@unthsc.edu.
From HSC Newsroom - Community by Eric Griffey