LIFESTYLE MEDICINE INTEREST GROUP TOOLKIT
Welcome to the Philippine College of Lifestyle Medicine (PCLM) community! We are so thrilled that you are interested in starting a Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group (LMIG) at your institution. This guide was created to make the process of starting and maintaining a LMIG as easy as possible. The PCLM membership committee is available to answer any questions you may have and provide you with the support you need to establish a sustainable, thriving, and effective LMIG!
INTRODUCTION
What is a Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group?
Lifestyle Medicine Interest Groups (LMIGs) are organizations that address the growing need for lifestyle medicine education and activities at academic and health institutions. LMIGs host community events informed by evidence-based lifestyle medicine and receive exclusive PCLM benefits such as priority for grant & scholarship opportunities, networking community, and more!
LMIGS THAT COMPLETE AN ACLM-LED ORIENTATION BECOME AFFILIATED WITH THE ORGANIZATION
Lifestyle Medicine Interest Groups (LMIGs) are organizations that address the growing need for lifestyle medicine education and activities at academic and health institutions. LMIGs host community events informed by evidence-based lifestyle medicine and receive exclusive PCLM benefits such as priority for grant & scholarship opportunities, networking community, and more!
LMIGS THAT COMPLETE AN ACLM-LED ORIENTATION BECOME AFFILIATED WITH THE ORGANIZATION
MEET PCLM
Founded in 2015, the Philippine College of Lifestyle Medicine (PCLM) is the medical specialty society for physicians and other professionals dedicated to clinical and worksite practice of lifestyle medicine as the foundation of a transformed and sustainable health care system. Practice involves the use of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, such as eating a predominantly whole food, plant-based diet, getting regular physical activity, adequate sleep, managing stress, avoiding use of risky substances and pursuing other non-drug modalities, to treat, reverse, and prevent chronic disease.
PCLM educates, equips, empowers and supports its members as they provide evidence-based lifestyle medicine as the first treatment option in clinical practice and worksite settings through live and online CME-accredited events and educational offerings, certification, clinical practice tools, patient education resources, economic research, networking opportunities and advocacy efforts. Today, across the world on every continent with 28 international Lifestyle Medicine organizations represented by the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance. Lifestyle Medicine is one of the fastest growing career fields of medicine globally and holds the promise for true health reform as it addresses the root-cause of chronic illness.
Vision Statement: A world system that implements lifestyle medicine as the foundation of healthcare.
Mission Statement: The Philippine College of Lifestyle Medicine serves its members by advancing the field of lifestyle medicine, promoting excellence in clinical practice and advocating on behalf of medical and public policy issues related to the practice and promotion of Lifestyle Medicine.
PCLM educates, equips, empowers and supports its members as they provide evidence-based lifestyle medicine as the first treatment option in clinical practice and worksite settings through live and online CME-accredited events and educational offerings, certification, clinical practice tools, patient education resources, economic research, networking opportunities and advocacy efforts. Today, across the world on every continent with 28 international Lifestyle Medicine organizations represented by the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance. Lifestyle Medicine is one of the fastest growing career fields of medicine globally and holds the promise for true health reform as it addresses the root-cause of chronic illness.
Vision Statement: A world system that implements lifestyle medicine as the foundation of healthcare.
Mission Statement: The Philippine College of Lifestyle Medicine serves its members by advancing the field of lifestyle medicine, promoting excellence in clinical practice and advocating on behalf of medical and public policy issues related to the practice and promotion of Lifestyle Medicine.
WHAT IS LIFESTYLE MEDICINE?
Lifestyle Medicine Definition: 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.
WHO CAN ESTABLISH LMIG?
Lifestyle Medicine Interest Groups (LMIGs) were originally formed within medical schools; however, ACLM now supports the development of LMIGs at any academic institution and health system. LMIGs are managed by a dedicated leadership team of officers and at least one advisor.
Typically, LMIGs are initiated by trainees (i.e. students, residents, fellows) and advised by a dedicated institutional employee (i.e. faculty member, program director, etc.).
Typically, LMIGs are initiated by trainees (i.e. students, residents, fellows) and advised by a dedicated institutional employee (i.e. faculty member, program director, etc.).
LMIG OBJECTIVES
The LMIG’s primary objective is to promote and practice lifestyle medicine on a community level. Individual LMIG goals are determined based on the setting, values, and opportunities within each specific setting and are most commonly aligned with the following objectives:
General Objectives
Education Objectives
Community Objectives
General Objectives
- Cultivate multi-institutional, lifestyle medicine (LM) programming
- Foster a space for students, faculty, and professionals who are interested in LM to connect
- Share opportunities for professional advancement and leadership development within the field of LM
- Promote healthier and happier lifestyles LMIG & community members through LM education and activities
Education Objectives
- Establish or improve LM curriculum at medical and health professions schools through leader advocacy and advisor guidance
- Gain exposure to LM in educational, clinical, and research settings
- Inform undergraduate, graduate, and students about PCLM and promote engagement
Community Objectives
- Increase community awareness of the latest advances and research in LM
- Develop LM initiatives that support healthy habits for LMIG membership and the local community
- Collaborate with local initiatives and other established LMIGs to share best practices and host events
HOW TO START A NEW LMIG?
Establishing a LMIG is easy! Follow these simple steps to become affiliated with the ACLM.
Step 1: Identify an advisor
Step 2: Identify at least one LMIG Leader to serve in an official LMIG Officer Role
Step 3: Review the LMIG requirements with interested advisors & leaders
Step 4: Submit an application and request for PCLM Orientation
Step 1: Identify an advisor
- Advisors are typically employees at the LMIG host institution
- Advisors will oversee LMIG activities, offer leadership support/guidance, and will help rally the interest of the greater institution and governing bodies
- There may be more than one LMIG advisor for each LMIG
- Learn more about the LMIG Advisor role
Step 2: Identify at least one LMIG Leader to serve in an official LMIG Officer Role
- LMIG Leaders are typically Trainees (i.e. students, residents, fellows) but can include faculty & other interested individuals
- LMIG Leaders are responsible for the subdivisions of the LMIG and coordinate LMIG initiatives, organize events, and submit documentation to pclm
- Learn more about LMIG Leader Roles
Step 3: Review the LMIG requirements with interested advisors & leaders
Step 4: Submit an application and request for PCLM Orientation
ROLES AND REQUIREMENTS
LMIG ADVISOR INFORMATION
All LMIGs are required to have at least one advisor.
Requirements
Requirements
- At least one LMIG Advisor must maintain an active ACLM Membership
- LMIG Advisor(s) must attend the LMIG orientation led by the PCLM
- Provide guidance, resources, and oversight for the LMIG leadership team
- Ensure LMIG is meeting annual reporting requirements
- Submit annual Advisor LMIG Report to PCLM & attend bi-annual LMIG Advisor Check-in meetings
- Provide continuity through officer transitions
- Connect LMIG Leadership with opportunities to engage with local community efforts
- Collaborate with LMIG Leadership on the development of a constitution and central LMIG email address
- Involve LMIG Leadership in institutional research & professional development opportunities
- Coordinate with the institution to ensure ongoing LMIG support and recognition is received
- Assist LMIG Leadership team in identifying funding opportunities
LMIG LEADERSHIP TEAM
LMIGs are each facilitated by a leadership team that is comprised of elected officers. These officers must include (at minimum): President, Vice President/Co-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Social Media Manager. The basic roles and responsibilities of officers should be determined by each LMIG, and delineated in their Constitution and Bylaws.
PRESIDENT | This role serves as the chief visionary for the direction of the group, functions as the primary PCLM contact for the group via group email, sustains consistent communication with advisor and PCLM staff and performs outreach to community members for partnerships and events.
VICE PRESIDENT/ CO-PRESIDENT | This role assists the president, prepares to move into the presidential role, is Ideally an earlier year of study than the president, has served in an officer role within a LMIG or similar organization before, is present during all meetings and focuses on intra-institutional events (health fairs, homecoming, etc.).
SECRETARY | This role takes meeting notes, schedules events, ensures information dissemination to group members, is present at all meetings, facilitates internal communication among officers, and schedules/facilitates upcoming elections.
TREASURER | This role works with the institutional activities department to access group institutional funding, applies for external funding, manages funds, and budgets for group fundraisers.
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER | This role sets up and maintains LMIG social media accounts, interacts with PCLM Trainees on social media, promotes group events, shares reputable lifestyle medicine facts/education/resources, and ensures that PCLM brand guidelines are followed.
PRESIDENT | This role serves as the chief visionary for the direction of the group, functions as the primary PCLM contact for the group via group email, sustains consistent communication with advisor and PCLM staff and performs outreach to community members for partnerships and events.
VICE PRESIDENT/ CO-PRESIDENT | This role assists the president, prepares to move into the presidential role, is Ideally an earlier year of study than the president, has served in an officer role within a LMIG or similar organization before, is present during all meetings and focuses on intra-institutional events (health fairs, homecoming, etc.).
SECRETARY | This role takes meeting notes, schedules events, ensures information dissemination to group members, is present at all meetings, facilitates internal communication among officers, and schedules/facilitates upcoming elections.
TREASURER | This role works with the institutional activities department to access group institutional funding, applies for external funding, manages funds, and budgets for group fundraisers.
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER | This role sets up and maintains LMIG social media accounts, interacts with PCLM Trainees on social media, promotes group events, shares reputable lifestyle medicine facts/education/resources, and ensures that PCLM brand guidelines are followed.
LMIG REQUIREMENTS
All LMIGs must complete a one-time orientation led by PCLM
MEMBERSHIP | At least one LMIG Leader and Advisor must maintain active PCLM Memberships at all times to access LMIG member-exclusive benefits and resources for the group. PCLM members also receive regular communications from PCLM which is integral in maintaining an informed and updated LMIG.
EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS | Create a centralized email address for your LMIG through which all official communications occur (communications with advisors, meeting reminders, newsletters, etc.). LMIG email allows for continuity of communication with PCLM Staff and for the promotion of timeless marketing materials.
HOSTING EVENTS | LMIGs are required to host at least three events per semester. (Link to LMIG Events Page)
SUBMIT LMIG DOCUMENTATION | To ensure PCLM remains up to date on your LMIG activities, LMIG leadership must submit the following LMIG documentation in December each year:
MEMBERSHIP | At least one LMIG Leader and Advisor must maintain active PCLM Memberships at all times to access LMIG member-exclusive benefits and resources for the group. PCLM members also receive regular communications from PCLM which is integral in maintaining an informed and updated LMIG.
EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS | Create a centralized email address for your LMIG through which all official communications occur (communications with advisors, meeting reminders, newsletters, etc.). LMIG email allows for continuity of communication with PCLM Staff and for the promotion of timeless marketing materials.
HOSTING EVENTS | LMIGs are required to host at least three events per semester. (Link to LMIG Events Page)
SUBMIT LMIG DOCUMENTATION | To ensure PCLM remains up to date on your LMIG activities, LMIG leadership must submit the following LMIG documentation in December each year:
- Officer Information Survey
- Event Host Documentation for ALL events hosted
- LMIG Advisor Annual Report
- LMIG Leader Bi-Annual Report within LMIG Leaders Community*
