Building the Future of Gastroenterology: A Conversation with Dr. Teresa Da Cunha

In this episode of the Next Gen LM Podcast, we explore how lifestyle medicine is reshaping the future of gastroenterology and empowering the next generation of physicians to transform patient care. From board certification during fellowship to pioneering new models of care, this conversation highlights how evidence-based lifestyle interventions can complement specialty practice and improve outcomes for patients living with chronic disease.

We are joined by Dr. Teresa Da Cunha, a board-certified lifestyle medicine physician and gastroenterologist, who shares her journey from discovering lifestyle medicine during fellowship to incorporating its principles into clinical practice, research, and patient education. She discusses her passion for bringing lifestyle medicine into gastroenterology, her research on inflammatory bowel disease, and her vision for implementing shared medical appointments to help patients achieve lasting behavior change.

By the end of the episode, listeners will gain practical insights into pursuing lifestyle medicine training during residency or fellowship, integrating the six pillars into specialty care, and advocating for a healthcare system that prioritizes prevention alongside treatment. Whether you are a student, trainee, or practicing clinician, this conversation offers inspiration for bringing lifestyle medicine into your own career and creating meaningful change for your patients.

Learn more about the Foundations Lifestyle Medicine Board Review course: https://learning.lifestylemedicine.org/content/foundations-lifestyle-medicine-board-review-course-30-cmece#group-tabs-node-course-default1

Learn more about the Lifestyle Medicine Question Bank: https://learning.lifestylemedicine.org/content/lifestyle-medicine-question-bank

Register for the Lifestyle Medicine 2026 Conference: https://lifestylemedicine.org/lm2026/

Review Dr. Da Cunha's research: https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276261462804

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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.

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