When I began my family medicine residency in 1998, I pictured providing the whole person care received by patients on television shows. These physicians knew their patients and families, spent time with them, understood the family context of their illness, and always seemed to have the right treatment. Fast forward to the practice of Family Medicine in an insurance based world, and I often had short appointments which translated to rushed appointments. Helping patients develop better nutrition or exercise habits was nearly impossible when there were so many other things to document. On top of that, I had only learned the basics of nutrition in school.  Over time it became apparent that medications were not as powerful as lifestyle behaviors in treating high blood pressure or Type 2 diabetes. My patients who decided to change their diet or commit to an exercise routine while continuing their medications saw improved lab results, less inflammation, improved mobility, less joint pain, weight loss, and better energy. My medical assistant and I would celebrate each patient who returned feeling better when they chose to take the reins of their health.

When I discovered Lifestyle Medicine, I knew it would be the perfect complement to Family Medicine. My husband and I became board certified in Lifestyle Medicine in 2021. Joya Family and Lifestyle Medicine grew out of a desire to help families get lasting health through lifestyle changes. It takes time to learn about the whole person, so I offer 90 minute onboarding appointments to gain a comprehensive view of your past and present health before we recommend a treatment. For those who want to keep their personal physician but are interested in using Lifestyle Medicine to improve their health, we offer Lifestyle Medicine Consultations without a membership. For members, we offer as many appointments as a patient needs to gain control of theri health. Lifestyle Medicine is highly effective for the chronic conditions that family physicians see every day: High blood pressure, prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, elevated cholesterol, digestive issues, osteoarthritis, and more. It turns out that embracing a lifestyle that reduces inflammation improves many areas of our health. Often, the habits we learned growing up contribute to inflammation and illness. At Joya Family and Lifestyle Medicine, I will teach you how lifestyle influences your health, so that you cannot make the changes you choose and role model these for your family.