Ardmore Institute of Health Announces Spring 2025 Grant Recipients
Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) is delighted to announce its Spring 2025 grant recipients. Through grant-making, AIH partners with mission-aligned organizations by funding innovative projects that support AIH's strategic objectives.
This spring, AIH awarded $1,375,500 across 14 projects that will help advance our vision: a future where healthy environments and lifestyles provide equitable and preferred methods to prevent, treat, and reverse chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Continue reading to learn more about each project.
The Healthy Worker Summit
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine | Elk Grove Village, IL
$52,500
ACOEM plans to host a Healthy Worker Summit in conjunction with AOHC in Chicago, IL on April 19-22, 2026. The meeting will convene approximately 30 representatives from professional societies/ organizations who share our commitment to evidence-based employee health promotion programs (e.g., Health Enhancement Research Organization, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and Blue Zones). The Summit will allow organizations to share their priorities around workforce health and build synergy by identifying collaborative opportunities, with an emphasis on consensus-driven initiatives to address lifestyle-related, modifiable health risk factors among workers. Other anticipated outcomes include formal partnerships between organizations for joint educational offerings, advocacy efforts, and research projects to assess, promote, and refine the delivery of workplace health promotion programs. A joint post-summit academic publication will also highlight the shared values of the participating organizations to identify and share potential areas for collaborative efforts. ACOEM will also invite Summit attendees to apply for podium presentations during AOHC 2026 to promote a focus of this conference on employee health and wellness via lifestyle medicine principles.
Food is Medicine Convening Series: Sharper Definitions of Food is Medicine and Funding Diversification
Aspen Institute | Washington, CA
$260,000
Thanks to the generosity of the Ardmore Institute of Health, Food & Society proposes two more Food is Medicine workshops building on the pilot convening that focused on the intersection of diabetes prevention and management and Food is Medicine. To further develop our Food is Medicine Best Practices Guide, we will cover:
Sharper Definitions of Food is Medicine: The Need and the Benefits of a Clearly Defined Food is Medicine System
Multiple definitions are used to describe "Food is Medicine" or "Food as Medicine." This workshop will explore what definitions are needed and when, the accreditation that exists and for whom, as well as existing gaps in what may need to be more precisely defined. A set of working definitions will help us achieve our common outcomes and goals of better health for all.
Sustaining Food is Medicine: Funding Models Beyond Medicaid Waivers
This workshop will explore how clinicians and community-based organizations have diversified coverage for Food is Medicine services, how diversification will support and potentially hinder scale, and suggest best practices for others who are seeking new and continued resources. Importantly, the workshop will feature originators, practitioners, and evaluators of the three states that have led Food is Medicine 1115 waivers. Specifying achievable, measurable metrics and data demonstrating value through persuasive outcomes are puzzles all providers are trying to solve.
Inspiring New Conversations Around Health and Environmental Responsibility in Adventism
Association of Adventist Forum (SPECTRUM) | Roseville, CA
$25,000
We propose to use our large media following to create fresh conversations around the concept of "health" in the Adventist community. The focus will be on North America, but with half our audience outside the U.S. this could potentially impact Adventism’s 23 million global adherents.
The health conversational change goal centers around expanding the Adventist understanding and usage of terms and concepts around sustainability (global and local) as well as MPS (meaning, purpose, spirituality).
The methodology draws on our 55-year history publishing the premiere Adventist journal of ideas and an influential web presence in Adventism for 25 years. With 4.95 million pageviews in 2024 across our online outlets, and newsletters, and 67 thousand social media followers, our method to accomplish our goal will involve the production and publication to that audience and beyond of a series of short reports, longform journalism, podcast episodes, social media posts, book reviews, related news and study aggregation, video production, and scholarly publications in our journal.
Measurement: 1) through our existing online analytics collection process; 2) noting online and in-person comments, letters to the editor, a sign-on sheet we host online and at the General Conference Session this summer.
We expect the outcome to be that a significantly greater number of Adventist include sustainability and MPS in their conversations when the speak about the Adventist health message.
Extending and Advancing a Lifestyle Medicine Clinic in Southwest Virginia
Carilion Medical Center | Roanoke, VA
$100,000
The proposed project is a follow-on to our 2024 efforts to enhance and evaluate a lifestyle medicine clinic in the SW Virginia safety net, which were generously supported by AIH.
Our 2025-2026 project focuses on 1) quality improvement in our primary care-based Lifestyle Medicine Clinic through addressing barriers and challenges to providing and receiving care identified in our 2024 evaluation, particularly for medically underserved patients; 2) the implementation of Lifestyle Medicine Clinic shared medical appointments and evaluation of their effectiveness; and 3) dissemination of a resource toolkit for other organizations establishing a Lifestyle Medicine Clinic or Lifestyle Medicine Data Registry.
The majority of the requested budget funds will contribute to the salary of a Lifestyle Medicine Patient Navigator. The Patient Navigator will work to improve appointment scheduling and follow-up processes, provide individual support for patients (including transportation assistance, referral to community services, collaboration with produce prescription program, etc.), partner with clinic management to initiate shared medical visits, administer a survey to patients referred to or seen in the Lifestyle Medicine Clinic for individual or shared visits, and support the development of the resource toolkit, among other tasks. We will prioritize broad dissemination of the resource toolkit throughout the primary care community both nationally and internationally.
The Whole Person Health Research Program
Foundation for the National Institutes of Health | North Bethesda, MD
$300,000
An important factor contributing to poor health outcomes in the U.S. is our focus on treating diseases separately rather than making the investment needed to maintain and restore the health of the whole person. The Whole Person Health Research Program addresses this need through the establishment of a research program focusing on whole person health. This initiative will move beyond isolated health conditions by integrating data from physiological systems and lifestyle factors. This shift toward a comprehensive, personalized intervention strategy holds the potential for significant positive impacts on individual well-being and public health. This effort will serve as a catalyst to transform our approach to health care through a variety of avenues. We have classified these programs into two components:
Component A:
Establishing teams of investigators with expertise spanning across organs and data types, as well as expertise in systems biology and network models
Building a knowledge network of physiological functions
Populating the whole person knowledge network with longitudinal data from the All of Us research cohort
Generating multiscale modeling and intervention testing of lifestyle interventions
Facilitating research to optimize behavior change
Component B:
Implementing the Whole Person Health Index (WPHI), a self-report survey tool that integrates individual-level biological and behavioral factors to provide a comprehensive snapshot of a person's health.
Embedding Lifestyle Medicine in Hospital Care
George Washington University | Washington, DC
$100,000
The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (GW) aims to embed lifestyle medicine (LM) across the continuum of care to sustain patient health improvements and reduce hospital readmissions, supporting the Ardmore Institute of Health mission. Building on our established outpatient GW LM Clinic, our unique intervention leverages the inpatient discharge process as a teachable moment when patients are often more open to understand the link between lifestyle behaviors and chronic disease. In addition, most patients served at the GW University Hospital, situated in downtown Washington, DC, are uninsured and low-income, thus at highest risk for preventable disease burdens. In this project, healthcare providers, including medical students, residents, and hospitalists, will initiate the intervention during the inpatient discharge process. These providers will be trained to integrate and deliver clear, targeted lifestyle discussions and referrals. These discussions and actionable referrals will provide patients access to free GW supportive resources, such as the LM Clinic, online tools, Full Plate Living virtual classes, and Culinary Medicine workshops, or introduce them to Lifestyle Med Revolution’s 21 Day Daniel Fast. These programs are designed to provide education and practical strategies for sustainable change, helping patients recognize the urgency of lifestyle modifications, and empowering them to take control of their health for lasting vitality.
Increasing awareness of lifestyle medicine in populations with varied abilities, HIV, Hepatitis C, substance use disorders in Idaho
Idaho State University | Pocatello, ID
$59,000
The Idaho State University Family Medicine Residency (ISU FMR) is an established, fully accredited, 3 year residency with the mission of “Equipping family physicians with the attitudes, skills and knowledge needed to make a difference in rural and underserved communities”. It resides in rural Southeast Idaho, in Pocatello, ID, HPSA for primary care and mental health. Our residents rotate through free clinics, women's prison, health department for their training. The ISUFMR enjoys excellent support from physicians throughout the local medical community. Increasingly, local specialists have begun travelling to outlying rural communities on a regular basis to provide clinical outreach. At the ISUFMR, we believe that LM is foundational for the education of family medicine physicians and for a better community of health. Several community LM sessions were led for children, pregnant women, residents and their families at local library, Taekwondo center, children’s camps, etc. Our residency is the first in the State of Idaho to implement LMRC in 2023 and LM teaching clinics---both one on one and group visits. We intend to further extend the awareness of LM in populations with varied abilities, HIV, Hepatitis, C, substance use disorders, pregnancy and other chronic conditions. We intend to execute pre and post interventional surveys to measure the impact of these interventions. We anticipate tools created during this project would be helpful resources for community and providers.
Integrating Virtual Collaborative Care into Family Medicine Practices for Sustainable and Effective Whole Person Care Using Lifestyle Medicine
Loma Linda University | Loma Linda, CA
$100,000
The Loma Linda University Health Department of Family Medicine will develop and implement a pilot project to deliver Lifestyle Medicine (LM) to fee-for-service Medicare patients using a virtual collaborative care model within primary care practices. Creating a collaborative care team with Nudj Health, this model will help fill prescriptions for the six pillars of LM through reimbursable services while controlling associated expenses, partially offsetting typical losses experienced with this payer. Patients will be screened with validated LM tools and appropriately given access to virtual individual care managers, health coaches, behavioral health providers, social workers, dieticians, exercise specialists, and chemical dependency counselors. We will measure change in program participants biometrics, lab indicators of chronic disease status, pharmaceutical utilization, patient and provider satisfaction, and indicators of financial sustainability. Pilot success will result in expansion to patients insured by payers interested in value-based care such as Medicare Advantage and corporate self-insured plans. Clinical and fiscal outcomes will be reported through publication in peer reviewed journals and poster presentations at national conferences with the intent of attracting other practitioners and health systems to adopt this financially sustainable model of delivering LM at sites with limited resources or access otherwise to these services.
Scaling Food-As-Health: A Whole Family Plant-Based Approach
Massachusetts General Hospital | Waltham, MA
$75,000
The MGH Revere Food Pantry and Teaching Kitchen supports food security and nutrition for the community of Revere, MA and the MGH Revere HealthCare Center. The community we serve is approximately 50% Hispanic, majority low-income, and disproportionately impacted by food insecurity, obesity, and chronic disease. Since its founding in 2020, we have been able to demonstrate a significant positive impact on children and families who receive Food Pantry services over a 6-month period, including a reduction in household food insecurity, improved adult and child healthy eating scores, and a reduction in binge eating symptoms in children. To scale the learnings and model, we are requesting funding to complete research and evaluation efforts to build evidence of the impact of our plant-based food-as-medicine approach in an under-resourced community setting. Next, we will seek additional funding to develop and share (at no cost) an implementation toolkit for replicating our model and outcomes in primary care settings, community health centers, and food pantries.
Community Driven Food Systems Change to Promote Health Equity: A Stanford- Eat Real Partnership to Maximize School Food Improvements
Stanford University | Redwood City, CA
$100,000
Eat Real Certified, Inc., a nonprofit organization, improves and brings transparency to school food systems through whole foods, prepared healthfully and sourced responsibly, while currently operating in 21 districts across the United States. Despite Eat Real’s successful growth, the organization has not yet partnered with a research institution to assess and evaluate program impact. From recently adapting the Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH) Full Plate Living (FPL) curriculum for new programming, Stanford University now has the opportunity to expand this project with the growing set of schools and school districts working with Eat Real. As many of Eat Real's 10 Standards (e.g., reduced sugar, whole carbohydrates, fresh produce, healthy fats, minimal processing, menu variety) align with Full Plate Living, Stanford will integrate these standards and conduct assessments in select schools. Primary aims will adapt and integrate the AIH FPL with the Eat Real approach for implementation in public elementary schools while developing nutrition education programming. We will critically examine the scoring metric used by Eat Real for evaluating impact on school districts that have participated in the certification program. Additionally, impact and perceptions will be assessed through qualitative focus group feedback. The science being pursued in this proposal will accelerate and amplify AIH and Eat Real's impact while creating a scalable model to transform school meal programs.
Enhancing Medical Education with Lifestyle Medicine
The Institute for Functional Medicine | Federal Way, WA
$30,000
The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) will integrate its award-winning wellness program, Lifestyle: The Foundations of Functional Medicine, into the core curricula at a diverse subset of the academic institutions where IFM currently supports traditional medical education. IFM is the global leader in functional medicine training for a growing number of healthcare disciplines and, as such, is transforming the delivery of patient care. The Lifestyle course provides interactive modules that address the six primary lifestyle factors: sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress, relationships and behavior change. The course equips students with the information and strategies they need to confidently and successfully guide patients, families, and communities toward impactful and sustainable change. Outcomes of participation include significant improvements in biometrics, quality of life, and risk factors for chronic disease. A quantitative assessment of these self-reported variables, as well as post-course survey data tracking increases in knowledge, engagement, and practical application all contribute to a robust evaluation of both process and content. Ultimately, the clinical competencies covered in the course will become standard components of training for all medical and allied health professions. The global practice of patient-centered care, characterized by compassion and empathy, begins here, with this unique collaboration between IFM and the Ardmore Institute of Health.
Planting Seeds of Knowledge: Cultivating OB/GYN Expertise in Plant-Predominant Perinatal Nutrition
The Regents of the University of California | Irvine, CA
$89,000
This project addresses a critical gap in medical education by developing comprehensive resources on plant-predominant dietary patterns for obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs). Our previous research revealed that OB/GYNs understand the benefits of plant-predominant diets but lack confidence in nutritional counseling during the perinatal period (preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum). This 12-month project, will create evidence-based educational modules, case studies, and counseling tools tailored specifically for OB/GYN practice. All educational materials will be grounded in the evidence-based Full Plate Living Approach. Case studies and counseling practice tools will feature practical scenarios from the Full Plate Living guide, such as "How to eat a high-fiber meal when dining out." The project will develop a user-friendly online platform offering 6-8 hours of self-paced learning with CME credit potential. During development, focus groups with OB/GYNs will provide feedback to refine content before launch. We'll track engagement metrics and measure knowledge gains through pre/post assessments. By equipping OB/GYNs with specialized nutrition knowledge, we aim to improve patient care for those already following plant-predominant diets and expand evidence-based nutrition counseling during critical reproductive periods. This project has potential for significant public health impact by promoting nutritional strategies that improve maternal and fetal health outcomes.
Lifestyle Medicine Activities Module Expansion
The University of Arizona Foundation fbo The Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine | Tucson, AZ
$50,000
In 2024, the Andrew Weil Center Integrative Medicine Residency (AWCIM) implemented a Lifestyle Medicine (LM) Activities Module (AM) within our Integrative Medicine in Residency (IMR) program nationwide. This experiential AM was woven into the curriculum to enrich residents’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills in LM, and their ability to recommend LM interventions for patients. Our goals are to augment the AM by expanding LM content and enabling module access for more medical professionals in training.
To achieve these goals we will:
Enhance the existing LM curriculum – Improve content; revise curriculum for non-IMR programs; and add pre/post-assessments to measure trainees’ LM behavior.
Expand the curriculum – Implement three new LM activities: Awe, Purpose, and Spirituality, all recognized for their positive impact on mental health and resilience.
Enhance our online platform – Add a progress bar for trainees to track progress; create a stand-alone module for non-IMR enrolled learners; and develop a dashboard for medical schools, residents, and non-IMR enrolled programs to monitor learners’ progress.
Increase AM accessibility – Offer the AM free for one year to residents and medical students and explore the potential to expand access to other trainees.
We aim to raise the quality and reach of LM education across the US healthcare system by creating an easily implemented, evidence-based, and scalable program that can be adopted by medical schools and residency programs.
University Lifestyle Medicine Teaching Kitchen
Union Adventist University | Lincoln, NE
$35,000
Union Adventist University will establish a lifestyle medicine teaching kitchen (LMTK) affiliated with its academic public health program. The grant funds will purchase commercial-grade mobile workstations and food preparation, storage, and cooking equipment. The funds will also support the Union student garden, which will help provide fresh produce to the kitchen while in season. The LMTK will train future public health and healthcare professionals (e.g., Nurses, Biomedical Science majors, Physician Assistants, and others) in lifestyle medicine, plant-based nutrition, disease prevention, and hands-on cooking skills. It will also be used to conduct community engagement and outreach to various groups, such as low-income families, pregnant women, and older adults. The program will use culturally appropriate recipes and resources, including developing partnerships with other healthcare professionals and chefs representing marginalized groups to assist in program delivery. Research validates that students who complete a teaching kitchen program have higher knowledge of diet and lifestyle interventions, including confidence and likelihood to counsel patients about chronic disease prevention and treatment using lifestyle and healthier eating strategies.
Learn more about AIH grant-making, funding priorities, and the process for applying for funding below.
