{"id":11424,"date":"2026-05-01T11:03:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T15:03:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/phyrehab\/?p=11424"},"modified":"2026-05-01T12:17:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T16:17:29","slug":"unc-pmr-faculty-member-earns-board-certification-in-lifestyle-medicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/phyrehab\/interest\/unc-pmr-faculty-member-earns-board-certification-in-lifestyle-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"UNC PM&R Faculty Member Earns Board Certification in Lifestyle Medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"We are thrilled to announce that UNC PM&R faculty member Dr. Chandni Patel<\/span><\/span> has achieved board certification in Lifestyle Medicine<\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Lifestyle Medicine is a medical specialty that uses evidence-based lifestyle interventions as a primary approach to prevent, treat, and, in some cases, reverse chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The field emphasizes six key pillars: a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connections.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarning board certification in Lifestyle Medicine has been an important step in my ongoing effort to better care for patients,\u201d said Dr. Patel. \u201cI pursued this training to more thoughtfully incorporate evidence-based lifestyle interventions into the care of individuals living with chronic pain and complex medical conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Patel sees patients at the UNC Spine Center, where she evaluates and treats individuals with chronic pain conditions. Her approach integrates multimodal strategies, including therapy, medications, and interventional procedures such as injections, peripheral nerve stimulation, and spinal cord stimulation. With her training in Lifestyle Medicine, she further enhances patient care by incorporating whole-person, preventive strategies alongside traditional pain management techniques.<\/p>\n

\u201cLifestyle medicine complements interventional pain management by expanding our ability to improve function, resilience, and long-term health outcomes,\u201d she added. \u201cIt allows us to partner with patients in meaningful behavior change that can significantly impact pain and overall quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

This certification reflects a growing emphasis on comprehensive, patient-centered care within PM&R and expands the range of tools available to improve long-term outcomes for patients.<\/p>\n

Congratulations to Dr. Patel on this achievement!<\/p>\n

News<\/h2>\n\n