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Specialties

Lifestyle Medicine

Achieving good health is about more than fixing problems after they appear. Quality of health often begins with the choices we make every day for ourselves, our families, and our communities. Those choices are at the center of lifestyle medicine, an emerging specialty focused on preventing, treating, managing or even reversing many of the most common chronic diseases in today's world.

The World Health Organization estimates that up to 80% of non-communicable conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and stroke are preventable when we make better choices in these key areas:

  • Increasing consumption of whole, plant-based foods
  • Increasing aerobic activity
  • Getting enough sleep
  • Decreasing use of tobacco, alcohol, and other unhealthy substances
  • Maintaining healthy relationships
  • Managing stress

The Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine

  • Nutrition

    Food is medicine. Learn how to incorporate more whole foods, fruits, and vegetables into your diet.

  • Physical Activity

    Learn how to make physical activity part of your day-to-day life to improve overall health and well-being.

  • Stress Management

    Stress is inevitable. Learn skills to manage it in healthy and positive ways.

  • Improved Sleep

    Sleep is essential for optimal health. Learn the ins and outs of sleep to get the rest you need.

  • Positive Relationships

    Social connections—friends and family—are key to your wellbeing and directly influence your health.

  • Avoiding Toxic Substances

    Learn strategies to help minimize the impact toxic substances have on your health.

St. Luke's offers both an intensive lifestyle medicine patient program, as well as a-la-carte classes for community members interested in pursuing positive lifestyle changes.
Learn more

Providers

  • John G. Brandecker, MD

    Lifestyle Medicine

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

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  • Vanessa R. Holstine, NP

    Lifestyle Medicine
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • Kimberly A. Kleaveland, NP

    Lifestyle Medicine

  • Molly K. Lynn, NP

    Lifestyle Medicine

    Biography

    Molly Lynn, FNP is certified by the American Nurse Credentialing Center. She earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from Boise State University and her master's degree in nursing from Cincinnati University.

  • Michael J. McRae, DO

    Family Medicine

    Biography

    Michael McRae, DO, DipABLM works to promote longevity while helping maintain an excellent quality of life. For this reason, he has a special interest in cardiometabolic health. 

    Dr. McRae focuses on preventing and treating diabetes, fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. He prefers lifestyle changes to address and even reverse these conditions whenever possible. He recognizes these changes can be difficult and tries to avoid causing feelings of guilt and shame when developing plans that fit with an individual's desires. 

    Dr. McRae is board certified in diabetology and sees patients specifically for type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. During his diabetology fellowship training, he utilized the latest technologies such as insulin pumps, CGMs, and smart insulin pens which he tailors to patients' individual needs. Although diabetes can be expensive, he looks for ways to save patients money while still providing the best care available. 

    In his free time, Dr. McRae enjoys life with his wife and children by traveling, discovering new parks, making delicious food, and exploring the outdoors. He also enjoys training for and competing in triathlons.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     
  • Joselyn N. Read, RD

    Joselyn N. Read, RD

    Nutrition Services for Adults

    Biography

    Josie Read, RD specializes in outpatient medical nutrition therapy for lifestyle medicine. She also teaches a number of community nutrition education courses, including healthy cooking classes, and is a facilitator of CHIP (Complete Health Improvement Program). She has a special interest in plant-based eating to prevent chronic diseases and optimize overall health.

    Josie earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho. In addition to her passions for nutrition and cooking, Josie enjoys spending time outside mountain biking and running.


    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     

  • Jennifer T. Shalz, MD

    Lifestyle Medicine

    Biography

    Jennifer Shalz, MD is an internal medicine physician and the medical director of St. Luke’s Health System’s Lifestyle Medicine Department. A board-certified lifestyle medicine specialist and fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Shalz earned her medical degree from the Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base.

    As a former major in the U.S. Air Force, she later contributed to the VA health system as an educator and primary care physician, serving in Chicago, Portland, and Boise. In 2008, she diversified her expertise by joining a radiation oncology practice to provide supportive care, eventually becoming certified in hospice and palliative medicine while also serving as a hospice medical director.

    Since joining St. Luke’s, she has been instrumental in developing heart rehabilitation and lifestyle programs, leading to the establishment of the Lifestyle Medicine Department, which includes the St. Luke’s Lifestyle Medicine program at the South Meridian YMCA. A pioneer in lifestyle medicine in Idaho, Dr. Shalz creates and directs programs that leverage lifestyle interventions to prevent, treat, and even reverse chronic diseases.

    Outside of her professional pursuits, she enjoys exercising, outdoor activities of all kinds, cooking, reading, and embarking on travel adventures with her husband and daughters.

  • Nancy N. Taylor, NP

    Lifestyle Medicine

    Biography

    Nancy Taylor, NP-C, CCNS focuses on using lifestyle interventions to help prevent, treat, and reverse chronic disease. Her areas of practice include cardiac, peripheral vascular disease, and pulmonary rehabilitation. 

    Nancy is a diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from York College of Pennsylvania, and her master's degree in nursing and post-master’s certificate in nursing as a family nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist from Gonzaga University.

Related Programs and Classes

Classes & Events

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  • Eat Well to Live Well with Chronic Kidney Disease: Online Teams

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    Next Date & Time
    Wednesday, May 14, 2025 6 p.m.-7 p.m.
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    Free, Registration Required

    A healthy diet is key to keeping your kidneys working for as long as possible and feeling your best.

  • Insomnia Education: Online

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    Next Date & Time
    Wednesday, May 07, 2025 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
    price tag icon
    Free, Registration Required

    The insomnia education class is designed to review how insomnia develops, persists over time, and is treated.

  • Pivio - Information Session

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    Next Date & Time
    Tuesday, Aug 05, 2025 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
    price tag icon
    Free, Registration Required

    Pivio, the complete health improvement program, addresses the root cause of chronic disease: lifestyle choices.

  • Prevent and Reverse Diabetes: Online Course

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    Next Date & Time
    Monday, May 05, 2025 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
    price tag icon
    Free, Registration Required

    In this class you will learn about the underlying cause of diabetes and the lifestyle factors that contribute to insulin resistance.

Articles & Resources

  • showing 4 of 4

  • Blog Post

    In first year, St. Luke's newest Lifestyle Medicine clinic is getting results in Nampa

    Read More

  • Blog Post

    St. Luke's patient, daughter reach Idaho's greatest heights after major heart operation

    Read More

  • Blog Post

    St. Luke's, community help Riggins woman change her diet — and her life

    Read More

  • Blog Post

    One year in, Lifestyle Medicine has plenty of success stories to share

    Read More

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