ALERT

Schedule your COVID-19 vaccination now! We are unable to accommodate walk-ins. Please do not call St. Luke's clinics directly about COVID vaccine scheduling. Unless you need to call for an emergency, please use myChart for questions and appointments. To ensure we're able to provide safe care in a safe environment for all patients, masks are required in all St. Luke's facilities, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. Learn more.
toggle mobile menu Menu
toggle search menu

Site Navigation

Supplemental

Menu

Specialties

Lifestyle Medicine

St. Luke's recognizes that good health can be 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

At St. Luke's, we'll work with you to achieve optimal health through lifestyle changes that are right for you. We not only provide information and tools you need, we also help you build a system of support and resources to achieve and maintain your best health.


Related Specialties

Featured Programs

Providers

  • Charmin R. Aschenbrener, RD

    Nutritional Counseling for Adults

    Biography

    Charmin Aschenbrener, RD earned her bachelor's degree from Oregon State University and completed her dietetic internship at Idaho State University. She is a facilitator for both the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP), a lifestyle improvement course; and Cooking Matters, classes on healthy eating and cooking.

  • Kyle J. Davis, PHD

    Behavioral Health

    Biography

    Kyle Davis, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in clinical health psychology and behavioral sleep medicine, including cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. He has specialized training in mood and sleep disorders, chronic pain, weight management, and in primary care mental health integration. 

    Kyle earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Oklahoma State University and his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients

  • Rebecca Gettelman, 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

      See Less See More
  • Amanda S. Helsley, LCSW

    Amanda S. Helsley, LCSW

    Behavioral Health

    Biography

    Amanda (Mandy) Helsley, LCSW offers supportive counseling to assist with psychological needs related to financial needs and creating a stable environment. In addition, she can assist patients in building coping skills to help lower stress and improve day-to-day life.

    Mandy earned her bachelor's degree in social work from Boise State University with a certification in dispute resolution. She earned a master's degree in social work from Northwest Nazarene University, specializing in clinical practice and administration.

  • Joselyn N. Read, RD

    Nutritional Counseling for Adults

    Biography

    Joselyn Read, RD teaches a number of community nutrition education courses, including healthy cooking classes, and is a facilitator of the CHIP (Complete Health Improvement Program). She has a special interest in plant-based eating to reduce risk of chronic disease 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.


  • Jennifer T. Shalz, MD

    Lifestyle Medicine

    Biography

    Jennifer Shalz, MD serves as the medical director of St. Luke’s lifestyle medicine department. She develops and directs programs that use lifestyle interventions to help prevent, treat, and reverse chronic disease.

    Dr. Shalz is passionate about helping people not only live more years, but put more life in their years. Current programs under her management include cardiac, peripheral vascular disease, and pulmonary rehabilitation (referral required); nicotine dependence treatment; care transitions; the St. Luke’s Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP); and the St. Luke’s Center for Lifestyle Medicine at the South Meridian YMCA. 

    Dr. Shalz is a diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base. She practiced at three different VA medical centers after separating as a major from the US Air Force. She was most recently a hospice medical director and worked in supportive oncology at a cancer center prior to joining St. Luke’s.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients

  • 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.

Take a Lifestyle Medicine Class and Improve Your Health

  • Lifestyle is Medicine: Online Teams

    calendar icon
    Next Date & Time
    Wednesday, Jun 09, 2021 5 p.m.-6 p.m.
    price tag icon
    $10.00, Registration Required

    We will discuss the role of lifestyle as medicine in preventing, treating, and possibly even reversing common chronic diseases.

  • Behavior Change Series: Online

    Health Management Classes
    price tag icon
    $40.00, Registration Required

    This class is designed to help participants discover their motivation for change.

  • Change Your Mindset: Online Teams

    Health Management Classes
    price tag icon
    $40.00, Registration Required

    This class is designed to help participants develop a growth mindset in relationship to living a healthy lifestyle.

  • Eat More, Weigh Less: Online Teams

    price tag icon
    $10.00, Registration Required

    Learn about the difference in calorie density and volume of food and how this can benefit overall health and baseline weight.

Articles & Resources

  • showing 4 of 4

  • 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

  • Blog Post

    St. Luke’s Launches Lifestyle Medicine Program with Health Improvement Classes

    Read More

  • Blog Post

    St. Luke’s and Lifestyle Medicine: ‘… real education and activation’

    Read More
Take Care, Someone Needs You.

You take care of others, so take care of yourself. Let us be your partner in health, whether you're recovering from an injury, checking in for your annual exam, or enjoying an online class.

Because when you take care of yourself, everyone around you benefits.

Quick Links
Connect with Us
Contact Us In Meridian (208) 706-5000