The (COPH) is contributing to the growing field of lifestyle medicine, which focuses on addressing chronic health conditions through evidence-based practices. The college鈥檚 initiatives include research, training and community partnerships aimed at improving public health and wellness.
Lifestyle Medicine 2024 Best Poster Award
Drs. and were recently awarded best poster at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Conference in October. Their project explored data from the former on-campus health and wellness coaching program, which was initiated by DeBate, professor and director of the (CALM), as a partnership between the COPH and the Office of Student Success.
The program employed health and wellness coaches hired by Student Success, as well as interns from the COPH health and wellness coaching certificate program, comprising both undergraduate and graduate students. The study examined if the process and efficacy of coaching services differed based on whether the student worked with a staff member coach or a peer coach (i.e., an intern from COPH).
Findings revealed slight differences in utilization, with students working with staff coaches attending more sessions. However, there were no differences in the strength of the coach/client relationship or in the proportion of students reporting increased confidence, motivation or readiness for behavior change after sessions. Additionally, topics discussed differed slightly between peer and staff coaches. While students working with staff coaches showed slightly higher engagement, the overall experience remained consistent across the program.
鈥淥verall, this project highlights the benefit of peer coaching services as a means for expanding reach or further improving access to coaching for university students,鈥� said Bleck, who is an associate professor and co-director of the Center for Applied Lifestyle Medicine.
Launch of the Center for Applied Lifestyle Medicine
Officially launched this fall, the Center for Applied Lifestyle Medicine is designed to address chronic health conditions through lifestyle medicine and aims to promote community health through three core pillars: training, research and practice.
Its training programs include a minor in lifestyle medicine, a graduate certificate in applied lifestyle medicine coaching and workforce development opportunities, all approved by the National Board of Health & Wellness Coaching. These programs prepare students and professionals to apply lifestyle medicine and qualify for the national board exam upon completion.
The center's research aims to advance understanding of lifestyle behavior changes and their impact on chronic health conditions. Current projects include evaluating a "Food as Medicine" program in collaboration with Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and assessing a coaching initiative for veterans with Mentor Agility. These efforts aim to uncover innovative solutions for improving health outcomes.
In practice, CALM works with health care, industry and community partners to implement evidence-based lifestyle medicine interventions. Initiatives include developing programs at the TGH Healthpark Clinic, delivering coaching at the USF Pamela Muma Women鈥檚 Center and collaborating with the Hilton Head Health Institute to expand lifestyle medicine services.
The creation of CALM was inspired by the growing prevalence of chronic health conditions and the increasing recognition of lifestyle medicine as an effective intervention. Through evidence-based strategies such as improved nutrition, physical activity, stress management and sleep hygiene, CALM seeks to enhance the health and well-being of communities.
鈥淟ifestyle medicine is a key public health intervention,鈥� DeBate said. 鈥淏y addressing behaviors, we can significantly improve individual and community health outcomes.鈥�
DeBate said that CALM is looking ahead to expanding its coaching training programs, securing funding for multidisciplinary initiatives and implementing lifestyle medicine interventions throughout Tampa and beyond.
Individuals and organizations interested in learning more or getting involved with CALM are encouraged to visit the center鈥檚 website or contact Drs. Rita DeBate at rdebate@usf.edu or Jennifer Bleck at jbleck@usf.edu.