Healthy People, Healthy Planet

An interprofessional collaboration of faculty members and learners committed to advancing the principles of the Okanagan Charter, Lifestyle Medicine, and Planetary Health.

This virtual series will take place over the 2026-27 academic year, and is designed for faculty, staff, and learners in the Queen’s community. This inspiring series explores how our daily choices impact both personal wellbeing and the health of our planet, highlighting the powerful connection between lifestyle medicine and planetary health.

Everyone is invited to register for one or all of these free virtual presentations featuring internationally renowned experts who will share insights on how we can all thrive—together. This series is accredited by Queen's University for CFPC MainPro and Royal College MOC credits and provides an e-certificate of completion for all attendees.

November 3, 2026 | 12:00 to 1:00pm ET

Food is Medicine: Past, Present, and Future

Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian

Dariush Mozaffarian is a cardiologist, Director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, and author of the book, Food is Medicine (Holt/Macmillan). He serves as Distinguished Professor, Dean Emeritus, and Jean Mayer Professor; and is clinically active in cardiology at Tufts Medical Center. His work aims to create the evidence and translation for a food system that is nutritious, equitable, and sustainable. Dr. Mozaffarian is a global authority in Food is Medicine, has authored nearly 700 scientific publications, and has served in numerous advisory roles. His work has been featured in leading media outlets, and Thomson Reuters has named him as one of the World's Most Influential Scientific Minds. Dr. Mozaffarian received his B.S. in biological sciences from Stanford, M.D. from Columbia, Doctorate in Public Health from Harvard, and clinical training in internal medicine at Stanford and in cardiology at the University of Washington. He is married, has three children, and actively trains as a Fourth Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo.

At the end of this talk, participants will:

Explore the rise of the modern food system, including industrial agriculture and ultra-processed foods, and how this has been shaped by science, government, and industry innovation.
Be able to identify science-based nutritional priorities for a healthy diet.
Be able to identify and describe the role of Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions in healthcare, including strategies and barriers to implementation.

January 12, 2027 | 12:00 to 1:00pm ET

Brief, Vigorous Physical Activity for Health and Fitness: Physiological basis and practical application

Dr. Martin Gabala

Dr. Gibala is a professor and the Faculty of Science Research Chair in Integrative Exercise Physiology at McMaster University in Hamilton Canada. He is interested in the physiology of exercise including applications to enhance health and performance. Dr. Gibala is widely known for his research on high-intensity interval training. He is the author of a bestselling book on the topic of time-efficient exercise, The One-Minute Workout: Science Shows a Way to Get Fit That’s Smarter, Faster, Shorter.

At the end of this talk, participants will be able to:

Define brief, vigorous physical activity.
Distinguish the related concepts of exercise snacks and vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA).
Evaluate evidence regarding the physiological effects of exercise snacks and VILPA in both healthy and diseased states.

February 24, 2027 | 12:00 to 1:00pm ET

Behavior Change in Healthcare

Dr. Beth Frates

Dr. Frates is a physiatrist, health and wellness coach, and expert in Lifestyle Medicine and medical education. She trained at Harvard College (pre-med), Stanford University School of Medicine, MGH (transitional year), and completed her PM&R residency at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital/Harvard PM&R, where she was Chief Resident and President of the National Resident Physician’s Council. She is an Associate Professor (Part-Time) at Harvard Medical School and founder/co-director of the nonprofit PAVING the Path to Wellness.

A pioneer in lifestyle medicine since 2006, Dr. Frates created Harvard Medical School’s first Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group (2008) and taught lifestyle medicine courses at Harvard Extension School (2014), earning multiple teaching awards including the Petra Shattuck Excellence in Teaching Award. She was an item writer for the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine’s inaugural exam (2017), served as President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (Nov 2022–Nov 2024), and now serves as Immediate Past President.

Dr. Frates co-authored The Lifestyle Medicine Handbook and Teen Lifestyle Medicine Handbook, co-authored the Lifestyle Medicine Pocket Guide, co-edited Empowering Behavior Change in Patients and Essentials of Clinical Nutrition in Healthcare (2024), and developed the PAVING 12-step program and accompanying workbook. She maintains a private lifestyle medicine consulting and coaching practice offering individual and group care.

At the end of this talk, participants will:

1) Describe the major theories used for behavior change in healthcare

2) Review key points in Motivational Interviewing and Appreciative Inquiry

3) Introduce lifestyle medicine tools to help with behavior change

March 30, 2027 | 12:00 to 1:00pm ET

Transforming Undergraduate Medical Education Through Lifestyle Medicine: Curriculum Development, Implementation, and Impact

Dr. Jennifer Trilk

Dr. Jennifer Trilk, PhD, FACSM, DipACLM is a professor and founding faculty at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville (SOMG). She is Founder of Lifestyle Medicine Education (LMEd) at SOMG, and director of Lifestyle Medicine Programs and Exercise is Medicine Greenville. In partnership with the American College of Lifestyle medicine, LMEd was open-accessed to provide Lifestyle Medicine curricula and resources for other medical schools. LMEd has been accessed by over 3000 registrants in 99 countries across the globe. For her work, Dr. Trilk was awarded the U.S. President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Community Leadership Award in 2014 and again in 2019.

Dr. Trilk founded and directs Exercise is Medicine Greenville®, a comprehensive 12-week medically-based exercise and lifestyle program for adults with chronic health conditions, for which she received the 2019 Global Leadership Award from the American College of Sports Medicine. In 2025, Dr. Trilk received a 5-year, $3.4 million National Institutes of Health R01 Award, totaling over $7 million in grant awards for Lifestyle Medicine and Exercise is Medicine Greenville research at SOMG. Both LMEd and EIMG were recognized as population health strategy commitments at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health on September 28, 2022. Dr. Trilk has received national recognition by Medical Economics, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Chicago Tribune, the Association of American Medical Colleges (2017; 2018), and others.

Dr. Trilk was invited by the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army to be a content expert panelist at the 2024 Association of United States Army Conference on the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program and subsequently as a content expert at the Army’s Senior Executive Roundtable for H2F in 2026. In 2024, she was invited to speak on Nutrition in Medical Education by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the DHHS Food is Medicine Summit, and in 2026 by the Association for American Medical Colleges Nutrition in Medical Education Convening for sharing best practices. Dr. Trilk’s career has been focused on Lifestyle Medicine initiatives for over 12 years, first presenting Lifestyle Medicine and Exercise is Medicine at a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill and the National Press Club and as an invited speaker for the Bipartisan Policy Center in 2013: “Teaching Nutrition and Physical Activity in Medical School: Training Doctors for Prevention-Oriented Care.”

At the end of this talk, participants will:

Describe evidence-based principles and instructional design strategies for developing and integrating a comprehensive Lifestyle Medicine curriculum into undergraduate medical education.
Identify practical strategies for implementing and sustaining Lifestyle Medicine education through longitudinal curricular integration, experiential learning, and classroom-clinic-community partnerships.
Evaluate the educational and clinical impact of Lifestyle Medicine curricula using measurable outcomes related to learner competencies, clinical practice, and chronic disease prevention.

At the end of this talk, participants will:

Discuss the cultural myths that create unrealistic expectations about what promotes human thriving.
Identify the unique advantages of longitudinal research for studying adult lifespan development.
Assess the primary mechanisms thought to underlie the connection between interpersonal functioning and mental and physical health

Recording of Past Session - Monday, January 12, 2026

What Actually Keeps Us Happy and Healthy?:
Lessons from an 87-Year Study of Human Life

Dr. Robert Waldinger, MD

Robert Waldinger is Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and directs the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest studies of adult life ever done. The Study has tracked 724 families for over 85 years to understand how childhood experience reaches across decades to affect health and wellbeing in adulthood.  His TED talk about the Harvard Study has over 50 million views. With his colleague Marc Schulz, he recently published the book, The Good Life, which examines the central role of relationships in shaping our lives. He directs a teaching program in psychodynamic psychotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital, and he writes about what science can teach us about healthy human development. He is also a Zen master (Roshi) and teaches meditation in the US and internationally.

February 3, 2026 | 12:00 to 1:00pm ET

Cardiovascular Risk and Evidence-Based Nutrition

Dr. Kim Williams

Dr. Williams is Chairman of Medicine at the University of Louisville. He specializes in general cardiology, preventive cardiology and cardiovascular radiology. He is a past president of the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, and former Chairman of the Board of the Association of Black Cardiologists. As chief of cardiology, he founded the Urban Cardiology Initiative at Wayne State University. He also started the H.E.A.R.T. program (Helping Everyone Assess Risk Today) at Rush University, screening for heart disease and intervening with education, nutrition and lifestyle improvement; and with his move to the University of Louisville, he established a similar HEART program (Helping Everyone Address Risk Today).

At the end of this talk, participants will:

Describe the impact of poor dietary patterns on cardiovascular disease burden in the United States and Western culture, including disparities in prevalence, cost, and mortality.
Review the evidence supporting improving nutrition in the prevention and management of cardiometabolic risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and ASCVD events.
Identify key individual, cultural, systemic, and industry-driven barriers to widespread adoption of optimal nutrition practices, including misinformation, access, taste preferences, and marketing influences.
Evaluate recent policy shifts and targeted interventions—such as draft 2025 Dietary Guidelines and community-based nutrition trials—that aim to reduce cardiovascular disparities and promote plant-forward dietary approaches.

February 24, 2026 | 12:00 to 1:00pm ET

The Profound Influence of Lifestyle on Brain Health
Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai

Dr. Dean Sherzai, MD, PhD, MPH, MAS

Dr. Dean Sherzai is a behavioral neurologist / neuroscientist whose entire life has been dedicated to behavioral change models at the community and population level. Dr. Sherzai finished his medical and neurology residencies at Georgetown University, with a subsequent fellowship in neurodegenerative diseases at the National Institutes of Health, followed by a second fellowship in Dementia and Geriatrics at the University of California, San Diego. He also holds two master’s degrees in Advanced Sciences at UCSD and in Epidemiology from Loma Linda University. He has received a PhD in Healthcare leadership focused on community empowerment from Loma Linda/Andrews University. Finally, he completed the executive leadership program at Harvard Business School. His vision has always been to revolutionize healthcare by empowering communities to take control of their own health.

Dr Ayesha Z. Sherzai MD, MAS

Dr. Ayesha Z. Sherzai is a vascular neurologist and a research scientist. After completing her residency, she completed a fellowship in vascular neurology and Epidemiology at Columbia University Neurological Institute of New York. Dr. Sherzai is at the tail end of a master’s degree in public health in lifestyle epidemiology from Loma Linda University. Knowing the importance of empowering her patients, and their communities, she completed an extensive culinary training program in New York and now teaches large populations how to make tasty, easy, and healthy meals for their brain health.

They are the authors of two best-selling books, The Alzheimer's Solution (2017, HarperCollins) and The 30 day Alzheimer's Solution (2021, HarperCollins). They are currently leading the largest community-based brain health initiative in the country

Objectives:

By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:

Describe how lifestyle factors influence brain structure, function, and resilience across the lifespan, with implications for cognition, emotional health, and neurodegenerative risk.
Identify the lifestyle behaviours with the strongest evidence for supporting brain health, and understand the key biological pathways through which they exert their effects.
Translate scientific evidence into practical, sustainable actions that support brain health at the individual and population level.

April 20, 2026 | 12:00 to 1:00pm ET

A Healthy Response to Climate Change

Dr. Courtney Howard, MD, MPP, CCFP-EM

Dr Courtney Howard is an Emergency Physician in Yellowknives Dene Territory in the Canadian subarctic and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Calgary. The Chair of the Global Climate and Health Alliance and first woman president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, she is on the Editorial Advisory Boards of the Lancet Planetary Health and the Journal of Climate Change and Health. During her Master of Public Policy studies at Oxford University she focused on using a planetary health lens to explore transitions to an economy centred around wellbeing. She has two young daughters and loves to dance.

At the end of this talk, participants will:

Describe the planetary health frame and how it relates to health and health systems.(scholar, professional)
Anticipate and manage the major threats posed by climate change to health and health systems. (leader, professional)
Describe priority action items to protect planetary health now and into the future. (leader, scholar, advocate, professional, communicator)

February 24, 2026 | 12:00 to 1:00 pm ET | Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai

Details coming soon - Register now to save your spot.

April 20, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET | Dr. Courtney Howard

A Healthy Response to Climate Change
Dr. Courtney Howard, MD, MPP, CCFP-EM

Learning Objectives

Describe the planetary health frame and how it relates to health and health systems.(scholar, professional)
Anticipate and manage the major threats posed by climate change to health and health systems. (leader, professional)
Describe priority action items to protect planetary health now and into the future. (leader, scholar, advocate, professional, communicator)

About Us

The Healthy People, Healthy Planet Working Group within the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University is a recently established interprofessional collaboration of faculty members and learners committed to advancing the principles of the Okanagan Charter, Lifestyle Medicine, and Planetary Health.

Recognizing the interconnectedness of individual, community, and planetary well-being, the Working Group brings together diverse perspectives to promote health across all dimensions of life. Through education, research, and collaborative initiatives, we aim to advance knowledge, foster sustainable practices, and support lifestyle interventions that enhance overall health and quality of life. Our shared goal is to promote optimal well-being for people and the planet alike.

Foundations and Focus Areas

The Okanagan Charter

In 2019, Queen’s University adopted the Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting Universities, joining a global movement to embed health and well-being into all aspects of post-secondary education. In 2022, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) also endorsed the Charter, further reinforcing its vision to transform the health and sustainability of our campuses, communities, and societies.

The Charter outlines two key calls to action for higher education institutions:

Embed health into all aspects of campus culture—including administration, operations, and academic life.
Lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally.

These principles guide our efforts to create environments that promote health, sustainability, and well-being at Queen’s and beyond.

Reference: Okanagan Charter – An International Charter for Health Promoting Universities (2015)

Lifestyle Medicine

Lifestyle Medicine is an evidence-based medical specialty that uses therapeutic lifestyle interventions as a primary approach to both prevention and treatment. It is grounded in six foundational pillars:

By integrating these elements into healthcare and daily living, Lifestyle Medicine provides a sustainable framework for reducing the burden of chronic disease, improving quality of life, and fostering long-term well-being.

Reference: American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Planetary Health

Planetary Health examines the relationship between human health and the health of the Earth’s natural systems. It addresses the growing human health impacts of environmental changes—such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—while advancing solutions that enable both humanity and the planet to thrive.

By emphasizing the interconnectedness of human and ecological systems, Planetary Health reframes health promotion as a shared responsibility that extends beyond individuals to include the environments in which we live, work, and learn. The Healthy People, Healthy Planet Working Group embraces this integrated perspective as essential to creating a sustainable and healthy future.

Our Mission

The mission of the Healthy People, Healthy Planet Working Group is to foster a culture of health promotion and sustainability within the Faculty of Health Sciences and the broader Queen’s University community. We strive to integrate the principles of the Okanagan Charter, Lifestyle Medicine, and Planetary Health into education, research, and practice.

Through collaboration, innovation, and leadership, we seek to:

Promote evidence-informed lifestyle and planetary health initiatives,
Inspire transformative learning experiences for students and faculty, and

Contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future for individuals, communities, and the planet.

Parnika
Sakthivel

Academic Enrichment Program Series & Interprofessional Interest Group Lunch & Learn

The program will feature evidence-based, self-directed modules (adapted for the Canadian context) on the pillars of lifestyle medicine, followed by a series of interdisciplinary in-person sessions and will culminate with a real-world application project. The program will equip students to integrate lifestyle medicine principles, such as nutrition, physical activity, and sleep, into clinical practice. Open to all QHS students, faculty, and staff.

Attending the sessions will count toward the Academic Enrichment Program’s formal training requirement for medical students.

For a detailed explanation of the AEP requirements, please click here.

Program objectives

Discuss how the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine relate to improved health outcomes for patients
Discuss the lifestyle pillars that are included as first-line or adjunctive interventions in chronic disease management guidelines (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer).
Explain the connection between lifestyle medicine and planetary health
Identify how planetary health issues affect human health and identify tangible strategies to reduce the health system’s carbon footprint and to help patients mitigate the harms of climate change on their health.
Identify lifestyle medicine strategies for personal and colleague wellness in a healthcare career.

Past Sessions

The Benefits of Plant-Forward Nutrition for Health & The Planet
- Dec 2, 2025 | 12:30-1:30 pm ET

Prescription for Vitality: Exercise as Medicine
- Jan 13, 2026 | 12:30-1:30 pm ET

The Power of Love: Cultivating Social Connection - Dr. Leslie Flynn
- Feb 6, 2026 | 12:30-1:30 pm ET
- Description: A healthy lifestyle is a social lifestyle. This session will outline the vital link between social connection and health outcomes. We will consider the barriers to being socially connected and the adverse health effects of social isolation. We will also explore strategies to develop social connection.
Sleep as a Restorative Force: Why We Sleep -- Dr. Sussan Askari
- March 25, 2026 | 12:30-1:30 pm ET
- Dr. Sussan Askari is an Assistant Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Queen’s University, Medical Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Service at Providence Care Hospital, and Chair of Healthy People, Healthy Planet.
Living with Intention: Curating a Non-Toxic Lifestyle
- May 5 at 12:30-1:30pm
- Session Description: Join Dr. Henry Swoboda—lifestyle medicine, addiction medicine, and toxicology specialist—for a fresh look at the hidden exposures shaping our health. This isn’t your standard talk on focusing just on smoking, alcohol, and drugs. We’ll dig into the everyday: microplastics, pesticides, phthalates, bisphenols, and ultra-processed foods—what they are, where they show up, and what actually matters. Clear, practical, and grounded in evidence, this session will help you cut through the noise and make more intentional choices for your health and the planet.

Upcoming Conferences/Symposia

Annual 7th Canadian Plant Based Nutrition Conference (Live in Toronto and virtual, May 30th, 2026), ABLM/IBLM 5.5CME - Learn More

Harvard Annual LM conference (virtual), June 11-12, 2026 - Learn More

International Conference Nutrition in Medicine, Washington DC, Aug 13-15, 2026. Now offers a virtual option! - Learn More

Lifestyle Medicine Conference, Orlando, November 8-11, 2026 hybrid - Learn More

The Kingston Climate Summit - Learn More

Dec. 2, 2025: The Benefits of Plant-Forward Nutrition for Health & The Planet

Watch the Recording

Presenters:

Maria E. Theodorou, MD PhD FRCPC, ABLM, ABOM (IM, Lifestyle Medicine, Obesity Medicine)
Henry Swoboda, MD DABEM DABPM, ABLM (Emergency Medicine)
Avery Zenker, RD

Objectives:

Discuss mechanisms for nutrition in the prevention and reversal of chronic disease.
Describe planetary implications of various dietary patterns.
Describe ‘healthy plate’ & strategies to address cultural & personal preferences, and accessibility

Kingston

Walk with a Doc offers free walking programs in communities around the world led by local doctors, healthcare providers, and medical students. These ongoing events allow participants to safely walk (or roll), learn about current health topics, and meet new people. Please join us on the 3rd Saturday of every month for Walk With A Doc Kingston! We meet at 9:30 AM at Doug Fluher Park (or at our indoor/blizzard location noted on the website and facebook), have a brief health related talk, and then walk 2km (round trip) along the Cataraqui River, with places to sit and rest if needed.

https://walkwithadoc.org/join-a-walk/locations/kingston-ontario/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1446327389719313/

Resources

American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) - members can join Canadian Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group
Canadian Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)
Plant Based Canada
Canada’s Food Guide
Eat Lancet
Plantrician Project
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Okanagan Charter
Lifestyle Medicine Education (Modules on all 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine)
Plant Based Data
Culinary Medicine
350 Kingston
Queen’s PGME Planetary Health Subcommittee
Kingston Climate Justice Coalition
UK Plant Based Health Professionals
Parks Prescription

Contact Us

For questions or to learn how to lend your voice to our various initiatives, please contact us at: healthypeoplehealthyplanet@queensu.ca