University of Western States launches Northwest Center for Lifestyle and Functional Medicine

New center focuses on promoting healthy behaviors and positive lifestyle changes

March 9, 2015 ­— University of Western States(UWS), an independent health sciences university founded in 1904, has launched a new center of excellence to promote healthy behaviors and positive lifestyle changes.

The aim of the Northwest Center for Lifestyle and Functional Medicine is to educate health professionals, support community outreach, and conduct research in the areas of lifestyle medicine, health promotion, functional medicine, diet, and nutrition. The center will target efforts on the UWS campus community, the Portland-metro area, and the Pacific Northwest region.

National data trends indicate there is a growing need for solutions to address the escalating emergence of lifestyle-related diseases:

• Obesity has increased 153 percent since 1990,
• 23.5 percent of U.S. adults are physically inactive, and
• 9.6 percent of Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes.*

“In our work, we see the growing link between chronic diseases and detrimental lifestyle choices, such as lack of exercise, alcohol and tobacco abuse, and an unhealthy diet,” Joseph Brimhall, DC, UWS president, said. “At UWS there is the philosophy that with an integrated and conservative approach, we can help people enjoy a higher quality of life. A significant part of this center will focus on serving our neighbors and our community.”

The center will host a number of activities that will support the Portland community including:

• Healthy Lifestyle Lecture Series. The Healthy Lifestyle Lecture Series will provide free public lectures on ?healthy lifestyle practices, diet and nutrition, functional medicine, and integrative healthcare. Lectures will be held on campus and in the community.
• Mindfulness Program. UWS offers mindfulness programs for students and employees. Mind-body medicine elective classes explore a variety of meditative practices, including mindful eating and guided meditation. Weekly meditation sessions on campus are open to all. A course in mind-body practices will be available for members of the community to learn mindful/meditation practices and to improve their overall health.

The center will focus on an integrated approach to medicine incorporating methods and practices from chiropractic physicians, massage therapists, diet and nutrition professionals, functional medicine specialists, mindfulness experts, and exercise and fitness professionals.

“The Northwest Center for Lifestyle and Functional Medicine allows University of Western States to share its passion for preventive and lifestyle medicine with our community. It will also introduce a method of care that seeks to improve function and health across the lifespan while enabling individuals to learn how to take better care of their own personal health,” Will Evans, PhD, provost and executive vice president of UWS, said.

*2014, America’s Health Rankings: A call to action for individuals and their communities. United Health Foundation.

Source: University of Western States