Catching Up with the British Cousins: Reflections from the BSLM26 Conference
When an opportunity to attend the BSLM26 conference at the University of Warwick popped up, I grabbed it with both hands. The sprawling campus surrounded by glorious woodland was the perfect backdrop for three days of immersion into Lifestyle Medicine goodness, connection and time in nature.
The advent of online conferencing for those unable to travel long distances is a blessing but cannot make up for the face-to-face conversations where real relationships are forged.
Sharing an update from ASLM
With an invitation to present a 7-minute update on ASLM activities, it was a very short time to share a lot of information. I hope I gave a balanced and comprehensible representation, despite being somewhat jetlagged from two nights of sleep deprivation thanks to the Heathrow “outage” that had added an extra 17 hours to my journey!
I’m delighted to report that the cousins are in rude health.
BSLM is gaining traction in leaps and bounds, integrating Lifestyle Medicine principles into medical schools, schools and workplaces. And it wasn’t just the British cousins in residence. It was great to meet other LM cousins from other countries, including Poland and Canada.
With over 850 registrants and two concurrent streams over three days, there was something for everyone at the conference.
Bringing Lifestyle Medicine into education
I was somewhat envious to hear that the UK’s largest medical school in Manchester has successfully woven lifestyle principles into the very fabric of the medical curriculum, starting in year 1, rather than delegating it to being a separate course.
How have they achieved that? I’m following up to learn more!
They don’t call it Lifestyle Medicine, by the way, it’s “healthy living”.
Living well in your community
The conference theme was “Living well in your community”, with multiple sessions showcasing how Lifestyle Medicine is being taken beyond the consulting room to address some of the social determinants of health.
Some of the standout presentations included hearing the legendary Sir Sam Everington, now in his seventies, sharing some of the stories of his community work from 40 years in Tower Hamlets, a socially deprived area in East London.
We heard from an orthopaedic surgeon and a pain specialist who help their patients avoid joint replacement surgery and obtain some relief from their chronic pain, using simple neuromuscular exercises appropriate to their condition.
A teacher spoke about how his school was teaching pupils from year 3 about diet.
There were, in addition, numerous references and examples of how Lifestyle Medicine is being practised outside the consulting room, with green and social prescribing practices being shared.
The air was thick with optimism and quiet reflection that good change is happening within the UK NHS system, despite the well-known issues of how the large, cumbersome and inflexible system places big constraints on good patient care.
A changing of the guard at BSLM
There has been a significant changing of the guard in BSLM leadership. While Drs Rob Lawson (Founder) and Frances Elliott (Chair) continue to provide significant input and direction, Dr Alex Maxwell has stepped down as President after four years.
The incoming President, Dr Clare Nieland, supported by Dr Camille Hirons as VP, are two passionate Lifestyle Medicine dynamos with a clear vision of how their leadership will continue to guide BSLM towards becoming an integral part of the British healthcare system.
Within BSLM, it was interesting to learn how they have developed their own special interest groups, often led by specialists, and how accredited members are known as Trailblazers, a nice way to acknowledge they are part of a very special movement.
Connection beyond the conference sessions
Sampling the extra-curricular activities was a must, from the expected yoga, Park Runs and swims to the less expected, but highly enjoyable, dance sessions, Nordic walking and rock climbing for those who felt so inclined.
At the awards event, many new Fellowships were awarded, as well as two very special awards for our very own John Stevens and Catherine Itsiopoulos. Bravo!
The overall vibe was one of inclusion and celebration.
All in all, it was a highly successful event.
Almost as good as ours. 😊
And in case you were thinking you might like to catch up with the British cousins yourself next time, BSLM27 will be held in Llandudno, Wales, in late September.
Hear Dr Jenny Brockis at LM26 in Hobart
Join Dr Jenny Brockis at LM26: The Nature of Health this November. On Saturday, Jenny will present Nature Is Not Optional: This Is Life Support, exploring our growing disconnection from the natural world and why nature should be recognised as a fundamental determinant of health.
Jenny will also host Sunday’s plenary, Practicing What We Preach – Self-Care For Clinicians, exploring how healthcare professionals can prioritise their own wellbeing and build more sustainable, fulfilling clinical practice.
Dr Jenny Brockis
MB ChB (Bristol), DipIBLM FASLM FRACGP GDipCertNutr&EnvMed, DipPositivePsych GDipNeuroscienceofLeadership CertHealthandWellnessCoach
Dr Jenny Brockis is an Internationally Board-Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician and Fellow of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (FASLM). She specialises in corporate well-being, green and social prescribing, and women’s positive ageing.
After a long and rewarding career in General Practice, Jenny founded her own well-being consultancy and now works as an international keynote speaker and health coach. She brings energy, warmth, and deep expertise to her work, supporting individuals and organisations to create meaningful, sustainable health behaviour change. She is also a prolific writer with over 900 articles on her website and is the author of six books.
Jenny is a passionate advocate for Lifestyle Medicine as a multidisciplinary, holistic approach to healthcare—one that benefits not only patients, but also practitioners and the wider community. She believes it offers a powerful, evidence-based solution to the growing burden of chronic disease, with a strong focus on prevention and long-term well-being.
Committed to shaping the future of healthcare, Jenny is dedicated to advancing the integration of Lifestyle Medicine principles into every medical and allied health curriculum in Australia and New Zealand.
