ASLM Member Spotlights showcase the invaluable work that ASLM Fellows, ASLM Accredited Doctors and Practitioners, and member ambassadors are doing to establish Lifestyle Medicine as central to health, healthcare and health policy. ASLM members represent a broad range of medical and health practitioners as well as passionate professionals working in health and wellbeing who believe that and interdisciplinary and lifestyle-centric approach should be considered when it comes to the prevention and management of chronic and lifestyle-related disease.
Meet Physician and ASLM Fellow - Dr Densearn Seo
Dr. Densearn Seo is the CEO & Co-Founder of Gravida Health™ – an Australian venture backed startup that is transforming pregnancy and labour experiences through clinical innovation. Trained as a physician, Dr Seo completed further postgraduate qualifications in public health, clinical informatics, healthcare management and governance. He dedicates his career to advancing patient-centered healthcare practices through collaborative data driven innovation and building future workforce. Dr Seo consults and partners with his patients through tailored active coaching programs to achieve their desired optimal lifestyle goals.
What is your background?
I was trained as a physician including a past role as an Endocrinology Fellow (Diabetes & Female Reproductive Health) at Monash Health. Subsequently, completed further postgraduate qualifications in public health, clinical informatics, healthcare management, governance and directorship. After years of clinical service within the public and private healthcare sectors, I somehow found myself contributing more towards healthcare as a MedTech expert around Asia Pacific. Currently, I lead an Australian venture-backed women’s health startup, Gravida Health™ whilst holding other roles in startup Advisory and as an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Monash Health and Monash University. As a leader in evidence driven patient-centered care and sustainable innovation, I hold various committee roles within notable bodies such as Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) and Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH).
How did you come to Lifestyle Medicine?
I discovered Lifestyle Medicine soon after completing my SCOPE certification in obesity management. Having seen the impact of lifestyle modifications on cardiometabolic and reproductive health by merely spending a little more consultation time with my patients, I realised I needed to understand more and connect with other like-minded practitioners. Curiosity led me to a whole new network of healthcare professionals and advocates.
Why did you choose to join the ASLM?
I chose to complete the ASLM Fellowship because it aligns best with my clinical practice and interests. I believe that the Fellowship pathway provides a more holistic approach towards Lifestyle Medicine, one that complements my experience and allows me to better serve my patients and community.
How has, or how do you envisage this influencing your career/direction?
I welcome the responsibilities that comes with the ASLM Fellowship and will champion Lifestyle Medicine and ASLM within Australasia and beyond. The Fellowship has already equipped me with the ability to further my endeavours in the MedTech sector through evidence driven initiatives centered around the patient. Furthermore, in this era of wearable technologies and AI, humans use technology to churn out more data without truly understanding them and likely live longer but with more morbidity. There has never been a greater need for practitioners armed with Lifestyle Medicine knowledge. I strongly believe that myself alongside other Lifestyle Medicine practitioners are ready to bridge this gap by helping patients connect better by bringing meaning to their personalised health data so we can work together to improve the intended health outcomes, thereby providing a better healthcare experience overall.
What advice would you give to other health professionals who are considering undertaking the ASLM Fellowship?
Short answer is, Just do it! Lifestyle Medicine is a highly regarded field that is gaining significant traction globally. The ASLM Fellowship is only the first step towards a more meaningful healthcare career. Together, we can do more! Let’s help deliver better care to our healthcare community and redefine what it takes to be a holistic practitioner. The power of Lifestyle Medicine is through community, so I look forward to connecting with you!
Please tell us a random fact about yourself
As a physician-innovator, I see myself as a “Problem Seeker”. Not quite Newton’s law, but I am a believer that every problem has a solution. If it is defined well, there could even be more than one solution! So if you have a problem you cannot seem to solve, do get in touch. Otherwise, no problem!
