Lifestyle Medicine spans clinical practice, community and state level initiatives, through to public health policy and ultimately, prevention. It is fully interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary; involving clinicians, public health professionals, researchers, scientists and educators working together to prevent, manage, and treat chronic and lifestyle-related conditions
Recent years have seen exponential growth in the recognition and impact of Lifestyle Medicine around the world. This, without question, is a direct result of our growing collective voice; spearheaded by a small group of passionate leaders in our community. We felt it important to recognise the enormous impact of these leaders, who have contributed to the field of Lifestyle Medicine in particularly influential ways. As such, in 2020 we introduced a number of Lifestyle Medicine Awards for professionals, students, trainees and registrars, to be presented annually at our Lifestyle Medicine conferences.
Congratulations to the following individuals, who were named as the inaugural recipients of these awards:
Pioneers of Lifestyle Medicine Award
Selected by the ASLM Board, ASLM’s highest award recognises exceptional career and lifetime achievement in advancing the cause of Lifestyle Medicine.
Award Recipient: Prof Garry Egger
A/Prof Darren Morton is an internationally-recognised wellbeing expert, with special expertise in Lifestyle Medicine. He is Founder of The Lift Project – an evidence-based wellbeing program which affects change at the individual, practitioner, community and global level – which has been recently adopted by local governments across Australia to enrich and improve the lives of Australians. In addition, he is the Director of what is currently the only postgraduate level qualification in Lifestyle Medicine across Australia and New Zealand, offered by Avondale University College.
With his extensive experience and passion for Lifestyle Medicine, Darren has been an avid contributor to ASLM’s Lifestyle Medicine conferences.
Registrar/Trainee Leadership in Lifestyle Medicine Award
This award is open to those who have completed their degree but are now in a training program (e.g. as a registrar or first-year of employment), and will recognise demonstrated leadership by registrars/trainees who have either: (1) Established or are leading the development of initiatives in Lifestyle Medicine in their college or training program, or (2) Demonstrated leadership and commitment in promoting and advocating for Lifestyle Medicine, or (3) Have lead a significant project or made an impact in the profession, community or general public.
Award Recipient: Dr Genevieve Moseley
Genevieve Moseley is a first year doctor at Alfred Health in Melbourne, Australia. In addition, she has been working under Professor Felice Jacka at Deakin’s Food & Mood Centre, and helped to develop the Food & Mood Online Future Learn short course. With a keen interest in nutrition education and the relationship between nutrition and mental health, Genevieve has been involved in setting up a number of additional programs, including Deakin University’s NutMed program, and the Skill-It-Kitchen program, which was Co-Founded by Deakin University students, Melinda Zsori and Oliver Le Grice.
In 2019, Genevieve spent 3 months in Geneva as an intern in the Nutrition and Food Safety Department at the World Health Organisation. She has also been involved in nutrition advocacy with the International Federation of Medical Student Associations, and coordinated the AMSA non-communicable disease project last year, where she analysed survey data on medical students’ perceptions of nutrition education in medical curricula.
Student Leadership in Lifestyle Medicine Award
This award recognises demonstrated leadership by current undergraduate or postgraduate students (exempting PhD students) who have either: (1) Established or are leading the development of a Lifestyle Medicine interest group in their university, or (2) Demonstrated leadership and commitment in promoting and advocating for Lifestyle Medicine, or (3) Have lead a significant project or made an impact in the profession, community or general public.
Award Recipient: Melinda Zsori
Melinda Zsori has been recognised with this award due to her vision, leadership and dedication in co-founding Skill-It Kitchen, a group of students at Deakin University, who share a common goal of creating a more inclusive, sustainable and healthier future through food. Skill-It Kitchen teaches medical and allied health students the basics of cooking and nutrition skills, empowering students to take control of their own health & wellbeing, as well as passing these skills on to their future patients. Melinda Zsori is an asset to the Lifestyle Medicine movement.
Student Rising Star in Lifestyle Medicine Award
This award recognises outstanding leadership and impact potential in current undergraduate or postgraduate students (exempting PhD students) who are starting out on their Lifestyle Medicine career.
Award Recipient: Alex Ashenden
Alex Ashenden has been recognised with this award due to his impressive leadership capacity and commitment to Lifestyle Medicine. Alex was one of several students to recently receive the ASLM Student Leadership Grant, to support him in the formation of a Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group at his university. This he has done with drive and motivation, being one of the key contributors to the ASLM Student Leadership Council. We are pleased to recognise Alex as a Student Rising Star in Lifestyle Medicine!
