MDNews - Greater Boston

"It's not as if I had to go back to medical school," Dr. Sigal says. "But I definitely needed to become very familiar with a completely different world of research and a totally new approach to look at patients." She doesn't like to call them "patients" anymore, either. "That is so passive — so uninvolved," she says. "'Clients' isn't a great term either. I haven't figured this one out yet. But the fact is clients who come to me now are expected to be active participants and real partners in the doctor-client relationship." Dr. Sigal is in the final stages of earning a Master in Public Health degree in nutrition at University of Massachusetts Amherst, which she describes as "a fantastic experience and so important in the context of what I want to do." She obtained certificates in plant-based nutrition from Cornell University/T. Colin Campbell Foundation and in nutrition and lifestyle medicine from the Wellness Forum Institute in Ohio. Dr. Sigal also became a certified Food For Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). "I didn't want to reinvent the wheel," she says. "I knew I wanted to teach, and the plant-based nutrition for disease prevention and reversal curricula developed by PCRM are top notch. Having their backup and expertise at my fingertips is very important." But teaching in the community did not prove easy. "People don't know what they don't know," Dr. Sigal says. "And many statefunded venues that also serve meals to their constituents felt there was a conflict of interest if I would teach about plant-based nutrition, while they continued to serve USDA-subsidized foods. "Besides, while nutrition is key, lifestyle medicine is more than that. And I needed to practice lifestyle medicine." This became crystal clear after Dr. Sigal had the one-time opportunity to go to Santa Rosa, Calif., and work alongside John McDougall, MD, in his inpatient program in 2012. "It is simply mind-boggling what happens to people who have diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and take a bag full of medications once you put them on a delicious, plant-based, minimally processed, lowfat eating regimen — without counting calories, carbs, proteins or weighing or measuring anything else. I was there, I took care of those people 24/7. In only 10 days, the average decrease in cholesterol was 60 points. Blood pressures plummeted, oral hypoglycemic drugs were discontinued, insulin needs cut." "superbly gifted at melding the mind and the body when teaching clients the basic and simple techniques of stress management," Dr. Sigal says. Julie McGrath, a social worker and therapist with a longstanding practice, has developed a unique program for the center. "We call it the positive psychology of eating. Food is the most commonly selfprescribed medication. At some point, even the healthiest food is counterproductive "The scientific evidence is overwhelming, and there is no denying it anymore: We must address the medical issues we face in practice with a completely new mindset." — Mona Sigal, MD And so the path was set for Nourish Health With Food For Life LLC, a nutrition and lifestyle medicine center. "I have truly been able to assemble worthy collaborators who fully understand the concept of lifestyle medicine and are able to bring their unique expertise to the table." Among them are Scott Braje, exercise physiologist, physical therapist and personal trainer, who understands the exercise prescription concept, which is at the heart of lifestyle medicine. Michelle Gallant, a 17-year Kripalu yoga veteran, is if it is being misused," Dr. Sigal explains, adding that McGrath addresses issues around food in group as well as one-onone work. "Some patients who may need additional dietetic advice are referred to Diane Dube, a well-known dietitian on the North Shore, who also has unique knowledge in plant-based nutrition that the majority of dietitians lack." At the core of Dr. Sigal's practice are courses she teaches at the office. "We know from many well-done studies that the group experience is extremely MDNEWS.COM I MD NEWS Greater Boston | 11

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