Student Programs

Lifestyle Medicine Summer Program (FREE for high school juniors and seniors)

Are you interested in a future career in healthcare or wellness related field? Explore the essentials of lifestyle medicine in this six-week remote summer course for high school students designed by Stanford Lifestyle Medicine. Discover how nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and sleep contribute to overall health and well-being. Engage in hands-on activities, discussions, and writing projects to develop practical skills for healthy living and health communication. After you complete the program, you will feel empowered with knowledge to make informed decisions about your lifestyle and inspire others in your community.
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By the end of the six weeks, you will be able to:
  1. Describe the core principles of lifestyle medicine, including the roles of nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and sleep in maintaining overall health.
  2. Develop and implement a personalized health plan that incorporates lifestyle medicine practices to improve your own well-being.
  3. Evaluate the impact of different lifestyle choices on long-term health outcomes by learning how to review clinical case studies and current research.
  4. Write a science communication blog that promotes the principles of lifestyle medicine to encourage healthy living among peers and family members.

Eligibility

Rising high school juniors and seniors interested in a healthcare or wellness-related field are eligible to apply.

Timeline

This program is offered every summer. For the summer of 2024, it will run from June 17 to July 22 (6 weeks), with sessions held every Monday at 10  – 11am PST via Zoom.

Application Information

To apply for this program, please complete the application form available at the following link: 2024 Summer Program Application. If the link is not working, copy and paste the following URL  into your browser: https://forms.gle/qD5mhJMDy5z22BKv8

The deadline for 2024 applications is June 10.

Science Communication in Lifestyle Medicine Internship (for undergraduates from all universities)

The Lifestyle Medicine Writing Internship is open to undergraduate students interested in scientific communication and health promotion. This internship provides an introduction to the scientific method, the concept of evidence-based medicine, tools to critically appraise scientific literature, and skills to communicate research to the public effectively. Under the guidance of a member of the Stanford Lifestyle Medicine team, students will select a published research paper on a lifestyle medicine topic, critically analyze it, and develop public dissemination materials summarizing the findings, strengths, and limitations of the research.

By the end of the internship, you will have:

  1. Explored how physical activity, dietary intake, quality sleep, stress reduction, and social connections influence health.
  2. Learned the fundamentals of the scientific method and the importance of rigorous medical research.
  3. Understood the nuances of published scientific evidence and how to critically appraise its quality.
  4. Developed skills to create educational materials that bridge the gap between cutting-edge medical research and practical health literacy.

Eligibility

Undergraduate students from all universities who are interested in scientific writing are eligible to apply.

Timeline

This internship is offered year-round, with a flexible 16-week duration and biweekly meetings conducted via Zoom.

Application Information

To apply for this internship, please complete the application form available at the following link: Internship Application. If the link is not working, copy and paste the following URL  into your browser: https://forms.gle/qoCYmtW3WwccCkcx8

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Stanford Courses

ORTHO 120 (220): Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine

Lifestyle medicine is an exciting new movement to empower practicing clinicians and aspiring physicians to facilitate behavioral change and promote a culture of health and wellness in patients. Focus is on both concrete, evidence-based findings and tangible, practical tools to readily translate into everyday clinical practice. A series of leading experts and guest lectures guide students through interactive, patient-focused activities in topics including, but not limited to: nutrition, exercise, sleep, motivational interviewing, meditation, and mindfulness techniques. Students enrolling for 2 units use a fitness and lifestyle monitoring wristband and prepare a report on your results.

Eligibility

Undergraduate, Graduate, Post-Doctoral

Enrollment Information

No application required; enroll through Axess

ORTHO 230: Practical Applications of Lifestyle Medicine

Lifestyle medicine is a specialty that utilizes lifestyle changes to treat chronic disease and is fundamental for a transformed, value-based, and equitable healthcare system that culminates in holistic care. Healthy lifestyle choices and sustainable behavior modifications can improve physical and mental health outcomes to improve the overall quality of life for all, including those already diagnosed with chronic illnesses or at higher risk for disease. The Practical Applications of Lifestyle Medicine lunch seminar elective will build upon Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine ( Ortho 120/220) by integrating clinically relevant modalities and interactive activities with curriculum from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. The goal of the class is to equip students with skills to evaluate new information to optimize health and apply it in their practice, counsel patients with chronic diseases or conditions linked to behavior like smoking or obesity, and empower students to take care of their own health. Students who are enrolled for 1-unit are required to attend all sessions and participate in case-based activities. Students who are enrolled in 2-units are required to attend all sessions, participate in case-based activities, and write a short paper to be featured in the Stanford Lifestyle Medicine newsletter.

Eligibility

Graduate students with a medical background

Enrollment Information

No application required; enroll through Axess