Southwest Family Physicians Podcast

Sustainable Lifestyle Change: From Goals to Thriving

Dr. Stephen Babson, MD shares his path into medicine and emphasizes setting SMART goals, focusing on small, sustainable changes, and the "1% marginal gain" concept. He advocates for mindfulness, meditation, and breathwork to manage stress and balance the nervous system. Babson highlights self-compassion, accountability, and addressing emotional barriers in achieving lifestyle changes, underscoring the value of integrative healthcare and holistic patient care.

Small Steps to Thriving: Building Sustainable Health Habits

The Southwest Family Physicians podcast explores thriving through individualized care. Alex Edgell, PA-C a new physician associate, shares his journey from biochemistry to medicine, inspired by medical TV shows. He advocates for small, sustainable lifestyle changes, like tying medication to daily routines or adding short walks. Alex emphasizes humor in medicine and highlights the importance of personalized goals and strategies tailored to each patient's unique needs.

Empowering Wellness: Finding Joy in Health

Dr. Kathy Alvarez, MD a family practitioner, shares her 30-year journey into medicine, influenced by her large family and respiratory therapy background. Passionate about family medicine, she emphasizes patient-specific strategies for chronic pain management beyond medication. Dr. Alvarez highlights the importance of stress assessment and mindfulness, using examples like dogs for mindful presence, and concludes by advocating for thriving through daily joy and gratitude.

Thriving with ADHD and Mental Health Strategies

Dr. Patrick Erickson, DO discuss his journey from teaching to medicine, inspired by his father. They emphasize the importance of primary care, patient education, and managing conditions like ADHD and weight loss through lifestyle changes and a holistic approach. Dr. Erickson highlights the role of medication, mental health, and therapy, and explores the challenges of thriving versus surviving and the continuous practice of self-improvement.

Preventive Care for Lifelong Thriving

Dr. Warren Okuns, MD a primary care physician, shares his journey into medicine and the value of family medicine’s comprehensive approach. He emphasizes the interconnectedness of mental and physical health, advocating for aggressive blood pressure management and lifestyle changes like weight loss and exercise. Dr. Okuns discusses using VR boxing for patient fitness and highlights the importance of preventive care, especially colon cancer screening, which saved his father’s life.

Boundaries and Balance: Thriving Through Holistic Wellbeing

Renee Beninger, FNP, CNM a midwife and family nurse practitioner, shares her journey into medicine and emphasizes the importance of self-care, human interaction, and community in thriving. She highlights setting boundaries, self-compassion, and small behavior changes for sustainable health. Renee also discusses the need for a holistic approach, integrating mental health, lifestyle changes, and a non-restrictive approach to health and wealth.

Defining Your Path to Thriving: Tools for Holistic Wellbeing

Dr. Khaleed Alston, ND shares his journey into naturopathic medicine, inspired by his mother’s battle with cancer. He highlights the importance of defining personal thriving through tools like vision boards and mantras. He discusses the value of group medical models in weight loss and previews the upcoming Hawaii retreat, which will focus on well-being plans, meditation, and community support for long-term health.

The Path to Thriving: A Holistic Approach to Wellbeing

Dr. Cynthia Gulick, DO and Wellness Coach Lea Clothier discuss holistic well-being, offering practical tips for balancing mind, body, and spirit.

Key takeaways include: the interconnectedness of health, the benefits of breathwork for reducing stress, and the importance of treating wellbeing as a lifestyle through daily habits. They also share details about their upcoming February retreat, inviting listeners to explore these practices in depth. Tune in and take small steps toward thriving!