[January 7, 2025 – Huntington, WV] – Valley Health Systems congratulates Dr. Cyrus Hajiran on achieving board certification from the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Board certification in lifestyle medicine demonstrates his expertise in preventing, treating, and reversing chronic disease through evidence based, therapeutic lifestyle interventions.
Lifestyle medicine represents a transformative approach to healthcare that emphasizes six pillars: a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connections. The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM) offer evidence-based training and certification for healthcare practitioners.
Dr. Hajiran’s achievement comes at a crucial time. The United States is grappling with the highest rates of avoidable deaths and healthcare spending globally, with an alarming 90% of its $4.1 trillion annual costs linked to chronic and mental health conditions. Currently, half of the U.S. adult population is affected by chronic disease often directly linked to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, including poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption.
“Lifestyle medicine is about empowering patients to take control of their own health,” said Dr. Hajiran. “I am honored to achieve board-certification and help my community transition from traditional reliance on pharmaceutical interventions to a more holistic approach that encourages addressing root causes of disease that can be prevented, treated, and even reversed with lifestyle changes.”
Dr. Hajiran was awarded funding to pursue training and board eligibility through the ACLM’s 2024 Lifestyle Medicine National Training Initiative, which strives to develop a lifestyle-medicine-trained workforce within Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). He is now double-boarded in family and lifestyle medicine, recognized for his expertise in preventing, treating, and even reversing chronic disease.
