Fostering growth through connection: a mentor match success story
ACLM’s mentorship program connects experienced lifestyle medicine clinicians with those interested in learning how to integrate the growing medical specialty into their practice. A mentor and mentee shared how mentorship has impacted their mindsets and careers.
By Brittany Shroyer | ACLM Member Engagement Manager
October 30, 2025
In the growing field of lifestyle medicine, professional growth often flourishes through the guidance and support of others. The American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s (ACLM) Mentor Match Program pairs experienced lifestyle medicine clinicians with ACLM members who are eager to expand their knowledge, skills, and impact, while also bridging disciplines and continents along the way.
One example of a dynamic mentorship is the relationship between mentor Simon Matthews, FACLM, DipIBLM, and mentee Rasarie Saubhagya Wimalana, MBBS, MSc, DipIBLM. Their story is not only about skill-building and professional development, but also the transformative power of trust, encouragement, and shared purpose.
Encouragement and a new direction
Wimalana’s path to mentorship started during a challenging time in her life. In 2022, she was a burned-out intensive care doctor in Sri Lanka when she discovered lifestyle medicine.
“After spending hours searching for alternative career paths for doctors, I randomly Googled ‘lifestyle’ and ‘medicine’—and a whole new world opened up,” Wimalana recalled.
She also discovered the Sri Lankan Society of Lifestyle Medicine (SLSLM) and decided to immerse herself in lifestyle medicine education, earning certification by the end of the year and pivoting her career to promote the growing field in her own country.
But by 2025, doubts crept in.
“I had tried many approaches, with more failures than successes,” Wimalana said. “I felt scattered, without focus…I feared my growing doubts would lead me to give up. I needed immediate encouragement, clarity, and direction.”
That is when she decided to enroll in the Mentor Match program. When she searched for available mentors, she spotted Matthews’ name. She had seen him on a webinar hosted by the SLSLM in late 2024 and knew instantly that he would make a powerful mentor.
Giving back to lifestyle medicine
When Matthews became an ACLM Fellow in 2023, he viewed the honor as a call to action.
“While on one hand it recognizes and honors the contributions I have made, it also requires that I give back to both ACLM and, more broadly, the field of lifestyle medicine,” said Matthews, who lives in Madrid, Spain.
With his combined experience in psychology, health coaching, hypnotherapy, and lifestyle medicine, Matthews volunteered for the Mentor Match program because of its unique ability to connect professionals across disciplines—allowing for broader perspectives and fresh thinking.
Coming from different disciplines means that Matthews’ and Wimalana’s conversations naturally cross boundaries and spark creative problem-solving for both. Their discussions on topics like behavior change, health equity, and patient education often leave Matthews reflecting on new ways to approach his own work.
“Anytime someone asks for an explanation or perspective, I have to engage deeply with what I think, feel, and believe about it,” Matthews said. “If you’re doing it right, everybody’s growing.”
From their first Zoom meeting in March 2025, Matthews provided what Wimalana described as “considerable relief.”
“He truly listens—not just to give advice or fix, but to understand,” she says. “He creates a space where I feel supported while also pleasantly challenged, rather than lectured or judged.”
Progress and a new mindset
Since joining the mentorship program, Wimalana’s professional development has taken significant strides. Matthews serves on the teaching faculty for the Wellcoaches School of Coaching and mentioned to Wimalana that the organization offers annual scholarships to students who live in disadvantaged and underserved communities to become a certified health and wellness coach.
Weeks later, she sent him an ecstatic message letting him know that she was awarded one of the scholarships.
“I was completely thrilled for her, and this confirmed for me one of the values of mentoring,” he said.
Under Simon’s mentorship, Wimalana has:
- Begun practicing lifestyle medicine full-time in Sri Lanka
- Connected with international leaders in the field
- Conducted successful group consultations
- Designed educational programs for patients
- Begun formal training to become a certified health and wellness coach
Wimalana said Matthews’ coaching-based approach has helped her slow down, step back, and make thoughtful, strategic choices rather than rushing toward quick fixes. His ability to blend encouragement with gentle challenges has given her both the confidence to try new things and the resilience to see setbacks as learning opportunities.
“He doesn’t push me toward his vision of success,” she says. “He helps me discover my own path—and in doing so, I’ve started to see myself, my work, and my potential differently.”
Join Mentor Match
Matthews and Wimalana strongly encourage others to see the Mentor Match program as a powerful opportunity for connection, growth, and renewal.
“Take the leap,” Wimalana said. “We all need help sometimes. You may be surprised by how much you truly cherish this guidance and support.”
To potential mentors, Matthews said “You can literally contribute to your own health and well-being by being a mentor.”
Ready to invest in your professional growth?
Help shape the next generation of leaders—consider joining the ACLM Mentor Match program. You never know where the conversation might take you.
About the author
Brittany Shroyer, MS, ACSM-EP, serves as the member engagement manager for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). She oversees ACLM member programs such as the Mentor Match program and Member Interest Groups (MIGs).