Josie Bidwell, DNP, RN, FNP-C, DipACLM, FACLM, and Gebre Nida, MD, FACE, DipABLM, were among the first clinicians to register for the “Blue Zones® Certification Course for Physicians and Health Professionals.” In a Q&A, they share what motivated them to earn the certification, why they found the time investment reasonable, and how their new knowledge will shape their approach to lifestyle medicine.
Almost 400 clinicians have already registered for ACLM’s “Blue Zones Certification Course for Physicians and Health Professionals” since its launch in mid-November—an early signal of the strong enthusiasm for practical, evidence-based approaches to longevity, well-being, and health equity.
The certification combines Blue Zones’ decades of research into the world’s longest-lived and happiest populations and ACLM’s expertise in therapeutic lifestyle medicine. Together, these approaches offer clinicians a framework that extends beyond individual behavior change to address the environments, systems, and social norms that influence health across the lifespan.
In this Q&A, two of the first clinicians to earn Blue Zones Certification—Josie Bidwell, DNP, RN, FNP-C, DipACLM, FACLM, professor and clinical director for preventive medicine and director of the Office of Well-being at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and Gebre Nida, MD, FACE, DipABLM, chair of the Cone Health Lifestyle Medicine Steering Committee and lead physician at Cone Health Reidsville Endocrinology in North Carolina—share what motivated them to pursue certification and how the training will shape their practice.
They also reflected on how Blue Zones principles complement lifestyle medicine and reinforce the value of a population-based approach to health.
What motivated you to pursue Blue Zones Certification?
Nida: My motivation stemmed from a desire to bridge evidence-based lifestyle medicine with real-world, lived human experience. As an endocrinologist, I routinely counsel patients on nutrition, physical activity, stress, and connectedness, yet I was drawn to Blue Zones because it moves beyond recommendations into how people actually live in environments that naturally promote longevity and well-being. The opportunity to learn directly from the original Blue Zones principles—and to help translate those insights into practical, community- and clinic-level applications—was deeply compelling.
Bidwell: As a population health clinician, the additional insight and training in how to apply well-proven lifestyle medicine strategies to communities and populations solidified my desire to pursue this training. Additionally, seeing two powerhouse organizations like ACLM and Blue Zones team up together guaranteed only the strongest evidence would be provided.
What parts of the certification process were most valuable for you?
Bidwell: I enjoyed the workbook portion the most. Being able to reflect on the lesson and how to apply it to my own practice was quite valuable. Of particular value were the activities in the later modules that help the clinician build a business case for implementing these changes with stakeholders. This is a skill that is not usually covered in regular healthcare training.
Nida: What stood out most was the emphasis on systems and environment, rather than individual willpower alone. While lifestyle medicine often focuses on patient-level behavior change, the Blue Zones approach highlights how default choices—social norms, food environments, movement built into daily life, and sense of purpose—shape outcomes over decades. I was also pleasantly surprised by how transferable these concepts are to clinical conversations, even within the constraints of a busy medical practice.
How may certification change the way you practice or engage with your patients?
Nida: The certification has reinforced my shift from prescriptive counseling toward collaborative, context-aware conversations. I now more intentionally explore patients’ sense of purpose, social connections, daily routines, and environmental barriers. Rather than framing recommendations as “add-ons,” I help patients identify small, sustainable changes that align with their values and lived reality. That approach has been especially impactful in chronic endocrine conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and osteoporosis, among others. Type 2 diabetes, which was recently labeled as a defining disease of the century, is a major part of my clinical practice. I now have better tools to prevent, treat, and/or put it to remission working with empowered patients.”
Bidwell: I am able to speak with more confidence about how the core principles of lifestyle medicine don’t have to look the same for each person to be effective. Additionally, I have already crafted one of my radio show topics around Blue Zones, which actually brought some patients into clinic after hearing it.
What would you say to clinicians who are curious about the certification but are unsure about the time commitment?
Bidwell: I found this certification to be really flexible. The way it was broken into modules only required about an hour of dedicated time per session. I was able to work this in between meetings at the beginning or end to my day fairly seamlessly.
Nida: I would encourage them to view the certification not as an additional burden, but as a reframing tool. The time investment is reasonable, and the return is substantial in terms of perspective, communication, and clinical relevance. Regardless of specialty, the principles are universally applicable and can meaningfully enrich patient engagement, professional fulfillment, and prevention-focused care.
Take the next step
Is the Blue Zones Certification Course for Physicians and Health Professionals for you?
Learn more about the course and the partnership between Blue Zones and ACLM, and discover how expanding your focus beyond the clinic can help you support patients in their everyday lives and the broader community you serve.
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About the author
Alex Branch is the director of communications for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). A former healthcare journalist, he transitioned to healthcare communications and public relations in 2013. Before joining ACLM, he served as press officer and senior director of communications at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.