Many physicians who advocate whole-person care recognize the need to go into the community to make a meaningful impact.
That’s how family medicine doctor Dr. Rachelle Dulan Hood started in 2020. “I realized a lot of my patients were taking multiple medications for chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, which often can be managed through lifestyle modifications,” says Dr. Dulan Hood. “But I only had 15 minutes with them during clinic appointments. I couldn’t go into depth about diet, nutrition, or exercise.”
Like many people in Dayton, her patients didn’t have convenient access to fresh food or knowledge about preparing healthy meals.
So Dr. Dulan Hood developed a four-week, video-based program called “Food Is My Medicine” with seed funding from the American Academy of Family Physicians. Each video has
- A presentation by a resident physician or dietitian. Topics include plant-based eating, shopping on a budget, healthy versions of traditional recipes, and how to read nutrition labels, among others.
- A cooking demonstration by a local chef.
- A segment featuring a local artist’s work
Participants received a pot, pan, baking sheet, and cookbook. Each week, they watched the videos on YouTube and picked up free groceries at Gem City Market in Dayton to make featured recipes.
Measurable success
To qualify for the program, participants had to be overweight or obese with more than one chronic disease. The first time Dr. Dulan Hood offered Food Is My Medicine, in 2021, about 50 of her patients signed up.
- 100% reported eating produce and drinking more water more frequently after completing the program.
- 100% said the program benefitted them.
- 100% would recommend the program.
- 89% saw an improvement in their health.
Support from an Ardmore Foundation grant allowed Dr. Dulan Hood to expand to 100 participants when she offered the program again in March 2024. Added features included home exercise instructional videos and phone support for participants. Miami Valley Meals, a nonprofit organization addressing food insecurity, provided free prepared meals and custom salt-free spice blends.
Family medicine residents from Kettering Health Dayton who see patients at the Kettering Health Cassano Health Center created a research component to assess the program’s effectiveness. Dr. Dulan Hood hasn’t seen the data yet, but anecdotal evidence indicates the program was a success.
“Many participants lost weight during the four-week session and lowered their blood pressure,” she says. “A married couple improved their A1C—the husband by 1.5 and the wife by 0.5. They were so excited to see that progress.”
An eye toward new partnerships
Dr. Dulan Hood hopes to make Food Is My Medicine sustainable by involving more resident physicians next time. Meanwhile, she is working with Homefull, a Dayton nonprofit that serves people dealing with housing instability. Homefull is building a grocery store, and Dr. Dulan Hood plans to open a satellite clinic in the same building. She also hosts teaching kitchens for Kettering Health Medical Group at Gem City Market.
“I’ve learned so much through this process, and what I would say to my colleagues is this: If there’s something you’re passionate about and you see an opportunity, don’t be shy about it, even if your solution may seem wild or innovative,” she says. “I’m not a YouTube personality or video producer, but thanks to many people jumping in to help, we brought our ideas to life. It’s been such a fulfilling experience.”
