Point Loma Nazarene University’s Master of Science in Integrative Wellness program has been awarded the Special Recognition Award in Graduate Education by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) – a national honor recognizing programs that are shaping the future of health care through innovation and impact.
The award was presented at ACLM’s 2025 annual conference in Grapevine, Texas, which brought together nearly 5,000 clinicians and health leaders from across the country, both in person and virtually. For PLNU, the recognition marks a significant milestone not just for the M.S. in Integrative Wellness program, but for the broader movement toward evidence-based, whole-person health education.
Why This ACLM Award Matters
ACLM’s Special Recognition Awards highlight organizations and individuals whose work is advancing the field of lifestyle medicine in meaningful, transformative ways. Nominees are evaluated holistically, with particular attention given to those setting new precedents for how lifestyle medicine is taught, practiced, and integrated into professional pathways.
This year, organizations were recognized across several categories, including Health Systems and Agencies, Government, Clinical and Innovation, Graduate Education, and Residency. PLNU’s M.S. in Integrative Wellness stood out in the Graduate Education category for a historic reason.
A First in the Nation
PLNU is the first institution in the United States to implement ACLM’s Full Academic Pathway within a graduate program. This distinction recognizes PLNU’s commitment to embedding lifestyle medicine education directly into the academic experience – allowing students to begin their journey toward lifestyle medicine certification while still enrolled in their degree program.
Developed and directed by Jessica Matthews, DBH, NBC-HWC, DipACLM, FACLM, the Integrative Wellness curriculum equips students with evidence-based training in behavior change, health coaching, and lifestyle medicine principles that are increasingly essential across health professions. The result is a program that not only educates, but also actively prepares graduates to meet real-world health challenges with competence and compassion.
This approach strengthens the future health care workforce and expands access to lifestyle medicine training at a moment when prevention-focused, whole-person care is more critical than ever.
National Recognition for Visionary Leadership
“Point Loma Nazarene University’s visionary leadership in graduate education sets a new national standard for preparing the next generation of health professionals,” said Sami A. Bég, MD, MPA, MPH, FACLM, Chair of ACLM’s Awards Committee. “By becoming the first institution in the country to implement ACLM’s Full Academic Pathway, PLNU has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to expanding access to evidence-based lifestyle medicine training.”
“By becoming the first institution in the country to implement ACLM’s Full Academic Pathway, PLNU has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to expanding access to evidence-based lifestyle medicine training.”
For PLNU, the recognition affirms years of thoughtful program development and a clear vision for how graduate education can play a pivotal role in shaping healthier communities.
Looking Ahead
As lifestyle medicine continues to grow as a cornerstone of modern health care, PLNU’s Integrative Wellness program stands as a model for what’s possible when academic rigor, innovation, and mission-driven leadership align. This award is both a celebration of what has been accomplished and a signal of the impact still to come.
Click here to learn more about PLNU’s M.S. in Integrative Wellness program and its curriculum.