Lifestyle Medicine and Building a Healthier Workplace:

Insights from Val Tivnan

Traditional wellness programs have struggled to slow rising healthcare costs or improve chronic disease outcomes, leaving many employers wondering where to invest next. In this episode of On the Pulse with IMA, Kelly Bowman sits down with Val Tivnan, Vice President of Population Health Strategy and Wellbeing at IMA, to explore how lifestyle medicine offers a different approach by addressing the root causes of chronic disease. Val explains the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, the difference between wellness perks and evidence-based therapeutic programs, and why more organizations are looking beyond traditional wellbeing initiatives to improve workforce health.

The conversation also examines the challenges keeping employers up at night, including affordability, economic uncertainty, mental health, engagement, and AI. Drawing on research from the Diabetes Prevention Program and workplace ROI studies, Val shares practical insights for organizations evaluating their current wellbeing strategy and discusses actionable steps employers can take to build healthier workplaces. Whether you’re reassessing wellness spending or looking for more measurable outcomes, this episode offers a roadmap for turning good intentions into meaningful impact.

Listen to this episode below.