Michelle McMacken, MD

As Executive Director for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals, I lead the expansion of lifestyle medicine programs across safety-net health care sites across all five boroughs of New York City. These interdisciplinary programs feature medical providers, dietitians, health coaches, psychologists, community health workers, and others to support patients in making healthy lifestyle changes to reduce cardiometabolic risk. We emphasize nutrition, physical activity, sleep health, stress reduction, social connections, and avoidance of substance use.

Our work has a strong focus on health equity, ensuring that we reach communities facing high rates of chronic disease who may not otherwise have access to this level of support. We also aim to address the social determinants that affect individuals’ ability to adopt a healthier lifestyle, such as food insecurity.

I also have a longstanding interest in educating health care professionals about the foundational role of nutrition in preventing and treating common diet-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. My goal is to help students, trainees, and practicing health care providers understand evidence-based eating patterns to promote health and translate this knowledge to patient care in practical, effective ways.