Our Articles

Inspiring a shift in healthcare

Doctors For Nutrition (DFN) was proud to attend GPCE Sydney 2026 as both an exhibitor and sponsor, engaging with hundreds of general practitioners and healthcare professionals across three dynamic days. The event provided a powerful platform to share the role of nutrition-led lifestyle medicine in transforming patient outcomes—and the response was nothing short of inspiring.

Made possible by a generous donation, a highlight of the conference was DFN’s sponsored education session, attended by approximately 500 GPs. Titled The Six Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine: for Chronic Disease Prevention, Management – and Even Reversal, the session explored how lifestyle interventions can dramatically reduce the burden of chronic disease. For many in the audience, the evidence was eye-opening. As one GP remarked, “I didn’t know LM was so powerful!”

The session was co-presented by DFN Advisory Council members Dr Juliette Roex and Dr Sam Gartland, who brought both clinical expertise and real-world experience to the stage. Dr Roex outlined the six pillars of lifestyle medicine and demonstrated their effectiveness in addressing cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of early death. Dr Gartland then shared compelling insights into how lifestyle medicine can support patients living with multiple sclerosis, offering hope in the context of a traditionally debilitating condition.

The impact of the session extended beyond clinical knowledge. One attendee shared, “It was such an exciting presentation I had to tell my Mum. I want to tell everyone!” Dr Gartland concluded by highlighting an often-overlooked benefit: the profound professional satisfaction that comes from helping patients truly get well, and how this can play a role in preventing burnout—a growing concern among GPs across Australia and New Zealand.

Beyond the lecture theatre, the DFN team connected with hundreds of healthcare professionals at our exhibition booth. We shared practical resources, answered questions, and had meaningful conversations about integrating nutrition and lifestyle medicine into everyday practice. Attendees were also invited to continue their learning journey at the upcoming Doctors For Nutrition Lifestyle Medicine Conference 2026 (DFN LM26) in Sydney on 28 November.

A particularly exciting outcome was the strong interest in DFN’s certification program. Many GPs expressed a desire to move beyond managing illness with medications alone toward actively restoring health, and saw lifestyle medicine as a pathway to do just that.

We also celebrated a lucky moment during the event, with one GP from New South Wales winning a complimentary one-year DFN membershipJoin Us—unlocking access to nearly 60 hours of CPD.

Overall, GPCE Sydney 2026 was a resounding success for Doctors For Nutrition. We introduced hundreds of GPs to a growing global movement in healthcare, built valuable new relationships, and sparked important conversations about the future of medicine. We also connected with like-minded organisations interested in collaborating to improve public health outcomes.

We look forward to continuing this momentum—supporting clinicians, empowering patients, and advancing a healthcare system that prioritises prevention, lifestyle, and long-term wellbeing.

Interested in becoming a certified lifestyle medicine practitioner in 2026? Register now and begin completing your core competencies before the exam on 29th November, the day after DFN LM26.