John Kelly, MD, MPH

Epigenetics, Lifestyle in the of Future Medicine

“Dr. John” as he is affectionately called by patients and staff, is passionate about Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Kelly completed his undergraduate education in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude as a McMurran Scholar. He completed the Dual Degree Program at Loma Linda University, receiving his MD in 2000, and his MPH in Epidemiology in 2002 with honors. He completed residency training in Preventive Medicine in 2003 and received ABPM Board certification in January 2004. Dr. Kelly was also trained in massage and hydrotherapy by Dr. Charles Thomas, a master of physical medicine known for hydrotherapy expertise.

Dr. Kelly received the American Medical Association’s Excellence in Medicine Award in 2004 as a Young Physician for his leadership as Founding President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine – the medical specialty society for clinicians who specialize in the use of therapeutic lifestyle interventions in the treatment and management of disease. (www.lifestylemedicine.org)

After completing medical training, Dr. Kelly accepted an appointment as Assistant Research Professor in the Nutrition Department at Loma Linda University with the Lifestyle Research Initiative. He conducted a multi-center outcomes analysis of lifestyle centers in the U.S. and served as Co-PI for a multi-million dollar diabetes research project in the Marshall Islands. He continues to work with research studies investigating the use of therapeutic lifestyle interventions in the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and related chronic diseases. He has served as Medical Director for outpatient lifestyle programs in Maryland and Virginia. He presently serves as Director of Medical Education and Research at the Black Hills Lifestyle Medicine Center where he conducts clinical training in intensive Lifestyle Medicine for licensed medical professionals (www.BHLMC.org/lm-training).

Dr. Kelly enjoys sharing the scientific evidence for the use of lifestyle to treat and prevent disease with his patients, other practitioners, researchers and the public. He gives invited expert presentations on Lifestyle Medicine, Epigenetics and other topics internationally. He co-authored the Lifestyle Medicine Board Review Course. He serves as a Lifestyle Medicine expert consultant, and chairs the Expert Lifestyle Medicine Panel. Other interests include family life, Christian ministry, agriculture, hiking and camping, computing and the origin of life.