Free, competency-based Preventive & Lifestyle Medicine learning resources for our and our planet’s health
Özden GÖKDEMIR, Lilach MALATSKEY and Andréa SALIBA
Chronic and lifestyle-related diseases are increasing worldwide, yet most health professionals receive limited training in Preventive and Lifestyle medicine. Would-be preventionists, particularly in low-resourced settings, face significant challenges: limited instructor capacity, high curriculum development or purchase costs, and a lack of harmonized competencies aligned with global accreditation frameworks. Drawing on an international collaboration guided by the Global Forum for Preventive, Community, and Public Health Medicine and the World Lifestyle Medicine Organization, we developed an openly accessible, high-quality hybrid curriculum aligned with global and regional competencies. This workshop introduces this model (a different approach to OneHealth) and helps participants apply it (personally and institutionally).Describe competency-based Preventive & Lifestyle Medicine curricula and their alignment with international standards. Identify strategies for locally adapting a modular curriculum using open-access educational resources. Map personal, trainee, and/or institutional training needs to core competencies in preventive and lifestyle medicine. Draft an initial hybrid training model within their own educational/clinical settings. Evaluate key components required for accreditation alignment, mentorship, and community-based practicum integration.The workshop combines short presentations, small-group discussions, hands-on exercises in curriculum development, peer exchange, and an introduction to the updated NextGenU.org open-access course repository and crosswalk tools. Workshop Schedule 5 min – Welcome and Introductions 10 min – Icebreaker Activity 10 min – Presentation 1: Global burden, learning desires/gaps, competency frameworks. 5 min – Presentation 2: Curriculum architecture, crosswalk methodology, hybrid model. 10 min – Small Group Discussions: Learners, content priorities, local barriers, accreditation. 7 min – Exercise Part 1: Drafting a learning pathway; paired feedback. 10 min – Exercise Part 2: Implementation planning and first steps. 3 min – Closing & Next stepsParticipants will leave with a draft adaptable curriculum, familiarity with freely available competency-aligned modules, improved confidence in aligning training with global standards, and a preliminary implementation plan suited to their institution or national context.This workshop demonstrates a practical, scalable, and equity-oriented approach to building Preventive & Lifestyle Medicine capacity. By integrating global competencies with local relevance, open-access learning, and community-embedded practicum models, individuals can equitably learn, and institutions can accelerate workforce development.
