South African Lifestyle Medicine Association

26/08/2026

SALMA Webinar tonight, Wednesday 26th August.
Please don't forget to sign up and invite your friends and colleagues to join!

This month we are delighted to welcome Mia Lombard, a MSc Med Neuroscience graduate from the University of Cape Town, with training in psychiatric genetics and epigenetics. Her academic work focused on how early-life environments – particularly maternal psychological distress during pregnancy – can influence child neurodevelopment and mental health through epigenetic pathways. This work shaped her passion for translating complex neuroscience into practical, evidence-based strategies. She now applies this knowledge to animal behaviour and wellbeing, combining her neuroscience background with evidence-based, positive reinforcement approaches to understand behaviour from the inside out and support the physical, emotional and behavioural wellbeing of animals and their caregivers.

In this session, you’ll:
1. Describe the prevalence and clinical relevance of maternal psychological distress in South Africa and other LMIC's (Low-and-middle-income countries).
2. Explain how prenatal psychological distress may influence child neurodevelopment and mental health through epigenetics.
3. Interpret key findings from a South African birth cohort study linking maternal distress to early language development outcomes.
4. Recognise pregnancy as a biologically sensitive window in which maternal mental health may influence child health outcomes via epigenetic mechanisms.

Click here to Sign Up:
https://us06web.zoom.us/.../register/CxM4n2C6T_Opd6YZ-srFrQ See less

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14/08/2026

This month we are delighted to welcome Mia Lombard, a MSc Med Neuroscience graduate from the University of Cape Town, with training in psychiatric genetics and epigenetics. Her academic work focused on how early-life environments – particularly maternal psychological distress during pregnancy – can influence child neurodevelopment and mental health through epigenetic pathways. This work shaped her passion for translating complex neuroscience into practical, evidence-based strategies. She now applies this knowledge to animal behaviour and wellbeing, combining her neuroscience background with evidence-based, positive reinforcement approaches to understand behaviour from the inside out and support the physical, emotional and behavioural wellbeing of animals and their caregivers.

In this session, you’ll:

1. Describe the prevalence and clinical relevance of maternal psychological distress in South Africa and other LMIC's (Low-and-middle-income countries).
2. Explain how prenatal psychological distress may influence child neurodevelopment and mental health through epigenetics.
3. Interpret key findings from a South African birth cohort study linking maternal distress to early language development outcomes.
4. Recognise pregnancy as a biologically sensitive window in which maternal mental health may influence child health outcomes via epigenetic mechanisms.

Click here to Sign Up:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CxM4n2C6T_Opd6YZ-srFrQ

09/08/2026

On National Women’s Day, we celebrate the importance of listening to, supporting and investing in women’s health at every stage of life.

Menopause care deserves to be informed, compassionate and practical. The South African Lifestyle Medicine Association (SALMA) is proud to share its CPD-approved EMGuidance course:
Integrating Lifestyle Medicine into Menopause Care
Designed for healthcare professionals, this course explores how evidence-based lifestyle medicine can complement menopause care and help clinicians support women’s long-term health and wellbeing.

This Women’s Day, let’s continue advancing conversations and care that recognise women’s health as essential health.
Access the course on EMGuidance.

https://academy.emguidance.com/course/lifestyle-management-of-menopause

Master evidence-based lifestyle medicine to manage menopause symptoms and reduce chronic disease risk. Gain practical CPD-accredited skills for clinical practice.

23/07/2026

Join us for an informative webinar with Carla Louw!

We are delighted to welcome Carla Louw, a qualified Biokineticist with a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Biokinetics from North-West University and over five years of experience in orthopedic and clinical rehabilitation.

Carla is passionate about helping people improve their physical health, independence, and overall quality of life. Her experience includes working with individuals with disabilities, leading wellness and exercise programs for disbility centers, and assisting in sports rehabilitation. She has completed more than 1,000 hours of clinical rotations, gaining valuable hands-on experience in orthopedic wellness and rehabilitation.

In addition to her clinical work, Carla serves on the Biokinetics Association of South Africa (BASA) North West Committee as part of the marketing portfolio and has a strong interest in mental health and the connection between physical activity and emotional well-being.

Known for her adaptable nature, strong work ethic, and commitment to lifelong learning, Carla is dedicated to empowering people through movement, education, and evidence-based rehabilitation.

In this session, you’ll:

Gain a better understanding of what Biokinetics is and is not.
Recognise how to implement the Biokinetic skillset in corporate wellness and mental health settings.
Learn practical strategies to implement Biokinetics in your practice.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to incorporate Biokinetics into your lifestyle!

Sign up here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/qkxZ5UNyS3arq18Y6QVErg #/registration

15/06/2026

Our next webinar:
Palliative Care: Enhancing Hope and Wellbeing in the Face of Serious Illness

Join us for an inspiring webinar with Dr Colleen Cox!

Colleen qualified as a clinical and radiation oncologist in Cape Town in 2001, and has worked in private oncology practice in Cape Town, East London and Durban. In 2015 she became aware of the emerging field of palliative care. Over the past 10 years she obtained further qualifications in palliative medicine through UCT and has made a career shift to palliative oncology, which she has been practising in private, state and hospice settings. Her focus is on supporting holistic patient- and family-centred care, and in particular how to facilitate coping and to maintain realistic hope in the face of life-threatening illness such as cancer.

Colleen is a founding member of PALPRAC (The Association of Palliative Care Practitioners of SA), which was established in 2018, and has contributed to various South African palliative care guidelines. She has also been involved in palliative care education and training, and is part of a working group aiming to introduce palliative medicine as a sub-specialisation in SA.

She has recently moved from Durban to Cape Town, and is married to Craig, who is a histopathologist. They have two sons in their early 20’s, who are both pursuing careers in IT. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, and in the outdoors.

In this session, you will:

1. Understand the role and scope of palliative care, and when it may be appropriate in patient care
2. Describe the benefits of a palliative care approach for patients, family members and healthcare teams
3. Explore ways in which healthcare practitioners can enhance hope and wellbeing for their patients facing serious illness

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about palliative care!
Sign up at the link in bio.

09/06/2026

Our first June Webinar is coming up! Have you registered?

Join us for an exciting webinar with Dr. Claudia Do Vale!

Dr Do Vale is a distinguished specialist physician and nephrologist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. A fellow of the Colleges of Physicians of South Africa, she holds an MBBCh and a Master of Medicine from the University of the Witwatersrand. Claudia has completed the International Olympic Committee’s Diploma in Sports Medicine and has a keen interest in treating athletes with kidney problems. She is also an author for UpToDate. Her publications include work on exercise-induced hematuria, outcomes in paediatric kidney transplants, and studies on acute kidney injury. When she is not caring for her patients or doing research, Dr Do Vale enjoys photography and lists travel as something she loves.

She lives with her husband, daughter and two much-loved dogs, Staffordshire Bull Terrier Leo and German Shepherd Raven.

In this session, you’ll:

• Understand nutritional pharmacotherapy in Hypertension and CKD.
• Recognize exercise as a haemodynamic modulator and the value of an exercise prescription in hypertension and CKD.
• Appreciate the Neuro-renal axis and the importance of sleep, stress, and renal scarring.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how a healthy lifestyle can protect your kidneys!

25/05/2026

Looking for a quick, simple, nutritious meal tonight? Our latest recipe is ready to read!

Head over to our website for the full recipe.🧑‍🍳

https://salifestylemedicine.org/blog/

19/05/2026

Our latest blog is ready to read! Head over to our website for the full article.✍

https://salifestylemedicine.org/blog/

17/05/2026

This week, SALMA is celebrating Lifestyle Medicine Week!

The vital role of evidence-based lifestyle interventions in the prevention, management, and even reversal of chronic disease is receiving increasing recognition worldwide.

Through nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, social connection, and the avoidance of harmful substances, Lifestyle Medicine promotes a more sustainable, preventative, and patient-centred approach to health and wellbeing.

SALMA is proud to be at the forefront of advancing Lifestyle Medicine education for healthcare professionals across South Africa.

14/05/2026

Lifestyle-related chronic diseases are on the rise, yet many healthcare professionals receive little to no training on addressing their root causes.
Certification in Lifestyle Medicine bridges this gap, equipping you with practical, evidence-based skills to tackle today’s lifestyle-related disease epidemic.

The SALMA Certification is:

• 100% online & accessible
• Evidence-based
• Tailored specifically for Southern Africa
• Fully flexible — start when it suits you
• Includes a virtual pass to the BSLM Conference

Lifestyle medicine can change the lives of your patients.
Start changing lives today.

Enrol now: https://salifestylemedicine.org/certification/