Meet Dr. Cushing

Dr. Cushing has recently joined the Center for Collaborative Medicine and believes in its philosophy of the patient as expert in him or herself, and physician as guide and support through a strong therapeutic alliance. This approach builds on Dr. Cushing's background in medicine, psychology, and wellness. 

 

Dr. Cushing is board certified in emergency medicine and has practiced high intensity urban acute care for over twenty years. As many of the diseases she saw were preventable through early interventions in behavior and lifestyle, she became more focused on preventing disease than healing its emergencies. She is in the process of board certification in Lifestyle Medicine, focusing on the pillars of health including nutrition, sleep, exercision, social support, stress management, and toxin avoidance. She has experience in leading physician wellness initiatives, nutrition, and improving access to healthy food in hospital and school settings. She has a highly rated podcast on evidence-based nutrition called www.physicianplantpodcast.com 

 

When Dr. Cushing was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma, with no genetic mutations, risk factors, or family history, her world was changed as is the case for all cancer patients. As she researched what was recommended and what advances had been made in therapy, she was astounded to learn that there had not been many breakthroughs since she had attended medical school two decades prior. She saw the need for a holistic/whole patient approach to a cancer diagnosis, and wanted to bring her background of wellness and lifestyle medicine specifically to help cancer patients on their journeys. 

 

Dr. Cushing is a graduate of the New York University School of Medicine, the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine residency, and TH Chan Harvard School of Public Health. She completed a fellowship in wilderness and environmental medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and has spent time practicing in all types of remote and austere environments. She spent two decades as an academic clinician, training students and residents, giving lectures, and designing curricula. She has published and researched extensively, including serving as associate editor for the peer-reviewed journal Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. She resigned from academics as an associate professor at the University of Colorado to focus on her board certification in lifestyle medicine and to serve cancer patients.