Marin Healthcare District Brings Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease® to Marin – First to be Offered in Northern California

Marin Healthcare District Brings Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease® to Marin – First to be Offered in Northern California

Nationally Renowned Program, from Marin Resident Dr. Dean Ornish, Helps Participants Address Underlying Causes of Disease Through Lifestyle Changes

The Cardiovascular Center of Marin, one of the Marin Healthcare District’s premier health centers, is the first in Northern California to offer patients a unique, non-invasive approach to reverse cardiac disease created by Marin resident Dr. Dean Ornish. Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease®, commonly known as Ornish Lifestyle Medicine™, addresses the root causes of heart disease rather than just its symptoms, and offers participants what can be a more appealing option than surgery: lifestyle as treatment.

“This program will be an excellent addition to the cardiac program we currently offer at the Cardiovascular Center of Marin, and we are excited to introduce it as an option for our cardiac rehab patients,” said Mark Wexman, MD, Medical Director of Ornish Lifestyle Medicine at the Cardiovascular Center of Marin. “Ornish Lifestyle Medicine gives us another proven approach to treat heart disease and supports our ongoing mission to provide the best possible care and treatment to our community.”

Ornish Lifestyle Medicine is based on more than three decades of research showing that the progression of coronary artery disease and other chronic conditions can be treated and reversed through lifestyle changes. The program, Dr. Ornish’s research and Dr. Ornish himself have been featured widely in the national media, including stories in Newsweek, TIME, U.S. News & World Report and The New York Times.

Ornish Lifestyle Medicine participants attend 18 four-hour group sessions over a nine-week period. Each session can accommodate approximately 15 individuals who focus on improvement in four key areas: exercise, stress management, nutrition and group support. The program is facilitated by a dedicated six-person team that includes a medical director, program director, nurse case manager and experts in stress management, behavioral health, fitness and nutrition. These experts help participants to take control of their treatment by providing them with the knowledge, training and community resources to sustain a healthier lifestyle. Many participants maintain contact with their group and continue to be a part of the Ornish community after the program ends.

The program will be offered at the Cardiovascular Center of Marin located at 2 Bon Air Road, Suite 100, Larkspur, CA 94939. The first group begins their sessions today, June 20, 2017.

“My vision has always been to sustainably transform lives for the better by making simple lifestyle choices,” said Dr. Ornish. “Participants in this program feel like they get their life back – they have more energy, less stress, more emotional support and greater physical endurance. I am excited to work with the Cardiovascular Center of Marin to bring this program and its benefits to their community.” 

The Cardiovascular Center of Marin is offering the Ornish Lifestyle Medicine through well-being leader Sharecare. Dr. Ornish partnered with Sharecare to bring his innovative, evidence-based approach to health systems across the United States in response to growing demand from consumers and providers for approaches that address the underlying causes of disease through lifestyle changes. Ornish Lifestyle Medicine is reimbursed by Medicare and other commercial payers for qualified individuals.

To determine whether you may be eligible for Ornish Lifestyle Medicine at the Cardiovascular Center of Marin, please contact 415-927-6177. For more information on Ornish Lifestyle Medicine, visit www.ornish.com or call 877-888-3091.