MIDLAND, Texas (Diya TV) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Dr. Padmaja Patel, an Indian American internist and national leader in lifestyle medicine, to the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, a move that highlights the state’s growing focus on preventive health and nutrition-based care. Patel, a Midland resident, will serve on the committee through Sept. 1, 2029. The committee is tasked with developing nutrition guidelines for Texans, with the goal of improving public health outcomes across the state.
The appointment was part of a broader slate of selections announced by the governor’s office. Patel joins Cheryl Sew Hoy, Jaclyn Albin, and Kathleen Davis, who were also appointed to terms ending in 2029. Ann Shippy, Commissioner Sid Miller, and Natalie Bachynsky were named to terms expiring in 2027.
The Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee plays a critical role in shaping dietary guidance for residents. Its work supports state efforts to address chronic disease, food access, and overall wellness through evidence-based nutrition strategies.
Patel is a board-certified internist with specialized training in lifestyle medicine. She currently serves as chief medical officer at Nudj Health, an ACLM-certified Lifestyle Treatment Program. She is also the president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the nation’s leading organization focused on using nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress management to prevent and treat chronic disease.
In Midland, Patel serves as president of the Midland Quality Alliance. She also holds leadership roles with Healthy City Midland, where she works to expand awareness of plant-based nutrition and healthy living in the community. Her career has centered on healthcare quality, value-based care, and population health. She has designed and led lifestyle medicine-based care models aimed at preventing, treating, and even reversing chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
Patel has developed innovative care delivery models that integrate lifestyle medicine into clinical practice. Her work includes creating an office-based intensive cardiac rehabilitation program designed for physician-led practices. She has successfully delivered intensive therapeutic lifestyle change programs in both in-person and virtual settings. These programs focus on sustainable behavior change and long-term health improvement.
Patel has also championed the integration of lifestyle medicine across health systems. Her efforts span patient care, employee wellness programs, and population health initiatives. In employee health settings, her work has led to measurable cost savings and improved outcomes.
Patel’s professional affiliations include the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the American Association of Physician Leaders. She has served on several national advisory bodies that shape healthcare quality standards.
Her past roles include membership on the National Quality Forum’s Professional Advisory Council and the Endorsement and Maintenance Committee of the Partnership for Quality Measurement. In Texas, she has contributed to the Texas Medical Association as a consultant committee member and worked with the Primary Care Collaborative on healthcare delivery and quality improvement initiatives.
She previously served as lifestyle medicine medical director at Wellvana, a national value-based healthcare organization. Patel has also held the role of vice president of the World Lifestyle Medicine Organization.
Patel earned her premedical degree from Vitthalbhai Patel & Rajratna P. T. Patel Science College in India. She later received her Doctor of Medicine in Internal Medicine from the University of Missouri. She holds board certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. She is also certified as a Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist.
