USA Health is redefining the connection between food and medicine through its Integrative Health and Wellness Program, offering hands-on cooking classes designed to help manage specific health conditions. The program’s third-floor teaching kitchen at the USA Health Mapp Family Campus has become a center for culinary education, where medical professionals and chefs work together to promote the healing power of whole foods.

On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Dr. William Kilgo, a neurologist specializing in multiple sclerosis (MS), will lead an interactive cooking experience in the teaching kitchen. Participants will learn how diet can influence MS symptoms while preparing nutrient-dense meals designed to support brain and nervous system health. “There is increasing evidence that certain dietary patterns are associated with positive impacts on prominent symptoms of MS like fatigue, improved quality of life scores, and decreased MS severity,” he explains.

At the heart of this initiative is culinary medicine, an emerging evidence-based field that blends nutrition, cooking and medical science to support disease prevention and management. Unlike a one-size-fits-all diet, culinary medicine recognizes that different conditions require tailored nutritional strategies. Studies show that food can play a vital role in reducing inflammation, improving gut health and even influencing neurological function. Patients who adopt personalized dietary changes often report better symptom management, increased energy and improved overall wellness.

“We have had a therapeutic revolution in MS over the last 30 years. Patients with MS and their loved ones are very interested in interventions beyond medications alone to improve their quality of life,” says Kilgo. “We will briefly review the importance of a healthy diet and the potential impact on symptom severity and overall quality of life for patients with MS.
We will also learn to cook a delicious, healthy meal together.”

For several months, professional instructors in medicine and culinary arts have gathered in USA Health’s state-of-the-art kitchen to lead hands-on cooking classes and demonstrations. Encouraging the community to eat more whole, nutrient-dense foods is just one way this kitchen is making a difference.

USA Health has already seen success with culinary medicine programs at its Mobile location, where classes have focused on heart health, joint pain and inflammation. Beyond cooking demonstrations, the program is also engaging the community—recently, team members visited second graders at Bayside Academy to introduce them to heart-healthy snacks.