Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice. The content of this podcast is provided for informational or educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health issue without consulting your doctor. Always seek medical advice before making any lifestyle changes.

Dr. Dawn Mussallem is a distinguished consultant in the Division of Hematology Oncology at Mayo Clinic and an Assistant Professor of Medicine. As a board-certified lifestyle medicine breast specialist at The Robert and Monica Jacoby Center for Breast Health, she plays a vital role in advancing evidence-based, holistic breast cancer care. She also serves as Chair of Mayo Clinic Florida's Employee Well-being Committee, Medical Director for the Humanities in Medicine program & Councilor at Large for the Officers & Councilors of the Mayo Clinic staff.

In 2015, Dr. Mussallem founded the Integrative Medicine & Breast Health Program at Mayo Clinic Florida, a patient-centered initiative that supports breast cancer patients during & after their diagnosis. The program emphasizes optimizing lifestyle practices alongside conventional cancer treatments. Her mission is to reframe cancer as a “teacher of life,” helping patients discover renewed vitality through healthier living. Currently, she leads Mayo Clinic’s regenerative farm project which aims to provide nutrient-rich plant-based foods to patients, employees, learners, & food-insecure individuals in the community, demonstrating the interconnected benefits for human & planetary health.

With more than 25 years of patient-centered clinical wellness experience, Dr. Mussallem is internationally recognized in cancer prevention, lifestyle medicine, integrative oncology, & cancer survivorship. Her personal journey—including a stage IV cancer diagnosis just three months into medical school and her experience as a heart transplant recipient in 2021 profoundly shapes her commitment to helping patients thrive during and after adversity.

A sought-after international keynote and motivational speaker, Dr. Mussallem frequently appears on podcasts, webinars, radio, and television programs. She has authored numerous book chapters, journal articles, and abstracts, and serves as an editor for the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Wiley, and Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Her research focuses on exploring lifestyle’s critical role in cancer prevention and management, particularly the impact of whole food, plant-based nutrition on the tumor microenvironment and cancer progression. She also investigates strategies to enhance quality of life for cancer survivors, examining the links between lifestyle modifications, longevity, and restorative well-being.