Episode 005: Julie Foucher: Cross-Fit, Community, and Functional Medicine: The Next Generation of Family Physicians

In Episode 5 of A Medicinal Mind: Wisdom and Well-Being we share in an engaging conversation with world class Cross-Fit athlete and recent medical school graduate Julie Foucher.
 
As you will hear in our discussion, I first discovered Julie as part of her inspiring podcast: Pursuing Health and more specifically after her episode with our mutual friend and the mastermind behind the Evolution of Medicine and the Functional Forum: James Maskell.
 
Between the two of us, we share tremendous passions for lifestyle medicine, fitness and utilizing a functional/ancestral approach to restoring health and maintaining wellness. We additionally are both about to embark on new journeys as first year family medicine residents.

Before I lay out the specific details for today’s show, I want to share a little bit more about Julie and her amazing life story.
 
Julie is a four-time CrossFit Games athlete and finished on the CrossFit Games podium twice (2nd in 2012  and 3rd in 2014) both during her time in medical school and has never finished outside the top 5. Julie also has a growing interest in Functional Medicine, having completed her medical school training at the Cleveland Clinic and is about to begin her residency training with the Cleveland Clinic’s Fairview Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. Her passion lies in combining what she has learned through all of these modalities to inspire and empower others to live a lifestyle that supports optimal health. She additionally hosts the previously mentioned podcast Pursuing Health, where she shares inspiring stories of individuals from all walks of life.
 
During our discussion, besides reminiscing and reflecting about our own medical school journeys we dig into some really important questions facing medical professionals, medical trainees and our nation as a whole.
 
In the podcast you will hear:
 

1. Julie’s fascinating background as medical student and Cross-Fit athlete, balancing grueling training with the rigors of medical school
2. How Cross-Fit and exercise in general can be used and scaled for both the experienced athlete and novice beginner
3. Julie’s approach for addressing health concerns through a multifactorial program including diet, stress management and of course, exercise
4. A thoughtful discussion into the concept of exercise vs. movement, how one can grow through traumatic life events including major injuries and the importance of engaging in the process versus simply being motivated by a perceived outcome.
5. And lastly,  Julie shares her latest projects and her intentions for holding a space designed to heal and nourish.  Did you know Cross-Fit is actually the ideal place to be vulnerable, to connect and to grow?

 
Enjoy this powerful conversation from two young professionals seeking to change the way medicine is practiced and what the “practice” of medicine even means.

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Stay up to date with Julie on her website, www.juliefoucher.com, her Instagram, @juliefoucher, Twitter @Julie_Foucher, or Facebook, JulieFoucherCF, and her podcast Pursuing Health with Julie Foucher. 

A huge thank you to Julie for taking time to share in this conversation and I hope you all find some nourishment in this thought provoking and emotional discussion.

Enjoy the show!

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