total well-being through evidence-based lifestyle education

About Salient Lifestyle Center

About Our Team

Our Mission

Our mission is to restore people’s total well-being through evidence-based lifestyle education.

 

Our Values

We believe that good health is not just the absence of illness and disease. It is when your mind and body are strong. When you are thriving. When you are living your best life.

We believe that everyone deserves good health.

We are here to help.

All that’s missing is YOU!

Our Inspiration

You!

Your family.

Your neighbors.

Your community.

Gabriel Bardan

I am a local pastor and co-founder of Salient Lifestyle Center because I could see that my congregation and community were suffering and felt called to do something practical to help.

I believe that everyone deserves the right to fulfill their potential and I believe that by learning and following some basic principles, we can teach them how to bring peace, joy, and good health to their lives and to their families.

Connect

Dr. Terri Dallas-Prunskis

I started my career as an anesthesiologist and later served as Chairman of the University of Chicago’s Pain Management Program and co-founded the Illinois Pain Institute (IPI) and The Regenerative Stem Cell Institute (TRSCI). I am also a co-founder of Salient Lifestyle Center. 

I was inspired to work in Lifestyle Medicine because I have seen how pain can rob people of their joy and their health. My work has shown me that this is the best way that I can help my patients become pain-free, or manage their pain so that they can regain their spirit. We understand that most people with pain feel worn out by it. If you are struggling and you know that you are not living life to the fullest, We are here to help.

Connect

Dr. Ashwani Garg

I am a family and lifestyle medicine physician and co-founder of Salient Lifestyle Center.  A few years ago, I watched a movie called “Forks over Knives” and a documentary called “The Last Heart Attack”.  I learned a lot and was inspired to adopt a plant-based diet.

Now I am dedicated to helping my patients make healthy lifestyle changes, including eating a whole-food plant-based diet. I believe that a healthy lifestyle is the best medicine for everyone, from infants to elders!

Connect

Deepa Deshmukh MPH, RD, BC-ADM, CDE

I am a Clinical Dietician and Advanced Diabetes Educator and I’m inspired to work with people from all walks of life. I am passionate about teaching how to make healthy changes to your favorite family dishes that honor your culture.

I believe that women are naturally creative role models. If they eat better, cook better, choose better, and think better then their family will do the same. This will help the next generation escape from the devastating impact of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.  They will have healthier pregnancies, healthier families, and healthier lives so that they can enjoy life to the fullest. It is all about balance and we can help you find that.

Connect

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the word Salient in your name mean?

Salient, is a Latin word that summarizes our vision very well and means literally “they will jump, leap, or spring up.” We believe that we have fulfilled our mission of the Salient Lifestyle Center when the graduates of our lifestyle programs jump for joy, advance in life by leaps and bounds, or spring up to a better life. We believe that everyone should have a chance to break the cycle of brokenness and we are dedicated to helping those in our care on their journey to wellness.

Is Salient Lifestyle Center a business?

No, Salient Lifestyle Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring people’s total well-being through evidence-based, lifestyle education.

Is the Salient Lifestyle Center a medical practice?

No, but our founders and board members include medical doctors and a nationally recognized clinical dietician, so you are in safe hands! The focus of Salient Lifestyle Center is giving our participants education, encouragement, and support to make positive lifestyle choices that will improve their health.

Do I have to pay a membership fee?

No!

I don’t live in Elgin, Illinois – can I still join a class?

Yes! Check out the program pages on our website, you will find that some of our programs are available online, and some are in-person.

I have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Can you help me get rid of it?

We recommend our programs for anyone who is seeking to prevent or reverse their Type 2 diabetes. Our programs are evidence-based which means that they have been developed using research and data. This research and data show that individuals with Type 2 diabetes can lower their risk of complications and lower their A1c levels when they improve their lifestyle, especially their diet. For many people, this means that they can control their diabetes,z and for some, it means that their A1c, sometimes known as blood sugar, levels return to a normal range when they are successfully monitoring and managing their condition and they are no longer considered diabetic.

I have suffered from anxiety and depression for years and I don’t feel like my medication is working, could I stop taking it and take your program instead?

We recommend that you talk with your doctor about your medication management as they may be able to adjust your treatment plan. We welcome you to join our program alongside the care that you are receiving from your healthcare provider.

Can your programs help people with high blood pressure or other chronic diseases like arthritis or asthma?

Yes, adopting a healthy lifestyle helps reduce your risk of complications associated with many chronic diseases and can reduce your symptoms and improve your health.

Do your programs work for children too?

We have some great programs that are focused on having fun and teaching kids about making healthy choices – check out our Color Your Plate classes here: (link).  We also know that the education we share with families in our classes improves the lives of the children living in those families. So, whether you take the class for yourself, or for your children or grandchildren, you can positively impact the health of the children that you care for by teaching them what you have learned. A healthy lifestyle benefits everyone!