About Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to decrease the amount of chronic disease and its effects in our community.
Our goal is also to share the science with our healthcare colleagues about lifestyle medicine and the incredible impact it has on the lives of our patients.
Knowing the science and seeing the results brings us hope that you can live a healthy life without physical restrictions. Hope that we can make our patients better.
Chronic disease plagues over half the American population and costs over a trillion dollars…that’s with a T.
We need to do something about it.
And we are. We’ve created a space in our community where we provide the tools for the pillars of lifestyle medicine.
Join us.
Who we are
We are health care professionals who understand that you are more than just a disease or a number on a scale.
We spend time getting to know you and what makes you tick.
We provide evidence-based options and common sense tools to address your health.
We come from the hospital, the clinic and the bedside – we understand these chronic diseases that plague you and we also provide solutions that heal you.
Dipak N. Patel, DO
Co-Founder, Family Physician
Dr. Dipak Patel, DO, DipABLM is a board certified family medicine physician and practices the full-spectrum of family medicine, including pediatrics and women’s health.
For the past 10 years, he has worked at the Community Health Center, Inc in Meriden, CT as a family medicine physician and onsite medical director.
He has further certification and experience with addiction medicine and mental health conditions. Dr Patel also works as a hospitalist physician at Midstate Medical Center.
In 2017, Dr. Patel earned his most precious board certification – from the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine.
As the physicain of our practice, Dr Patel enjoys spending time and talking with our patients to help them restore their health.
Dr Patel has lived in Middletown, Connecticut for the past 10 years with his wife and 3 young children.
Paula Agogliati, RN
Team Member
Paula Agogliati, MSN, RN-BC has extensive experience as a nurse. She’s worked in and managed many areas of the hospital, including the cath lab, ICU, cardiac rehab, home care and behavioral health.
With her experience, Paula has been an incredible asset to the practice. In 2023 she started running our Chronic Care Management (CCM) program, talking with patients monthly about their health and the pillars of lifestyle medicine.
She also teaches classes, where talks candidly about her experience as a Type 1 diabetic and learning about a plant-based diet.
Paula and her husband have raised four children and are currently enjoying their time traveling, hiking, kayaking and playing pickle-ball.
Anne S. Bingham, MD
Team Member
Anne S. Bingham, MD, FACOG, DipABLM has worked at Crescent Street OBGYN for over 20 years, where she is seeing more obesity, more diabetes and more hypertension in her women patients.
As the daughter-in-law of Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Anne has witnessed the results of his research and listened to his message from the start (1980’s).
Anne, too, has earned her board certification from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
With her incredible experience, Anne is joining us to bring the knowledge and science of lifestyle medicine to our patients through extra educational opportunities and classes.
Together, with her husband Ted Esselstyn, they have lived the plant-based life and raised their three (mostly grown) children the same.
Catherine O'Rourke, RN
Co-Founder
Catherine O’Rourke, BSN, RN, DipACLM has been a nurse since 2005, where she’s had extensive experience in the ICU nurse and other acute care areas.
As she’s worked with this acutely sick patient population, she realized the growing need and importance for prevention of disease.
Catherine has earned a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and has completed studies on “Diet and Lifestyle Intervention” from Wellness Forum Health.
Most recently, Catherine joined her collegues to earn her board-certfication from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Along with her husband Doug, Catherine is raising four young children, so she is no stranger to the busy family dynamic and brings that experience to her teaching with patients.
Cindy Swienton
Yoga Instructor
Cindy began practicing yoga over twenty years ago in order to help with the stress of her day job, and quickly fell in love with the movement of the body linked to the breath.
She attended regular classes from local teachers, as well as yoga and meditation trainings and seminars at Kripalu Yoga Center. She studied with Seane Corn, Stephen Cope, Jillian Pransky, and Sharon Salzberg.
In 2019 she received her 200 hour yoga teacher certification from Kripalu.
Cindy believes that yoga is for every body, and encourages a practice that is mindful, focused and compassionate. Her classes incorporate meditation and movement, and offer a wide range of postures that are accessible to everyone.
She is passionate about her belief that yoga is available to everyone, no matter their age or ability.
What we offer
Improved quality of life
We create a comprehensive, you-focused program by taking the time to understand you and your environment.
Choose your level of treatment from personalized lifestyle medicine services, primary care, monthly membership or just take a class with us.
We bring you support and community. We’ll be with you every step of the way.
Are you Ready?
Book an appointment with us.
Have more Questions?
Schedule a callback.