Books & Publications – Dr. Michelle Tollefson
Books & Publications
Dr. Michelle Tollefson is a double board-certified OB-GYN and lifestyle medicine physician, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP), certified health and wellness coach, researcher, and internationally recognized speaker. Her publications reflect a career dedicated to elevating women’s health, advancing lifestyle medicine, improving menopause care, supporting cancer survivorship, and driving health equity.
Books
PAVING a Woman’s Path Through Menopause and Beyond
Lead Author: Michelle Tollefson, MD
Co-authors: Elizabeth Pegg Frates, MD; Amy Comander, MD; Julia Pangalangan, PhD; Val Tivnan, MPH
This evidence-based guide helps women and clinicians understand menopause physiology, address symptoms with lifestyle medicine, and redesign healthspan with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
PAVING the Path to Wellness Manual & Workbook (2nd Edition)
Lead Author: Elizabeth Pegg Frates, MD
Co-author: Michelle Tollefson, MD
A publication of PAVING the Path to Wellness, a nonprofit organization
A comprehensive wellness program designed to support a healthy body, peaceful mind, and joyful heart. This manual can be used independently or as part of the PAVING curriculum.
PAVING Your Path Through Breast Cancer and Beyond
Lead Author: Amy Comander, MD
Co-author: Michelle Tollefson, MD
A publication of PAVING the Path to Wellness, a nonprofit organization
A compassionate and evidence-based guide supporting breast cancer survivors and thrivers physically, emotionally, and spiritually with actionable tools for healing and recovery.
Improving Women’s Health Across the Lifespan
Editor-in-Chief: Michelle Tollefson, MD
A publication of PAVING the Path to Wellness, a nonprofit organization
A comprehensive clinical textbook offering a lifespan-based, evidence-based, and multidisciplinary approach to women’s health. This work advances the academic foundation for women’s health education globally.
Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications
Pangalangan JM, Frates EP, Tollefson M, Farewell CV, Brooks-Russell A, Puma JE. Implementing Group-Based Lifestyle Medicine: The Role of the Healthcare Practitioner. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2025.
Pangalangan J, Puma J, Tollefson M, Frates B. Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Lifestyle Medicine Health Behavior Scale. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2024.
Lee H, Going M, Tivnan V, Tollefson M, Comander A, Frates E. Restoring Well-Being for Physicians Through Lifestyle Medicine. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2024.
McHugh J, Alexander M, Kudesia R, Krant J, Comander A, Tollefson M, Geyer C. Living Your Best Life: Lifestyle Medicine for All Women. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2022.
Geyer C, McHugh J, Tollefson M. Lifestyle Medicine for Women: The Time Is Now! Am J Lifestyle Med. 2021
Comander A, Frates B, Tollefson M. PAVING the Path to Wellness for Breast Cancer Survivors. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2021.
Heiss C, Tollefson ML. Storytelling’s Role in Lifestyle Medicine. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2020.
Pangalangan J, Lee H, Woolard T, Tollefson M, Comander A, Frates B. Evaluation of a Lifestyle Medicine Virtual Intervention for Stroke Survivors. SSRN 2024. https://ssrn.com/abstract=4970008
Kennard A, Lindo FM, Ring M, Alli B, Khan N, Potter-McQuilkin D, … Tollefson M. Lifestyle Medicine and Vasomotor Symptoms: An Analytic Review. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2024.
Lee H, Smith A, Abraham E, Haggett D, Eisenstat S, Winters L, Tollefson ML. PAVING the Path to Wellness: Lifestyle Medicine to Improve Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivors. J Clin Oncol. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.e24053
Freeman KJ, Grega ML, Friedman SM, Patel PM, Stout RW, Campbell TM, Tollefson ML et al. Lifestyle Medicine Reimbursement. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021.
Kudesia R, Alexander M, Gulati M, Kennard A, Tollefson M. Dietary Approaches to Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2021.
Tollefson ML et al. A Call to Action for Secondary School Lifestyle Medicine Education. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2020.