Marie Kanagie-McAleese MD
About me
I'm a pediatrician, lifestyle medicine doc, wife, and mom of (now adult) twin daughters. My medical training taught me how to manage illness, and the prevailing culture of medicine is that illness prevention equals health. But as I approached by 40th birthday I was overweight, out of shape, and exhausted, and watched as my parents developed a list of chronic illnesses.​On my journey to identify my own path to wellness, I discovered the simple power of lifestyle choices like plant-forward nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness to bring wellbeing and joy into my life. I became plant-based in 2019 after learning about lifestyle medicine, and decided to become board-certified in LM in 2021 so I could help others facing the same wellness struggles that I encountered. I'm also a licensed Food for Life instructor teaching nutrition and cooking classes since 2022, and a certified Wellcoaches wellness coach since 2024. I'm determined to stay active and joyful as I age, and I'm passionate about spreading the message to others and helping clients discover their own path to wellbeing.
​In one-on-one wellness coaching, we take a deep dive into your personal motivators to define your own version of wellness, and create a personalized roadmap to make it happen. There are no cookie-cutter solutions or one-size-fits-all fixes here: this is all about becoming the best YOU that you can be.
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In my cooking classes, you'll discover how easy and affordable it can be to prepare healthy, home-cooked meals, and learn how certain foods can either promote or prevent illness. Not much time to cook? No problem! I'll show you how quick it can be to get more plants on your plate.
Dr. Marie Kanagie-McAleese is a board-certified pediatrician and has worked as a hospitalist with University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health since 2006. She discovered lifestyle medicine and the benefits of a plant-based diet in 2019, and decided to educate herself on the science of WFPB nutrition in order to empower others to take steps toward better health. Along the way, she also discovered culinary medicine and the joys of home cooking.
Dr. Marie became board certified in lifestyle medicine in 2021, and obtained Wellcoaches cetification as a health and wellness coach in 2024. She has completed certificates in Plant Based Nutrition via the Center for Nutrition Studies/eCornell, Culinary Health Education Fundamentals (CHEF) coaching via Harvard University, the Forks Over Knives/Rouxbe plant-based cooking course. She is excited to promote the work of PCRM as a Food for Life cooking class instructor and teach people just how easy it can be to prepare healthy, whole food, plant-based meals!
