About
Dr. Lisa Nelson has practiced community-based primary care since 2002, bringing deep roots in family medicine alongside serious training in integrative and functional approaches. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and completed her residency in Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center. She then pursued a Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of California Irvine, rounding out her clinical foundation with expertise in mental health.
Dr. Nelson moved to the Berkshires in 2005 and has built her career there ever since. She served as Medical Director of The Nutrition Center from 2011 to 2018 and spent fifteen years as Director of Medical Education at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, where she taught across the schools of Yoga, Ayurveda, Mindful Outdoor Leadership, and Yoga Therapy. Her 200-hour yoga teacher training and 200-hour Foundations of Ayurveda, both through Kripalu, inform her whole-person clinical philosophy. She co-authored the book "Yoga and Diabetes" with Annie B. Kay for the American Diabetes Association. A national speaker, she has presented at the United States Capitol, the Library of Congress, and medical schools and community centers across the country. Dr. Nelson is passionate about cardiometabolic health, bone health, nutrition, and the science behind mindfulness-based practices. She lives in Lenox, MA with her husband, two children, and her dog Pax. Outside the office, she enjoys hiking, biking, reading, and time with family and friends.
Education & Training
Medical School
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Residency
Family Medicine, Boston Medical Center
Fellowship
Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship, University of California Irvine
Additional Training
200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, Kripalu School for Yoga and Health; 200-hour Foundations of Ayurveda, Kripalu School for Yoga and Health; RISE Teacher Training, Kripalu School for Yoga and Health; Internal Family Systems Online Circle Program; Mindful Physician Leadership Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Shiatsu Massage Therapy
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Nelson right for?
Dr. Nelson is a strong fit for adults managing chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, or cardiometabolic syndrome. Patients navigating perimenopause, menopause, or digestive disorders benefit from her integrative and root-cause approach. She also works well with patients seeking integrated mental health support alongside primary care. Adults who want a physician who draws on lifestyle medicine, functional medicine, and mind-body practices will find her approach especially well suited to their goals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Nelson focuses on chronic disease prevention and management, including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cardiometabolic syndrome. She also specializes in perimenopause and menopause care, mental health conditions, digestive disorders including IBS and IBD, chronic pain, fatigue, and cancer prevention. Her integrative approach means she considers root causes and whole-person factors in every case.
Dr. Nelson uses a root-cause, whole-person model that combines conventional family medicine with functional and integrative methods. She draws on lifestyle medicine, nutritional approaches, and mind-body practices to address the underlying contributors to chronic conditions. Her goal is to help patients understand what drives their health challenges and build a clear, personalized path forward.
Dr. Nelson graduated from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and completed her Family Medicine residency at Boston Medical Center. She also completed a Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of California Irvine. She has practiced community-based primary care since 2002 and spent fifteen years as Director of Medical Education at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.
Yes. Dr. Nelson holds 200-hour yoga teacher training and 200-hour Foundations of Ayurveda credentials from the Kripalu School for Yoga and Health. She also completed the RISE Teacher Training at Kripalu, the Internal Family Systems Online Circle Program, the Mindful Physician Leadership Program at UMass Medical School, and training in Shiatsu Massage Therapy. She has led national programs on the science of yoga for health professionals.
Yes. Dr. Nelson provides comprehensive women's health care, including annual gynecologic exams, perimenopause and menopause management, and bone health. She takes an integrative approach to hormonal transitions and uses nutritional and lifestyle strategies alongside conventional care.
Yes. Dr. Nelson integrates mental health care into her primary care practice. Her Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship from the University of California Irvine gives her advanced clinical grounding in this area. She also draws on Internal Family Systems and mindfulness-based approaches to support her patients' emotional wellbeing.
Yes. Dr. Nelson co-authored the book "Yoga and Diabetes" with Annie B. Kay, published by the American Diabetes Association. She has presented at the United States Capitol, the Library of Congress, and medical schools and community centers across the country. She also writes health and wellness resources on topics including cardiometabolic syndrome, immune health, peptides, and the science of gratitude.
Dr. Nelson sees adult patients aged 18 and up. Her clinical focus spans prevention, chronic disease, hormonal health, and integrative care across all adult age groups.
Doctor profile last updated June 11, 2026