N E W A L U M N I BOARD MEMBER S
Raiyah Elahi
Helping
through
Vitalism
“The first time that I’d ever been to LIFE,
I didn’t know anything about it, and I certainly
had no idea that it was a school based in vitalistic
curriculum” … and so, while attending a friend’s
graduation, Raiyah Elahi was introduced to Life
University.
When Elahi did become familiar with LIFE, she
was poised for a change in her life and career. In
college, majoring in political science, she interned
at the United Nations and had planned to enter law
school. However, in 2009, she noticed that the law
market became highly saturated with no guarantee
of working on cases for which she harbored a
passion. This epiphany led to a major transition in
her life, as she went to work for McKesson, a major
pharmaceutical company.
She explains that she felt that working in an
industry that was “promoting medication and
technology, though it served a purpose in some
cases, wasn’t the only answer to combating chronic
disease.” She says, “I wanted to directly help people,
which was the catalyst for interning at the U.N.”
Coming to this conclusion, Elahi left McKesson and
started her education at Life University. “I knew
LIFE was for me because I wanted to help people in
a way that was about Vitalism — becoming stronger
and healthier, improving their lifestyle habits and
not relying on medications.”
Upon entering LIFE, Elahi pursued her Master’s
Degree in Sport Health Science, specializing
in Exercise Physiology. She says that while she
thought that she could work in a hospital’s cardiac
rehabilitation center, she instead wanted to work
with the patient population that wants to change
their lives before they have to enter hospital care.
Of special note about their practice is that it boasts
not one, but three Life University alumni: Miss
Raiyah Elahi, Dr. Amanda Hinson (2008 D.C.
alumna) and Dr. Eduard Fatakhov (2008 Bachelor
of Science in Nutrition alumnus). Elahi adds, “This
array of professional disciplines allows us to work
together and truly provide a full range of specialties
for our patients, but all with a similar healthcare
mindset — the LIFE Vitalism mindset.”
Elahi reflects on her choice of the University
to continue her education, and says, “I believe
that LIFE is innovative in that a majority of the
curriculum that is offered has to do with Vitalism
and promoting wellness. I asked myself where I
could go to get a full wellness submersion, and it
was Life University.”
However, she does note that even though she grew
up in the area, she still did not know about the
University prior to that fateful introduction. She
says it seemed rather “tucked away,” and those who
had heard of LIFE, only knew it as a chiropractic
school. “When I tell people I attended Life
University, I always make sure to explain that they
have all of these other disciplines that have to do
with Vitalism, and I love seeing how interested they
become.”
promote their message. “I want to see all students
and alumni work together to bring the school up,
and the way to do that is to make connections that
strengthen those relationships.”
Elahi says that at LIFE, the beauty of all of its
disciplines of study — preventive medicine
education — fits exactly with her own philosophy
that she promotes within the Atlanta community.
She notes her mantra of “With my knowledge and
service, I help heal people, and through people, God
heals me.”
She adds, “You can never go wrong helping people.
Just do something that you love that will benefit your
community and the world.”
Raiyah Elahi, M.Sc., (2016 alumna) serves as a
Certified Health Coach and Exercise Physiologist
at The Center for Internal & Integrative Medicine
in Alpharetta, Georgia. Because of her commitment
to the present and future health of her community,
she also founded Food for Tiny Thoughts LLC, a
children’s wellness enrichment program that
provides children with the simple tools and
retainable information regarding the nourishment of
their mental and physical wellbeing. She is also the
Founder and CEO of Bites for Health LLC, a health
food service that provides students and athletes with
fresh snack and meal options.
And it is that piqued interest that Elahi plans to
advance and adds that this is why she joined the
University’s Alumni Board. She sees much of her
future work involving sharing the LIFE message and
philosophy. She explains, “I have some fresh ideas
that I look forward to presenting to the Board that
may help the school and our alumni. For example, I
believe that having more working professionals in
the healthcare fields giving in-class presentations
with real life case studies will help students develop
the critical thinking skills that are required when
they start their own careers.”
Another benefit of being a part of the Alumni
Board for Elahi is to integrate her large community
network in Atlanta with her connections to LIFE to
Raiyah Elahi
After completing her degree, Elahi continued
her education and became an Emory University
Certified Health Coach. It was then serendipitous
that one of her friends from high school, Dr. Eduard
Fatakhov, Life University Bachelor of Science in
Nutrition alumnus, wanted her on board in his
internal and integrative medicine practice. She says,
“It’s a relatively new concept, what we do, providing
a service that allows patients to ask questions about
exercise, health and wellness in a clinical setting.
Most integrative practices do not have an exercise
physiologist on staff, so I am grateful to be able to
help pave that road for the future.”
Alumni.LIFE.edu | 2018
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