Oakhurst Primary Care Provider Helps Patients Build Healthy Habits

Growing up in Holmdel, New Jersey, primary care physician Courtney Cunningham, M.D., always admired her orthopedic surgeon father and the way he helped his patients.

“Sometimes my dad would encounter a patient when he was out in the community, and they’d tell him how he’d changed their life for the better,” Dr. Cunningham says. Inspired by her father’s hard work and dedication to his patients, Dr. Cunningham is a primary care physician in Oakhurst and is affiliated with Hackensack Meridian Health at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center.

Her father, Michael Cunningham, M.D., is also affiliated with multiple hospitals in the Hackensack Meridian Health system.

What does your typical diet and exercise routine look like?

I believe both are key to living better and longer. I like to eat mostly vegetables. My favorite snacks include a handful of nuts or low-fat mozzarella cheese. I also try to do 10,000 steps per day. I walk around the parking lot during lunch, but after work, I stop at the gym to get the rest of my steps while jogging on the treadmill. I enjoy the satisfaction of knowing I am taking care of my body so that I can help care for others. That includes my husband, my 1.5-year-old son, and our two dogs.

How do you encourage patients to practice healthy habits?

I never want to preach, but I’ll ask if it’s okay to talk about it, and often, they are open and sometimes motivated to discuss it more. We all have a lot going on, and I sympathize with that. I suggest starting to do a little bit of activity every day and building on it.

What's one thing you wish you could do but can't?

Fly. It’s on my mind because my young son is obsessed with anything that flies — like a bee, butterfly or Superman. He makes the cutest little sound when he’s playing, like “Shhh.”

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?

Selena Gomez. She is an inspiring actor, singer, producer and businesswoman. She has been open about her mental health struggles, and her brand, Rare Beauty, has made her one of the youngest women billionaires in the U.S.

Finally, tell us about your wonderful dogs.

Our pets are Dora, a mini golden retriever mix, and Shelby, a pit bull and boxer mix. We love to take them hiking.

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Courtney Cunningham, M.D.
• Make an appointment with a primary care doctor near you, call 800-756-1282.
• Learn more about primary care services at Hackensack Meridian Health.