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Day 1 - May 7
9:00am
Pre-Event Culinary Workshop
Advancing Patient Health and Provider Education Through Culinary Medicine
Culinary medicine is an evidence-based mode of education and empowerment that is spreading along with the various other food as medicine (FAM) interventions. Amid this growing interest among patients, providers, and policymakers, there is a growing need to educate and equip stakeholders spanning from multidisciplinary healthcare team members and community health workers to food industry leaders to integrate this field into their practice. This three hour pre-event workshop will augment other didactic conference sessions by offering an immersive, interprofessional experience that will define and provide background about the core principles of CM, identify tactics for integrating CM with other FAM interventions, and equip participants to adopt or otherwise support CM within their current area(s) of practice through a mix of didactic sessions, demonstrations, and hands-on culinary activities.
Each attendee will receive a printed copy of the comprehensive culinary medicine instruction guide, written by workshop directors.
Only 43 places left available so book your spot today!
Jaclyn Albin, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, & Public Health, Southwestern Medical Center
Olivia Thomas, Director of Nutrition Innovation and Implementation, Boston Medical Center
Raeanne Sarazen, MA, RD, Consultant, Culinary Nutrition Consulting
Adante Hart, Nutrition Consultant & Educator
12:30pm
Registration & Networking
Plenary
Food as Health
1:30pm
Welcome to Food as Medicine Network: Live 2025!
Ken Erickson, CEO, iQpay
1:40pm
The Future of Healthcare is Food: Unlocking the Path to Better Health
This session will explore how current healthcare policies and regulations both support and hinder the integration of nutrition into medical practices. It will examine the critical roles that healthcare professionals play in advocating for and adopting "food as medicine" practices, highlighting the importance of collaboration and education. The discussion will also feature examples of successful models and programs that have effectively integrated food into healthcare, offering key lessons and strategies that can be applied more broadly to promote better health outcomes.
Alan Shannon, Public Affairs Director, USDA
Tornia Morgan, Community Dietitian, Medstar Health
Katelyn Smoger, Director of Food is Medicine and The Farm, Trinity Health
Amanda Ryan, Deputy Director, State and Population Health Group, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
2:20pm
Aligning Health & Nutrition: Payer Perspectives on Food for Disease Management
This session focuses on how payers and providers can collaborate to develop effective, evidence-based nutrition interventions aimed at disease prevention. We will explore best practices for fostering partnerships that enhance patient outcomes and promote healthier communities. Additionally, the discussion will focus on the key metrics and outcomes that should be used to evaluate the success of nutrition-based programs, ensuring that these initiatives are impactful and sustainable. By the end of the session, you’ll have actionable insights into aligning health and nutrition for better disease management.
Malaika Stoll, Senior Medical Director, Blue Shield of California
Erica David-Park, Market Chief Medical Officer, Community Health Choices, AmeriHealth Caritas
Emily LaMaster, Director of Health Equity Strategy, Humana
3:00pm
Guiding Consumers to Make Healthier Choices
This session will focus on learning effective strategies for guiding consumers toward healthier eating habits. It will explore proven methods that have successfully encouraged behavior change and how technology and digital tools can further support these efforts. The discussion will also examine the role of marketing and food labeling in shaping consumer choices and identify ways to improve their impact. In addition, we will also explore the importance of the ingredients and additives in consumer food products that can help prevent rather than enhancing disease. Additionally, panelists will share successful case studies and campaigns that have significantly influenced consumer behavior, offering valuable insights into how to create lasting, positive changes in dietary habits.
Stephen Lupe, Head, Behavioral Health in the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Cleveland Clinic
Steven Jennings, Brand Lead, Health & Sustainability, Ahold Delhaize USA
Teresa Chapman, Chief People Officer, Santa Clara Family Health Plan
Adam Wallace, Director, Instacart Health
3:40pm
Refreshment Break & Networking
4:10pm
Roundtables
Choose your path!
1) Harnessing the Power of Tech for Personalized Nutrition
Victor Penev, Founder and CEO, Edamam
2) Healthy Workforce, Healthy Business: Understanding the Economic Benefits of Food as Medicine in Employee Wellness Programs?
3) The Connection Between Mental Health & Diet
4) Food as Medicine for Chronic Conditions and their Comorbidities
Mory Bahar, CEO, Personal Remedies
5) Nutrition's role in Maternal Health
Sara Torrence RDN, Board Member, March of Dimes
5:00pm
Drinks Reception & The Inaugural Food as Medicine Awards Ceremony
6:30pm
Close of Day 1
Day 2 - May 8
Track 1
Track 2
7:30am
Morning Yoga
8:00am
Registration & Networking
Track 1
Evidence-Based Food as Medicine
9:00am
Chair's Opener
9:10am
Nourishing the Food as Medicine Movement: The Role of Health Professionals as Change Agents
Clinicians can turbocharge the effectiveness of food as medicine initiatives by helping patients recognize the potency of dietary interventions and by making strategic referrals. Nevertheless, health professionals have historically not received the nutrition education required to fully assume this role. This talk will focus on exciting progress in bringing nutrition education into medical training and the remarkable ways that engaged clinicians can transform the food as medicine movement.
Stephen Devries, MD, FACC, Preventive Cardiologist, Executive Director, Nonprofit Gaples Institute Nutrition and Lifestyle Education, Adjunct Associate Professor of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
9:30am
The Many Colours of Food as Medicine
Hosted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Livleen Gill, President, The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Hope Barkoukis, Director of the Culinary Medicine program, Case Western Reserve University
Deirdre McGinley-Gieser, Chief Strategy & Impact Officer, Meals On Wheels
10:10am
Connecting Healthcare and Community for Diabetes Care: Journey of a State
Diabetes is one of the most prevalent and costly health conditions in the United States, and nutrition plays a fundamental role in managing the condition effectively 1,2 . In this presentation we describe the outcomes and cost effectiveness of a diabetes care pathway for older adults developed and implemented by Apostle Group, LLC in the state of Maryland to improve healthcare and human services linkages to decrease cost and improve access to resources using technology for older adults. This project connected healthcare and human services via the state HIE partner CRISP. Other Stakeholders included Maryland Department of Aging (MDoA), Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Maryland Primary Care Program (MDPCP), Carefirst and Maryland Medicaid. The program included pairing Medical Nutrition Therapy provided by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists with medically tailored meals for those identified as food insecure. Considerations for future research and translation of findings into practice will be discussed.
Howard Haft, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Judy Simon, Nutrition Consultant
10:40am
Refreshment Break & Networking
11:15am
How Food and Nutrition Integrates into Lifestyle Medicine
Hosted by American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Martin Tull,Senior Deputy Director - Strategy, Innovation & Development, American College of Lifestyle Medicine
12:00pm
Networking | Lunch Break | Live Cooking Demo
2:00pm
Lightning Talks
2:00pm
Driving Diabetic Outcomes Through Food as Medicine in Health Systems
Details to follow
2:15pm
TBA
Details to follow
2:30pm
TBA
Details to follow
Track 1
Food Tech
2:45pm
Integrating Apps, Wearables, and Online Platforms to Support Dietary Plans
This session will explore cutting-edge food tech innovations that are transforming personalized nutrition and dietary support. It will focus on how apps, wearables, and online platforms can be seamlessly integrated into daily routines to help individuals make healthier food choices and stick to dietary plans. Panelists will also address the key challenges in developing and implementing these technologies, such as personalization, engagement, and accessibility. Through real-world case studies and success stories, attendees will gain insights into how food tech is driving meaningful dietary changes and improving nutrition outcomes.
Shaan Chaturvedi, Director, Product Innovation, Samsung
Chetna Gupta, Sr. Director of Product - Nutrition tech and Personalization, Albertsons
3:25pm
The Transformative Role of Food as Medicine in Obesity Care
In this session, we will explore the role of food as medicine in obesity care, focusing on integrating GLP-1 medications, personalized lifestyle counseling, and medical nutrition therapy. Key topics include innovative strategies for combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, financial comparisons, and the importance of value-based care and social determinants of health. We will also highlight collaborations with stakeholders—healthcare providers, insurers, and nonprofits—to develop programs that improve access to nutritious food and drive sustainable health outcomes. Join us to discover how a holistic approach can redefine obesity management and empower individuals toward better health.
Grace Noboa-Hidalgo, Head of Food as Medicine, Stealth Mode
Fahad Zubair, Medical Director Obesity & Nutrition Medicine, Allegheny Health Network
Rashim Gupta, Physician, Founder, Whole Endo
4:25pm
Unifying the Food Movement Ecosystem: What’s it Going to Take?
In this session, you’ll discover the primary barriers that hinder the integration of food as medicine into a unified healthcare and food system, along with actionable strategies for overcoming these obstacles. We will discuss how stakeholders across the food as medicine ecosystem—such as healthcare professionals, food producers, policymakers, and community organizations—can collaborate effectively to create a cohesive approach. You’ll also learn about the specific policy reforms necessary to establish a supportive framework for integrating food as medicine into mainstream healthcare. Finally, we will explore how innovative technologies and data analytics can facilitate this integration and the vital role they play in building a unified ecosystem.
Caree Cotwright, Director of Nutrition & Security & Health Equity, USDA
Courtney Younglove, Founder & Physician, Heartland Weight Loss
Jim Howard, Founder & CEO, Journey’s Metabolic
Stacy Bates, Direction of Wellness Nutrition Strategy, H-E-B
Dr. Deepti Agarwal, Medical Director, Precision Medical Care
4:50pm
Event Recap & Closer
5:00pm
End of Food as Medicine Network: Live 2025
7:30am
Morning Yoga
8:00am
Registration & Networking
Track 2
Food as a benefit
9:00am
Chair's Opener
9:10am
Accelerating Employer-Sponsored Food As Health Benefits
With over 160 million U.S. employees and nearly half receiving health insurance through work, employers are key to advancing Food Is Medicine (FIM). While many express interest, few offer food-related benefits due to limited guidance. This talk previews Feeding Change’s June 2025 research, showcasing employers’ roles in FIM and providing actionable steps to implement food as health benefits effectively.
Anna Lin-Schweitzer, Associate Director, Feeding Change, Milken Institute
9:30am
Introducing Nutrition into Corporate Wellness Programs
Part 1: The Economic Impact of Nutritional Corporate Wellness Programs
In this session, we will explore the results and benefits of implementing nutritional corporate wellness programs. We will examine how investing in nutrition can lead to significant economic advantages for organizations, including reduced absenteeism and lower healthcare costs.
Heidi Greenwaldt, Nutrition Director, Sodexo
Elizabeth Machnica, Director of Health & Wellbeing, Buffalo Niagara Medical Center
10:10am
Introducing Nutrition into Corporate Wellness Programs
Part 2: Implementing Nutritional Corporate Wellness Programs: A Case Study Approach
In this session, we will focus on the practical steps for implementing nutritional corporate wellness programs, using a case study-led approach. Attendees will learn how to assess employee needs and align health goals with the company's values. We will discuss best practices for tailoring programs to accommodate diverse dietary preferences and cultural backgrounds. By analyzing successful case studies, you will gain insights into overcoming common pitfalls, like adopting a one-size-fits-all strategy and ensuring employee engagement. The session will also cover methods for measuring the effectiveness of these initiatives, including tracking participation rates and health outcomes.
Tristin Sullivan-Leppa, Deputy HR Director, Benefits & Wellness, City of Phoenix
Romy Nelson, Employee Health & Wellness Manager, City of Mesa
10:40am
Refreshment Break & Networking
11:15am
TOP SECRET
Details to follow
12:00pm
Networking | Lunch Break | Live Cooking Demo
2:00pm
Lightning Talks
2:00pm
Bending The Arc" from Food Security to Nutrition Equity: Health Equity Considerations in the Food As Medicine Movement
The session will discuss recommended health equity metrics to identify and measure in programming, operational strategies and technological tools that can help further nutrition equity, and practical health equity-related considerations for stakeholders in the Food As Medicine ecosystem (such as health systems, community-based organizations, payers, and policy makers)
Priscilla Wang, Associate Medical Director, Primary Care Health Equity, Mass General Brigham | Primary Care Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital
2:15pm
Nourish: An Innovative Pediatric Hospital Program to Address Food Insecurity
Nourish, a program at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, addresses hunger of parents and caregivers in the hospital through on-site pantries, meal vouchers, a free food cart and curated grocery bags to take home. Outside of the hospital, we provide nutritional support through online ordering and delivery of fresh produce from a network of 10 community-based pantries for home delivery, medically tailored meals, and a reloadable digital grocery card. During this session, we will present program metrics, lessons learned, and leverage points for other hospitals to address nutrition and food security in their populations.
Anna Garwood, Research Project Coordinator, Nourish, Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health and Science University
Rebecca Jungbauer, Researcher and Project Manager,
Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center at Oregon Health and Science University
2:30pm
A Pilot Program Uniting Nonprofits, Clinicians, and Retailers
Details to follow
Track 2
Food Security
Chaired by Erin Martin, Co-Founder and CEO, FreshRx Oklahoma
2:45pm
Nutritional Deficiencies and Long-term Health Outcomes in Food-Insecure Populations
In this session, you’ll learn how healthcare providers can identify and engage food-insecure patients through targeted screening and effective outreach strategies. We’ll explore the long-term public health challenges caused by widespread nutritional deficiencies in these populations, such as chronic disease and poor health outcomes. Most importantly, you’ll gain insight into proven solutions, including successful interventions like community partnerships, nutrition assistance programs, and educational initiatives. These strategies have been shown to mitigate the effects of nutritional deficiencies and significantly improve health outcomes for food-insecure populations.
Krista Yoder, COO, Food Health Collective
Shreela Sharma, Co-Founder, Brighter Bites, Professor, UTHealth Houston
Ed Gaskin, Executive Director, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets
Danielle Harmon, Director of Community Development, Appalachian Regional Healthcare
3:25pm
A Fresh Start in the USA: What do the Next 4 years Look like for Food Security Policy
In this session, you'll explore what the next four years could mean for U.S. food security policy and the critical reforms needed to address food insecurity effectively. We will examine how policymakers can harness data and evidence-based research to shape impactful strategies and ensure inclusivity to meet the needs of diverse communities. Additionally, the discussion will highlight how enhanced collaboration between government, non-profits, and the private sector can foster a comprehensive approach to food security and create sustainable solutions for all.
Suzy Friedman, Senior Director, Food Policy, WWF
Michael Cabonargi, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
4.25pm
Soil to Cell – Transforming Healthcare Through a More Nutritious and Affordable Food System. Reconnecting Food and Health.
We spend over upwards of $4T on poor nutrition between the food itself and the healthcare costs to treat the conditions that result from the food. Our incentives need to be redesigned from soil to cell. Incentivize nutritional density vs. calories and incentive health outcomes vs. volume of services rendered. Make good nutrition affordable, make good food that costs less than bad food. Eliminate the waste from both systems/industries. We will talk about the path to reversing cardiometabolic disease and that food is health is the key to longevity and sustainable healthcare costs.
Ellen Brown, Co-Founder & Partner, B2P Health
Carter Williams, CEO, iSelect Fund
4:50pm
Event Recap & Closer
5:00pm
End of Food as Medicine Network: Live 2025
