The Summit is the premier gathering for leaders shaping the future of Food is Medicine. Last year, the event convened over 200 people in person, and more than 1000 online, from sectors across academia, healthcare, the private sector, policy, community-based organizations, and individuals with lived experience to advance the role of food and nutrition in healthcare. This year, the Summit will focus on both the real-world progress and the tensions in FIM implementation, effectiveness, and equity.
Highlights how Food is Medicine can align with payer priorities by improving outcomes, managing costs, and supporting value-based care models
Explore how GLP-1 drugs are influencing treatment approaches and the integral role of nutrition-based interventions
Amid changes to federal policy and funding priorities, we will examine what’s at stake for FIM and how to protect progress
Examine what makes Food is Medicine interventions work well in real-world healthcare and community settings
Clarify common myths and communicate about food additives and ultra-processed foods in ways that build trust and support healthier choices
Hear findings from recent 1115 waiver evaluations and applications of FIM to new settings, like community pharmacies. Discuss findings and their implications directly with the researchers and implementation partners.
Tune in from anywhere in the world to watch the first day of the 3rd Annual Food is Medicine National Summit on October 8, 2025 from 11:00AM - 4:35PM ET. Learn from experts about progress, challenges, and opportunities to strengthen evidence and improve access to Food is Medicine programs.
Registration for virtual attendance is free.
Dr. Berkowitz is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Section Chief for Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in the Division of General Medicine & Clinical Epidemiology. He is also the Deputy Scientific Director of the AHA’s Health Care by Food initiative. He is a general internist and primary care doctor. His research includes both Food is Medicine randomized trials and large-scale evaluation of food insecurity and Food is Medicine interventions. He is the author of the recent book Equal Care: Health Equity, Social Democracy, and the Egalitarian State, which examines how public policy can improve population health.
Mary Ann Brody is a seasoned design and experience leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and growth. Her work is grounded in a rigorous data-driven approach, and she is dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences that foster trust and build meaningful relationships with customers. Working cross-functionally with technology, operations, and design, Mary Ann excels at communicating and championing a clear and compelling vision for member experience and behavior change.As the VP, Experience at Devoted Health, she leads talented teams in crafting an exceptional end-to-end member experience that leaves members feeling known and cared for. She is passionate about understanding what truly supports members’ health and well-being—whether through seamless care navigation, proactive engagement, or access to nutrition and Food is Medicine initiatives. Mary Ann’s leadership has been integral to Devoted’s success as one of the fastest-growing consumer healthcare companies in our category—with an NPS of 70 and trust scores above 90%.Before joining Devoted, Mary Ann worked at the United States Digital Service at the White House, where she helped improve the delivery of critical government services for Veterans. She also served as a lead editor of Health Literacy Online, a guide to writing and designing easy-to-use health websites. Mary Ann received her BA and MPH from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Henry Crews is a dedicated social entrepreneur and Executive Director of the Green Rural Redevelopment Organization (GRRO) in Henderson, NC. A North Carolina native, he co-founded GRRO in 2012 with his wife, Ardis Crews, to address poverty, food insecurity, and chronic disease in Vance County and 11 surrounding counties.
Under Henry’s leadership, GRRO promotes rural revitalization through partnerships that strengthen agriculture, expand access to healthy foods, and improve health outcomes via nutrition education and food access programs.
His commitment to economic empowerment extends beyond North Carolina. He has led workforce development initiatives across the U.S. through Opportunities Industrialization Centers (OICs) and has worked internationally in Africa to support underserved communities.
With decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and grassroots advocacy, Henry remains focused on building resilient, thriving rural communities through sustainable development and inclusive opportunity.
Larry L. Davis is a Patient Advocate on the Tufts University Food Is Medicine Institute’s National Community Council. Larry’s commitment to Food Is Medicine initiatives is a direct result of his diagnosis as a Type 2 Diabetic in 2022. Larry’s healthcare team, composed of his PCP, CP, and RDN, was instrumental in helping him take a proactive role in effective diabetes treatment and care. Larry cites his enrollment in a Medically Tailored Groceries Program as a key reason for his becoming an advocate for FIM initiatives in his home state of Michigan and in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti community where he currently lives. Larry is also a member of the Michigan Collaborative for Type 2 Diabetes, as well as the Trinity Health Farm Share Fresh Produce Distribution Program. Larry is committed to providing a voice on behalf of programs that empower patients living with chronic illnesses across the spectrum.
“I am honored to be invited to participate in Tufts University’s groundbreaking work in the area of Food Is Medicine.”
Lauren Driscoll is the founder and CEO of NourishedRx, a precision nutrition company that bridges healthcare and food to improve outcomes for individuals with chronic conditions. A public health expert by training, Lauren has spent her career at the intersection of healthcare innovation, policy, and value-based care—holding senior roles at Oxford Health Plans, Leavitt Partners, and in care delivery organizations focused on population health.She launched NourishedRx to help health plans and providers deliver personalized, data-driven nutrition support at scale. The company’s SaaS-enabled platform integrates culturally responsive services with rich data—from food and nutrition behavior to labs, claims, and patient-reported outcomes—laying the foundation for AI-powered insights and precision care.Lauren began her career on the health policy staff in the Clinton White House and has remained focused on transforming how we prevent and manage chronic disease—by making personalized nutrition a practical and measurable part of everyday healthcare.
Christina Economos, PhD is a prominent leader of interdisciplinary research in childhood obesity, community-based interventions, and nutrition science. She is Dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, New Balance Chair in Childhood Nutrition, Professor at the Friedman School, and Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Her pioneering research has brought evidence-based, systems-level solutions to the forefront of policy and practice. Dr. Economos has published over 225 scientific papers and has served as a national thought leader on advisory boards and committees, including the American Heart Association, American Society for Nutrition, and the National Institutes of Health. Her work is actively transforming not just the science of nutritional wellbeing, but also the policies that guide it. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Boston University, a Master of Science from Columbia University, and a Doctorate in Nutritional Biochemistry from Tufts University.
Katie Garfield, JD is a Clinical Instructor and the Director of Whole Person Care at the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School. Katie joined the Center in 2014 and currently directs its initiatives that focus on better equipping the U.S. health care system to identify and respond to health-related social needs, including the Center’s Food is Medicine project. In her work on these initiatives, she conducts legal and policy research regarding current pathways to integrate innovative services into health care delivery and financing. She also provides education and technical support to a range of community-based organizations, state agencies, health care providers, and coalitions who are working to develop or implement strategies to achieve these goals. Prior to joining the Center, Katie was an associate at Ropes & Gray LLP. She is a licensed member of the Massachusetts Bar.
Cecilia Gerard is a public health leader with deep experience in health care payment and health system transformation. She is the Managing Director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, where she leads strategy and research translation, including the National Network of Excellence for Health Care. Before joining the Institute, Cecilia was at Tufts Health Plan, where she oversaw the expansion of Medicaid managed care, increasing coverage to 300,000 Massachusetts residents and launching innovative benefits such as medically tailored meals for MassHealth members. Previously, she led community health funding initiatives for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, focused on expanding behavioral health access and strengthening community hospitals. An early member of the federal implementation team for the Affordable Care Act, she played a key role in designing insurance risk stabilization programs. Cecilia holds an MPH from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a BA from Wellesley College.
Dr. Nira Goren spearheads Strategy & Special Projects for Health at Google. In this capacity, she leads Google’s Food is Medicine program, empowering individuals to achieve better health and environmental sustainability through food. It is built upon three strategic pillars: improving the quality of nutrition information, increasing access to nutrient dense food, and fostering culinary skills. Dr. Goren also drives Google's broader Health Information Quality efforts, where she guides a clinical team dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of health information across products like Gemini, Search, and YouTube. A Stanford-trained pediatrician by background, Dr. Goren previously worked at Google DeepMind on clinician-facing product strategy and as a consultant to leading healthcare organizations with the Boston Consulting Group.
As a first-generation student that overcame many academic, financial, and personal adversities, Taylor has made it her mission to engage with the community and share resources to assist with any specific needs that they might have. She was once a person that “didn’t know, what I didn’t know”, but her mission is to make sure at least one other person doesn’t miss out on opportunities for that same reason. Taylor has a background in community engagement, higher education, leadership development, and healthcare strategic practices and program management. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a B.A in Emerging Media and Communications, and attained her master's in public administration from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Dr. Alka Gupta is Co-Founder & CEO at Bluerock Care, a comprehensive value-based primary care group located in Southeast Washington, DC. She is Chief Medical Officer of an Accountable Care Organization. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at George Washington University and Weill Cornell Medicine.Dr. Gupta believes that prevention and a healthy lifestyle should be at the forefront of health care, and she works to bring these principles into healthcare delivery. She is board certified in Internal Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine. She is on the Board of Directors for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), the Anacostia Coordinating Council, and several other nonprofit organizations.From 2015 – 2020, Dr. Gupta was Assistant Professor of Medicine at New York Presbyterian – Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. She was Co-Founder & Medical Director of the Integrative Health & Wellbeing Program. During that time, she had the privilege of representing the new center to the CEO and executive staff at NYP Hospital and to the Dean’s Board of Trustees. In April 2020, she helped to launch the COVID-19 Recovery Unit at NYP – Weill Cornell in order to care for some of the most debilitated hospitalized patients, which helped to serve as a model nationally as the pandemic continued to spread beyond New York City.Dr. Gupta enjoys teaching medical students in her practice. She is also frequently an invited lecturer, and speaking engagements have included seminars at medical institutions, community events, and various corporations.
Kurt Hager's research interest are in structural determinants of health, food insecurity, federal nutrition programs, and health insurance policies. His current research evaluates the effectiveness of nutritional and housing interventions integrated into clinical care under Massachusetts' Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration. Dr. Hager's commitment to translating research to policy led to co-authoring the Aspen Institute’s Food is Medicine Research Action Plan and as contributing as a writer for the Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. He currently serves on the steering committee of the National Produce Prescription Collaborative.
Dr. Sean Hashmi, MD, MS, FASN, is a nephrologist and obesity medicine specialist serving as Regional Physician Director for Lifestyle and Obesity Medicine at Southern California Permanente Medical Group. He chairs the Permanente Federation's Interregional Clinical Practice Group on Lifestyle/Obesity Medicine and previously served as President of the Clinical Section of the Obesity Society.Board-certified in nephrology and obesity medicine, Dr. Hashmi combines lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery to deliver comprehensive care. He founded SELFPrinciple.org, a nonprofit dedicated to health education and children's educational support. A UCLA-trained physician and sought-after speaker, Dr. Hashmi has received multiple SCPMG awards for his exceptional contributions to advancing preventive medicine and obesity management.
Kelseanna Hollis-Hansen, PhD, MPH is a community-engaged public health nutrition scientist and Research Assistant Professor at the Tufts Food is Medicine Institute. Dr. Hollis-Hansen's work focuses on supporting patients and community members living with chronic diseases and food insecurity. For over 15 years she has worked in developing and evaluating interventions that improve the food retail environment (e.g., grocery stores, food pantries), and pairing direct access to nutritious food (e.g., medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, meal kits) with behavioral strategies that support healthy eating and household resiliency.
Ellee has more than 20 years of experience developing and implementing impactful food justice projects including one of the nation’s first market match program, San Diego’s first SNAP-accessible farmers market and San Diego’s first permitted urban farm. In 2012, she co-created Solidarity Farm (which was honored as California’s Climate Smart Farm of the Year in 2020) and was a co-founder of Foodshed Small Farm Cooperative in 2020. She holds a MA in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and serves on the advisory board for California Climate and Agriculture Network and the American Health Association's National Health Care by Food Strategic Integration Group.
Herman Johnson, PhD, is a dedicated and purpose-driven individual whose life has been marked by service, education, and empowerment. A proud veteran of the United States Army, Herman has continually exemplified the values of discipline, integrity, and commitment in every aspect of his life. His military experience laid the foundation for a lifelong journey of learning and community engagement.
Herman holds an Associate’s Degree from the College of Biblical Studies, and he further pursued academic excellence by earning a Doctoral Degree in Biblical Theology from Therapon Theological Seminary & Bible College. His theological education reflects a deep commitment to spiritual growth and a desire to serve others through faith-based leadership and teaching. In addition to his academic and spiritual pursuits, Herman is a skilled and self-employed auto mechanic, showcasing his strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. His ability to balance technical expertise with his passion for people is a testament to his versatility and dedication.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Herman is deeply involved in community empowerment. Herman's life is a powerful example of what it means to serve others with humility and purpose. Whether under the hood of a car or at the helm of a community initiative, he brings the same passion, diligence, and unwavering faith to everything he does.
Ryan M. Kane, MD, MPH is an incoming Assistant Professor in the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy’s Food is Medicine Institute and the Department of Medicine’s Division of General Internal Medicine. He is a primary care internal medicine physician with clinical expertise in weight management. His research focuses on advancing equitable obesity care by integrating food is medicine interventions into standard clinical practice. Dr. Kane earned a B.S. in Biology from Clemson University and received his M.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina. During medical school, he completed an M.P.H. in Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He pursued residency training in Internal Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, where he also served as Chief Resident. Thereafter, Dr. Kane was a National Clinician Scholar at Duke University, where he led research focused on food is medicine, obesity care, and health equity. During this time, he also collaborated with local and national public health agencies on initiatives to strengthen the integration of public health and health care.
David D. Kim, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Public Health Sciences at the University of Chicago. His interdisciplinary research integrates health economics, policy evaluation, and decision modeling to advance value-based healthcare decisions. He has developed innovative analytical frameworks in economic evaluation and disease simulation models, including the Criteria for Health Economic Quality Evaluation (CHEQUE) tool and the Diabetes, Obesity, Cardiovascular Disease Microsimulation (DOC-M) model. His work has been published in leading journals, including JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine, Health Affairs, and Medical Decision Making, and has received coverage in major media outlets, such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. Dr. Kim serves as a member of the World Health Organization’s Guidelines Development Group for GLP-1RAs for obesity management, the Midwest Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council at the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), and as an Associate Method Editor for Annals of Internal Medicine.
Devon Klatell is Vice President, Food, at The Rockefeller Foundation. She leads the Foundation’s work to advance a more nourishing, equitable and sustainable food system in the United States. Currently, Ms. Klatell is leading the Foundations $100M Food is Medicine initiative. In that role, she works with healthcare insurers, hospitals, food service businesses, policy makers and other funders to increase consumption of healthy foods by underserved communities. Previously, she led the Foundation’s initiatives on food waste prevention, sustainable protein, school nutrition, and the True Cost of Food. Prior to taking on her current role, she oversaw the Foundation’s Strategic Planning team, which designed and launched the Foundation’s global initiatives. Before joining the Foundation, Devon was a management consultant at Katzenbach Partners and at Booz & Company. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University in cognitive psychology and an M.A. in food systems from New York University.
Sunil Kumar is the president of Tufts University and assumed office on July 1, 2023. He is the 14th president of Tufts and the first person of color to hold the office. He also serves as a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Tufts University’s School of Engineering. Kumar’s research includes performance evaluation and control of manufacturing systems, service operations, and communications networks. In particular, he studies systems affected by stochastic variability via mathematical models. He also studies application of optimization methods and control theory to managerial problems.
Born in India, Kumar received a Master of Engineering degree in computer science and automation from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Mangalore University in Surathkal. He earned a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Heather Latino, JD, is a Clinical Instructor at the Food Law and Policy Clinic at the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School. Since joining the Clinic in 2023, Heather has helped lead initiatives supporting community organizations, nonprofits, coalitions, and government entities—including local, state, and tribal partners—interested in developing or expanding Food is Medicine policies and programs. Her work centers on the critical connections between Food is Medicine initiatives and local food systems. Heather is a co-author of the recent report on Maximizing the Impact of Nutrition Interventions with Local Food Procurement, which outlines strategies for states to integrate local agriculture and other food systems values into Food is Medicine policies and initiatives. Heather has a Master of Laws in Food and Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Sarah Mastrorocco is Vice President and General Manager of Health at Instacart. An innovative leader with extensive expertise in business development and strategy, Sarah spearheaded the creation of Instacart Health and continues to oversee the initiative designed to support consumers, businesses, and nonprofits across three key areas: increasing nutrition security, inspiring healthier choices, and scaling food and nutrition programs within healthcare. In her role, she is focused on expanding consumer health tools and empowering organizations with technology to help improve access to nutritious food and nutrition education. A longtime Instacart veteran, Sarah has played an integral role at the company since joining as the first member of the company’s business development team in 2014. During her tenure, she has held various leadership positions across business development and operations including building relationships with North America’s largest retailers, leading Instacart’s catalog, developing strategic partnerships, and scaling new businesses.
Erin McDonald, PhD is a strategic advisor with more than 15 years of experience advancing health, equity, and economic mobility through policy, research, and systems innovation. She currently advises philanthropic, nonprofit, and academic organizations on strategy and cross-sector partnerships. Most recently, Erin served as Senior Advisor in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, she co-led the federal Food Is Medicine Initiative and directed People and Places Thriving, whole-of-government efforts to align federal resources for community health and thriving. She previously served as Regional Administrator for the Administration for Children and Families in the Mid-Atlantic, leading initiatives to strengthen the wellbeing of children and families. Erin has also held leadership roles at the New York City Mayor’s Office, Feeding America, and Women’s World Banking. She earned her PhD in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
Natalie Mihalek’s dedication to public service began early, earning the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award. After high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where she qualified and served in the Navy’s elite nuclear power program. Only 1 percent of the sailors admitted are women.After completing her military service, Mihalek returned home to Allegheny County to attend the University of Pittsburgh, earning both a bachelor’s and law degree. She then worked in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, working closely with crime victims and police to prosecute criminal cases and put violent offenders behind bars. In 2018, Natalie Mihalek was elected as Pennsylvania State Representative. Representing the 40th District, comprised of Washington and Allegheny County, she has worked to combat human trafficking, support domestic violence survivors, modernize the tax code, and secure benefits for veterans. Motivated by her personal health journey and the desire to educate her children, Mihalek has also become an advocate for reducing chemical exposure in food and promoting wellness.Currently, she serves on the Children and Youth, Energy, Liquor Control, and Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committees where she campions policies that improve public safety, support families, and promote a healthier, more informed Pennsylvania.
Dariush Mozaffarian is a cardiologist, public health scientist, and Director of the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. He is a Distinguished Professor, Dean Emeritus, and Jean Mayer Professor at the Friedman School, Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, and attending physician in cardiology at Tufts Medical Center. He is a globally recognized leader in the science of nutrition, cardiometabolic diseases, policy, and Food is Medicine, aiming to create the evidence and translation for a food system that is nutritious, equitable, and sustainable. Dr. Mozaffarian has authored more than 600 scientific publications and is one of the top cited researchers in medicine. He has served in numerous advisory roles, including on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, and his work has been featured in an array of media outlets. Thomson Reuters has named him as one of the World's Most Influential Scientific Minds.Dr. Mozaffarian received his B.S. in biological sciences from Stanford University, M.D. from Columbia University, and Doctorate in Public Health from Harvard University; and clinical training in internal medicine at Stanford University and in cardiology at the University of Washington. He is married, has three children, and actively trains as a Fourth Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo.
Dr. Richard Nelson is a Research Health Scientist and Investigator in the IDEAS Center at the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System. He is also a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and the Associate Director of the Health Economics Core at the University of Utah. Dr. Nelson is a health economist whose research interests are in evaluating programs designed to address health-related social needs such as homelessness and food insecurity. He has extensive experience conducting economic evaluations such as cost-effectiveness analyses as well as using electronic health record data along with causal inference techniques to conduct robust observational studies.
Danielle Nierenberg is a world-renowned researcher, speaker, and advocate on all issues relating to our food system and agriculture. In 2013, Danielle Nierenberg co-founded Food Tank (foodtank.com) with Bernard Pollack, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on building a global community for safe, healthy, nourished eaters. Food Tank is a global convener, thought leadership organization, and unbiased creator of original research impacting the food system. Danielle has an M.S. in Agriculture, Food, and Environment from the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and spent two years volunteering for the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. Danielle is the recipient of the 2020 Julia Child Award.
Throughout his career, Ed has been a leader in healthcare innovation, utilizing advanced technology to enhance transparency, efficiency and equity in healthcare delivery.Prior to founding Devoted Health, Ed played a pivotal role at AthenaHealth as it evolved from a basement startup to a leading electronic health record vendor listed on the NASDAQ. He helped develop the fundamental patent for AthenaHealth’s business model (US Patent #7,617,116) and personally authored over half a million lines of code. During his tenure, Ed served as an Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Operating Officer and President of Services of AthenaHealth. He retired from AthenaHealth to join its board before he co-founded Devoted. In addition to his contribution at AthenaHealth, Ed has also been actively involved in various industry groups, advocating for interoperability between systems to facilitate seamless data use for continuity of care. Ed has held board positions at Kyruus, Castlight Health and Healthpoint, who have drawn on his expertise in leveraging technology for healthcare delivery.
Danielle S. Parker is the Vice President and Chief Mover of Dion’s Chicago Dream — the engine behind the movement. When strategy turns to action, Danielle is the one steering the ship, ensuring every route, delivery, and detail fuels impact with precision and purpose.
She oversees the logistics and programming that move hundreds of thousands of pounds of fresh produce across Chicago — turning operations into transformation. Danielle doesn’t just manage systems; she builds ecosystems that empower people and multiply impact.
Before joining DCD, she led as Chief of Staff and Director of the Center for Student Development at the Chicago Urban League, driving initiatives that changed lives and expanded opportunity.
Her leadership has earned national recognition — from the Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Award to the National Urban League’s Caring Adult of the Year.
A proud graduate of UIC and Roosevelt University, Danielle continues to lead with purpose as a member of Navy Pier’s Associate Board and Co-Chair of its Civic Engagement Committee.
Andrea Petersen is a health reporter at The Wall Street Journal in New York, writing about consumer health with a focus on nutrition and mental health. Andrea is a veteran Journal reporter and editor who began writing about health for the publication in 2002 when she became one of the founding reporters of the Personal Journal section. Her beat has encompassed everything from the science of sleep to the hunt for faster-acting antidepressants.Andrea spent five years as Personal Journal’s travel, home and family editor. She also spent several years in the New York technology bureau covering the internet industry before moving over to the wireless telecommunications beat. She started her career at the Journal as an administrative assistant.Andrea is the author of On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety (Crown, 2017), a memoir of her own experience with anxiety and a deep dive into the science of anxiety. She is the recipient of a Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism. Andrea lives in Fairfield, Connecticut with her family.
Robbie Pollard is the owner of Start 2 Finish Farms, LLC and the Founder and Executive Director of the Happy Foods Project, Inc a grassroots 501c(3) non -profit organization whose mission is to promote community development in Rural Mississippi by increasing access to healthy, affordable local foods and strengthening socially disadvantaged farmers’ livelihoods. Through the Happy Foods Project, Robbie work hand and hand with under-resourced farmers providing them with some of the resources they need to have a successful farming career. The Happy Foods Project also establish a mobile farmers market to service areas in the Mississippi Delta that do not have farmers’ markets and little access to fresh produce and is also partnered with The University of Mississippi to start a Food RX program to deliver fresh produce boxes to homebound patients. He is also the lead farmer and aggregator for the Delta Greens Food is Medicine Project.
Jennifer L. Pomeranz, is an Associate Professor at the School of Global Public Health at New York University. Her research focuses on public health law and policy with a focus on the food environment. Ms. Pomeranz has published over one-hundred articles in the leading peer review journals and has served on health and food-related advisory committees for New York City and non-profit organizations and was a member of an ad hoc Committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. She is the author of Food Law for Public Health and the first author of the textbook Public Health Law, both published by Oxford University Press. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Cornell Law School and Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Dr. Kyu (“Q”) Rhee is a mission-driven physician executive dedicated to improving the health system, especially for underserved communities. Since 2023, he has served as President and CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), leading efforts to support the nation’s largest primary care network of 14,000 Community Health Centers nationwide serving at least 32.5 million patientsDr. Rhee's career spans the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. He previously held roles as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at CVS Health, and as Chief Health Officer at IBM, where he led global initiatives to transform health through data, analytics, and artificial intelligence. Earlier, he served as Chief Public Health Officer at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Director of the Office of Innovation and Program Coordination at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).A dual-board-certified physician in internal medicine and pediatrics, Dr. Rhee earned his medical degree from the University of Southern California, a Master in Health Policy from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.
Ronit Ridberg, PhD, MS, is Research Assistant Professor at the Food is Medicine Institute, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. With a decade of experience in the design and evaluation of produce prescription (PRx) programs, recent research focuses on integrating nutrition security screening into clinical practice; leveraging FIM to support maternal and child health equity; understanding PRx participant engagement and testing strategies to increase benefits utilization; and exploring the public’s perceptions of Food is Medicine. Dr. Ridberg holds a master’s degree in Nutrition, Food, and Agriculture policy and a PhD in Nursing Science and Healthcare Leadership.
Dr. Lisa Goldman Rosas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and the Department of Medicine, Division of Primary Care and Population Health at Stanford School of Medicine. An epidemiologist by training, Dr. Goldman Rosas’ research focuses on addressing disparities in diet-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, depression, and cancer among under resourced groups and communities of color. Critical to this work is addressing important social determinants of health, such as food insecurity. She leads the Food For Health Equity Lab that works collaboratively with healthcare and community partners to develop, implement, and evaluate nutrition programs that significantly contribute to advancing health equity. This research features rigorous quantitative methodologies, participatory qualitative approaches, and shared leadership with patient and community partners. She is passionate about integrating patients, caregivers, community organizations, and other key stakeholders in the research process in order to affect the greatest improvements in health and well-being. In addition to research, she teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels and has a special focus on increasing diversity in biomedical research.
Kim Rustem is the Executive Director of Health Equity Strategy and Innovation for CVS Health. Under the direction of the Chief Health Equity Officer, Kim Rustem leads strategic planning efforts across the CVS Health enterprise to codify health equity policies, practices, and programs into the business strategy of the organization. Previously, Kim Rustem served as the City of Detroit’s Director of the Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity department, Policy Director for the Detroit Mayor’s Office and the Policy Director for the Detroit Health Department. She is a resident of Detroit, Michigan.
Pamela Schwartz, MPH, is executive director of community health for Kaiser Permanente. She leads a broad portfolio of work addressing social determinants of health in the areas of highest need among Kaiser Permanente members and its communities, including food, housing, mental health workforce development, and financial security. Pam oversees Kaiser Permanente’s $50 million commitment to improve access to healthy food, which includes the Kaiser Permanente Food Is Medicine Center of Excellence created in 2024 to more fully integrate food and nutrition into health care delivery both at Kaiser Permanente and at health systems across the country. A champion for patient- and community-led solutions to social factors shaping people’s health, Pam and her team have created innovative, high-impact initiatives to increase affordable housing and reduce homelessness in dozens of communities and to increase the number of medical respite programs available in communities to help patients experiencing homelessness heal in safe and stable environments.An experienced leader in health care and community health, Pam has contributed pieces to several academic and health care publications and serves on many advisory committees and expert panels. She is currently on faculty at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in the Department of Health System Science.
Colin Schwartz, MPP is the Senior Advocacy Advisor for the American Heart Association’s Health Care by Food (HCXF) initiative since 2024. In this role he oversees the HCXF’s federal food is medicine advocacy work. Previously, Colin served as Director, Federal Affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) where he focused on food and nutrition policy and led one of the nation’s largest nutrition coalitions. He has served in various nonprofit leadership roles in public health, disability and human rights. Colin earned undergraduate degrees in psychology and cognitive science at the University of California, San Diego, and a Master in Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Hilary Seligman, MD, MAS is Professor of Medicine and of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). She holds faculty affiliations in UCSF’s Division of General Internal Medicine, Institute for Health Policy Studies, ARC for Health Equity, and Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Hilary is a nationally recognized expert on food insecurity and health outcomes across the life course, with a particular interest in programs and policies that can simultaneously support food security and better health. Much of her recent work has focused on the development, implementation, and evaluation of Food is Medicine programs, particularly produce prescription programs. She has directed NOPREN (the CDC’s Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network) for the last ten years. Her team runs Vouchers for Veggies, a large produce prescription program known in San Francisco as EatSF. She is also a Director of UCSF’s National Clinician Scholars Program. Dr. Seligman is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. She graduated from Williams College, received her MD from Baylor College of Medicine, and completed a Master’s Degree in Clinical Research at UCSF.
Katelyn Smoger is Director of Food is Medicine and The Farm, at Trinity Health Michigan. She specializes in cross sector partnerships-leveraging local food to address chronic disease, nutrition security, and health equity throughout underserved communities in Michigan. Katelyn and her team operationalized and scaled a portfolio of innovative and high impact community benefit programs including hospital-based farms, clinically based food pantries and farmer’s markets, empowering nutrition education, and a clinically integrated aggregate community supported agriculture program, known as The Farm Share, that connects local food to more than 750 unique families weekly throughout the year. Katelyn is a dedicated advocate for integrating partnerships between community-based organizations, local farmers, and clinicians into rapidly evolving Food is Medicine policy at state and federal levels.
My name is Leslie Ann Swan. I am a 66-year-old woman who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1999. My journey has been marked with challenges, growth, and finding my inner strength to deal with this disease. In my earlier years, I faced weight gain and a lack of education about my condition, managing it alone. In 2004, a mini-stroke became a wake-up call when I weighed 296 pounds, taking 2 Metformin pills daily. That became a turning point, motivating me to take my health more seriously and to begin a journey of self-care and learning.I am a proud mother of three children—two daughters and one son. I have dedicated my life as a caregiver to various family members, a role that brought emotional rewards but also great stress. One of the most defining periods came from caring for my son from 2010 to 2016 until his passing in 2016 from Multiple Myeloma. Sitting beside him almost daily was painful, leaving me feeling helpless. This period shaped my perspective on life, grief, and strength.I continue to move forward with determination despite this and other hardships. My journey is one of perseverance, deep compassion, and the enduring power of a mother’s love. Today, I find healing through the love and support of my family, especially my husband Ken. He has been my rock since 2017. With everyone’s support and my inner strength, I continue to embrace each day with grace, resilience, and hope.
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