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Day 1 - May 7, 9:00am CT
Pre-Event: Food Is Health Innovation Lab
Making It Real: Roadmapping Your Food Is Health Strategy
Overview
A session to focus on the roadmap and readiness requirements for Food Is Health. We spend $1.7T on food and $1.9T on the healthcare cost of poor nutrition. Our real “Total Cost” of food is $3.6T. The implications of healthcare in food decisions are clear in the chronic disease epidemic. It is time to
rethink each step in food and healthcare to establish a new economic model. This session is about the design thinking to accomplish, and the readiness requirements to ensure sustainable Food Is Medicine models of care with demonstrable health outcomes integrated with appropriate payment
models. Participants will leave with a better understanding of where they fit systemically and what pieces they need to build/buy or partner for success while creating connections with others implementing programs and driving systemic change.
9:00 – 9:10 Welcome & Opening Remarks
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Principals of “Food Is Health” vs. "Food is Medicine"
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Overview of objectives and session structure
9:10 – 10:30 Food Is Health Road Mapping & Readiness
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Framing the challenge – Food Is Health by the Numbers: NielsenIQ
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Principals of “Food Is Health” vs. "Food is Medicine"
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How do YOU define “Food Is Health”?
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Operationalizing “Food Is Health”
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Discuss segments & opportunity beyond chronic disease
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Opportunities, challenges, and best practices
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Infrastructure needs for success (e.g., supply chain, regulatory compliance, technology integration, data metrics).
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Plenary panel on real-world case study demonstrating successful operational launch of a sustainable food is health model
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FreshRX Oklahoma
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Building YOUR Innovation Roadmap for “Food Is Health”
10:30 – 10:50 Networking Break
10:50 – 11:50 “Speed Round” Power Hour
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Each participant has 2 minutes to briefly introduce themselves and share the highlights of their draft "Roadmap"- drawing attention to unique insights or partnerships (priority based on date of session signup)
11:50 – 12:00 - Summary & Next Steps
Ellen Brown
Healthcare Actually
Erin Martin
FreshRx Oklahoma
Carter Williams
iSelect Fund
Sherry Frey
NielsenIQ
Day 1 - May 7, 9:00am CT
Pre-Event: Culinary Masterclass
Improving Health and Transforming Care Delivery 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 masterclass directors.
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, Award-Winning Author, Chef, Consultant, Culinary Nutrition Consulting
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Day 1 - May 7
Main Event
12:30pm
Registration & Networking
1:30pm
Welcome to Food as Medicine Network: Live 2025!
Daniel Cohen, Head of Sales, CookUnity
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.
Moderator: Tambra Stevenson, Founder & CEO, WANDA: Women Advancing Nutrition Dietetics & Agriculture
Alan Shannon, Public Affairs Director, USDA
Tornia Morgan, Registered Dietitian, Trifecta Health Solutions
Katelyn Smoger, Director of Food is Medicine and The Farm, Trinity Health
Peter Wells, Project Director, Project FoodBox
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.
Moderator: Shannon Huneke, Consumer Healthcare, SPH Consulting
Malaika Stoll, Senior Medical Director, Blue Shield of California
Erica David-Park, Market Chief Medical Officer, Community Health Choices, AmeriHealth Caritas
Lori Taylor, Drivers of Health Program Lead, Drivers of Health Strategy, Mkt & Corporate Social Responsibility, Blue Cross NC
Keni Winchester, Director of Strategy and Community Engagement, Humana Foundation, 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.
Moderator: Galen Karlan-Mason, CEO & Founder, GreenChoice
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
Tanya Little, Chief Commercial Officer, Vitality
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) Creative Partnering to Advance Food as Medicine in a GLP-1 World
Maggie Biscarr - Co-Lead, Nourish Movement
3) Food as Medicine for Chronic Conditions and their Comorbidities
Mory Bahar, CEO, Personal Remedies
Mona Shah, Lead Dietician, Kaiser Permanente
4) Nutrition's role in Maternal Health
Sara Torrence, Vice President, Socially Determined, Board Member, March of Dimes
5:00pm
The Inaugural Food as Medicine Awards Ceremony & Drinks Reception
Hosted by Cook Unity
6:30pm
Close of Day 1
Day 2 - May 8
Main Stage
FAM Stage
8:00am
Registration & Networking
9:00am
Chair's Opener
Samantha Alexander, CEO & Founder, FoodHealth Company
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 Application of Food as Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine Strategies across Health Systems at Scale.
Hosted by American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Moderator: Martin Tull, Chief Impact Officer, American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Kristi Artz, Vice President, University Hospitals Connor Whole Health | Christopher M. and Sara H. Connor Chair in Integrative Health, University Hospitals
Jaclyn Albin, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, & Public Health, Southwestern Medical Center
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
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
11:35am
Lightning Talk Hosted by Bitewell
Details to follow
11:50am
Lightning Talk - 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
12:10pm
Networking | Lunch Break | Live Cooking Demo
Live Cooking Demo hosted by
Jaclyn Albin, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, & Public Health, Southwestern Medical Center
Olivia Thomas, Director of Nutrition Innovation and Implementation, Boston Medical Center
1:45pm
Lightning Talk - Driving Diabetic Outcomes Through Food as Medicine in Health Systems
Join Josh Gregoire from Valley Health System and Jen Lane from ModifyHealth, as they discuss their groundbreaking collaboration to improve diabetes management through Food as Medicine initiatives. This session will showcase how Valley Health integrated ModifyHealth’s turnkey Food as Medicine FIT program into its Center for Diabetes Management, improving patient outcomes and closing gaps in care. Attendees will gain insights into the impact of medically tailored meals, dietitian support, and education on reducing HbA1c levels, as well as the broader implications for cost savings and care quality in health systems. The discussion will also highlight their latest initiative—expanding Food as Medicine to maternal health, where better nutrition has the power to impact two lives at once.
Jen Lane, Vice President, Healthcare Programming, Modify Health
Josh Gregoire, Assistant Vice President, Quality & Performance Improvement & VMG Clinical Operations, Valley Health System
2:00pm
Lightning Talk - Partnering for Impact: How BCBS MN & NourishedRx Are Transforming Healthcare Through Food
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has long been a leader in advancing food and nutrition policy to drive systems change and community-based interventions. In 2022, this work expanded to include Food is Medicine initiatives in partnership with NourishedRx, delivering tailored nutrition solutions for Medicaid and dual-eligible members. Together, BCBS MN and NourishedRx have demonstrated measurable health improvements and cost savings through culturally responsive, clinically tailored food and nutrition programs. In this session, they will share key insights from their partnership, discuss their expanding efforts beyond Medicaid and Medicare, and explore the growing role of food and nutrition support in employer-sponsored health plans—an often-overlooked opportunity to enhance workforce well-being, reduce healthcare costs, and improve health outcomes across diverse populations.
Benjamin Waltz, Sr. Product Owner Social Drivers of Health, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Amy Bloomquist, MPH, Director of Customer Success, NourishedRx
2:15pm
Nourishing Hope: A Whole Food Revolution for Children Who Are Tube-Fed
No group stands to gain more from the principles of Food as Medicine than children with complex medical needs who rely on feeding tubes. Yet across the U.S., these vulnerable patients are routinely given standard formulas filled with artificial additives and low-quality ingredients.
This eye-opening presentation explores a groundbreaking clinical study from Boston Children’s Hospital, along with additional emerging research, to evaluate the transformative impact of real, whole-food nutrition compared to conventional formulas. The results demonstrate not only improved health outcomes but also significant reductions in healthcare costs.
Join us as we unpack these compelling findings and issue a call to action: it’s time to rethink the standard of care and recognize the healing power of food. Everyone deserves nourishing, real food to truly thrive.
Mary Anne Kiel, Pediatrician, USAF Medical Center
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.
Moderator: Sunny Sharma, Regional Medical Officer, Internal Medicine Physician, Ascension
Shaan Chaturvedi, Director, Product Innovation, Samsung
Chetna Gupta, Sr. Director of Product - Nutrition tech and Personalization, Albertsons
Malvina De Salvo, Founder & CEO, Plateful
Amy Starr, Sr. Manager, MindBody Medicine Operations, Blue Shield of California
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.
Moderator: Sarah Valentine, Program Head, Digital Medicine Society
Grace Noboa-Hidalgo, Former Head of Product, Walgreens Health
Fahad Zubair, Medical Director Obesity & Nutrition Medicine, Allegheny Health Network
Tara Schmidt, Lead Registered Dietitian, Mayo Clinic
Rashim Gupta, Owner & Physician, Whole Endo
Chris Lew, Principal, Rock Health
4:10pm
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.
Moderator: Ed Gaskin, Executive Director, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets
Courtney Younglove, Founder & Physician, Heartland Weight Loss
Jim Howard, Former Founder & CEO, Journey’s Metabolic
Dr. Deepti Agarwal, Medical Director, Precision Medical Care, Medical Advisor for Eat Real
Teddy Kennedy, Food is Medicine Management Consultant, Accenture
4:50pm
Event Recap & Closer
5:00pm
End of Food as Medicine Network: LIVE 2025
SAVE THE DATE
LIVE 2026 will take place on May 12–13, 2026.
8:00am
Registration & Networking
9:00am
Chair's Opener
Sherry Frey, VP of Total Wellness, NielsenIQ
9:10am
The Many Colours of Food as Medicine
Hosted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Moderator: 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
Introducing Nutrition into Corporate Wellness Programs
In this session, you'll explore how organizations can design nutritional wellness programs that support diverse employee needs while delivering economic benefits. Drawing on case studies, panelists will discuss effective strategies to assess employee nutrition requirements, create engaging and culturally sensitive programs, and track outcomes like reduced absenteeism and lower healthcare costs. Attendees will gain actionable insights into the transformative role of nutrition in corporate wellness.
Moderator: Michael Lawsky, CEO, Nutrition For Longevity
Tristin Sullivan-Leppa, Deputy HR Director, Benefits & Wellness, City of Phoenix
Romy Nelson, Employee Health & Wellness Manager, City of Mesa
Heidi Greenwaldt, Nutrition Director, Sodexo
Elizabeth Machnica, Director of Health & Wellbeing, Buffalo Niagara Medical Center
Laurie Marbas, Medical Director, PLANTSTRONG by Metabite
10:50am
Refreshment Break & Networking
11:15am
Opportunities and Challenges of Integrating Digital Health Solutions into Food as Medicine Care Delivery
Join Mike Pappas and Sam Pinson as they discuss the evolving challenges and opportunities of integrating digital health solutions into FaM care delivery. This session will highlight issues that combine legal, policy, business, and operational considerations facing FaM providers. Attendees will better understand the complexities of operationalizing digital FaM programs across state lines and adapting to rapidly changing federal and state policies. Mike and Sam will also highlight key areas for collaboration and opportunities for stakeholders to develop innovative care and payment models to accelerate the FaM movement and improve population health.
Michael Pappas, Attorney, Nixon Law Group
Samuel Pinson, Attorney, Nixon Law Group
11:35am
Food as Medicine for a GLP-1 World
GLP-1s have taken the world by storm and for very good reasons. And yet, they are an imperfect solution – creating an unsustainable economic burden on payors, especially employers, an unprofitable business model for pharmacy retailers, and well-known side effect burden on consumers. They are also a force for greater transformation in our food system and a catalyst for private sector innovation in food as medicine. In this session, we’ll explore the case for action, discuss four pathways for private sector innovation and a spotlight a framework for private sector innovation that can: unlock business model innovation, accelerate creative partnering, leverage data and insight to target new approaches and engage employers as a pathway for scaling impact.
Moderator: Scott Bowman, Co-Founder, The Nourish Movement
Panelists TBA
12:10pm
Grab some lunch and enjoy the live cooking demo while connecting with your peers
1:45pm
Lightning Talk - 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
2:15pm
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
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.
Moderator: Ed Gaskin, Executive Director, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets
Krista Yoder, COO, Food Health Collective
Shreela Sharma, Co-Founder, Brighter Bites, Professor, UTHealth Houston
Ashley Hartman, Managing Partner, Bluestein Ventures
Danielle Harmon, Director of Community Development, Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Daniel Riff, Head of Government & Nonprofit Operations, DoorDash
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.
Moderator: Corby Kummer, Executive Director, Food & Society, Aspen Institute
Taylor Meredith, Policy Advisor, Pilot Light
Michael Cabonargi, Former Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Melanie Hall, Chief Research & Innovation Officer, Feeding America
Julianna Morse, Food is Medicine Director, United Way of New York City
4.10pm
Food Banks as Healthcare Innovators
Hosted by Feeding America
This panel brings together leaders from across the Feeding America network to share their experiences navigating Medicaid, their state policy environments, and securing sustainable funding. Join us for an in-depth discussion on lessons learned, challenges faced, and opportunities ahead to integrate food-based interventions into healthcare systems.
Moderator: Melanie Hall, Chief Research & Innovation Officer, Feeding America
Kate Maehr, CEO, Greater Chicago Food Depository
Erica Padilla Chavez, CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz
4:50pm
Event Recap & Closer
5:00pm
End of Food as Medicine Network: LIVE 2025
SAVE THE DATE
LIVE 2026 will take place on May 12–13, 2026.
