Strategies for a Unified Approach to Lifestyle Medicine: Our 2026 Speakers

Sarah Seweryniak, CHHC

Board-Certified Mind-Body Integration Specialist

Sarah Seweryniak, CHHC, is a Board-Certified Mind-Body Integration Specialist through the American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners, a Certified Holistic Health Coach through the Trinity School of Natural Health, and holds a Certificate of Completion in Lifestyle and Wellness Coaching from Harvard Medical School.

Her work sits at the intersection of lifestyle wellness, gut health, stress physiology, nervous system regulation, and autoimmune disease, exploring how what we eat, how we live, and what we carry emotionally shapes the health of the whole person.

After her own health crises, Sarah became deeply committed to understanding why the body responds the way it does. She is a writer, speaker, and educator whose own lived experience became the catalyst for everything she has since studied, earned, and now shares.

Dr. Kristi Artz MD, MSc, FACLM

Vice President, University Hospitals Connor Whole Health
Christopher M. and Sara H. Connor Chair in Integrative Health

Dr. Kristi Artz is board-certified in Emergency and Lifestyle Medicine and is a Certified Specialist in Culinary Medicine. She serves on the Board of Directors for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching. Previously, she was the founding Medical Director of Lifestyle Medicine at Corewell Health. She earned her MD from Wayne State, completed an Emergency Medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a Master’s in Population Health from Jefferson.

Shara Armpreater, MS

Founder & CEO, Natural Beauty Cuties, Menstrual Health Educator & Community-Based Practitioner

Shara Armprester, M.S., is the Founder and CEO of Natural Beauty Cuties, a brand advancing menstrual health through education, hygiene products, and empowerment workshops for girls and young women. She also serves as Recruitment Manager for Say Yes Buffalo, where she works to improve access and outcomes for underserved communities. With over a decade of experience, Shara’s work centers on health equity, prevention, and holistic well-being.  

Rachel Kronemann, MS, RDN, LD

Founder, Illuminate Functional Health

Rachel Kronemann, RDN, is an integrative and functional dietitian and founder of Illuminate Functional Health, specializing in gut health, the microbiome, hormone balance, and sustainable weight management. She works with adults experiencing chronic digestive issues and inflammation using a root-cause, systems-based approach. Rachel integrates evidence-based nutrition therapy with microbiome testing and lifestyle strategies and is known for translating complex science into practical, patient-centered care.

Vivek Nandur, PhD

Founder & CEO, Amara Fermentations

Dr. Vivek Nandur is the founder & CEO  of Amara Fermentations, where he uses computational biology to map the metabolic topology of the gut-liver-brain axis. His work reveals how metabolite-stripped diets disrupt the gut microbiome, triggering metabolic disease, IBS, and addiction. Using first principles thermodynamics, Amara engineers precision multi-kingdom medical foods that can serve as accessible, clinical-grade “Food as Medicine” interventions treating over 1 billion people worldwide. 

Sanford Levy, MD, FACP, ABIHM

Health and Wellness Doctor, Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo

Dr. Sanford Levy is an internist in practice in Buffalo, NY. His office practice is a self-pay specialty practice of integrative and holistic medicine.  The focus of his practice is both wellness care and the treatment of a variety of chronic health conditions with lifestyle changes and dietary supplements.  Professionally, he has achieved a prestigious fellowship in the American College of Physicians, the nationwide academic organization for internists. In addition, he is a 2003 diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. He is a 1986 graduate of the University at Buffalo Medical School, and he is a volunteer faculty member at the school, a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine.

Shikha Joshi, MD, Dipl ABLM

Bloom Direct Primary Care

Dr. Shikha Joshi is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician and diplomat of the ACLM and ABOM. After working in the hospital setting for nearly a decade, Dr. Joshi noted a need for increased emphasis on lifestyle medicine in the primary care setting. This led her to create Bloom Direct Primary Care, a primary care clinic with a focus on evidence-based lifestyle medicine to help prevent and treat chronic disease. Committed to creating a healthier community, her goal is to empower patients with knowledge so they can take control of their long-term health, with a special interest in women’s mid-life health.

Basma Faris, MD, FACOG, CCMS

Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist

Dr. Basma Faris is a Board-Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and a Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist. Dr. Faris attended the University of California at Berkeley, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Sciences. She went on to complete a Master’s of Science in Nutrition at Brooklyn College and completed the Registered Dietetics Internship at the same. She received her medical degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University at Buffalo in 2009 and then went on to complete her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Faris began her career in healthcare as a Registered Dietitian. She enjoys educating her peers on how to incorporate nutrition into everyday practice and helping patients at the intersections of nutrition and women’s health. She owns a telehealth practice aimed at treating people with PCOS/PMOS using an evidence-based mix of Culinary Medicine and Gynecology.  She also co-hosts the Love&Nourish retreat, an annual retreat in Morocco for women in midlife.

In 2022, she joined The Mount Sinai Health System in New York as a laborist, where she holds the position of Assistant Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science. 

Dr. Faris practices General Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She became a Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist in 2020 and now serves on the Advisory Board of the American College of Culinary Medicine. She is also on the Advisory Board of the PCOS Awareness Association.

Catherine Brown, MS, RDN, CDN, FAND

Clinical Lead, Flourish Nutrition

Catherine (Katie) Brown is an award-winning dietitian, Clinical Lead at Flourish Nutrition, and editor of the Advanced Certificate in Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy. Katie is an active volunteer with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a speaker, where she advocates and supports advancing the dietetics profession. She is passionate about expanding access to nutrition care and educating clinicians to better serve the mental health and disability communities.

Lindsay Springer, MS, PhD

Director of Plants, Nutrition, and Digital Agriculture at Gardyn. 

Lindsay F. Springer, M.S., Ph.D., is a food scientist with deep roots of expertise in plant biochemistry, pharmaceutical science, and health. Her work focuses on how plant secondary metabolites—including polyphenols, carotenoids, glucosinolates, betalains, dietary nitrates, and other phytonutrients—contribute to the organoleptic qualities and potential health-supporting properties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible plants. With expertise spanning food science, plant chemistry, controlled-environment agriculture, plant breeding, and product innovation, Dr. Springer brings a systems-level perspective to Food as Medicine and identifies opportunities for exponential gains in health outcomes for FIM programming.  Lindsay currently serves as the Director of Plants, Nutrition, and Digital Agriculture at Gardyn. 

Jared Byer, HFC

Corporate Wellness Educator, Made 2 Move Fitness

Jared Byer, HFC, is a Health Educator focused on promoting lifestyle change through fact-based research.  His seminars provide actionable steps to promote well-being and longevity.  He has over 30 years of experience working in the health & wellness industry, along with many honors and awards for his service.  To date, he has presented over 300 seminars to groups large and small on diverse wellness topics. He owns and operates Made 2 Move Fitness in the Buffalo, NY area.

Noelle Citarella, MS, RDN, CDN, IFNCP

Registered Dietitian, Integrative and Functional Nutrition

Noelle Citarella, MS, RDN, CDN, IFNCP, is a Registered Dietitian specializing in integrative and functional nutrition, neurology, autoimmune disease, and gastrointestinal health. She is passionate about translating evidence-based science into personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies that improve quality of life. She is the author of The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Plan and Cookbook, a lifestyle and diet-pattern guide to reducing inflammation. Noelle takes a holistic, individualized approach when working with patients and empowering them to achieve lasting health through food, lifestyle, and sustainable habits.

Mary Purdy, MS, RDN

Eco-Dietitian, Food System Strategist, and Educator

Mary Purdy, MS, RDN, is an eco-dietitian, food system strategist, educator, and food is medicine advocate.  She was in clinical practice for almost 13 years prior to transitioning to working at the intersection of food, agriculture, climate, and health. She served as Managing Director of the Nutrient Density Initiative and was adjunct faculty for Bastyr University and the Culinary Institute of America for a combined 11 years and speaks regularly at local and national conferences. Her focus is on building bridges between healthcare, local and regenerative agriculture, and community-based food systems so that food can simultaneously serve human health, farmer livelihoods, equity, and planetary health. 

Elizabeth Costello, PhD, MPH

Research Scientist, Brown University School of Public Health

Liz Costello, PhD, MPH, is a Research Scientist at the Brown University School of Public Health. She is an epidemiologist with expertise in nutrition and environmental chemical exposures, and her research focuses on how diet and the environment can affect risk for metabolic diseases. In her recent work, she has identified links between ultra-processed food consumption and exposure to chemical pollutants. She completed her MPH in Public Health Nutrition at the George Washington University in Washington, DC, and her PhD in Epidemiology and her postdoctoral training at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA.

Michelle Gimbar, DCN, RDN, CDN

Program Director & Clinical Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo

Dr. Michelle Gimbar is the Program Director of the Clinical Nutrition Master’s Program and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo. She earned her Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN) from Rutgers University and is passionate about helping future dietitians develop the knowledge and skills needed for clinical practice.
Before joining UB, Dr. Gimbar spent five years working in an OB/GYN practice, where she developed the practice’s first registered dietitian position. She worked closely with women throughout their reproductive years, with a particular focus on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), gestational diabetes (GDM), fertility, and prenatal nutrition. She enjoys making evidence-based nutrition practical, approachable, and personalized for both patients and students.

Jennifer Jennings, DNP, MS, APRN, FNP-BC

Integrative and Functional Medicine

Dr. Jennings is dual board-certified in integrative and functional medicine IFM, AFM, Duke University. She has an extensive neurological and cardiac background, is dual-certified in functional medicine, attended Duke University for Leadership in Functional Medicine, and is a former Georgetown University Professor as well as a US Patent holder. She has been practicing Functional medicine for 12 years and has a valued reputation in WNY, with many conventional doctors referring to her for guidance. She is certified in mistletoe therapy, IV chelation, ozone, and many other modalities, such as prolozone, PRP, as well as a new men’s prostate health protocol. 

Melissa Groves Azzaro, RDN, LD

Owner, The Hormone Dietitian, LLC

Melissa Groves Azzaro, RDN, LD, is an award-winning integrative registered dietitian and owner of The Hormone Dietitian LLC, specializing in women’s health issues such as PCOS/PMOS, perimenopause, and other hormonally driven conditions. Melissa worked as a copywriter in medical advertising before becoming a dietitian. She has a BA in English and Dance from Hofstra University and a BS in Nutrition/Dietetics and a Dietetic Internship at the University of New Hampshire. She is currently completing her Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition at Notre Dame University of Maryland. She is the author of A Balanced Approach to PCOS. She is a past Chair of the Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine practice group and past Professional Development Chair for the NH AND.

LaVonne Ansari, PhD

CEO, Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc

LaVonne E. Ansari, Ph.D., is Chief Executive Officer of the Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc., where she leads strategy, innovation, and partnerships to improve access to quality healthcare. With more than 20 years of leadership in healthcare, higher education, and workforce development, she is a champion for health equity and community engagement. A UB graduate, Dr. Ansari serves in leadership roles with the Buffalo Together Fund, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, and the Community Health Center Association of New York State, advancing positive change across Western New York.

Amanda Mikels, MPS, Sustainable Food Systems

Operations & Technology at Community Nutrition Partnership

Amanda Mikels leads Operations and Technology at Community Nutrition Partnership, a Western New York nonprofit delivering healthy, fresh, locally sourced food directly to participants’ homes through its FreshFlavorRx program. She has led development of the platform infrastructure supporting CNP’s food prescription work, connecting delivery, participant engagement, and health outcomes into one coordinated system. She is CEO of Summer’s Bounty 365, a consulting practice focused on food rescue and surplus reduction. Amanda holds an MPS in Sustainable Food Systems from the Culinary Institute of America, is Vice Chair of the board of Urban Roots, and a member of the Good Food Buffalo Coalition.

Leonard Kaplan, DO

Founder and Clinical Director, OWM Integrative Wellness

Dr. Kaplan is the Founder and Clinical Director of OWM Integrative Wellness, specializing in precision nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and integrative care for autoimmune disease, chronic illness, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. He is an international speaker for the International Society for Medical Laser Applications (ISLA), where he lectures on photobiomodulation and light medicine. His research focuses on immune regulation, mitochondrial function, and evidence-based integrative therapies. Guided by OWM’s mission, “We empower the miracle of self-healing,” Dr. Kaplan is dedicated to translating emerging science into practical strategies that optimize patient outcomes.

Anne Lally Mathiebe

Research Assistant Professor, Assistant Director of Research and Evaluation, Community Health Interventions Lab, Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo

Anne is an applied anthropologist working at the nexus of medical anthropology and public health with a focus on the interplay of agricultural production, political ecology, food and nutrition, and health. As Assistant Director of Research and Evaluation in the Community Health Interventions Lab (CHIL), Anne applies a critical anthropological framework to community-based public health intervention design, implementation, dissemination, and evaluation. Anne’s current work focuses on examining the acceptability and usage of Food is Medicine interventions among families with young children, as well as understanding the sociocultural context of Food Is Medicine programs among rural communities in Western New York.

Brianna Wallenhorst, MS, RDN, CDN

Community Program Administrator, Healthy Options at Home

Brianna Wallenhorst, MS, RDN, CDN, is a Registered Dietitian and Community Program Administrator for Healthy Options at Home, an initiative of the Independent Health Foundation that helps families across Western New York build confidence in preparing healthy, budget-friendly meals at home. Through practical cooking education, nutrition guidance, and community partnerships, the program empowers participants to make healthy cooking part of everyday life. Brianna is passionate about making nutrition realistic, accessible, and sustainable. She believes healthy eating begins with confidence in the kitchen and that practical tools and support can lead to lasting improvements in health and well-being. She is excited to share how community-based nutrition programs and the Food as Medicine movement can empower individuals and families to improve their health through everyday food choices.

Joshua McGuire

Business Manager at Fresh Fix

Joshua McGuire is a food systems leader specializing in food access, nutrition incentives, and local food systems. Throughout his career, he has led the expansion of school learning gardens in Colorado and California, directed New York’s statewide Double Up Food Bucks program, and now serves as the Business Manager at FreshFix. His work focuses on connecting healthcare, agriculture, businesses, and communities to improve nutrition, strengthen local economies, and expand equitable access to healthy food.

Lucia Leone, PhD

Lucia A. Leone, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health and Health Behavior at the University at Buffalo’s School of Public Health and Health Professions. As a faculty member, her research focuses on working with community and small business partners to develop, test, and implement sustainable interventions to increase access to healthy, local, and affordable food.  She is currently working to identify and test best practices for Food is Medicine programs serving food-insecure populations.  Dr. Leone is also Co-founder of FreshFix, a Buffalo-based food hub that delivers fresh, local produce to homes, businesses, and community organizations in Western New York.  

David Milling, MD, FACP

Executive Director, Office of Medical Education, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education, UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

David Milling, MD, FACP, is Executive Director of the Office of Medical Education and Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo. In these leadership roles, he provides strategic oversight for medical admissions, curriculum, student and academic affairs, and a broad portfolio of educational initiatives that support learner success across the continuum of medical education. He also serves as Executive Director of the Behling Simulation Center and Wendt Clinical Competency Center, and Director of the Post-Baccalaureate Program, helping to strengthen pathways into medicine and foster a diverse, talented physician workforce.

A board-certified internist, Dr. Milling practices primary care at ECMC, where he emphasizes preventive medicine, holistic care, and team-based collaboration within the medical home model. An award-winning educator and mentor, he is deeply committed to developing compassionate physicians who understand patients within the context of their families, cultures, and communities. His teaching philosophy centers on combining clinical excellence with empathy, professionalism, and service, while creating learning environments that encourage curiosity, inclusion, hands-on experiences, and lifelong learning. Through his leadership and teaching, Dr. Milling has advanced innovative educational programs and helped prepare generations of physicians to deliver exceptional patient-centered care.

Jasmol Sardana, DO, FACLM, DipABLM

EHE Health,

Jasmol Sardana, DO, FACLM, DipABLM, is a dual board-certified internal medicine and lifestyle medicine physician, culinary medicine educator, and national speaker. She practices Lifestyle Medicine at EHE Health and currently serves as Secretary of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s Food as Medicine Member Interest Group.

Dr. Sardana previously founded and chaired ACLM’s Community-Engaged Lifestyle Medicine Member Interest Group, which evolved into the Health Equity Achieved through Lifestyle Medicine (HEAL) Initiative under the leadership of the late Dr. Dexter Shurney, then President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Her work focuses on translating evidence-based lifestyle medicine into practical, community-centered approaches that support healthier individuals, strengthen communities, and advance health equity. Through clinical care, education, and physician leadership, she is committed to making nutrition and lifestyle interventions more accessible, actionable, and impactful in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease.

Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, FACLM, FAIHM, LM Intensivist

President, Dr. Lifestyle Clinic

Dr. Melissa Mondala is a quadruple specialist in Family Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, Integrative Psychiatry, and Integrative Medicine, and a certified Health & Wellness Coach. She is President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach, California- the First Lifestyle & Integrative Direct Primary Care and Rheumatology clinic, which was awarded by the University of California, Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence. She is a Bestselling author of her book “Embody Lifestyle Medicine”, an international speaker, and a multi-award winner of Excellence in Healthcare, Top Practitioner of the Year, and America’s Best Physician. She is an avid educator on social media as @drmelissamondala, and her life mission is to bring hope and remission for those suffering from mental and women’s health conditions and autoimmune diseases.

Cristine Adams, MD, FACEP, CPCC, PCC

Chief Wellness Officer, Kaleida Health and Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Cristine Adams is the Chief Wellness Officer for Kaleida Health and Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine. In addition to her clinical work as a Board-Certified Attending Emergency Physician, she is also a Professional Certified Coach and a Fellow at the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital. Dr. Adams chairs the Health, Engagement, and Resilience Team at Kaleida Health and serves as Wellness Director for UBMD Emergency Medicine. She is a 2026 Buffalo Business First Excellence in Healthcare Honoree dedicated to clinician well-being. Executive Director, Office of Medical Education, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education, UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Robyn Tiger, MD, DipABLM, FACLM

Founder, Stress Free MD

Robyn Tiger, MD, DipABLM, FACLM is a double board-certified physician in Diagnostic Radiology and Lifestyle Medicine, Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Blue Zones Certified Physician, and founder of StressFreeMD™. Known as “The Self-Care Doctor,” she uniquely integrates medicine, yoga therapy, meditation, and life coaching to help healthcare professionals relieve stress and cultivate whole-person well-being, resilience, and vitality. Dr. Tiger is the award-winning author of Feeling Stressed Is Optional, hosts the StressFreeMD Podcast, and serves as Chief Wellness Officer for Women in Medicine®. She is passionate about helping others elevate their calm and unlock their unlimited potential!

Alexander Ford, DO, RD

Founder, Neotrition Brands

Dr. Alexander Ford is an Albany, NY family medicine physician, registered dietitian, and founder of Neotrition Brands LLC, specializing in broad-spectrum primary care, nutrition counseling, and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT). He earned a B.S. in Dietetics cum laude from Buffalo State College and his D.O. from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine as an OMM Scholar, completing his residency at Cleveland Clinic as Chief Resident. Deeply invested in community health, Dr. Ford serves as Director of Medical Education for 4th Family Inc. and ringside physician for USA Boxing. His achievements earned him the AOF New York Emerging Leader Award, CDPHP Top Doctors Peabody Award, and Albany Business Review 40 Under 40 recognition.

Tara Felser, MS, RD, CDN

Feedmore WNY

Tara Felser, MS, RD, CDN is a Registered Dietitian specializing in community and culinary nutrition. She spent several years operating a prepared meal service and cafe, taking the guesswork out of convenient, nutritious meals. Tara is passionate about recipe development, taking science-backed nutrition research and translating it into everyday recipes to support health and well-being.

Tara now combines this background in culinary nutrition with her enthusiasm for working with our older adults in Western New York through the Meals on Wheels programming at FeedMore WNY. She is looking forward to exploring the ways in which FAM and Home Delivered Meal programming go hand in hand to serve our local community.”

Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, MD, DPhil, DipABLM, FAPA,

Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Dr. Adjoa Smalls-Mantey is a physician-scientist, writer, media consultant, and organizational leader. She earned her doctorate at Oxford studying HIV Immunology and her medical degree from Columbia University, later completing psychiatry residency, a public psychiatry fellowship, and lifestyle medicine certification. She practices emergency psychiatry in NYC and serves as Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She is the immediate past president of the New York County Psychiatric Society and co-author of the award-winning children’s book “Anjali the Brave: All About Vaccines”. In 2024, the HHS Secretary appointed her to the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee. She frequently speaks and writes on mental health and wellness, with appearances on ABC News and Fox 5 DC. She enjoys marathon running and mountaineering.

Katelyn Collins, MD, RD, CDN

FeedMore WNY.

Katelyn Collins, MS, RD, CDN is a Registered Dietitian with FeedMore WNY, passionate about using nutrition to improve health outcomes and expand access to nutritious food beyond traditional healthcare settings. She began her career in long-term care, providing medical nutrition therapy, before moving into community nutrition, where her work with FeedMore WNY’s Food Pharmacy program deepened her commitment to food access and the Food Is Medicine movement. Through Meals on Wheels, she helps older adults manage chronic conditions and stay independent through nutrition assessment, counseling, and education. Katelyn is excited to share how community-based nutrition programs and healthcare can partner to improve health and food access.