Our 2025 Agenda:

The 2025 Symposium will place at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Day 1 (Thursday), October 23  

11 am-12 pm Registration/Welcome  

12-2 pm Food as Medicine Tour – Included in ticket purchase; registration is required at the link you will receive in your ticket receipt. Transportation is not provided

2:30-3:30 pm Snack, Vendors, and Networking

3:30 pm-4:45 pm Integrative Function/Nutrition Panel

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the difference between integrative/functional nutrition and medicine in addressing chronic disease.
2. Identify key biomarkers commonly used in disease tests and assessments.
3. Apply integrative nutrition strategies to develop individualized care plans within a clinical or community setting.

5-6:30 pm Nutrition for Sports Performance Panel

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the role of micronutrients, hydration, timing, supplements, and food ingredient quality in optimizing performance and recovery for both strength and endurance.
2. Recognize the nutritional needs of different athlete populations (e.g. vegan, women’s health, youth, collegiate, professional).
3. Implement tailored performance nutrition strategies for athletic populations in practice or coaching environments.

6:45-8 pm Healthy Happy Hour and Networking in the UB Jacobs School Atrium.

Day 2 (Friday), October 24 

7 am Mindful Movement in the UB Jacobs School Atrium

8:30-8:30 am Breakfast

8:30-9 am  Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:30-10:30 am Keynote Presentation – Erin Martin, Fresh Rx, Oklahoma

10:30-10:45 Elected Officials Visit

10:45 am-12 pm Panel Discussion: The Business Case for Food As Medicine

Learning Objectives

1. Define the concept of Return on Investment (ROI) as it applies to food as medicine interventions in both clinical and community settings. 
2. Identify key methods and tools used to measure ROI beyond traditional healthcare utilization, including energy levels, social functioning, and quality of life metrics. 
3. Examine case studies or pilot programs that demonstrate financial and social value from food as medicine strategies.  

12-1 pm Lunch  

1:2.15 pm Vendor Fair and Poster Presentations 

2:15-330 pm Panel Discussion: The 1115 Waiver

Learning Objectives

1. Explain the purpose and scope of the NYS CMS 1115 Waiver in promoting health-related social needs. 
2. Identify how food and nutrition services are being integrated into waiver-supported interventions, using case examples from across the country.  
3. Leverage Medicaid waiver opportunities to design or expand food-as-medicine initiatives in healthcare systems. 

3:30-4:45 pm Women’s Health Panel Presentations

Women’s health is shaped by distinct hormonal transitions—yet nutrition and lifestyle guidance too often remains generic, under-researched, or siloed. In this in-depth, evidence-informed panel, four experts will deliver practical strategies to support women through key life stages: fertility, pregnancy, and menopause. Attendees will gain clinically relevant, culturally responsive tools that can be integrated into healthcare, wellness coaching, and community programming. The session will conclude with a critical examination of disparities in women’s health outcomes—offering guidance on how to drive equity in research, policy, and clinical care.

Lily Nichols, RDN – Nutrition for Fertility 

Jenn Salib Huber, RD LD – Nutrition for Menopause 

Irene Aninye, PhD – Advancing Women’s Health in Policy and Research 

Each 15-Minute Talk Will Explore:

1. Nutrition and lifestyle approaches to optimize fertility. 
2. Nutritional foundations and lifestyle support during pregnancy. 
3. Menopause nutrition for symptom management and long-term health. 
4. How to address health inequities affecting women through policy, research, and culturally competent practice. 

A live Q&A will follow to engage with audience questions and promote cross-sector dialogue. 

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the nutritional and lifestyle considerations across key stages of women’s hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive health (e.g., fertility, pregnancy, menopause). 
2. Identify how policy, research, and advocacy over history have influenced women’s health outcomes, and identify action steps to reduce health disparities.  
3. Translate and implement evidence-based recommendations into practice for symptom management, disease prevention, and improved quality of life in clinical and community settings. 

4:45-5 pm Day 2 closing and day 3 preview 

5:30-7:30 pm Networking Event at Ground Work Market Garden

Day 3 (Saturday), October 25

7-8 am Yoga – UB Jacobs School Atrium

8-9 am Breakfast

9 – 10 am Keynote Presentation – George Karimalis, BlueZones, Ikaria, Greece

10:30-11:45 am Special Presentations

• Lifestyle Medicine  
• Active Living by Design  
• Social Connection and Belonging  

Learning Objectives

1. Define core components of lifestyle medicine and their impact on chronic disease prevention.  
2. Recognize the role of urban design, physical activity, and community infrastructure in supporting health beyond diet and food access.  
3. Design or adapt a lifestyle-focused initiative that includes nutrition, movement, and social connection strategies. 

11:45-12:45pm Vendor Fair and Poster Presentations  

12:45-1:45pm Lunch  

1:45-2:30pm Cooking Demo  

2:30-4pm Panel Discussion: Culinary Medicine and Food as Medicine Interventions  

Learning Objectives

1. Describe strategies for how culinary medicine can be used as a vehicle for community-building, cultural preservation, social connection, and mindfulness within food as medicine programs. 
2. Create a plan to collaborate across sectors to expand the reach and impact of culinary medicine workshops, teaching kitchens, and food prescription programs into healthcare and community settings.  

4-4:30 pm Wrap-Up Year 5!