Our 2025 Agenda:

The 2025 Symposium took 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 – Big Big Table, Included in Ticket Purchase; Registration is required at the link you will receive in your ticket purchase or the event program. Transportation is not provided.

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

3:30 pm-4:45 pm Integrative Functional Medicine and Nutrition Panel

Curious about how nutrition can go beyond symptom management to uncover the why behind chronic disease? This engaging session, led by a board-certified registered dietitian and a board-certified medical doctor specializing in integrative functional medicine, offers a practical, inclusive introduction to one of the fastest-growing fields in healthcare. Together, they’ll demystify the differences between conventional and integrative/functional medicine approaches, highlighting how they work together to support long-term healing. Attendees will explore key biomarkers used to assess inflammation, gut health, metabolic risk, and nutrient imbalances, and learn how these tools guide targeted, personalized interventions. 

Whether you’re a clinician, student, health coach, researcher, or community health advocate, this session will equip you with actionable strategies to design individualized care plans that honor the complexity of the human body and the whole-person context of health. From food to function, you’ll walk away with deeper insight into how to address the root cause. 

Speakers:  

1. Kelly Cardamone, MS RDN LDN CDN CDCES IFNCP 
2. Sanford Levy, MD, FACP, ABIHM
3. Moderator: Katie Brown, MS RD CDN 

Learning Objectives:  

1. Describe the difference between evidence-based integrative/functional nutrition and medicine in addressing chronic disease. 
2. Identify key biomarkers commonly used in disease tests and assessments, and identify where caution is needed with supplements. 
3. Apply integrative nutrition strategies so healthcare clinicians or practitioners can better guide patients through misinformation. 
4. Develop individualized care plans within a clinical or community setting.  

5-6:30 pm Nutrition for Sports Performance Panel

Whether you’re coaching elite competitors or guiding weekend warriors, nutrition is a game-changer when it comes to optimizing performance and recovery. This dynamic panel will explore the science and practical application of sports nutrition through the lens of macronutrients, hydration, nutrient timing, supplements, and food quality. We’ll dive into the unique needs of diverse athletic populations, including vegan athletes, women, youth, collegiate, and professional competitors, highlighting how physiology, sport demands, and dietary patterns influence nutritional strategies. From fueling endurance to building strength, our experts will share real-world tips and evidence-based insights to help you personalize plans that meet athletes where they are, whether in the training room, on the field, or at the dinner table. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to implement tailored nutrition protocols that support peak performance, faster recovery, and long-term athlete health. 

Speakers:  

1. Stevie Lyn Smith, MS RDN CSSD CDN 
2. Brandon Lee, DHSc MS RD CSSD CCRP 
3. Christine Dziedzic, MS RD CSSD Buffalo Bills Sports Dietitian 
4. Natalie Rizzo MS RD CDN  
5. Moderator: Dr. Brayan Lopez DPT 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Describe the role of macronutrients, 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

8-9 am Breakfast

8:30-9 am  Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:30-10:30 am Keynote Presentation – From Soil to Cell: The Future of Food as Medicine, Erin Martin, MASM, CEO and Founder, FreshRx Oklahoma

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

As healthcare costs rise and chronic disease rates climb, food as medicine (FAM) has emerged as a powerful strategy to improve health outcomes and reduce spending. But how do we move from anecdote to evidence, and from pilot to policy? This session brings together experts from health plans, health systems, private sector innovators, employers, community organizations, and academic researchers to explore the evolving business case for food as medicine. 

Panelists will define what Return on Investment (ROI) and Return on Value (ROV) mean in clinical and community contexts and share tools to measure success, ranging from reductions in emergency visits and medication use to improvements in productivity, energy, and social well-being. Case studies and early results from pilot programs will showcase how different sectors are quantifying impact and driving adoption. 

Attendees will gain practical insights to design, evaluate, and scale FAM strategies that create both financial and human value, and learn how employers can leverage these approaches to enhance workforce health while strengthening the bottom line.

Speakers:

1. Rebekah Walker, PhD, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine 
2. Dr. Lorna Fitzpatrick, Univera Healthcare  
3. Tanya Little, Vitality 
4. Moderator, Sam Hale, Nurish’d
5. Timothy Sorge, Mercer Health
6. Anna Lin-Schweitzer, The Milken Institute  

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, including traditional healthcare utilization, as well as 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. 
4. Explore how employers can apply FAM strategies to benefit their bottom line and receive both ROI and ROV.   

12 – 12:10 PM Elected Officials Visit

12-1 pm Lunch  

1 – 2 pm pm Vendor Fair and Poster Presentations 

2-2:15 pm Dr. Jessica Knurick – The National Policy Landscape of Food as Medicine and Public Health Nutrition 

2:15-330 pm Panel Discussion: Exploring the Policy Landscape of Public Health Nutrition and Advancing Food as Medicine Through the NYS 1115 Waiver

This session explores how research, advocacy, and policy decisions translate into action for public health nutrition, with a focus on the landmark New York State 1115 Waiver, launched in 2024. The waiver, funded through March 2027, represents a fundamental shift in how healthcare is paid for and delivered,embedding health-related social needs (HRSN) such as nutrition security into the healthcare system and incentivizing prevention over treatment. The session opens with a dynamic 15-minute “Public Health Nutrition 101” talk by Dr. Jessica Knurick, grounding the audience in the tools and levers used to advance population health through nutrition programs. Dr. Knurick will highlight the importance of programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC as critical public health infrastructure,while addressing the growing threats public health faces from funding cuts, political polarization, and industry influence. This framing will connect national health policy challenges with the urgent need for grassroots advocacy and local solutions. 

Following this foundation, a multidisciplinary panel will dive into the history, design, and implementation of the NYS 1115 Waiver. Leaders from the Food as Medicine Coalition and partners will share how years of advocacy laid the groundwork for the waiver, and how federal and state policy landscapes shape what’s possible in public health nutrition. Representatives from community-based organizations such as Buffalo Go Green and Rethink Food, along with Dr. Robert Graham, will discuss how the waiver is expanding their work and directly impacting communities. Experts from Social Care Networks (SCNs) will explain the waiver’s structure, successes, and ongoing challenges, covering case management, billing codes, and models that have been most effective in reaching high-need populations. 

Speakers:

1. Cate Hensley FIMC Coalition  
2. Moderator: Nikki Kminski, MS RD, CEO, WNYICC  
3. Marla Guarino RD, WNY FAMC, Buffalo Go Green 
4. Matthew Jozwiak, CEO, ReThink Food    
5. Dr. Robert Graham, FRESHMed NYC 
6. Eric Rochman, God’s Love We Deliver   

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: adolescence and adulthood, 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. 

1. Lily Nichols, RDN –  Nutrition for Fertility 
2. Sonia Jacome and Jack Tocco, Northwell Health – Nutrition Implementation in Pregnancy 
3. Jenn Salib Huber, RD LD – Nutrition for Menopause 
4. Irene Aninye, PhD – Advancing Women’s Health in Policy and Research 
5. Moderator: Katherine LaVigne Mager MD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center 

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the nutritional and lifestyle considerations across key stages of women’s hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive health (e.g., adolescence, adulthood and menstruation; pregnancy; and 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. Light refreshments provided.

Day 3 (Saturday), October 25

7-8 am Yoga – UB Jacobs School Atrium

8-9 am Breakfast

9 – 10 am Keynote Presentation – The Lifestyle of Longevity Georgios Karimalis, Karamalis Estate and Lifestyle School, Ikaria, Greece

10:15 – 10:45 am Patient Perspectives on Food as Medicine: Stories and Impacts of the Highmark Sponsored BNMC 40 Days to Wellness Program

Moderator: Michael Ball, Highmark

10:45 – 12 pm Special Presentations – Exploring the 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine

This special presentation series introduces attendees to the six evidence-based pillars of Lifestyle Medicine, nutrition, physical activity, stress reduction, restorative sleep, avoidance of risky substances, and social connection. Through engaging talks led by experts in health systems, corporate wellness, and academic research, participants will learn how these pillars intersect to prevent, manage, and even reverse chronic disease. Speakers will explore the science behind each pillar, highlighting the behavioral, motivational, relational, and environmental factors that shape health outcomes. Real-world case studies will demonstrate how organizations are integrating lifestyle strategies into healthcare delivery, workplace well-being programs, and community health initiatives. Attendees will leave with the tools to design or adapt programs that move beyond food access to include sleep, stress, movement, and connection, creating a more holistic and sustainable approach to health for individuals and populations alike. 

Speakers:

1. Avoiding Risky Substances – Maansi Travers, PhD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
2. Stress Management and Reduction – Melinda Dubois, Mental Health Advocates of WNY
3. Sleep – Soda Kuczkowski, START WITH SLEEP  
4. The Importance of Nutrition Education – Julia Olayanju, PhD, FoodNiche-ED 
5. Movement for Emotions – Jared Byer, HFC, Made 2 Move Fitness 

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.  

12-1 pm Lunch  

12:45-1:45pm Vendor Fair and Poster Presentations  

1:45-2:30pm Culinary Medicine Demonstration 

Presented by Univera Healthcare, this interactive culinary medicine demonstration will showcase a traditional Jamaican dish of steamed fish, okra, and callaloo, prepared live by Chef Darian Bryan, with commentary from Dr. Alisha Lall, and Olivia Thomas, RD. Participants will explore the dish’s heart-healthy, high-fiber, and high-protein profile, learn how its traditional spices promote health and longevity, and discuss its clinical relevance for chronic disease prevention and management. Through the lens of nutrition science, culinary technique, and cultural context, attendees will gain practical strategies to integrate evidence-based, culturally relevant recipes into patient education, professional practice, and everyday cooking. 

Speakers:

1. Alisha Lall, MD DipABLM, Fare | Well Medial Practice 
2. Chef Darian Bryan, The Plating Society 
3. Olivia Thomas MS, RD, Boston Medical Center
4. Paul Valley, Univera Healthcare 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Analyze the nutrient composition of a traditional Jamaican dish (steamed fish, okra, and callaloo) and evaluate its role in cardiovascular risk reduction, blood sugar management, and chronic disease prevention. 
2. Examine the use of culturally relevant spices and cooking techniques and explain their contribution to flavor synergy, satiety, and health-promoting properties in culinary medicine. 
3. Demonstrate the ability to apply at least one culinary medicine principle from the session, such as recipe adaptation, patient education strategies, or integration into meal planning, within clinical practice, teaching kitchens, or personal cooking routines. 

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

This dynamic panel brings together a diverse lineup of culinary medicine trailblazers, from health systems and tech campuses to pediatric clinics and teaching kitchens. Hear from a registered dietitian leading a hospital-based culinary medicine program, a Culinary Institute of America–trained chef, a Google dietitian designing food environments through choice architecture, a physician-chef blending clinical care with cooking education, and a pediatrician who uses the kitchen as a classroom for child development. 

Together, they’ll explore how culinary medicine is far more than just cooking, it’s a powerful tool for building community, preserving culture, enhancing mindfulness, and fostering connection. Panelists will share program outcomes and evaluation strategies, dive into cross-sector collaboration models, and break down the cost-benefit equation for health plans, employers, and community partners. Walk away with actionable insights to embed culinary medicine into your own clinical or community setting, and scale its impact through interprofessional partnerships. 

Speakers:

1. Olivia Thomas MS, RD, Boston Medical Center  
2. Nimali Fernando, MD, MPH, Dr. Yum Project  
3. Ambika Chawla MS RD CNSC CCTD, Assistant Vice President of Nutrition Services for Northwell Health / Teaching Kitchens Collaborative   
4. Heidi Fritz MS RDN, Greener by Default
5. Alisha Lall, MD DipABLM, Fare | Well Medial Practice 
6. Moderator: Trisha Shea, MS RDN, Flourish Nutrition   

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. Review the impacts and outcomes of a culinary medicine program on community members and employees.  
3. 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. Health plans, health systems, community organizations, and employers are implementing this, paying for it. The benefits, impacts, outcomes, how being evaluated, what is costs. Interprofessional opportunities.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. 

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