Embracing Health, Empowering Communities, Our 2025 Speakers

Irene O. Aninye, PhD

Chief Science Officer, Society for Women’s Health Research

Dr. Irene O. Aninye is the Chief Science Officer for the Society for Women’s Health Research, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing women’s health through science, policy, and education. At SWHR, she convenes expert working groups and meetings to identify strategies that address persistent gaps in women’s health care and research, translating recommendations into science-based and patient-centered policy solutions. Dr. Aninye has led the development of white papers, health care roadmaps, and patient and clinical education materials spanning women’s cardiovascular health, autoimmune diseases, uterine health, Alzheimer’s disease, and menopause, among other areas. With a PhD in Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Dr. Aninye’s research background focused on sex steroid hormone action in reproductive endocrinology and metabolism. She has a passion to diversify the face of STEM and involvement of underrepresented groups in the sciences, providing scientific and leadership training across all career stages and serving on advisory boards for the National Institutes of Health, National Health Council, and World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health.

Dr. Jenn Salib Huber RD ND

Canadian Registered Dietitian, Naturopathic Doctor, and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor

Dr. Jenn Salib Huber is a Canadian Registered Dietitian, Naturopathic Doctor, and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and she’s on a mission to help women manage menopause without diets and food rules.  She helps women navigate the physical and emotional changes that happen in perimenopause and menopause, including their search for food freedom and body confidence. Working from a health at every size approach, she teaches women to become intuitive eaters and build body confidence at any stage of midlife.  In addition to her 1:1 and small group programs, she’s the host of ‘The Midlife Feast’ podcast and community that helps women “undiet” their lives after 40 so they can nourish a relationship with food that helps them discover the magic of midlife!

Brandon Lee, DHSc, RD, CSSD, CCRP

Doctor of Health Science & Registered Dietitian, U.S. Army Forces Command

Dr. Brandon Lee is a Registered Dietitian (RD) in the U.S. Army at Fort Drum, NY. Dr. Lee regularly educates and counsels Army Soldiers on healthy dietary practices, weight management strategies, safe and effective supplement usage, and tactical performance for extreme environments. Dr. Lee previously worked for the Houston Astros baseball organization and is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). Dr. Lee regularly engages in military nutrition research and leadership opportunities in the field of dietetics. Dr. Lee earned his Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) degree at Pennsylvania Western University and his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Dietetics at SUNY Oneonta.  

Lily Nichols, RDN, CDE

Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, Researcher, and Author

Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author specializing in evidence-based prenatal nutrition. She is the founder of the Institute for Prenatal Nutrition™ and co-founder of the Women’s Health Nutrition Academy. Lily’s work is known for challenging outdated guidelines and emphasizing real food for fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. Her bestselling books—including Real Food for Pregnancy, Real Food for Gestational Diabetes, and Real Food for Fertility—are used in university courses and have shaped prenatal nutrition policy worldwide. Learn more at lilynicholsrdn.com.

Stevie Lyn Smith MS, RDN, CSSD, CDN

Owner & Founder, Stevie Lyn Nutrition

Stevie Lyn Smith MS, RDN, CSSD is the founder of Stevie Lyn Nutrition, a virtual practice geared towards helping athletes and active individuals.
She received her B.S. in Dietetics & Nutrition from Buffalo State University and M.S. in Applied Nutrition with a Sports & Fitness concentration from Northeastern University.
As a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics and athlete, she combines her passion with evidence-based nutrition practices to help you reach your health and performance goals. With over a decade of experience in nutrition counseling and education, she’s worked with athletes of all levels and individuals managing various health conditions.`

Erin W. Martin, MASM

CEO & Founder, FreshRx Oklahoma

Erin Martin is a national leader in the Food is Medicine movement and founder of FreshRx Oklahoma, a produce prescription program connecting local, regeneratively grown food to patients and lifestyle change education with chronic disease. With a master’s in Gerontology from USC, Erin has testified before Congress, co-leads the Oklahoma Food is Medicine Policy Coalition, and advises programs across the U.S. and internationally. Her work bridges public health, regenerative agriculture, and Medicaid innovation to drive systems change. Erin is passionate about reversing chronic disease through food access, and is helping shape policy to sustainably fund Food is Medicine through healthcare.

Georgios Karimalis 

Lifestyle Coach, Karimalis Estate and Lifestyle School

Born and raised on the Greek island of Ikaria, the Blue Zone. He is 67 years old. He has a background in nutrition and healing exercise. Active member of the Greek Food as Medicine movement since the age of 20. He has conducted an original study on the centenarians of Ikaria. This study revealed the protocols of longevity lifestyle and how they work for long-lived people. Lifestyle coach guiding wellness and Lifestyle of Longevity in his retreats in Ikaria and every year in several workshops and lectures around the world.

Nimali Fernando MD MPH

Founder & Chief Visionary Officer, The Dr. Yum Project

Dr. Nimali Fernando is a board-certified pediatrician and the founder of The Dr. Yum Project, a nonprofit organization. She is also co-author of the award-winning parenting book ”Raising a Healthy, Happy Eater.” She is the co-creator of “Dr. Yum’s Food Adventure,” a research-backed nutrition curriculum that teaches young children to enjoy fruits and vegetables, and she is the creator of “Touchpoints,” a family-centered intensive health behavior and lifestyle program for children. Her food-as-medicine approach has been featured nationally in the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, and the Voice of America.

Sonia Jacome, MSCH

Senior Operations Manager and Researcher, Northwell Health

Sonia Jacome is an operations senior manager and researcher with extensive healthcare industry experience. At Northwell Health, she spearheads complex research programs and successfully secures significant grant funding, demonstrating a deep knowledge of federal and private grant mechanisms. She excels in program development, implementation, evaluation, and analysis, focusing on community health and social determinants of health. Author of numerous scientific publications, Sonia holds an MS in Community Health from Hofstra University. She also secured a faculty appointment at Hofstra University’s School of Health Professions and Human Services (Spring 2026) to teach the “Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation” course. Her expertise drives operational excellence, process improvement, and strong team management.

Soda Kuczkowski

Founder, START WITH SLEEP, LLC

Soda Kuczkowski is a Sleep Health Educator and Certified Sleep Coach with over 19 years of experience in sleep medicine, health, and coaching. She is the founder of START WITH SLEEP, LLC, a New York-based organization offering sleep education, training, and personalized services, including coaching and home sleep testing. She also owns The Doze, a retail boutique featuring curated sleep products and support. In addition to her hands-on work, she hosts The Doze Podcast, a supportive space that empowers women balancing careers and caregiving to prioritize sleep and reframe it as the foundation of health, performance, and overall well-being.

Cate Hensley, MSW

Manager of Policy and Projects, Food as Medicine Coalition

Cate is an equity-oriented, community-driven social work professional bringing expertise in advocacy, communications, and systems change to their work supporting the Coalition. Cate advances FIMC’s policy priorities, lead’s the health equity initiative, crafts technical assistance and symposia offerings, and supports FIMC’s working committees. Cate has previously worked in nutrition policy and advocacy, provided clinical mental health services, and supported survivors of trauma. Cate is committed to centering community voice, dismantling systems of oppression, and working towards a more just world. Cate holds a master’s in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was a Graduate Policy Scholar.

Olivia Thomas, MS, RDN

Director of Nutrition Innovation and Implementation, Boston Medical Center

Olivia Thomas, MS, RD, LDN, is the Director of Nutrition Innovation and Implementation at Boston Medical Center, where she leads efforts to integrate food-based interventions into clinical care and develop community-driven, culturally affirming programs to prevent and manage diet-related chronic diseases. Olivia pioneered nutrition-focused training for healthcare professionals by co-founding Boston University’s culinary medicine program. She also leads hands-on workshops and develops programs for institutions nationwide, and spearheaded the development of technology-enabled products that bring personalized culinary medicine beyond the teaching kitchen and into homes. An accomplished writer and speaker, Olivia regularly publishes and presents on nutrition, culinary medicine, and community engagement. Olivia is a PhD student at Australian Catholic University, where her research focuses on sports nutrition and supporting high-performing athletes through culinary medicine.

Dr. Julia Olayanju

Founder, Foodniche-Ed

Dr. Julia Olayanju is a leader at the intersection of science, nutrition, and education. She holds a PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Rutgers and an MPH from Harvard. Since 2017, she has led the FoodNiche Summit, uniting global food industry leaders to drive innovation and shape a healthier food system. As founder of FoodNiche-ED, she pioneers programs that teach children about food and health while enhancing science education. Passionate about bridging science and industry, Dr. Olayanju is dedicated to transforming how we understand nutrition and improving public health through education and collaboration.

Tanya Little MSc

Chief Commercial Officer, Vitality

Behavioral economist Tanya Little is a growth executive, performance coach and speaker, known for leveraging the art and science of human connection to improve organizational alignment and accelerate revenue uplift.

As Vitality’s Chief Commercial Officer, Little is responsible for new lines of business, sales and go-to-market strategy. Additionally, she serves as the external face of Vitality, speaking regularly at conferences and connecting with leading influencers.

Previously a consultant for McKinsey & Company and Accenture, Little held various strategic and operational leadership roles in specialist banking and healthcare prior to joining Vitality.

Jared Byer, HFC

Corporate Wellness Educator, Made 2 Move Fitness

Jared Byer, HFC, is a Corporate Wellness Educator focused on coaching high-stress sedentary staff toward a healthier lifestyle.  His seminars provide fact-based information to promote well-being and longevity.  He has over 30 years of experience working in the health & wellness industry, along with numerous honors and awards for his service.

Lorna Fitzpatrick, MD

Vice President Medical Affairs, Univera Healthcare

Lorna Fitzpatrick, MD, is Vice President Medical Affairs and Senior Medical Director for Univera Healthcare. As Vice President Medical Affairs, she has corporate-wide responsibilities for Safety Net programs across the 39 counties of upstate New York. Here in Western New York as Senior Medical Director of Univera Healthcare, she is the first female physician in Univera’s history to serve as the highest-ranking physician leader on the WNY executive team. Dr. Fitzpatrick is board-certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. Prior to joining Univera Healthcare, she spent much of her career in academic and clinical practice.

Ambika Chawla MS RD CNSC

Assistant Vice President, Nutrition Services, Northwell Health

Ambika Chawla is a Registered Dietitian with extensive experience and currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Nutrition Services at Northwell Health. Her 18 years of strong clinical background in nutrition include experience in critical care and nutrition support. During her various leadership positions, Ambika developed clinical nutrition teams by enhancing the role of Registered Dietitian within the interdisciplinary team and creating various specialty nutrition areas and patient-focused programs for Northwell Health.  In her current role, Ambika directs the development, implementation, and strategy of system-wide nutrition-focused programs, projects, and initiatives in acute care, ambulatory, and home care settings. She provides system leadership to ensure enterprise consistency by implementing evidence-based practices for patient care, and supports food transformation, food as medicine, and nutrition access efforts at Northwell Health.  Ambika is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative, and various academy practice groups.

Rebekah J. Walker, PhD

Associate Professor and Chief, Division of Population Health & Vice Chair for Research, Population Health, and Clinical Analytics, Department of Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences University at Buffalo.

Dr. Rebekah Walker is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Division Chief for the Division of Population Health in the Department of Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. Her research focuses on reducing and eliminating health disparities by addressing social and structural determinants of health, with particular emphasis on addressing the influence of food insecurity on adults with chronic disease. She is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health to conduct two large community-based trials testing the efficacy of interventions designed to improve health outcomes for adults with food insecurity.

Heidi Fritz, MS, RDN

Healthcare Director, Greener By Default

Heidi is a Registered Dietitian and the Healthcare Director with Greener By Default.  She leads a team of dietitians consulting with hospitals and food service management companies in the US, Canada, and the UK, applying behavioral science to menuing and food service operations, nudging diners towards sustainable and healthy plant-based meals while preserving freedom of choice. Her background includes working in the hospitality and catering industries, as well as over 25 years as a public health dietitian focused on chronic disease prevention initiatives.  Heidi also serves on her local Sustainable Food Policy Council in Denver, CO, where she enjoys hiking, gardening, and cooking lots of plant-based food.

Jack Tocco, PhD, MPH

Senior Advisor, Northwell Health Institute for Community Health

Dr. Tocco is Senior Advisor at Northwell Health’s Institute for Community Health and Wellness, part of metropolitan New York’s largest health system, and Assistant Professor of Science Education at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He directs Northwell’s Maternal Nutrition Program, a Food as Medicine initiative to expand healthy food access, improve nutrition, and support pregnant patients experiencing food insecurity and at high risk for adverse maternal and infant outcomes. A medical anthropologist and health science researcher, he is a core member of Northwell’s Food as Health Advisory Group.

Matt Jozwiak

Founder and CEO, Rethink Food

Matt Jozwiak is the Founder and CEO of Rethink Food and Rethink Services, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to building sustainable and equitable food systems. He co-founded Rethink in 2017 alongside Chef Daniel Humm and philanthropist Julian Baker.
Matt began his career in 2006 as a chef, working at acclaimed restaurants including Noma and Eleven Madison Park. In addition to leading Rethink, he serves on the boards of Rethink Food, Rethink Services, Tikoon, and several community councils.

Brayan Fernando Lopez, PT, DPT, CSCS

Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist in Physical Therapy, Excelsior Orthopedics

Dr. Brayan Fernando Lopez is a board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist in the field of physical therapy with over 15 years of experience in strength and conditioning and 9 years in sports and orthopedic rehabilitation. At Excelsior Orthopaedics, he works with a diverse patient population, including individuals preparing for or recovering from orthopedic surgery, active adults and high school athletes returning to sport. He is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, supporting present initiatives and currently serving on the Program Committee for APTA New York, with previous contributions to  the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy. He serves on numerous committees within Excelsior involving ACL reconstruction, performing arts and endurance sports.

Catherine/Katie
Brown MS, RDN, CDN, LDN

Clinical Lead,
Flourish Nutrition

Catherine/Katie Brown is an award-winning Dietitian and the Clinical Lead at Flourish Nutrition, an outcomes-focused specialty nutrition practice. Drawing from her own experiences with disabilities, Katie aims to establish an inclusive environment where nutrition therapy is readily available to all. Currently, Katie is President of the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics where she advocates and supports advancing the dietetics profession in New York State. She is passionate about expanding access to nutrition care and educating dietitians to better serve the mental health and disability communities.

Kelly Cardamone, MS, RDN, LDN, CDN, CDCES, IFNCP

Clinical Nutrition & Diabetes Program Manager, General Physician, P.C.

Kelly has over 25 years of expertise in the Health and Wellness field and extensive experience providing nutritional counseling for a variety of complex diseases. Kelly has degrees in Nutrition, Exercise Science, Adult Education and is currently working on her Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition at Rutgers University, graduating at the end of this year. 

Katherine LaVigne Mager, MD, FACOG

Chair of Perioperative Quality Committee Director, Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program

Dr. Mager is a gynecologic oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at Roswell Park, with a clinical and research focus on ovarian and endometrial cancers, and an interest in how to better serve my patients regarding prevention, treatment, and personalized decision making.  She serves as Director of the Shashikant Lele Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry, the oldest such repository in the country that collects detailed family histories and biospecimens from individuals with OC or a family history suggestive of hereditary cancer syndromes, providing a unique resource to investigate inherited risk and disease mechanisms.

Her research interests span the intersection of surgical management and translational science. She currently directs the Perioperative Quality Committee, where I help integrate patient care and surgical decision-making with translational research. She leads an ongoing clinical project evaluating tumor hypoxia markers in pre-invasive and invasive EC, correlating these with oncologic and fertility outcomes. She is particularly interested in how intraoperative and pathological data can inform personalized treatment strategies. Her prior translational work explored the tumor immune microenvironment in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). They analyzed metastatic peritoneal samples from different anatomical sites within the same patients and revealed striking heterogeneity in immune infiltration, highlighting the complexity of therapeutic response and prognostication.

Anna Lin-Schweitzer, MPH

Associate Director, Feeding Change, Milken Institute

Anna Lin-Schweitzer is an associate director with Feeding Change at the Milken Institute. She leads the portfolio’s Food Is Medicine (FIM) research, which addresses critical gaps in the FIM ecosystem by advancing policies and actionable solutions to integrate nutrition into health care. She also coordinates Feeding Change’s Food Is Medicine Task Force, fostering collaboration across private sector stakeholders. Prior to joining the Milken Institute, Anna’s work spanned food security, urban agriculture, food policy, and environmental advocacy. She holds a master of Public Health from Yale University and a BA in English literature from Washington University in St. Louis.

Trisha Shea

Registered Dietitian, Flourish Nutrition

Trisha Shea, MS, RDN, CDN, is a Registered Dietitian with expertise in telehealth nutrition counseling and community nutrition. She recently joined Foodsmart, a virtual platform advancing the “food is medicine” movement by combining medical nutrition therapy with food access solutions. Trisha began her telehealth journey with Flourish Nutrition, supporting clients managing chronic conditions. She also served as Senior SNAP-Ed Nutritionist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, where she supervised five nutrition educators and led nutrition workshops in Buffalo, NY. Trisha currently chairs the Great Lakes Region of the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Chef Robert E. Graham, MD, MPH

Medical Doctor and Co-Founder, FRESH Med

Dr. Rob Graham, “Dr. Rob the Chef,” is a Harvard-trained physician, public health scientist, TEDx speaker, and chef, board-certified in Internal and Integrative Medicine. With over 20 years of experience, he pioneers the integration of food and lifestyle into medical care through FRESH Medicine, focusing on Food, Relaxation, Exercise, Sleep, and Happiness. A graduate of Harvard School of Public Health and the Natural Gourmet Institute, Dr. Graham is an international leader in culinary medicine, teaching thousands of healthcare professionals to cook and advocating for “food-first” healthcare. He also serves as Chief Health Officer at Performance Kitchen and advises policymakers.

Timothy Sorge

Relationship Manager, Rochester NY, Mercer Health

Tim is a Principal with the Mercer Upstate NY office. His primary focus is business development through the expansion of existing client relationships and new business relationships. He provides strategic oversight to ensure client satisfaction and retention while specializing in benefit plan design, renewal strategy, and the delivery of solutions for employers.

Tim brings over 16 years of experience in the employee benefits industry and has been with Mercer since 2017. Before joining Mercer, Tim served as an Account Manager for over 5 years at a regional brokerage firm, acting as the main point of contact for clients, advocating on behalf of employers and employees with respect to employee benefit plan arrangements. Additionally, Tim’s past experience includes his role as the Practice Administrator of the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group at Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, where he worked for 7 years.

Tim earned his undergraduate degree from Nazareth College of Rochester and is currently working on completing the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist certification (CEBS) through the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans in conjunction with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds his Retirement Plan Associate designation.
Tim is also an active Board member for The Arc Foundation of Monroe County and is also the President for the Genesee Valley Chapter of SHRM (“Society of Human Resources Management”).”

Sam Hale

CEO, Nurish’d

In a world where diet dictates our health, I believe in a holistic approach, where wellness is about a sustainable lifestyle that fosters individual health and well-being. I am driven by the vision to transform our relationship with food, seeing it not just as sustenance but as a tool for longevity, illness prevention, and overall well-being. This belief founded Nurish’d, a platform providing access to registered dietitians and leveraging AI to integrate personalized nutrition seamlessly into our daily lives by connecting users to healthy meals that best fit their lifestyles and goals. If we eat well, we feel well.

Marla Guarino, RDN

Director of Programming, Buffalo Go Green, Inc.

Marla Guarino is a Registered Dietitian devoted to promoting healthy living in communities through access to good, affordable food.

She works as the Director of Programming for Buffalo Go Green, a non-profit that combats food injustice by providing produce from three urban farms. BGG provides food as medicine interventions, nutrition education, and culturally-relevant cooking classes, as well as helping to advance food policy and health equity initiatives.

Marla worked at the BNMC on Farm to Institution procurement efforts and Food As Medicine policy and implementation.  She was a founder of the BNMC Food As Medicine Symposium and WNY Food as Medicine Coalition.   Her career in community health started at Cornell Cooperative Extension as a SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator and Coordinator for the NYS DOH Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant. Previously, she had a twenty-year career in the food and beverage industry.

Marla has a BA in History/Political Science from Allegheny College and a BS from the Dietitian Education Program at SUNY Buffalo State University

Nikki Kmicinski, MS,RD, CDN

Executive Director Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative

Nikki Kmicinski is a professional with a diverse background in non-profits, real estate, health care, service, sports, and business. She holds a Master of Science in Service Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology, a Registered Dietitian (RD) internship from Central Washington University, and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetic Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Nikki has held various roles, including Executive Director at Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative, Registered Dietitian Consultant at various sites, Director of Business Development at Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative, and Registered Dietitian at several organizations, including Biggest Loser Resort Niagara, Erie County Department of Senior Services, UH&W, Inc., and Fit Now Nutrition. Additionally, she has experience as a Real Estate Sales Associate at Coldwell Banker Aubrey Leonard and CENTURY 21 Gold Standard. She approaches her projects with a positive and collaborative mindset, drawing from her extensive experience across multiple industries.

Darian Bryan

Chef

“Hailing from Jamaica, Chef Darian brings the heat to Buffalo, NY, and everything he serves. Featured in many media outlets, including the Food Network, CBS News, ESPN, The Jamaican Observer, The Gleaner, and TVJ.

He inspires appetites around the world. From fine dining pop-ups to private dining experiences, and from meal prep for professional athletes to the long line–worthy events for his Jamaican-inspired “Jerk Hut,” extra is always on the menu—whether you’re talking about his signature fedoras and chef jackets or the colossal surf and turf he’s known for. Chef Darian’s core beliefs that chefs are rock stars and that food should make people happy inspire his commitment to representing his home country to the fullest, merging fine dining with Caribbean flavor—and, now, showing us all how easy (and delicious) it can be to bring plant-based taste to your menu.”

Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD

Owner, Greenletes

Natalie Rizzo is the founder and owner of Greenletes, an organization on a mission to help everyday athletes fuel their fitness with plants. Natalie believes everyone, from marathoners to first-time 5k runners, can benefit from eating more plants and applying science-based sports nutrition. After changing careers to become a Registered Dietitian, Natalie discovered she had been sabotaging her own workouts by not eating enough to properly fuel and recover. Now a Sports Dietitian, long-time vegetarian, and marathon runner, Natalie teaches athletes how to use food as fuel to optimize performance, boost energy, and stay healthy, so they can go the distance, one plant-powered meal at a time.

Christine Dziedzic, RD, CSSD, APD, AdvSD

Sports Dietitian, Buffalo Bills

Christine is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, and Advanced Sports Dietitian, and is in her eighth season as the Team Sports Dietitian for the Buffalo Bills. She holds a Master’s in Sports Nutrition and an International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sports Nutrition. Christine has more than 16 years of experience developing and delivering performance nutrition services to professional teams and athletes, as well as Olympic medalists in several national teams across three countries – Australia, Canada, and the USA. She has published research in scientific journals and is a contributing author of several books on nutrition for athletes. Christine is continuously exploring ways to integrate evidence-informed nutrition strategies within the culture and dynamics of the teams with which she works.

Melinda DuBois, MSW

Executive Director, Mental Health Advocates of Western New York

Melinda DuBois serves as the Executive Director of Mental Health Advocates of Western New York, formerly the Mental Health Association of Erie County. A Western New York native, she earned her Master of Social Work from the University at Buffalo and built a career dedicated to reshaping mental health systems through advocacy and leadership. Under her guidance, MHAWNY expands access to vital non-clinical mental health services, including education, peer support, early intervention, and workplace initiatives. Known for her compassionate leadership, Melinda fosters a culture where lived experience informs every aspect of care and community connection.

Maansi Bansal-Travers, PhD, MS

Associate Professor of Oncology Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Maansi Bansal-Travers, PhD, is a Research Scientist in the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. She earned her BS in Human Nutrition and Food Management from The Ohio State University and her MS and PhD in Epidemiology and Community Health from SUNY Buffalo. Dr. Bansal-Travers directs Roswell Park’s Health Communications Testing Lab, using surveys, focus groups, and eye-tracking to optimize health messaging. Her research explores smokers’ misperceptions about cigarette packaging, health warnings, and tobacco products. She is a key investigator for the PATH Study and leads initiatives to promote tobacco cessation and reduce preventable hospitalizations.

Dr. Alisha Lall, MD

Primary Care Physician

She is a board-certified family medicine physician and lifestyle medicine physician, providing care for adolescents and adults in Western New York since 2018. She created a unique approach to patient-centered care rooted in lifestyle medicine. This focuses on six pillars of health: food, movement, sleep, stress management, community, and using medications responsibly. She is dedicated to expanding this approach of medical care and ensuring that our community receives the care it deserves. When she is not in the office, you can find her at the yoga studio, taking morning walks with her pup, connecting with family and friends, and finding new adventures along the way.

Dr. 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. Levy is a Buffalo-based integrative holistic medicine specialist dedicated to advancing health, wellness, and healthy aging. Board-certified in Internal Medicine (1989) and Integrative Holistic Medicine (2003), he combines expertise in optimum nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and compassionate care. Dr. Levy develops individualized treatment plans that may include dietary guidance, targeted supplements, and lifestyle modifications to prevent and manage chronic disease. With extensive experience treating conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, thyroid disorders, and autoimmune disease, he helps patients address underlying causes, oxidative stress, inflammation, gut dysfunction, detoxification, and hormone imbalance, while empowering them to take charge of their health.

Jessica Knurick, PhD, RDN

Founder, Jessica Knurick

Dr. Jessica Knurick is a Registered Dietitian with a PhD in nutrition science, educating on nutrition, public health, and food policy. She helps people navigate complex information with clear, evidence-based guidance.

Eric Rochman, MPH

Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, God’s Love We Deliver

Eric Rochman is a strategy and operations leader with over 15 years of experience working across the healthcare continuum. As the CSGO at God’s Love We Deliver, Eric oversees Strategic Operations, Research and Evaluation, Policy and Advocacy, Compliance, Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) Services, and Systems/IT. Eric was first introduced to God’s Love and Food Is Medicine interventions when he was in college, as a family member of his was fortunate to receive Medically Tailored Meals from God’s Love. Eric has his MPH from NYU, with a concentration in Epidemiology.

Paul Valley

President, Univera Healthcare

Paul Valley is president of Univera Healthcare. He has more than 25 years of experience in the health insurance industry and a strong dedication to community engagement. Prior to his appointment as president, Paul served as vice president of commercial sales, overseeing new sales and retention across all commercial group business segments. Paul began his career in 1998 at BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and has held leadership roles spanning customer and provider service, enrollment and billing, and sales. His career also includes executive positions with insurers and health insurance brokers in Western New York, as well as with a leading health insurer in Minnesota. Paul is recognized for his strategic vision, deep industry knowledge, and strong community ties. A Western New York native, he has coached youth sports for over 15 years and serves on the Board of Directors for Buffalo Niagara Partnership, InVest Buffalo, and HEALTHeLINK.

Michael Ball

Vice President, Community Affairs, Highmark Western and Northeastern New York

Michael Ball is vice president, community affairs for Highmark Western and Northeastern New York, where he oversees the company’s support of corporate grants, sponsorships, and community programs, services and initiatives aimed at addressing health disparities throughout the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western NY and Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern NY communities. Ball also leads all elements of the health plan’s Blue Fund, which awards major grants to local organizations and initiatives that enhance the health of the region.

Ball joined the health plan from Empire State Development (ESD), New York’s chief economic development agency, where he most recently served as regional director. He also served as executive director of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council and was charged with strategic planning and local implementation of the state’s annual funding process.

Congressman Tim Kennedy

Tim Kennedy is a lifelong Western New Yorker, raised in Buffalo in a hardworking, community-focused family. A licensed occupational therapist, he spent over a decade helping geriatric and pediatric patients. Elected to Congress in 2024, Tim serves on the Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs Committees, co-chairs the Northern Border Caucus, and introduced the SNOW Act to improve FEMA response. Previously, in the New York State Senate, he chaired the Transportation Committee, securing major investments and passing critical safety legislation. A champion for equity, justice, and public health, Tim lives in Buffalo with his wife, Katie, and their three children.