Scott Stoll, MD

He is the co-founder of the Plantrician Project, the International Plant Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference, the International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention, and the Regenerative Health Institute a unique collaborative project with the Rodale Institute. He serves on the advisory board at Whole Foods for their health care clinics and served as a member of the Whole Foods scientific and medical advisory board. Dr.Stoll is the Chairman of the board for the Plantrician Project and chief medical director for the Rouxbe cooking school.

Dr. Stoll hosts the very popular one-week health immersion, Dr. Stoll’s total health immersion several times annually in Naples Florida. In addition to authoring several books, hosting his own daily TV and radio programs, Dr. Stoll has appeared on numerous national shows including the Dr. Oz show and documentaries including Eating You Alive, Wait til its Free, and The Game Changers. As well as being a published author, and member of the 1994 Olympic Bobsled Team he is a highly sought-after international speaker. Dr. Stoll resides with his wife and six children in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Chef AJ

Chef AJ has been devoted to a plant-exclusive diet for over 40 years. She is the host of the television series Healthy Living with CHEF AJ which airs on Foody TV.  With her comedy background, she has made appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman and more. A chef, culinary instructor and professional speaker, she is author of the popular book Unprocessed: How to Achieve Vibrant Health and Your Ideal Weight, which chronicles her journey from an obese junk-food vegan faced with a diagnosis of pre-cancerous polyps, to learning how to create foods that nourish and heal the body.  Her new book The Secrets to Ultimate Weight Loss:  A Revolutionary Approach to Conquer Cravings, Overcome Food Addiction and Lose Weight Without Going Hungry has received glowing endorsement by many luminaries in the plant based movement.

Based in Los Angeles, Chef AJ teaches a monthly sold-out seminar featuring cooking instruction, nutritional science and song parodies, all delivered with comedic panache. Never content to leave her audience with mere “just do it” advice, she teaches how to create meals to transform their health, how to deal with cravings and food addiction and addresses the emotional side of eating.  She is the creator of the Ultimate Weight Loss Program, which has helped hundreds of people achieve the health and the body that they deserve.

Chef AJ was the Executive Pastry Chef at Santé Restaurant in Los Angeles where she was famous for her sugar, oil, salt and gluten free desserts which use the fruit, the whole fruit and nothing but the whole fruit.

Chef AJ is also the creator of Healthy Taste of LA and the YouTube cooking show The Chef and the Dietitian, Chef AJ holds a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell University and is proud to say that her IQ is higher than her cholesterol.

Saray Stancic, MD,FACN

Saray Stancic, M.D. is triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Lifestyle Medicine. She graduated from New Jersey Medical School in 1993 and after completing her fellowship, accepted the position as Chief of Infectious Diseases at the Hudson Valley VA in New York. In later years, she served as Translational Medical Leader at Roche Pharmaceuticals where she led clinical trials in the field of viral hepatitis.

In 2012, she left the work in Infectious Diseases to fully dedicate her time to the field of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Stancic's interest in Lifestyle Medicine is rooted in her personal story as a patient living with multiple sclerosis. She is the founder of one of the first Lifestyle Medicine practices in the country, and mentors the Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

In 2018, she was appointed Chief Medical Officer for WellStart Health, a digital, team-based intensive lifestyle change program. She seeks to spread the power of Lifestyle Medicine on a global scale, and bring needed change to how we train physicians.

Dr. Stancic is the Executive Producer of the documentary film, code blue: Redefining the Practice of Medicine, which highlights the practice of Lifestyle Medicine to prevent, treat, and manage chronic illnesses. Code Blue follows a passionate physician, Dr. Saray Stancic, as she reflects upon her journey from a multiple sclerosis diagnosis to wellness through her own adoption of lifestyle medicine. Dr. Stancic introduces us to expert physicians and scientists who are paving the way to make meaningful and necessary change in our healthcare environment, and in turn, empowering audiences to stand up and reclaim control of their health.

Watch code blue movie trailer: https://youtu.be/jyqokMV0jx4

John McDougall, MD

Special Guest Speaker via Video Conference - Dr. John McDougall.

We are honored to have Dr. McDougall be part of the Summit he is truly a pioneer in the plant-based movement.

A physician and nutrition expert who teaches better health through vegetarian cuisine, John A. McDougall, MD has been studying, writing, and speaking out about the effects of nutrition on disease for over 50 years. Dr. John and Mary McDougall believe that people should look and feel great for a lifetime. Unfortunately, many people unknowingly compromise their health through poor dietary habits.  

Dr. McDougall is the founder and director of the nationally renowned McDougall Program: a ten-day residential program that he and Mary McDougall host at a luxury resort in Santa Rosa, CA where medical miracles occur through diet and lifestyle changes. In addition to her formal training as a nurse, Mary McDougall provides many of the delicious recipes that make the McDougall Program not only possible, but also a pleasure. Dr. McDougall has cared for thousands of patients for 5 decades. His program not only promotes a broad range of dramatic and lasting health benefits but, most importantly, can also reverse serious illnesses including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and others, all without the use of drugs.  

A graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, Dr. McDougall performed his internship at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, and his medical residency at the University of Hawaii. He is certified as an internist by the Board of Internal Medicine and the National Board of Medical Examiners. He and Mary are also the authors of several nationally best-selling books as well as the co-founders of Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods, which produces high quality vegetarian cuisine to make it easier for people to eat well on the go.

Andrew Freeman, MD, FACC, FACP

Dr. Freeman joined National Jewish Health in Denver, CO after completing his training in Philadelphia at Temple University. Prior to that, he completed his internal medicine training at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He completed medical school at SUNY Buffalo with research honors after graduating summe cum laude from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

At National Jewish, he serves as the director of clinical cardiology and the director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness and is an Associate Professor of Medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology, cardiac CT, and echocardiography. His clinical and research interests are in disease prevention, exercise and lifestyle medicine, imaging heart disease, nutrition, and cardiac sarcoidosis.

Dr. Freeman also hosts a monthly Walk with a Doc program in the Denver area where he volunteers his time to walk with patients on Saturday mornings to teach key health concepts, but also to explore using exercise as medicine for the greater good of the public.

Finally, Dr. Freeman holds some key leadership positions in the Colorado chapter of the American College of Cardiology as well as at the national level, including founding chair of the Early Career Council and Section, an active member of the Best Practice Quality Improvement Committee, co-chair of the Lifestyle and Nutrition Workgroup and a spot on the Patient-Centered Care and ACC Digital Steering Committees. He has published scholarly manuscripts on patient-centered care, cardiac sarcoidosis, and served as editor-in-chief of the Patient-Centered Care community on CardioSource. He serves as the social media editor for JACC, the country’s number one cardiology journal. An avid teacher and educator, Dr. Freeman teaches medical, physician assistant and pharmacy students regularly, and has hosted many community lectures and CME programs. He is a regular feature at VegFest Colorado and continues to expand his teaching and messages of prevention and wellness all over Colorado.

Ritamarie Loscalzo, MS, DC, CCN, DACBN

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo is passionately committed to transforming exhausted high achievers all over the globe into high energy people who love their lives and live to their full potential.

She founded the Institute of Nutritional Endocrinology so that she could be instrumental in transforming our current broken disease-management system into a true health care system where each and every practitioner is skilled at finding the root cause of health challenges.

Dr. Ritamarie specializes in using the wisdom of nature married with modern scientific research restore balance to hormones with a special emphasis on thyroid, adrenal, and insulin imbalances.  Her practitioner training programs empower health and nutrition professionals, including health coaches, physicians, nutritionists, nurses and others to use functional assessments and natural therapeutics to unravel the mystery of their clients’ complex health challenges, so they become known as go-to practitioners for true healing and lasting results.

Dr. Ritamarie is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic with Certification in Acupuncture and is a Diplomat of the American Clinical Nutrition Board.  She is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist with a Master’s degree in Human Nutrition, and she has completed a 500-hour Herbal Medicine Certification Program.

Dr. Ritamarie is has trained and certified hundreds of practitioners in the art of using palate-pleasing, whole fresh food as medicine.  As a certified HeartMath® provider, Dr. Ritamarie is passionate about using stress transformation techniques to guide clients to reduce the negative impact of stress on their health.

Her passion for health and healing began as a result of her own bout with illness.  After recovering her health by changing what she put in her mouth and how she lived her life, Dr. Ritamarie began her formal training in nutrition and natural medicine in 1985.

When she's not writing, speaking, or coaching on health and nutrition topics, Dr. Ritamarie loves to run, hike, swim, paint, make pottery and travel with her husband and her two vibrant and active sons.

Dr. Ritamarie can be reached at www.DrRitamarie.com

To find out more about her programs for health and wellness professionals, visit www.NutritionalEndocrinology.com

John Pierre

Nutrition and fitness consultant John Pierre has trained hard-core athletes, Hollywood celebrities, rock-stars, and Fortune 500 executives. Assisting a wide range of clientele and people of all backgrounds and fitness levels, John’s passion is to help everyone. Credited as being one of the first pioneers in the U.S. to create “brain-building” classes that enhance cognitive fitness in our geriatrics community, 30 years of experience has provided John with a unique understanding and ability to help others with cognitive challenges.

John Pierre was recently inducted into the North American Vegetarian Society Hall of Fame and continues to contribute widely to magazines and publications in the area of health and fitness. John is the author of several books, including The Pillars of Health, and Strong, Savvy, Safe, available at www.johnpierre.com, and has starred in numerous health-promoting DVD’s and online programs that reach countless individuals all over the world.

Jyl Steinback

Jyl Steinback, Executive Director Of Shape Up Us And Creator Of The Hip Hop Healthy Heart Program For Children™ And Clap4health℠ Newest Cookbook, ”Think Outside The Lunchbox”

Described by the media as “a one-woman business dynamo,” “America’s Healthy Mom” and “A National Sensation,” Steinback serves as the executive director of Shape Up US. In 2011, Jyl was awarded a Community Leadership Award from the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition “For exemplary service and dedication to improving the lives of others by promoting and fostering opportunities for participation in fitness, sports or nutrition programs.” Steinback, who has worked in the health and wellness industry for more than 35 years as a personal trainer, educator, and lifestyle guru has sold more than 2 million books that educate consumers to change their lifestyle by making positive choices through proper nutrition, exercise, and healthy living. She has been a spokesperson teaching health and wellness throughout the country.

Jyl is passionate about “Building A Healthier Future for Children”. Jyl says, “Her passion is to change the face of education, as we know it today. Bringing a “Healthy Wellness” Curriculum into every school starting in kindergarten -6th grade. She believes every child is entitled to a great start! The Hip Hop Healthy Heart for Children™ A Healthy Literacy Curriculum that encompasses the “Whole Child” and empowers our youth and our teachers as our leaders. This program provides our children with the tools to flourish and be resilient! To guide our children to blossom into their full potential (mentally, physically and emotional). It provides a turn-key on-line curriculum and resources that “Transform Our Children”. This program is the SOLUTION TO LIFESTYLE AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES!

  Her latest program, Clap4HealthSM! Fundraiser, an innovative solution to bringing wellness, fitness and mindfulness into peoples lives. The benefits of clapping are based on the Acupressure Theory. “Our body has 340 known pressure points, 28 of which are in our hands”. This is why many children and adults love to clap. It makes you happy! This program is being implemented in schools, organizations and corporations across the nation to teach the benefits of keeping fit, active, healthy and happy. Let’s have some FUN GETTING HEALTHY! HAPPY! and ACTIVE! Together we create “A Circle of Wellness that Works!”

  Jyl’s newest cookbook is “Think Outside The Lunchbox” – “Delicious Plantritious Recipes the Whole Family Will Love!”Jyl has 3 amazing children and loves to hike in the desert beauty with beautiful friends and new pal “Kona” her black wolf malamute.

Jon McMahon

Jon is the creator of the documentary series iThrive: Rising from the Depths of Diabetes & Obesity! It is one mans (Jon) struggle to rise up in the face of diabetes and obesity to reclaim his health and his life…and to Thrive! In the docuseries, Jon interviewed the biggest names in the whole-food, plant-based nutrition movement, including physicians, scientists, and chefs.

Jon was morbidly obese and a diabetic, so this series is a personal journey in which he invited everyone to come along. He chose to embark on a journey to understand why no amount of money or medicine is stopping the twin pandemics of diabetes and obesity, what’s really causing it and how to prevent and reverse it. He headed out as a one-man-documentary camera crew… against his doctors’ orders. He knew that he might not have lived to see the docuseries go live to the world, but believes his mission was worth risking his life for.

Jon has now applied what he’s learned from the docuseries experts and has lost over 100 lbs.  He’s living the transformation! 

Hear his story at our Summit!

Chef Katie Mae

Chef Katie Mae is the founder of The Culinary Gym, an online hub to learn, practice, and master the whole food, plant-based cuisine. The mission is to empower people in the kitchen and build their vitality through delicious recipes and cooking classes! The motivation goes beyond health—it’s about Delicious Living! Katie Mae has been teaching at TrueNorth Health Center and Dr. McDougall’s residential health programs for almost a decade and now people can train with her from anywhere in the world. Learn more at TheCulinaryGym.com.    

Jeff Nelson

In 1996 Jeff Nelson's wife, Sabrina, was diagnosed with a rare incurable autoimmune disease. She was lucky to discover a book by John McDougall, MD - The McDougall Program - and the whole family changed their diet to follow Dr. McDougall's program in support. Within weeks Sabrina's disease went into remission. Because they were so grateful to learn about the healing power of diet, Jeff and Sabrina went on to create one of the first vegan-oriented websites on the internet - vegsource.com. Team Vegsource has produced events, videos, and a documentary called "Processed People" about diet and health. They also pioneered the breakthrough Meals For Health program, which brings plant-based education into underserved areas. Jeff makes regular commentary on YouTube and social media about important issues related to the plant-based community. Considered (by his wife and children) to be the most brilliant author in the universe, Jeff has written for episodic television, produced TV movies and an NBC mini-series, and written non-fiction books.

Carra Richling, RD

Registered Dietitian; with expertise in Health Coaching and Consulting specializing Lifestyle Management and Wellness with a comprehensive background of over 20 years in the health and wellness industry.   Oversee and manage operations, training and development for the nutrition element of Ornish Lifestyle Medicine

•  Facilitate training and provide ongoing support for clinical nutrition (Registered Dietitians)
•  Facilitate training and provide ongoing support food service (chefs and hospital food service)
•  Provide training and oversee nutrition element at monthly Experiential Training Retreats
•  Develop new curriculum and materials for the nutrition element
•  oversee food service and recipe development for public website cookbook (Ornish Kitchen) and clinical sites

 

Chef Kelley Williamson

Kelley Williamson is a WFPB Chef and a Certified Food for Life Instructor through Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) specializing in low-fat whole food, plant based (vegan) cooking under the name Plant Based Kitchen. Kelley focuses on facilitating cooking classes, offering personal chef services and sharing food information, recipes and ideas through all of the classes that she teaches. Kelley has taught over 1,000 individuals on plant based nutrition and has a passion for helping people heal through food.

Kelley has most recently formed a non-profit, Healthy Living thru Nutrition, in May 2015 which focuses on teaching cooking classes and establishing relationships with schools, students, families, and volunteers across the state of Colorado. The essential purpose of this non-profit will be to fulfill the Healthy Living thru Nutrition mission by teaching cooking classes, learning about proper nutrition and building the skills and knowledge to cook meals and make healthy choices.

Co-Founder of The Plant Based Health and Wellness Summit

Jerry Casados, NTP

Jerry Casados is a Nutrition Therapy Practitioner (NTP) specializing in whole food, plant-based nutrition as an approach to preventing and even reversing most chronic diseases we have today based on decades of peer-reviewed scientific evidence. He provides nutrition counseling and programs to guide and educate clients to achieve their health objectives with a balanced and nutrient-dense, health-promoting diet and lifestyle.

As part of the nutrition counseling Jerry develops meal plans, provides diet analyses, provides grocery shopping services (food label reading and choosing healthy options/alternatives), and he also provides customized nutrition programs for maximum weight loss, for chronic diseases such as Heart Disease, Diabetes, Autoimmune Disorders, Cancer, Obesity, Food Allergies, and Digestive Disorders. In addition to nutrition counseling, Jerry provides public nutrition education classes and seminars for people who want to transition to a healthy lifestyle with a health-promoting diet.

Jerry received his Nutrition Therapy Practitioner (NTP) certification from Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, Colorado, one of the nation’s leading private nutrition schools. He also attained a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University and The T. Colin Campbell Foundation. He also is a Certified Instructor for Dr. McDougall’s Starch Solution Program: A scientifically based program successfully used by Dr. John and Mary McDougall for nearly forty years to help patients regain their lost health and appearances.

Co-Founder of The Plant Based Health and Wellness Summit