Redefining Medicine

Aristo Vojdani, is a Clinical Professor in the Dept. of Preventive Medicine at Loma Linda University in California, an Adjunct Professor at the Lincoln College of Professional, Graduate and Continuing Education at the National University of Health Sciences, and a past associate professor at the Charles Drew/UCLA School of Medicine and Science. He obtained his MSc and PhD in the fields of microbiology and clinical immunology from Bar-Ilan University in Israel with postdoctoral studies in comparative immunology at UCLA and tumor immunology at Charles Drew/UCLA School of Medicine and Science. His on-going research, spanning a 45-year career, focuses on the role of environmental triggers in complex diseases.

Dr. Vojdani's research has resulted in the development of more than 350 antibody assays for the detection of autoimmune disorders and other diseases. Of particular note are the arrays for autoimmune diseases that originate from the gut and manifest as attacks on the body's own tissues or organs, including the brain. He holds 17 US patents for laboratory assessments of immune disorders associated with the brain and gut, has published over 200 articles in magazines and scientific journals, and published the book "Neuroimmunity and the Brain-Gut Connection" with Nova Science Publishers.

Dr. Geo Espinosa is a naturopathic doctor, licensed acupuncturist and certified Functional Medicine practitioner recognized as an authority in holistic urology and men's health. He is Clinical Assistant Professor and holistic clinician in Urology at New York University Langone Medical Center. As an avid researcher and writer, Dr. Geo has authored numerous scientific papers and books including co-editing the Integrative Sexual Health book, and author of the best selling prostate cancer book: Thrive, Don't Only Survive. Dr. Geo is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and formulator at XY Wellness, LLC, and lectures internationally on the application of science-based holistic treatments in urological clinics. On his free time, he enjoys writing on his popular blog, DrGeo.com, spending time with his wife and three kids and practicing the Israeli martial art, Krav Maga.

Dr. Terry Wahls is a clinical professor at the University of Iowa where she conducts clinical trials testing the efficacy of diet lifestyle to treat multiple sclerosis. In addition, she is the author of The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles (paperback), and the cookbook "The Wahls Protocol Cooking for Life: The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions". She is recruiting patients for a new clinical trial, Efficacy of Diet on Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis comparing the ketogenic diet and Paleolithic diet to usual diet. Refer potential participants to www.terrywahls.com/msstudy for more information.

Dan Buettner is an explorer, National Geographic Fellow, award-winning journalist and producer, and New York Times bestselling author. He discovered the five places in the world – dubbed blue zones hotspots – where people live the longest, healthiest lives. His articles about these places in The New York Times Magazine and National Geographic are two of the most popular for both publications.

Buettner now works in partnership with municipal governments, large employers, and health insurance companies to implement Blue Zones Projects in communities, workplaces, and universities. Blue Zones Projects are well-being initiatives that apply lessons from the Blue Zones to entire communities by focusing on changes to the local environment, public policy,and social networks. The program has dramatically improved the health of more than 5 million Americans to date.

In his new book "Blue Zones American Kitchen" Buettner uncovers the traditional roots of plant- forward cuisine in the United States. Following the acumen of heritage cooks who have passed their recipes from generation to generation, Buettner uncovers the regions and cultures that have shaped America's healthiest food landscapes, from Hmong elders living in Minnesota to Quakers in New England. Along the way, he illuminates both traditional and revolutionary ideas in vegetarian food.

With wisdom from more than 50 food experts, chefs, and cooks around the country, Buettner's road trip across America sheds light on some of its most under-recognized plant-forward communities as Buettner shares the ingredients, recipes, and lifestyle tips that will make living to 100 both delicious and easy.

Buettner also holds three Guinness World Records in distance cycling.

John La Puma M.D. is board-certified in internal medicine, a professionally trained chef and certified California naturalist. Founder of CHEF Clinic ® and ChefMD, he has pioneered culinary medicine in the U.S., and taught the first culinary medicine, cooking and nutrition course in a U.S. medical school, at SUNY-Upstate with Dr. Michael Roizen, of the Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. La Puma co-hosted Lifetime TV's national cable television weekly series "Health Corner", and cooked with Chef Rick Bayless at Topolobampo in Chicago, both for nearly five years. A NY Times best-selling author, for ChefMD's Big Book of Culinary Medicine and The RealAge Diet, the latter with Dr. Roizen, his books have sold over a million copies and have been translated into eight languages, and six PBS specials. Dr. La Puma is currently studying nature therapy in medicine, and producing and hosting the 13 episode mini docu-series "A Green Rx", which can be seen on his YouTube channel weekly.

Dr. La Puma has lectured on food and culinary medicine at Harvard, the University of Chicago, TEDMED , Kaiser Permanente and aboard The World . His present work focuses on using specific prescriptions of nature therapy as A Green Rx to treat nature deficit disorder, acute pain and digital addiction. Other conditions under study are longevity, anxiety, heart disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, diabetes and heart disease. Dr. La Puma farms avocados, rare citrus and medicinal herbs and spices on an urban certified organic demonstration orchard in Santa Barbara, California.

Travis Wilkes, M.D., is a board-certified Family Physician. He earned his undergraduate degree at Emory University, his medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina, and his residency in Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina and maintains a clinical practice in Charleston, SC.

Dr. Wilkes also has extensive experience consulting in biopharma, ranging from clinical laboratories to the pharmaceutical industry, and serves on many medical advisory boards. His clinical and consulting work generally applies cutting-edge technology to personalized healthcare.

Thomas Fabian, PhD is a leading expert on the role of the microbiome in health, immune function, chronic disease, and aging, Dr. Fabian's primary focus is on the clinical application of microbiome research in integrative and functional medicine. After receiving his PhD in molecular biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, he conducted aging-related research in the biotechnology industry, and more recently, has served as a consultant in the clinical microbiome testing field. Currently, Dr. Fabian serves a translational science consultant and science advisor with Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, and he is also a science advisory board member with Designs for Health.

Lauren Castle, PharmD, MS is the founder of the Functional Medicine Pharmacists Alliance at www.FMPhA.org, and a Market Health and Wellness Director for Walmart in Dayton, OH. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Ohio Northern University in 2013 and her Master of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States in 2018.

Dr. Yousef Elyaman is a board-certified Internist with a cross-specialization in Pediatrics. He is also board certified in both functional medicine and integrative medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine and the American board of Physician Specialties respectively.

He is the founder and Medical Director of Absolute Health located in Ocala, Florida, where he successfully integrates a functional medicine approach to insurance based primary care. It has successfully grown to include doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and lifestyle educators. He is also the integrative and functional medicine director of The Guest House, a world-renowned trauma and substance abuse center located in Ocala, Florida. He is also has been on the executive board of the Marion County Medical Society since 2020 where he currently serves as secretary-treasurer and is transitioning to the position of president-elect.