Food for Life Training Speakers

Jen brings several years of marketing and project management experience to her role as Nutrition Marketing Coordinator with PCRM. She earned a master’s degree in nutrition education from American University, and previously, a bachelor’s degree in business management from Gettysburg College. She also has a certification in plant-based nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies at Cornell University. 

Jen fervently believes that whole plant foods are the remedy for a lot of problems. When she’s not grocery shopping or trying new recipes, she is most likely adventuring with her family, power walking, or singing along with the local rooster.

Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Dr. Barnard has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, and chronic pain, including a groundbreaking study of dietary interventions in type 2 diabetes, funded by the National Institutes of Health, that paved the way for viewing type 2 diabetes as a potentially reversible condition for many patients. Dr. Barnard has authored more than 100 scientific publications and 20 books for medical and lay readers, and is the editor in chief of the Nutrition Guide for Clinicians, a textbook made available to all U.S. medical students.

As president of the Physicians Committee, Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research. His research contributed to the acceptance of plant-based diets in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In 2015, he was named a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. In 2016, he founded the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, D.C., as a model for making nutrition a routine part of all medical care.   

Working with the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and the American Medical Association, Dr. Barnard has authored key resolutions, now part of AMA policy, calling for a new focus on prevention and nutrition in federal policies and in medical practice. In 2018, he received the Medical Society of the District of Columbia’s Distinguished Service Award. He has hosted four PBS television programs on nutrition and health.

Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Dr. Barnard received his MD degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the same institution. He practiced at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York before returning to Washington to found the Physicians Committee.

Follow Dr. Barnard on Twitter @DrNealBarnard, Facebook @NealBarnardMD and Instagram @DrNealBarnard.

Roxanne Becker is a medical doctor from South Africa. Her mission in life is to reduce the unnecessary suffering caused by preventable disease of lifestyle and to improve people’s quality of life through promoting a plant-based diet.

After being disappointed by the lack of nutrition lectures during her medical training, Dr. Becker chose to spend her final year medical elective at the Barnard Medical Center to learn more about plant-based nutrition. She returned four years later with a passion to provide the next generation of medical students with the education she was unable to receive. She is also involved in clinical research at the Physicians Committee and assists with plant-based nutrition content creation to educate the public on the benefits of a plant-based diet.

Dr. Becker has a diploma in lifestyle medicine and a certification in plant-based nutrition from the British Lifestyle Medicine Society. She received her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, cum laude, from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She subsequently completed her internship at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, the largest hospital in Africa and third largest hospital in the world, and her community service at Ellisras District Hospital in rural South Africa.

Chuck Carroll is truly “The Weight Loss Champion” and host of the Physicians Committee’s wildly popular podcast, The Exam Room™.

At his heaviest, Chuck weighed 420 pounds and had amassed a 66-inch waist while requiring a size 6XL shirt. At just 5-foot-6, his tiny frame struggled to support his enormous figure. 

A severe food addiction continued to fuel an unhealthy lifestyle. 

Fearing that his life was spiraling out of control and nearing an end, he opted to undergo weight loss surgery. In just over a year, Chuck shed 265 pounds by conquering food addiction and devoting himself to a healthier lifestyle. His life took a twist in 2017 when he adopted a plant-based diet at the urging of WWE Superstar Austin Aries, which kicked his health into overdrive! 

Since the launch of The Exam Room™, the show has reached No. 1 in 79 countries among all podcasts in the nutrition genre, according to podcast rankings service Chartable. Prior to the podcast, Chuck was the personality on radio station BIG 100.3 (WBIG-FM) in Washington, D.C., a reporter for the all-news CBS station in Washington, D.C., and the anchor of national newscasts at NBC News Radio in Washington, D.C. 

For over a decade, Emily has worked in the full spectrum of video production, with experience in directing, producing, shooting, and editing. With an undergraduate degree in film and television from NYU, Emily has spent the last 15 years refining her video editing and motion graphic skills, creating content for broadcast TV, web, print, digital signage, live theater, and documentary. In 2018, she joined the Physicians Committee and currently serves as the video production specialist, overseeing video production and content creation, helping to spread the organization’s message. She is fluent in asset management systems, post-production workflows, and software solutions to best facilitate video content creation.

In 2011, Emily happened upon video of Physicians Committee President Dr. Neal Barnard giving a presentation on the dangers of cheese and decided to upgrade her vegetarian diet for a whole food, plant-diet. When she isn’t cutting up video footage, she can be found cutting up veggies and experimenting in the kitchen.

Brenda Davis is a registered dietitian, one of the world’s leading plant-based pioneers, and an internationally acclaimed speaker. Brenda has been a featured speaker at medical, nutrition, and dietetic conferences in 25 countries on six continents.

As a prolific nutrition writer, Brenda has authored/co-authored 13 books with nearly a million copies in print in 15 languages. Her latest book, Plant-Powered Protein, was published in April 2023. Brenda has also authored and co-authored numerous professional and lay articles and is a past chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association. Brenda was the lead dietitian in a diabetes intervention research project in the Marshall Islands. On her last trip, in November 2017, she developed a nutrition education curriculum for kindergarten through grade six and trained teachers in all public schools. Brenda was the seventh recipient of the Plantrician Project’s Luminary Award.

Dr. Desmond is a consultant gastroenterologist who is dedicated to educating the public on the health benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet. His bestselling book, The Plant-Based Diet Revolution: 28 Days to a Happier Gut and a Healthier You, is available wherever books are sold.

Dr. Desmond has made evidence-based dietary advice an essential part of his practice as a doctor specializing in gut health problems. He has presented at numerous international medical conferences on the benefits of this approach to food, alongside other renowned advocates including Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. Michael Klaper, dietitian Brenda Davis, Dr. Kim Williams, and Dr. Neal Barnard. He is an ambassador for Plant-Based Health Professionals UK, a not-for-profit group that educates members of the public, health professionals, and policymakers on the incredible health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Certified in both gastroenterology and general internal medicine, Dr. Desmond completed his medical training in both Ireland and Oxford. He has a specialist interest in the role of diet in the prevention and treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. A fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London, he has published several influential research papers in the field of inflammatory bowel disease and is a dedicated advocate for the gut health benefits, and overall health benefits, of a whole food, plant-based approach to nutrition. He lives in South Devon with his wife and three children.

Anthony Dissen, MPH, MA, RDN, CPH, is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist focusing in public health, plant-based nutrition, and lifestyle medicine. Anthony is currently a professor at Stockton University in Galloway, NJ, in the School of Health Sciences, and in 2018, Anthony was thrilled to join the telemedicine company WellStart Health, Inc, as their Vice President of Nutrition. Anthony has earned a Master of Arts degree in Holistic Health Studies at Georgian Court University, a Master of Public Health Degree from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, with a focus in Public Health Nutrition, and completed the Certificate Program in Plant-Based Nutrition through Cornell University in 2015. Currently, he is a doctoral student in the EdD in Organizational Leadership program at Stockton University. Anthony is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the New Jersey Public Health Association, and the New Jersey Society for Public Health Education. Anthony has also been able to share his scholarly work at a number of conferences including the Food and Nutrition Conference & Exposition, American College of Sports Medicine Greater New York Area Annual Conference, the Jersey Society for Public Health Education Annual Meeting, the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, and the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professionals Annual Conference. 

Robyn Engman, RD, recognizes the fundamental role food plays in overall well-being, which motivated her pursuit of degrees from Johnson & Wales University, Denver, including an Associate of Science in culinary arts and a Bachelor of Science in culinary nutrition. With a commitment to wellness and nutrition, she furthered her education to become a registered dietitian.

Robyn’s diverse background includes serving as a dietitian at ShopRite in New York, focusing on community nutrition education. Additionally, she provided counseling for eating disorders at a private practice in Northern Virginia, prioritizing compassionate and evidence-based care. Currently, Robyn is a member of the nutrition department at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, continuing her mission of promoting wellness through a plant-based diet.

With her background in elementary education, biblical studies, music performance, and non-profit development, Jill comes with decades of teaching and leadership experience that spans across all age groups, from young children to adults.  As Resident Food for Life Instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Jill assists with curriculum development, program data collection and analytics, and supporting Food for Life instructors through program administration and operations.

Jill has enjoyed the health benefits of a low-fat vegan lifestyle since 2017, alongside her husband Joel, a heart-attack survivor who has since reversed his coronary artery disease. Jill attributes their continued good health all to the plants! When she’s not playing with her grandchildren, Jill can be found outside enjoying nature in her hiking shoes or cross-country skis, or on her e-bike or paddle board.

Kristi Funk, MD, is board-certified breast cancer surgeon and physician, bestselling author, international keynote speaker and women’s health advocate. Dr. Funk practices as a breast cancer surgeon at the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Los Angeles, where she excels as an expert in minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment methods for all types of breast disease. She has helped thousands of women through breast cancer treatment, including well-known celebrities, like Angelina Jolie and Sheryl Crow. As an ambassador and avid contributor to the Pink Lotus Power Up community, Dr. Funk hosts the Cancer-Kicking! PowWow podcast, the Cancer-Kicking! Kitchen, and frequently authors Breast Cancer 101 blogs and provides instructional videos on breast health. Her extensive nutritional science research caused her to expand the passion for her medical practice with the life-empowering Cancer-Kicking! Summit which teaches women (and men) how to maximally reduce their chances of facing cancer or any other controllable killer disease.

Katya was born and raised in Mexico. She received her bachelor’s degree in nutrition science from The Autonomous Metropolitan University of Mexico City. After graduating, she became a licensed dietitian in the state of Florida, where she currently resides. She has a certification in Lifestyle Medicine by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, certification in vegetarian nutrition by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a plant-based nutrition certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and Cornell University. She is super excited about becoming a Food for Life instructor with PCRM. She is an international member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and has worked in both clinical and community settings. Her passion lies within the plant-based nutrition arena targeting and educating Spanish-speaking people on the benefits of a healthy plant-based diet. Katya loves to share recipes, experiences, lifestyle tips, and nutrition information on her website (Veggisima.com) and on different social media platforms. Katya enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

Dustin Harder is a chef, host, and cookbook author. He currently serves as the Culinary Specialist with PCRM. Before his time at PCRM, he worked as a private chef in NYC and Atlanta, as well as in menu development with various brands including By Chloe, Arden’s Garden, and Kitchen Therapy. His first cookbook, “The Simply Vegan Cookbook” is on the Forbes list of Best Vegan Cookbooks. Dustin has been featured in Eating Well, VegNews, Vegan Lifestyle Magazine, Chowhound, Vegetarian Times, and Paste Magazine, and appeared on Food Network’s Girl Scout Baking Championship. You can watch his original series The Vegan Roadie on YouTube, AppleTV, and Roku. His podcast, “Keep on Cookin’,” is available anywhere you listen to podcasts and you can find him on Instagram at @theveganroadie.

In 2005, Lorin stumbled into a job as Dr. Barnard’s Assistant. She could not believe her great fortune of finding an entire office of vegans! She was fascinated by the science of nutrition and soon returned to school to complete a Master’s Degree in Health, Exercise Science and Nutrition from Colorado State University. She combined her lifelong love of dance and exercise with her newfound love of nutrition in a successful career in corporate wellness. After having children, Lorin’s passion for promoting plant-based eating became even higher priority and she reconnected with PCRM to help with various projects. She became a Food For Life Instructor in 2019 and now serves as the Food For Life Program Manager. Lorin lives with her family in Denver and loves to snowboard, hike, and make excessive amounts of vegan food.

Anna Herby, DHSc, RD, CDCES, is the nutrition education program manager for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting preventive medicine, especially better nutrition, and higher standards in research. She is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with a doctorate in health sciences.

Dr. Herby chose to specialize in plant-based nutrition out of her own curiosity about the vegetarian diet she decided to follow at the age of 10 years. After learning more about the topic, she discovered that a plant-based diet is the most powerful way to reverse and prevent chronic diseases. Seeing patients lose weight, improve energy levels, and reduce their needs for medications inspired her to learn as much as possible about plant-based nutrition.

Prior to joining the Physicians Committee, she worked as a clinical dietitian and Food for Life instructor at Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital in Willits, Calif. Dr. Herby received her Master of Science in nutrition from Bastyr University in Seattle and went on to earn a Doctor of Health Sciences from the University of Bridgeport. 

Dr. Jernigan is the director of the Center for Indigenous Health Research and Policy and a professor of medicine within the Center for Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Jernigan has been the principal investigator for more than a dozen research studies focusing on improving Indigenous food environments through policy and systems interventions. She also directs the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity, an academic-community partnership with American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders to restore traditional foods and food practices to promote healthy diets and reduce chronic disease. In 2011, she became the inaugural chair of the National Cancer Institute’s Intervention Research to Improve Native Health initiative, a collaboration of NIH-funded investigators conducting intervention science research.

Dr. Jernigan is a member of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research College of Reviewers, the American Public Health Association, the Society for Public Health Educators, and the Society for Prevention Research. She is an editorial board member for the scientific journals Health Promotion Practice and Progress in Community Health Partnerships. Dr. Jernigan is a member of the CDC Fries Prize Award Jury, a member of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee, a member of the National Academy of Sciences Unequal Treatment in Healthcare Advisory Committee, and a member of the Advisory Council for the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities.

Dr. Jernigan received her doctorate in public health from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular disease risk reduction at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford School of Medicine. She is an enrolled citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Mark Kennedy is Vice President of Legal Affairs for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nationwide organization of physicians and laypersons that promotes preventive medicine, especially good nutrition, and addresses controversies in modern medicine, including ethical issues in research.

As vice president of legal affairs, Mr. Kennedy directs the Physicians Committee’s advocacy litigation, which challenges industry and government when they encourage the consumption of animal products and other unhealthy foods. Mr. Kennedy oversees the Physicians Committee’s efforts to use the legal system to promote vegan diets as well as alternatives to the use of animals in medical research and education.

Mr. Kennedy’s early caseload included a consumer fraud lawsuit against Atkins Nutritionals for promoting a high-fat, high-meat diet; a suit against the drug company Merck for negligently relying on animal testing to market the dangerous drug Vioxx; lawsuits seeking to halt false claims that dairy consumption aids in weight loss and to require dairy producers to print lactose intolerance warnings on milk cartons; and an action to end the University of California’s unlawful use of state funds for animal experiments that violate the federal Animal Welfare Act.

Recent cases have targeted processed meat manufacturers for not warning consumers about cancer risks; restaurant chains for failing to warn consumers about carcinogens in grilled chicken products; California’s public school system for serving processed meats to children; and two federal agencies for improprieties in the development of the 2010 and 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Mr. Kennedy uses open government laws—including public records litigation in state and federal courts—to advance the Physicians Committee’s work. He also drafts petitions to federal agencies, oversees corporate governance matters for the organization and its affiliates, and appeared in the 2017 documentary What the Health.

Mr. Kennedy received a Bachelor of Science in computer science from the University of Virginia. He graduated cum laude from Washington and Lee University School of Law, where he served as the executive editor of the Washington and Lee Race and Ethnic Ancestry Law Journal and received the Virginia State Bar’s Oliver White Hill Law Student Pro Bono Award. Prior to joining the Physicians Committee, Mr. Kennedy worked for Equal Justice Works, a nonprofit that promotes legal careers in public service.

Mr. Kennedy is a member of the New York and District of Columbia Bars and has been admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Dr. Lome joined Montage Medical Group’s cardiology group after practicing for a decade with Rush Copley and OSF HealthCare in Illinois. Dr. Lome graduated from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residence in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill. He is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and vascular medicine. Dr. Lome is also a registered vascular technologist. His interests include nutrition, and he is the founder of Plant Based Nutrition Movement (PBNM.org), a nonprofit organization that promotes plant-based diets, and HeartStrong.com, which promotes heart disease prevention through diet and lifestyle changes. His other interests include his family, running, biking, and chess.

Stephanie McBurnett, RD, is the Nutrition Educator for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. As a registered dietitian, she has a slight obsession with vegetables and nutrition science. She is a passionate and driven mother to two young girls, a Navy wife, and a lover of all things food, fitness, and fun.

Dr. Newman is a medical doctor and senior partner at a family medical practice in West London. She studied at the University of Wales College of Medicine and has worked in many specialties as a doctor before her current specialty of general practice. She has gained additional qualifications in gynecology and family planning. She is a founding member and ambassador for Plant-Based Health Professionals UK and a member of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Newman has a specialist interest in holistic health, plant-based nutrition, and lifestyle medicine.

She is regularly invited to teach other doctors and the public via training programs, podcasts, and conferences about the benefits of plant-based nutrition and has featured on many well-known podcasts, including two episodes of The Rich Roll Podcast, Feel Better Live More with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, and the Physicians Committee’s The Exam Room Podcast with Chuck Carroll. Dr. Newman has authored The Plant Power Doctor: A Simple Prescription for a Healthier You, which was a No. 1 bestseller in popular medicine and green living. She also has authored her exciting new book, Get Well, Stay Well: The Six Healing Health Habits You Need to Know, which was released earlier this year.

In addition to her own books, she has written chapters for five other published books.

Jonathan Nez is the former president and vice president of the Navajo Nation. He was also previously elected the vice president of the Shonto chapter of the Navajo Nation Council and served on the Navajo County Board of Supervisors.

As president from 2019 to 2023, he credited the resilience and strength of the Navajo people for the Navajo Nation’s success in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic began, the Navajo Nation had a per capita infection rate higher than New York City. Despite what the data showed, Mr. Nez and his administration refused to allow people to succumb to the disease. With the guidance of public health experts, the Navajo Nation implemented public health orders and vaccine protocols that ultimately led to the Navajo people having the highest vaccination rates in the country.

Mr. Nez holds a Bachelor of Science in political science and a Master of Public Administration, both from Northern Arizona University.

Phefelia Nez is the former first lady of the Navajo Nation and was raised on Hopi Partition Land in Big Mountain, Ariz. She has more than 15 years of volunteer experience serving in various capacities. Currently, she is serving on First Things First Navajo Nation Regional Partnership Council, Haskell Indian Nations Board of Regents, Natural History Museum of Utah Indian Advisory, Coconino Community College Foundation Board, Best Friends Animal Society Board, and John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts Board of Trustees. In addition to her education and volunteerism, she is a member of Arizona State University’s Lodestar Center’s Nonprofit Executive Leadership Academy Class V.

In her former role as first lady, she focused on education, outdoor recreation, nonprofits, volunteerism, philanthropy, faith-based initiatives, financial literacy, animal welfare, and the retention of the Navajo language and culture. The first lady’s platform focused on restoring and strengthening homes and their families.

Mrs. Nez holds a Bachelor of Science in political science and criminal justice and a Master of Public Administration, both from Northern Arizona University.

Ugo Nwadike is associate general counsel for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. He participates in legal advocacy pursued by the Physicians Committee, including litigation, legislation, and other legal efforts to move forward the mission of the organization. He maintains the highest levels of corporate governance; negotiates and reviews contracts, vendor agreements, and other legal agreements vital to the Physicians Committee’s success; and ensures that it complies with federal, state and local lobbying requirements.

Mr. Nwadike earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Miami and a Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University School of Law in Florida, where he was a member of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review and participated in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Prior to joining the Physicians Committee, Mr. Nwadike worked for Washington, D.C., law firms including Covington & Burling LLP, where he advised several tax-exempt nonprofit organizations.

Dr. Ornish is the founder and president of the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research Institute and clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and at the University of California, San Diego. He received his medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine. He was a clinical fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School and completed an internship and residence in internal medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

For 40 years, he has directed clinical research demonstrating, for the first time, that comprehensive lifestyle changes may begin to reverse even severe coronary heart disease, without drugs or surgery. He directed the first randomized controlled trial demonstrating that comprehensive lifestyle changes may slow, stop, or reverse the progression of early-stage prostate cancer. His research showed that comprehensive lifestyle changes affect gene expression, “turning on” disease-preventing genes and “turning off” genes that promote cancer and heart disease.

He is the author of seven bestselling books, the most recent of which is UnDo It! (co-authored with Anne Ornish). The “Ornish diet” has been rated #1 for Heart Health” by a panel of experts at U.S. News & World Report for 11 years (2011-2022).

Jennifer Paul, MPH, RDN is a registered dietitian with a Master of Public Health in Nutrition from Loma Linda University. She previously worked as the nutrition program coordinator for the Physicians Committee and is now a second-year medical student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is passionate about diet-related racial health disparities, culturally tailored nutrition counseling, and advocating for healthful, plant-based meals in underserved communities.

Ana joined and began her career at Saladmaster in 2010. In her current role as product marketing manager, she is responsible for leading and managing the planning, development, and implementation of new products within the Saladmaster product portfolio. Ana has a passion for product development and seeing products come to life, and she is committed to supporting the company’s vision of leading the movement back to healthy, home cooking.

Holly Plank is the social media coordinator for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and she brings over a decade of experience in social media. She earned a master’s degree in communication from Johns Hopkins University in 2023, with a concentration in nonprofit communication and social media. Holly is a passionate social media strategist who excels at creating engaging and educational content that amplifies the powerful message of plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine.

Noah Praamsma, MS, RDN, is a nutrition education coordinator with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. A native Vermonter, he does his best to act locally and think globally in both his personal and professional life.

Noah completed his undergraduate degree in biology/premedicine at Calvin University. During this time, he developed a passion for plant-based nutrition and preventive medicine, as well as the ethical treatment of animals and environmental sustainability. He went on to earn a Master of Science in Dietetics with a focus on community nutrition and sustainable food systems from the University of Vermont.

Noah excitedly pursues opportunities to share his holistic and plant-forward perspective. His growing interest in nutrition policy led him to move to Washington, D.C., last year. In his free time, you’ll find him running through the woods east of the Anacostia River or participating in his local Northeast D.C. church community.

Dawnyel has devoted her entire professional career to helping to save lives and has over 20 years of nonprofit experience. In 2008, she joined the Physicians Committee and currently serves as the director of community education. In this role, Dawnyel is responsible for marketing and branding the Food for Life nutrition and cooking class program, the program licensing and training, and the licensed instructors and institutions. She oversees the Food for Life program’s strategic direction, corporate partnerships, program design, and the supervision of the more than 400 licensed instructors and institutions. She also leads culturally competent content creation and partnership development.

Before joining the Physicians Committee, Dawnyel’s career included positions at the American Institute for Cancer Research, Children’s Defense Fund, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Dawnyel is also dedicated to philanthropic efforts that support various causes from curing breast cancer to advocating for children with autism spectrum disorder. After losing her sister to ovarian cancer, Dawnyel founded and chaired the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s District of Columbia Junior Advisory Committee. She also served on the board of directors for the Ovarian and Gynecological Cancer Coalition of Greater Washington/Rhonda’s Club. Dawnyel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Howard University. In her spare time, Dawnyel enjoys hiking with her two children and husband.

Liana Levine Reisner is building a multicultural movement for health as president and network director of Plant Powered Metro New York, an organization she co-founded in 2019 to empower local communities to address health concerns through evidence-based plant-based nutrition. She holds a master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University in positive organization development and change and a certificate in plant-based nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies.

Roselyn Tso, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, is the director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The IHS is the principal federal health care advocate and provider of health care services for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

As director, Ms. Tso administers a nationwide health care delivery program that is responsible for providing preventive, curative, and community health care to approximately 2.7 million American Indians and Alaska Natives in hospitals, clinics, and other settings throughout the United States. She previously served as the director of the IHS Navajo Area since 2019, where she was responsible for providing leadership in the administration of a comprehensive federal, tribal, and urban Indian health care system for more than 244,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives throughout Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.

Ms. Tso began her career with the IHS in 1984. She has served in various roles in the IHS Portland Area, both at the service unit level as the administrative officer for the Yakama Service Unit, and at the area level as the planning and statistical officer, equal employment officer, and special assistant to the area director. Prior to joining the Navajo Area in 2019, she served as the director of the Office of Direct Service and Contracting Tribes at IHS headquarters.

Ms. Tso holds a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies from Marylhurst University in Portland, Ore., and a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix in Portland.

Dr. Williams is chief of the division of cardiology at Rush University and specializes in cardiology, prevention, and cardiac imaging. His current professional focus is on preventive cardiology, specializing in synthesizing data on cardiovascular risk and mortality due to nutrition.

He has served on numerous national committees and boards including serving as the President of the American College of Cardiology, President of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Black Cardiologists. He is also the founder of the Urban Cardiology Initiative in Detroit, Michigan to reduce ethnic heart care disparities, and continues community-based efforts in Chicago at Rush. He has become a nationally and internationally recognized speaker, including more than 200 publications, online resources, movies and lectures on the topic of cardio nutrition.

Dana Zarrello joined the Physicians Committee in 2024 as the Food for Life program associate to help build the internal grant program. She has over 10 years of experience serving mission-driven causes, first in international education and then in animal advocacy. Always passionate about the subjects of health and nutrition, Dana went completely whole food plant-based in 2019 while working in wild horse conservation and connecting the dots between what happens to our environment and wildlife, and what happens on our plates.

As a nonprofit executive, Dana has served on grants committees, making grant awards and managing the logistics of processing and disseminating funds. Her previous roles include director of donor relations at the American Wild Horse Campaign and executive director with The Cloud Foundation. She continues to serve part-time as operations manager and board member for Wild Lands Wild Horses equine sanctuary.