Symposium for Metabolic Health – San Diego 2024 (Aug 15 – 18)

At the Beautiful Wyndham San Diego Bayside Hotel

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Dedicating First Day to Mental Health Discussions
We will dedicate a special session to exploring the connection between mental health and metabolic disease at the 9th Annual San Diego Symposium for Metabolic Health (SMH).
Why You Should Attend
Learn from world-renowned experts regarding:
  • The impact of insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia & inflammation on chronic illness.
  • The overwhelming evidence supporting carbohydrate reduction as a therapeutic intervention.
  • The use of Carbohydrate Reduction in addressing, and even reversing, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver, PCOS, CVD, epilepsy, TBI, Alzheimer's, neurological pathologies, mental health conditions and much more!
  • Stabilizing blood sugar & reducing the risk of complications in type 1 diabetes.
  • Effective strategies for treating obesity& achieving sustainable weight loss.
  • Improvement of health & education worldwide - addressing nutritional policies & clinical guidelines and establishing Standard of  Care with respect to Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction.
  • Emerging and historical research, clinical outcomes, benefits of ketogenic and metabolic therapies.
  • Clinicians significant successes with patients, many with a powerful personal story of their own journey to sustained weight loss and improved metabolic health.
About This Conference
  • Open to the public as well as practitioners.
  • In-Person AND Livestream options with event videos available afterwards to all.
  • Option to attend outstanding VIP low carb dinners each night. 
  • Ample LIVE Q&A time after each presentation to get YOUR questions answered. 
  • 28 Prescribed Category 1 CME credits available.
  • 4 Years CEU credit for NASN practitioners
  • Additional bonus breakout talks and Q&As with other leaders in the ketogenic/low carb community.  There will be a chance here to interact with our sponsors.
  • The always compelling and thought provoking Final Panel is a can't miss Sunday afternoon.
  • Health and Wellness Coaches, Personal Trainers, Sports Enthusiasts, and Citizen Scientists all welcome.

A Lookback on San Diego 2021

Testimonial - Dr. Brian Lenkes

In-Person Ticket ($499)!!
Livestream Ticket ($99)!!
Speaker Schedule
Book Your Hotel Room
Upgrades (In-Person, Dinners, CME's)

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS (Click on Images for Bios)

Gary Taubes 

Gary Taubes (born April 30, 1956) is an American science writer. He is the author of Nobel Dreams (1987), Bad Science: The Short Life and Weird Times of Cold Fusion (1993), and Good Calories, Bad Calories (2007), which is titled The Diet Delusion in the UK. He has won the Science in Society Award of the National Association of Science Writers three times and was awarded an MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellowship for 1996-97.

Born in Rochester, New York, Taubes studied applied physics at Harvard and aerospace engineering at Stanford (MS, 1978). After receiving a master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University in 1981, Taubes joined Discover magazine as a staff reporter in 1982. Since then he has written numerous articles for Discover, Science and other magazines. Originally focusing on physics issues, his interests have more recently turned to medicine and nutrition.

Taubes’ books have all dealt with scientific controversies. Nobel Dreams takes a critical look at the politics and experimental techniques behind the Nobel Prize-winning work of physicist Carlo Rubbia. Bad Science is a chronicle of the short-lived media frenzy surrounding the Pons-Fleischmann cold fusion experiments of 1989.

Gary Taubes 

Gary Taubes (born April 30, 1956) is an American science writer. He is the author of Nobel Dreams (1987), Bad Science: The Short Life and Weird Times of Cold Fusion (1993), and Good Calories, Bad Calories (2007), which is titled The Diet Delusion in the UK. He has won the Science in Society Award of the National Association of Science Writers three times and was awarded an MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellowship for 1996-97.

Born in Rochester, New York, Taubes studied applied physics at Harvard and aerospace engineering at Stanford (MS, 1978). After receiving a master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University in 1981, Taubes joined Discover magazine as a staff reporter in 1982. Since then he has written numerous articles for Discover, Science and other magazines. Originally focusing on physics issues, his interests have more recently turned to medicine and nutrition.

Taubes’ books have all dealt with scientific controversies. Nobel Dreams takes a critical look at the politics and experimental techniques behind the Nobel Prize-winning work of physicist Carlo Rubbia. Bad Science is a chronicle of the short-lived media frenzy surrounding the Pons-Fleischmann cold fusion experiments of 1989.

Gary Taubes

Robert Cywes, MD, PhD

Robert Cywes, MD, PhD

Dr. Cywes is Dual Board Certified in General Surgery and in Pediatric Surgery. He specializes in Pediatric and Adult obesity, diabetes and metabolic management including bariatric surgery.  His focus is on helping people understand and treat the true cause of obesity and diabetes.  He has been doing bariatric surgery for 19 years and has performed around 7000 surgeries.  Despite this, Dr Cywes firmly believes that obesity and diabetes are not treated by surgery, however, surgery may be a invaluable tool along the journey of becoming carbohydrate-free.

His medical training began in Cape Town, South Africa where he received his medical degree from The University of Cape Town training with Prof Tim Noakes amongst others. In 1989, Dr. Cywes moved to North America and completed a year-long residency in pediatric surgery at Ohio State University's Columbus Children's Hospital before moving to Canada where he completed his general surgery residency and specialized in minimally invasive surgery at the University of Toronto.  Dr. Cywes also earned a PhD in liver transplant immunology and the effect of glucose metabolism on vascular endothelium injury, working with Dr David Jenkins, the father of the Glycemic Index.

After completing his paediatric surgery fellowship at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Dr. Cywes was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Paediatric and Fetal Surgery at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee where he did hepatic stem cell research.  During this time, Dr. Cywes became increasingly interested in adolescent obesity and the impact of carbohydrates on the liver and metabolic syndrome in young patients. Dr. Cywes’ research led to a comprehensive understanding of the toxicity of chronic excessive carbohydrate consumption as the primary cause of obesity and so-called obesity-related co-morbidities. In the late 1990s Dr Cywes understood that the prevailing treatment of obesity using a Calories in, Calories out (CICO) model was erroneous, and he developed the Carbohydrate Insulin Model of Obesity and Diabetes (CIMOD). Using this model in combination with his understanding of the psychology of addiction, he developed a clinical program to treat obese adolescents using this approach. Dr. Cywes relocated to Jacksonville, Florida where he joined the Department of Pediatric Surgery at the Nemours Children's Clinic and Wolfson Children's Hospital. This led to a national meeting in Jacksonville where guidelines for adolescent obesity surgery were established.

In 2004, Dr. Cywes established Jacksonville Surgical Associates to continue his work in both adolescent and adult obesity treatment and surgery, and in 2013 opened a practice in West Palm Beach, Florida.  He now works with a highly experienced team of professionals from a variety of medical sub-specialties to better care for obese patients.  He has developed the practice into a nationally recognized Center of Excellence for obesity surgery. The practice uses a cognitive behavioral therapy approach that addresses carbohydrate addiction, along with bariatric surgery, to help patients manage the cause of their obesity long term. Based on his extensive clinical research and observations, Dr. Cywes lectures internationally regarding the physiological impact of carbohydrate consumption as the primary cause of the current Chronic Non-Communicable Disease (CNCDs) epidemic.  He also lectures on the behavioral aspects of carbohydrate addiction as the cause of obesity and obesity-related co-morbidities and the use of substance abuse methodology, rather than a diet and exercise approach, to the effective long term treatment of obesity.

Dr. Cywes is a member of ASMBS (American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery) and is a member of the ASMBS Childhood Obesity Committee. He is also a member of APSA (American Pediatric Surgery Association). He has earned a Centers of Excellence designation by the Surgical Review Corporation. Dr. Cywes trains other surgeons to perform bariatric surgery as well as developing an aftercare model to help patients maintain weight loss.

Dr. Cywes and his team are active in obesity research, including an ongoing Adolescent Bariatric Surgery trial. He has become one of the foremost authorities in the treatment and management of obesity in adolescents. He recently co-authored a book, Diabetes Unpacked outlining an effective approach to understanding and treating diabetes into remission. Dr. Cywes' vast experience in pediatric and general surgery serves him well in using bariatric surgery to treat obesity in both adults and children.

Dr Cywes maintains an active clinical practice in Palm Beach Gardens and in Jacksonville as well as being active on conveying the CIMOD message on social media and through his websites – Obesityunderstood.com and diabetesunderstood.com.

Robert Cywes, MD, PhD

Vincent (Ben) Bocchicchio, PhD

Dr. Ben has been at the forefront of health and wellness for nearly 50 years.  As a clinician in the fields of fitness and health he has initiated and promoted behavioral interventions that have proven to be effective in the treatment and management of the degenerative diseases that plague our public health.

Dr. Ben’s philosophy states that on the continuum of illness to wellness, our collective health plans should attempt to drive the needle towards wellness and away from illness through scientifically sound and safe applications of behavioural endeavors.

Dr. Ben has applied his extensive, recognized background and experience in diet and exercise as the basis of his intervention protocol.  Initially (1974), he introduced slow resistance training to the exercise world in a successful attempt to provide safe, high intensity exercise to all populations. 

He was the first practitioner to include resistance training to phase II cardiac rehabilitation in 1982.  It is now accepted, standard protocol.  He pioneered high intensity exercise for high endurance athletes in the mid 1980’s.  Lastly, he introduced high intensity exercise for weight loss and management programs including the Opti Fast protocol used by the first popular bariatric physicians (Opti Fit).

Furthermore, Dr. Ben has exposed the paucity of legitimate science supporting conventional medical and governmental practices in treating and managing the aforementioned health dilemmas.  He contends that a singularly pharmaceutical oriented solution as currently applied has failed individually and on an international basis.

Dr. Ben provides a simple history of the escalation of degenerative diseases (diabetes, obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancer etc.) that correlates, at an inordinate level, with behavioral changes in physical activity and dietary preferences.  

Lastly, Dr. Ben offers a simple, sound and scientifically based plan that incorporates a universally applicable system that directly addresses the alarming, current state of public health.  Topics included are:  Diet, exercise, disease treatment and management options and cost analyses of these.

Dr. Ben Bocchicchio has published more than 200 articles and study reports in the fields of Fitness, Health and Exercise.  His work includes his acclaimed book “15 Minutes to Fitness” and the sale of more than 300,000 SMaRT DVD’s in 31 countries.  He is continuing work as an investigator and consultant to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, ASU and a number of academic and corporate health institutions.   

Dr. Ben

Brian Lenzkes, MD

I am a USC trained, board certified Internal Medicine doctor and have been in practice for 16 years but did not understand the implications of metabolic syndrome until only 2 years ago. I have had a personal struggle with obesity since childhood and became officially pre-diabetic in February of 2017 despite my medical knowledge.

Although I was voted one of the “Top Doctors” in San Diego for 11 of those years, I still felt a void as many of my patients with chronic conditions continued to decline and require more medication. After attending LowCarbUSA® in San Diego, my practice of medicine changed and I have taken control of my health. 

I have been honored to be a guest on multiple podcasts and I have been a speaker on the Nutrition Network educational series for medical professionals.  I am currently co-hosting the Low Carb MD podcast with Dr. Jason Fung, Dr. Tro Kalayjian, and Megan Ramos.  I am also on the panel of advisers for the LowCarbUSA® Clinical Guidelines for Medical Professionals and just finished recording an interview for the upcoming documentary "Big Fat Lie" with Wide Eye Productions.  I am the Medical Director for TriSystem Nutrition.   Together we can do our part to reverse the healthcare crisis that is facing the world one life at a time. I am excited about the journey ahead.

 

Brian Lenzkes, MD

TENTATIVE SPEAKERS (Click on Images for Bios)

Dave Feldman

Dave is a senior software engineer and entrepreneur.   He began working with programming and system engineering at a very young age and has always enjoyed learning new mechanistic patterns and concepts.

After starting a low carb diet, Dave found his cholesterol numbers increased considerably.  He then began reverse engineering the lipid system through self-experimentation and testing, finding it was very dynamic and fluid.  He has now demonstrated this phenomenon multiple times by moving his cholesterol up and down substantially in a matter of days.

Dave Feldman

Wafaa Abdel-Hadi, MD

Right upon graduating from Kasr Al-Ainy faculty of medicine at Cairo university in Egypt, and finishing her masters degrees at clinical oncology, Dr. Wafaa Abdel-Hadi fulfilled her life-long dream of treating people by researching and implementing a combination of conventional and unorthodox scientifically validated practices to enhance the outcomes and quality of life of her patients.

After 13 years of rigorous clinical oncology practice at the leading cancer treatment center in Egypt and in collaboration with Institute Gustave Roussy in Paris, Dr. Wafaa decided to establish AWARE clinic, the first-ever foundation for Functional Medicine Awareness & Prevention in the Middle East and Africa, back in April of 2014 where she acts as CEO of the clinic.

Pursuing her new career and passion in Functional Medicine in collaboration with The Institute for Functional Medicine, IFM, USA, She works with her patients to encourage positive lifestyle modifications, as she is a firm believer in following reliable methodologies and individualized protocols. Each patient’s circumstances are uniquely different and should be treated specifically to meet their own needs.

Throughout her career and academic inquiries, she has intimately analyzed the metabolic approach to cancer with Dr. Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO, which has allowed her to apply metabolic methods to treat various diseases effectively in addition to cancer.

Dr. Wafaa is the first certified Functional Medicine Doctor in Egypt and the Middle East. She is also a certified international health coach from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, IIN, USA, which empowers her to closely establish the confidence and empathy needed to work with her patients.

In 2013 she completed the Nutrition for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Course from the University of California and the Community’s Educator Program, Support Group Program, and Course for the Core workshops associated with the Global Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness in collaboration with Susan G.Komen Foundation, Texas, USA. She was also a member of the Executive organising committee in the 9th Pan Arab Cancer Congress (PACC) in 2009.

Dr. Wafaa has also been invited to speak at international conferences where she lectures audience on her extensive research and treatment of oncology, including the Great Lakes Virtual Conference hosted in the United States, the 3rd, 4th & 5th Lifestyle and Functional Medicine Conference, in Ireland, the Integrative Medicine Meeting, IMM, in Rosenfeld, Germany to name a few.

When she is not overseeing the day to day business activities of AWARE clinic, Dr. Wafaa enjoys spending her time volunteering by providing free education lectures during disease awareness months such as the Early Breast Cancer awareness month and has actively participated in lending her services to the Liver Transplant unit at the St. James University Hospital in Leeds, UK and free health campaigns for orphaned children in Egypt.

In the future, Dr. Wafaa hopes to expand the accessibility of Functional Medicine in Egypt and the Middle East to provide world-class treatment options and education to the region and around the world. Dr. Wafaa anticipates a future where chronic disease epidemics, including cancer, are alleviated in the global population and is excited to participate in the medical advancements made in her medical field every day.

Dr. Wafaa Abdel-Hadi

Peter Ballerstedt, PhD

Peter Ballerstedt (aka The Sodfather) received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1981 and Master of Science in 1983, both from the University of Georgia. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky in 1986, specializing in forage management and utilization, minoring in ruminant nutrition. He was the forage extension specialist at Oregon State University from 1986 to 1992. He worked in the forage seed industry from 2011 until 2023. He is a member of several national and international scientific societies, participates in related global initiatives, and is the current President of the American Forage and Grassland Council.

His study of human nutrition is fueled by his personal experience. He is an advocate for ruminant animal agriculture and its products, speaking to audiences in several countries about the role of ruminants in humanity’s past, present and future. He strives to build bridges between his agricultural tribe and his low-carb/keto/carnivore tribes. Peter blogs and posts to Facebook at “Grass Based Health” and on Twitter and Instagram at @GrassBased. Peter and Nancy live in western Oregon with their three dogs Conor Noni and Iris.

Peter Ballerstedt, PhD

Michael Hoffmann MD, PhD, FCP(SA), FAAN

Michael Hoffmann obtained his medical degree (MBBch) at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa and neurological subspecialty fellowship training in stroke fromColumbia University in New York City. This was followed by two senior doctorates, one incerebrovascular medicine (MD) and one in behavioral health (PhD). His main areas of research have concerned cognitive disorders after stroke and how to improve brain health and fitness based on scientific principles and evolutionary insights. He is currently a Professor of Neurology with the University of Central Florida and has recently served in a number of administrative leadership positions, such as Associate Dean of Academic Assessment (USF) and Chief of Neurology Services and Director of the Stroke Center at the Orlando VA Medical Center. He has been the founding director of comprehensive and primary stroke centers in 5 tertiary medical centers to date in the USA and South Africa and has current licenses in Florida and Kentucky and previously in Canada, Germany and South Africa. He is also a cognitive neurology consultant at the Roskamp Neuroscience Institute in Sarasota, Florida where he focuses on frontotemporal disorders, traumatic brain illness and neuro-toxicological syndromes such as Gulf War Illness. Peer-reviewed publications currently number ~230 and he has also authored four books; Assembly of the Executive Mind, Brain Beat, Cognitive Conative and Behavioral Neurology and Clinical Mentation Evaluation, a connectome approach. He also has received several physician-initiated grant research support awards.

Michael Hoffman, MD

Anthony Chaffee, MD

Dr Anthony Chaffee is an American medical doctor and Neurosurgical resident who, over a span of 20+ years, has researched the optimal nutrition for human performance and health. It is his assertion that most of the so-called chronic diseases we treat as doctors are caused by the food we eat, or don't eat, and can be reversed with dietary changes to a species specific diet. 

He began University at the age of 16 studying Molecular & Cellular Biology with a Minor in Chemistry at the U of Washington in Seattle, which culminated in an MD from the Royal College of Surgeons. 

He is an All-American rugby player, former professional player in England and America, and also has trained in MMA fighting.

More recently, he volunteered as a doctor in the refugee camps in Bangladesh, helping the survivors of the 2017 genocide in Burma of the Rohingyan people.

Currently in Australia, he works as a Neurosurgical registrar and does private consultations in metabolic health and functional medicine. He is still full Carnivore.

Dr Anthony Chaffee is an American medical doctor and Neurosurgical resident who, over a span of 20+ years, has researched the optimal nutrition for human performance and health. It is his assertion that most of the so-called chronic diseases we treat as doctors are caused by the food we eat, or don't eat, and can be reversed with dietary changes to a species specific diet. 

He began University at the age of 16 studying Molecular & Cellular Biology with a Minor in Chemistry at the U of Washington in Seattle, which culminated in an MD from the Royal College of Surgeons. 

He is an All-American rugby player, former professional player in England and America, and also has trained in MMA fighting.

More recently, he volunteered as a doctor in the refugee camps in Bangladesh, helping the survivors of the 2017 genocide in Burma of the Rohingyan people.

Currently in Australia, he works as a Neurosurgical registrar and does private consultations in metabolic health and functional medicine. He is still full Carnivore.

Anthony Chaffee, MD

Dr. Matthew Phillips

Matt is a clinical and research neurologist at Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand. His foremost passion is to explore the potential feasibility, safety, and efficacy of metabolic strategies, particularly fasting and ketogenic diets, in creating alternate metabolic states that may benefit people with a variety of neurological disorders. His team conducted the world’s first randomized studies in people with Parkinson’s and people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. He is currently conducting a clinical trial that combines intensive fasting with a ketogenic diet alongside standard treatments in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

 

Matthew Phillips, FRACP

Dr Michael Eades, MD

Dr. Michael Eades was born in Springfield, Missouri and educated in Missouri, Michigan, and California. He received his undergraduate degree in engineering from California State Polytechnic University, and received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas. After completing his medical and post-graduate training, he and his wife, Mary Dan, founded Medi-Stat Medical Clinics, a chain of ambulatory out-patient family care clinics in central Arkansas. Since 1986 Dr. Eades has been in the full time practice of bariatric, nutritional, and metabolic medicine.

Michael Eades, MD

Stephen D. Phinney, MD, PhD

Dr. Stephen Phinney is a Professor of Medicine Emeritus at UC-Davis. He is on the editorial board of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  He has twenty-five years of clinical experience as a director of multi-disciplinary weight management programs and has contributed to books and peer reviewed articles and is an expert in low carb nutrition and metabolism, fatty acids, inflammation, and the metabolic syndrome.

Steve Phinney, MD

Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO

Photo Divine

“Dr. Nasha Winters is a global healthcare authority and best-selling author in integrative cancer care and research consulting with physicians around the world. She has educated hundreds of professionals in the clinical use of mistletoe and has created robust educational programs for both healthcare institutions and the public on incorporating vetted integrative therapies in cancer care to enhance outcomes. Dr. Winters is currently focused on opening a comprehensive metabolic oncology hospital and research institute in the US where the best that standard of care has to offer and the most advanced integrative therapies will be offered. This facility will be in a residential setting on a gorgeous campus against a backdrop of regenerative farming, EMF mitigation and retreat, as well as state of the art medical technology and data collection and evaluation to improve patient outcomes.”

Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO

Dominic D’Agostino, PhD

Dr. Dominic D’Agostino is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine and also a Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC). The primary focus of his laboratory is directed towards understanding the physiological effects of hyperbaric oxygen and developing and testing metabolic-based therapies, including ketogenic diets, ketone supplements and drugs that target specific metabolic pathways.

His research explores the use of these therapies for a broad range of disorders linked pathophysiologically to metabolic dysregulation, including seizures, neurodegenerative diseases, genetic diseases and cancer. D’Agostino’s laboratory uses in vivo and in vitro techniques to understand the physiological, cellular and molecular mechanism of metabolic therapies. His research is supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Department of Defense (DoD), private organizations and foundations.

Dominic D’Agostino, PhD
Tony Hampton, MD
 
Dr. Hampton is especially passionate about removing barriers to health and equipping patients and his colleagues with the education and resources they need to take charge of their health. He previously served as the medical director of the Advocate Operating System, where he collaborated with clinicians and staff on programs to address social determinants of health among at-risk patient populations. For example, for the Healthy Living program, he develops education around nutrition and weight loss that help patients set realistic and attainable goals. He's also an ambassador for the program, encouraging his physician colleagues to refer their patients. The same goes for the AdvocateCare Center (a place where patients receive multidisciplinary care in one visit), inspiring his colleagues to utilize the Center as a partner to help them manage their patients with multiple chronic diseases and improve their quality of life. He has also been instrumental in the launch of the Food Farmacy (that's FARM-acy with an "F") at Advocate Trinity Hospital to increase access to fresh, healthy food for patients and community members in need in partnership with the Chicago Food Depository. He is a board-certified obesity specialist, working with patients individually in the clinic and with small groups enrolled in the diabetes prevention program (D.P.P.). As one of only just over 3,000 Board Certified Obesity Medicine Specialists in the United States, he's been able to use his knowledge to help develop and support programs that reduce the obesity burden. He has participated in novel research, serving as the lead researcher for the Merck/Premiere-sponsored trial, where he worked in collaboration with other thought leaders to develop a point-of-care tool to be used by front-line physicians to improve diabetes care using patient data. In addition, he uses his experience as a clinician leader within one of the largest health systems and highest performing accountable care organizations in the U.S., Advocate Health Care, to provide input to all research phases and to guide data collection and management for the project. He is a tireless leader and cheerleader for performance excellence, serving on A.M.G.'s Governing Council, Health Outcomes Committee, and Advocate's Executive Diversity Council. His current role is Regional Medical Director for the South Region in Chicago. He authored the book: Fix Your Diet, Fix Your Diabetes, and is an active blogger on social media. His newest projects include creating more educational videos/interviews on YouTube and starting his Podcast in June 2020 entitled: Protecting Your N.E.S.T. with Dr. Tony Hampton.  His new website will be active June 2020 which provides access to all the work he is doing: www.doctortonyhampton.com 
Tony Hampton MD

Belinda Lennerz, MD

Dr Lennerz is credentialed in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology. She joined the endocrine division at Boston Children’s Hospital in 2015.  Dr. Lennerz' research focus is on understanding mechanisms that regulate food intake and energy homeostasis in obesity, and carbohydrate restriction in types 1 and 2 diabetes and carnivore and ketogenic diets. She is widely published researcher with Dr David Ludwig from Harvard.

 

Belinda Lennerz, MD

Miriam Kalamian, EdM, MS, CNS

Miriam Kalamian is a nutrition consultant, educator, speaker and author specializing in the implementation of ketogenic therapies. She earned her master of education (EdM) from Smith College and her master of human nutrition (MS) from Eastern Michigan University. She is board certified in nutrition (CNS) by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists.

Inspired by the work of Thomas N. Seyfried, PhD, Miriam draws on a decade of experience to provide comprehensive guidelines that specifically address the many diet and lifestyle challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis.

Her passion for helping others implement this diet comes directly from her personal experience. Her son Raffi was diagnosed with a brain tumor in December 2004. Standard of care therapies failed to stop the relentless progression of his disease, and it became painfully clear that she needed to switch gears quickly. That is what originally led her to Dr. Thomas Seyfried's research supporting the use of the ketogenic diet for cancer. 

Later on she authored her own book,, ‘Keto for Cancer - Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy as a Targeted Nutritional Strategy.  Although evidence supporting the benefits of ketogenic diet therapies continues to mount, she felt there was little to guide those who wish to adopt this diet as a metabolic therapy for cancer. Keto for Cancer fills this need to lay out comprehensive guidelines that specifically address the many challenges associated with cancer, and particularly the deep nutritional overhaul involved with the ketogenic diet. 

Miriam is a leading voice in the keto movement. She is dedicated to meeting the growing demand for specialized tools and knowledge that will help tailor the ketogenic diet to meet the needs of individuals. To that end, she welcomes multidisciplinary collaborations that will help refine this dietary approach to cancer and other metabolic diseases.

Therefore, beyond cancer Miriam integrates nutritional strategies with metabolic therapies and lifestyle modifications to develop personalized treatments that address a broad spectrum of conditions that are currently considered intractable, including age-related, neurodegenerative, and bariatric diseases.

Miriam lives in Montana with her husband Peter. Learn more about their personal journey and Raffi's Story Watch her 2016 interview.

Miriam Kalamian, EdM, MS, CNS

Jay Wortman, MD

Dr. Wortman has worked in family medicine, public health, medical administration and research. He has held senior management positions in Health Canada in Ottawa and Vancouver. For the past 17 years he has worked with low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet in both the research and practice settings. For many years, his work was focused in First Nations and Inuit communities. One of his studies trialed a low carb traditional diet in a First Nations community and was the subject of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation documentary film, “My Big Fat Diet”. Dr. Wortman is a frequent presenter on the benefits of a low carbohydrate high fat diet at scientific meetings and continuing medical education events. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Simply Good Foods Co. Dr. Wortman currently practices in West Vancouver where he uses a low carb high fat diet for the treatment of metabolic, CNS and inflammatory conditions.

Jay Wortman MD

Mark Cucuzzella, MD, FAAFP 


Mark Cucuzzella, is a Professor at West Virginia University School of Medicine. He is also a LtCol in the US Air Force designing programs to promote health and better fitness in the military with the USAF Efficient Running Project. (available on iphone format here) In military and civilian community he has been a tireless promoter of healthy movement, nutritional interventions in patients with any spectrum of the metabolic syndrome, and injury free training for running.

He was a lead writer of one of the first grants supporting education of Medical Students in nutrition and physical activity in Medical School.  Mark is also the lead on a large USDA grant to double SNAP benefits at Farmers Markets- the goal is reducing food insecurity as a barrier to healthier eating.

He’s also been a competitive runner for over 30 years — with more than 100 marathon and ultramarathon finishes — and continues to compete as a national-level Masters runner. He has won the Air Force Marathon twice. He is the race director of Freedom’s Run race series in West Virginia and director of the Natural Running Center, an education portal designed to teach healthier running . Mark is also the owner of Two Rivers Treads — A Center for Natural Running and Walking in his hometown of Shepherdstown, W.Va.  Mark’s vision of a future of health is housed in his site www.drmarksdesk.com

Mark’s innovative work and story has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, Outside Magazine, Running Times, Runners World, Air Force Times, the Washington Post, JAMA, Blue Ridge Outdoors, and other medical and media outlets.  

Mark Cucuzzella MD FAAFP
Professor West Virginia University School of Medicine

DrMarksDesk.com 

store/race HQ 304-876-1100
mobile 304-268-8813
[email protected]

 

Mark Cucuzzella, MD FAAFP

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