Virtual Regenerative Healthcare Conference

Conference Lectures:

• Panel - Why Farming is Broken & How Regenerative Organic Agricultural Practices Are a Powerful Solution

  This 80-minute panel discussion explores the challenges facing agriculture in the 21st century and the solutions found beneath our feet—healing our soil using regenerative organic agricultural practices.

  Join Jeff Moyer, Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, Christa Barfield, Kegan Hilaire, and Jeff Tkach as they uncover the current state of agriculture, their critical work to move the system closer to balance, and the positive implications regenerative organic agricultural practices have on human health. In this 1 hour presentation, panelists address the systemic barriers farmers face, the pervasive impact of chemical fertilizers, and the challenges in farming, including lack of both ecological and socio-political diversity, and present solutions for a more equitable and regenerative future. Includes a virtual greeting by the Congresswoman from Maine, Rep. Chellie Pingree.

  Panelists:

  • Jeff Tkach (moderator), Rodale Institute Chief Impact Officer
  • Jeff Moyer, Rodale Institute CEO
  • Kegan Hilaire, Rodale Institute Small Farms & Diversified Vegetable Consultant
  • Christa Barfield, Urban Farmer, Herbalist, Former Healthcare Professional, & Founder of FarmerJawn Philly
  • Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, Farmer & Founder, Regenerative Agriculture Alliance & Salvatierra Farms
  • Chellie Pingree (virtual), U.S. House Representative
• Dr. Scott Stoll - My Journey to Regenerative Healthcare

  Dr. Stoll shares his personal journey as a physician and father in the world of regenerative healthcare. As Founder of the Plantrician Project, Dr. Stoll is a renowned voice and educator in the world of plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine. Drawing on his experience as an Olympic athlete, physician, and parent, Dr. Stoll shares how regenerative healthcare—a framework connecting food as medicine and soil health to human health—has been transformative in his own wellbeing and that of those around him.

• Dr. Mark Hyman - The Soil and Health: A 21st Century View

  Dr. Mark Hyman’s lecture is a must-watch for anyone interested in health, wellness, and regeneration. Diving deep into the connection between the soil microbiome and human gut microbiome, Dr. Hyman explores the impact agriculture has on nutrition, health, and planetary wellbeing. Throughout his presentation, he discusses the influence of industrial agriculture on human and planetary health, the importance of local and regenerative organic foods, and the impact of global climate change on our health. Dr. Hyman provides an in-depth look at the ways in which soil health contributes to better overall health, from improved nutrition to reduced risk of chronic disease. He also examines the potential of proper soil stewardship to contribute to a healthier, food secure future, discussing the importance of soil regeneration, microbial biodiversity, and soil carbon sequestration. With his expertise and insight from the world of functional medicine and nutrition, Dr. Hyman’s lecture will give viewers a comprehensive understanding of the soil-health connection and how it can be utilized to cultivate a healthier, more regenerative future.

• Gladis Zinati, Ph.D. - Learnings from The Vegetable Systems Trial

  Rodale Institute’s Dr. Gladis Zinati presents findings from the Vegetable Systems Trial (VST), a comparative research study at Rodale Institute that analyzes soil health, nutrient density, and crop yields among other key factors in organic and conventional vegetable crops. In this lecture, Dr. Zinati provides a deep dive into the results from VST research thus far and explains the science behind it, emphasizing the importance of focusing on soil health to achieve nutrient-dense food. Her lecture provides a compelling analysis of why farming practices, such as crop rotation and cover crops, can improve soil fertility and help crops access essential nutrients. Dr. Zinati’s research is imperative to understanding the implications of various farming methods on soil health and how they impact the nutrient density of the food we eat.

• Andrew Smith, Ph.D. - Farming Systems Trial 40-Year Report

  This lecture, presented by Rodale Institute’s Dr. Andrew Smith, provides an in-depth analysis of the long-term impacts of organic and conventional farming practices. His presentation focuses on the newly released results from 40 years of research in the Rodale Institute’s Farming Systems Trial (FST)– the longest-running side-by-side comparison of organic and conventional farming systems in North America, which compares the impacts of organic and conventional farming practices on soil health, crop yields, water, nutrient density, and financial returns. Dr. Smith’s lecture provides a comprehensive overview of the key findings of the Farming Systems Trial 40-Year Report, released in 2022, and discusses how the research can inform future decisions about our farming practices, soil health, and human health.

• Dr. Maya Shetreat - Navigating Unknown Terrain: How Nature Helps Us to Be Regulated and Resilient

  Dr. Maya Shetreat’s lecture provides an exploration of the relationship between the human gut microbiome, psychological well-being, and neurological health. Dr. Shetreat’s lecture helps us understand how nature can be used to boost our resilience, regulate our moods and emotions, and keep us healthy. She outlines how the gut-brain axis provides a link between our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, and how it is influenced by our environment, diet and lifestyle. Dr. Shetreat’s lecture also explains how nature in its many forms, from plants and trees to animals, can help us to build resilience, reduce stress and anxiety, and stay healthy and alert. Through her discussion of terrain medicine, she explains how nature can help us to be mindful, connected to the world around us, and how it can provide us with a sense of peace and belonging.

• Dr. Monica Aggarwal - From Plant Health to Human Health: A Look at Chronic Illness, Inflammation, and the Microbiome

  Dr. Monica Aggarwal, an integrative cardiologist and author, presents a 1-hour lecture about moving “From Plant Health to Human Health: A look at Chronic illness, Inflammation and the Microbiome”. Throughout the presentation, Dr. Aggarwal discusses the role of plants in human health, from the nutritional benefits of plant-based foods to their impact on the microbiome. She delves into the topic of chronic illnesses, how the microbiome can be a key factor in these conditions, and how she works to reverse chronic health challenges both in herself and her patients. Her presentation explores how inflammation plays a role in chronic illnesses, and how diet and lifestyle can be used to reduce inflammation. Attendees will learn how to use plant-based nutrition to improve health outcomes. Dr. Aggarwal blends her expertise in cardiology, integrative nutrition, personal health experiences, and passion for plant-based foods to bring forth a brilliant lecture that is not to be missed.

• Dr. T. Colin Campbell - Food, Trees, Human Health, and Human Survival: The Protein Connection

  Dr. T. Colin Campbell is a renowned scholar and author, highly regarded for his research on nutrition, health, and the environment. In this 1-hour lecture, Dr. Campbell explains the importance of plant-based nutrition and its connection to human health and longevity. He explains his perspective that the current model of food consumption and production is a major contributor to both environmental degradation and declines in human health. He discusses his ideas on how to pivot, sharing his life’s work studying the essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients found in plants that play a key role in keeping our bodies healthy and disease-free. As a long-time advocate for plant-based eating, Dr. Campbell’s lecture draws on his decades of experience in the nutrition field and is a must-watch for anyone passionate about plant-based diets.

• Dr. Michelle Perro - Glyphosate and its Effect on Our Children's Health

  Dr. Michelle Perro is a pediatrician, health advocate, and author who is passionate about helping children achieve optimal health. Her lecture is designed to give physicians, caregivers, and curious individuals an understanding of the potential dangers stemming from chemicals in our food system. Dr. Perro explores the science behind the human health impacts of Glyphosate, a pervasive herbicide found in our food system and neighborhoods. She presents evidence of potential links between Glyphosate and an increased risk of various chronic health conditions, including Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Autism, and a host of other neurological challenges. Beyond discussing the problem, she offers solutions for how to detoxify the body from Glyphosate, how to test for residues, and how to embark on the healing journey. This stand-out lecture from the conference received rave reviews from attendees, and is imperative for anyone passionate about environmental health, patient advocacy, and navigating health in the 21st century.

• Dr. Ron Weiss - The Food as Medicine Approach to Healing from Chronic Illness & Optimizing Your Health

  Dr. Ron Weiss, founder of the Ethos Farm Project, discusses the power of a plant-based diet in healing his patients and how the way our food is grown is intimately connected with our health. Drawing on his experience as both a doctor and farmer, Dr. Weiss explains how nutrient-dense food can provide nourishment and healing on a cellular level. He offers research and case studies to demonstrate how his approach to patient care has reduced inflammation, improved digestion, lowered blood sugar levels, and boosted energy levels in his patients, among other positive outcomes. He also emphasizes the importance of sourcing organic, non-GMO, and locally sourced foods and how that helps to maximize nutritional benefits. He advocates for organic farming practices that can help to rebuild the soil while also rebuilding patient health—using his own practice and food as medicine prescriptions as a powerful case study.

• Panel - Disrupting the Food Access Paradigm

  The topic of “Disrupting the Food Access Paradigm” is one of utmost importance in today’s society. Just as food is necessary for physical nourishment, it is also essential for social, economic and political wellbeing. This 80-minute panel takes a deep dive into the various challenges surrounding food access in both urban and rural landscapes, and how farmers and healthcare systems can play a key role in remedying disparities in access to healthy, nutrient dense foods. Join Christa Barfield, Dr. Rajika Reed, Jesse Barrett, Jen Malkoun, Ashley Walsh, and Nadine Clopton for a compelling discussion of food sovereignty, the connection between organic food and healthy communities, and strategies for integrating healthcare and farming. Through this discussion, attendees will learn about community-driven solutions to ending food insecurity, how healthcare institutions can be leaders in improving community access to healthy food, and the benefits of organic food on wellbeing. By exploring the connection between the healthcare sector and farming, the panel presents innovative strategies for improving access to quality food and healthcare, such as the importance of local, regenerative organic food production. This session is ideal for those who seek to have a deeper understanding of the challenges that lie at the intersection of public health and food justice, as well as the steps that can be taken to create healthier communities.

  Panelists:

  • Nadine Clopton (moderator), Rodale Institute Regenerative Healthcare Conference Program Manager
  • Christa Barfield, Urban Farmer, Herbalist, Former Healthcare Professional, & Founder of FarmerJawn Philadelphia
  • Dr. Rajika Reed, Vice President of Community Health at St Luke’s University Health Network
  • Jesse Barrett, Rodale Institute Food Production Specialist
  • Jen Malkoun, Director of Programs & Partnerships, Greener Partners
  • Ashley Walsh, Founder, Pocono Organics
• Panel - The St. Luke's Farm-to-Hospital Model: On the Leading Edge of Community Centered Care

  This 75-minute group presentation serves as a primer for anyone looking to create a farm-to hospital model to create transformative change in their healthcare system. Rodale Institute’s valued partners at St. Luke’s University Hospital Network have made a profound commitment to both patient and employee wellness by building the first-ever integrated organic hospital farm on-site at their St. Luke’s Anderson Hospital Campus. This group presentation highlights the paradigm shift that occurred from the top down at St. Luke’s that led them to create their nationally recognized program. Led by Ed Nawrocki, the President of St. Lukes’ East Region & Anderson Campus, and three St. Luke’s medical providers, this presentation provides a deep dive into the impact that institutional leadership committed to a values-driven approach to healthcare can have on both patient and employee wellness outcomes.

  Group Presenters:

  • Dr. Meagan Grega, Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer of Kellyn Foundation
  • Ed Nawrocki, President, East Region & Anderson Campus, St. Luke’s University Health Network
  • Dr. Andy Goodbred, Family Physician, St. Luke’s University Health Network
  • Dr. Ileana Perez-Figueroa, Family & Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, St. Lukes’ University Hospital Network)
• Panel - Regenerative Healthcare: from Philosophy to Practice

  This 80-minute panel brings together some of the leading experts on the topic of regenerative healthcare– Dr. Meagan Grega, Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer of the Kellyn Foundation; Dr. Shehzad Malik, Cardiologist & Integrative Practitioner; Dr. Scott Stoll, Physician & Co-founder of Plantrician Project; and Jeff Tkach, Chief Impact Officer of Rodale Institute. They discuss the practice of regenerative healthcare, providing a model of successful implementation that is already taking root in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. During the session, panelists explore the philosophy of regenerative healthcare, which is based on the idea that human and soil health are interconnected and can be improved through practices that nourish and restore our planet. All three physicians on the panel draw on their clinical experiences and dive into how they are helping to bridge the gap between conventional and integrative medicine in order to provide the best possible care and outcomes for their patients. This panel is an incredible opportunity to learn from some of the leading experts in the field. Attendees will walk away better equipped to make an impact in the field and create a healthier future for all through a better understanding of regenerative healthcare.

  Panelists:

  • Jeff Tkach (moderator), Chief Impact Officer, Rodale Institute
  • Dr. Scott Stoll, Physician & Co-founder, Plantrician Project
  • Dr. Meagan Grega, Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer of Kellyn Foundation
  • Dr. Shehzad Malik, Cardiologist & Integrative Practitioner