Food as Medicine
From Promise to Implementation to Scalable Impact
5/5/2026 - May 6, 2026 ALL TIMES CDT
Returning for its sixth year, the Food as Medicine Summit continues its mission of accelerating nutritious food into the hands of individuals in need to help treat and manage health conditions.
Building upon over half a decade of impact, the summit will once again provide the meeting point for healthcare providers, CBOs, insurers, food companies, government, associations, and more to come together and take Food as Medicine from promise to a long-term, sustainable reality. Food as Medicine approaches continue to receive unprecedented attention, but there is still much for us to work through as an industry to truly deliver on this potential.
The Food as Medicine Summit continues to be the place where the defining conversations and connection-building of the industry happens, and this is your chance to be part of them. Key themes for this year's event include expanding the impact of the new administration, evolving partnership models, expanding the reach of Food as Medicine, and much more. Enhanced networking and event experiences are also planned for 2026. With our commitment to quality and tangible takeaways, attendees will leave the Summit with new connections, learnings, and an even greater appetite for driving forward Food as Medicine.
Coverage will include, but is not limited to:
• The impact of recent and upcoming policy and regulatory changes
• Demonstrating the “Value†of Food as Medicine
• Expanding and scaling the reach and impact of Food as Medicine programs
• Improving access and outcomes for participants
• Multistakeholder discussions with leaders from across the industry
• Growing and unifying the Food as Medicine movement
Building upon over half a decade of impact, the summit will once again provide the meeting point for healthcare providers, CBOs, insurers, food companies, government, associations, and more to come together and take Food as Medicine from promise to a long-term, sustainable reality. Food as Medicine approaches continue to receive unprecedented attention, but there is still much for us to work through as an industry to truly deliver on this potential.
The Food as Medicine Summit continues to be the place where the defining conversations and connection-building of the industry happens, and this is your chance to be part of them. Key themes for this year's event include expanding the impact of the new administration, evolving partnership models, expanding the reach of Food as Medicine, and much more. Enhanced networking and event experiences are also planned for 2026. With our commitment to quality and tangible takeaways, attendees will leave the Summit with new connections, learnings, and an even greater appetite for driving forward Food as Medicine.
Coverage will include, but is not limited to:
• The impact of recent and upcoming policy and regulatory changes
• Demonstrating the “Value†of Food as Medicine
• Expanding and scaling the reach and impact of Food as Medicine programs
• Improving access and outcomes for participants
• Multistakeholder discussions with leaders from across the industry
• Growing and unifying the Food as Medicine movement
Tuesday, May 5
Registration Open
Kick off the Food as Medicine Summit by grabbing breakfast with new connections and old friends.
THE FOOD, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH LANDSCAPE
Chairperson's Welcome Remarks
Panel Moderator:
KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION AND OPEN Q&A:
The Food as Medicine Industry Speaks
Panelists:
Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)
Food as Medicine, Nourishing Change, and Kroger Health
Networking & Afternoon Refreshments
Networking is a core pillar of The Food as Medicine Summit. To help kick off The Food as Medicine Summit, this extended networking session will enable you to connect with new peers and old friends to broaden and deepen your network in the field.
THE VALUE AND ROI OF FOOD AS MEDICINE
Creating Shared Value—How Better-for-You Brands Drive Health and Growth
This session explores how brands are redefining value by improving consumer health outcomes while strengthening retailer performance. Hear how initiatives like the Good Food Collective are aligning industry standards, policy proposals such as front-of-pack labeling, and brand collaboration to create measurable impact and mutual benefit across the food ecosystem.
Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)
PANEL DISCUSSION AND OPEN Q&A:
Scaling Impact—What We Learned from 1 Million Screenings, 200 Thousand Referrals, and 3 Years of Food as Medicine
Explore how Feeding America’s network of food banks and food co-ops have evolved from emergency food providers to strategic health partners. This session presents the final health outcome data, from their three-year Food as Medicine evaluation, highlighting how food bank-health care partnerships are reshaping chronic disease care. The presentation will explore how participant feedback, health metrics, and community engagement informed program design and delivery.
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Beyond Demonstrating the Value—How Can We Convince Commercial Decision-Makers?
Angie Kalousek Ebrahimi, Senior Director, Lifestyle Medicine, Blue Shield of California , Senior Director, Digital Health , Blue Shield of California
Panelists:
Philip Erlanger, PhD, Co-Founder & Senior Advisor, Aliment Capital , Co-Founder & Senior Advisor , Aliment Capital
Wesley McWhorter, DrPH, MS, RDN, LD, CSCS, Vice President, Lifestyle Medicine, Suvida Healthcare , Vice President, Lifestyle Medicine , Suvida Healthcare
Sunny Sharma, MD, FACP, DipACLM, CMD, RMO, Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine Physician, MDVIP Physician, Regional Medical Officer for Ascension Medical Group of Illinois , Internal Medicine Physician, Lifestyle Medicine Physician, and Regional Medical Officer of Ascension Illinois Medical Group , Ascension Medical Group and MDVIP
Networking Reception (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)
At the end of Day 1, continue to make new connections, connect with folks you met earlier during the day, and catch up with old friends.
Close of Day
Wednesday, May 6
Registration Open & Networking Breakfast
Connect with your new, extended network over breakfast to get Day 2 of The Food as Medicine Summit started.
THE FRONT LINE OF FOOD AS MEDICINE
Chairperson’s Remarks
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION AND OPEN Q&A:
Lessons Learned from the Front Line of Food as Medicine
Ipyana Spencer, Chief Health Officer, Meals on Wheels America , Chief Health Officer , Meals on Wheels America
Panelists:
Jeffrey Bellows, Vice President Corporate Citizenship & Public Affairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts , Vice President Corporate Citizenship & Public Affairs , Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Allison Collins, MD, DipABLM, CCMS, Director, Lifestyle & Culinary Medicine, Kaiser Permanente , Director, Lifestyle & Culinary Medicine , The Permanente Medical Group/Kaiser Permanente
Curt Ellis, Co-Founder & CEO, FoodCorps , Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer , FoodCorps
Kelleen Zubick, Managing Director, Health Systems, Share Our Strength , Managing Director, Health Systems , Share Our Strength
Sponsored by: Talk Title to be Announced
Speaker to be Announced , Moms Meals
Coffee Break with Exhibit Viewing
The final extended networking break gives attendees the opportunity to make extra connections and set the next steps for their discussions beyond the walls of the event with the new and old members of their network.
SCALING FOOD AS MEDICINE
Harnessing Collaborative Expertise to Scale Food as Medicine
Utilizing the collective expertise of physicians, dietitians, nurses, pharmacists, and other care professionals is essential to advancing Food as Medicine within healthcare. This session will highlight how coordinated, team-based approaches can drive successful implementation and expansion of Food as Medicine programs across diverse care settings. Speakers will share lessons learned in aligning clinical workflows, managing data sharing, and establishing sustainable funding mechanisms that enable consistent impact and measurable outcomes.
Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Leveraging Technology to Expand Access
Adam Wallace, Director, Health, Instacart , Director, Health , Instacart
- Using digital platforms to connect patients to food resources
- Leveraging telehealth and remote monitoring to support adherence
- Building data systems that strengthen integration with healthcare​
Presentation to be Announced
Networking Luncheon
ALIGNING INCENTIVES & REVOLUTIONIZING PATIENT OUTCOMES
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Aligning Incentives to Drive Scalable, Sustainable Food as Medicine Models
Virginia Barnes, MPH, CHIE, Director, Blue Health Initiatives, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas , Director Blue Health Initiatives , Blue Health Initiatives , Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
Panelists:
Elizabeth Burger, Senior Vice President, Programs & Strategy, Sunflower Foundation , Senior Vice President, Programs & Strategy , Sunflower Foundation
David Dungan, MD, FACP, FAAP, CCMS, Director / Champion, Duly Culinary Medicine / Duly Wellness , Director / Champion , Duly Culinary Medicine & Duly Wellness
Monica Yepes-Rios, MD, FACP, Medical Director, Community Health, Food as Medicine, Cleveland Clinic , Medical Director, Community Health, Food as Medicine , Cleveland Clinic
Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Revolutionizing Outcomes for Patients through Food as Medicine
Jon Van Der Veer, D.O., Founder & CEO, Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care , Founder & CEO , Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care
Panelists:
Ajay Joseph, MD FACC DipABLM, Medical Director, Lifestyle Medicine, St. Francis Health System , Medical Director, Lifestyle Medicine , St. Francis Health System
Susan Spratt, MD, Senior Medical Director, Duke Population Health Management, Duke Health , Senior Medical Director, Duke Population Health Management and Professor of Medicine , Duke Health
Networking Break & Afternoon Refreshments
BUILDING THE FOOD AS MEDICINE ECOSYSTEM
Fruitful Collaboration—Enhancing Health through Culinary Care
Culinary medicine integrates nutrition science with cooking skills to empower individuals to manage and prevent chronic diseases through their food choices. This evidence-based field emphasizes healthy food preparation and selections to make nutritional changes sustainable and enjoyable. This presentation is full of tools and real-life examples of strategies for building collaboration in order to help elevate the dining experience for individuals and families while building healthier communities.
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Developing a Vibrant Food as Medicine Network in Managed Care
Sarah E. Morrow, Program Director, Clinical and Community Programs, UPMC Health Plan , Program Director, Clinical and Community Programs , UPMC Health Plan
Panelists:
Julia Koprak, Director, Incentives, Healthcare & Policy, The Food Trust , Director, Incentives, Healthcare & Policy , The Food Trust
Roxanne Minott, Manager, Healthcare Partnerships, Mom's Meals , Manager, Healthcare Partnerships , Mom's Meals
Josh Weiland, Vice President, Operations, 412 Food Rescue , Vice President, Operations , 412 Food Rescue
Close of Conference
For more details on the conference, please contact:
Jason Green
Senior Conference Director
Cambridge Healthtech Institute
Email: jgreen@cambridgeinnovationinstitute.com
For sponsorship information, please contact:
Phillip Zakim-Yacouby
Senior Business Development Manager
Cambridge Healthtech Institute
Phone: (+1) 781-247-1815
