As the second generation owner of O’Brien Pharmacy and the Kansas City Holistic Centre in Mission, Kansas, Lisa grew up in pharmacy and healthcare, yet was dubbed the “un-pharmacist” for helping patients attain healthier lives through lifestyle changes, such as adopting a plant-based diet, versus popping pills. She uses her almost 50 years of experience as a clinical pharmacist and 30-some years as a certified clinical nutritionist to help people achieve the reversal of disease and the reclamation of their health. In her private consultation practice, she focuses on outcome-based holistic patient care and education. Her work incorporates the principles of biochemically-based clinical nutrition, spirituality, physiology, and pharmacology.

Lisa is the President of the International and American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists, a member on the Government Affairs Committee for the Kansas Pharmacists Association, and is on the Foundation Board of Directors for the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding. She served on the Professional Affairs committee for the Kansas Pharmacists Association and the Education Committee for the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding. She has fellowships in the American College of Apothecaries and the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding. Lisa was on the Midwest Internal Review Board for 10 years, overseeing more than 950 studies for the Food and Drug Administration, and served on the board of trustees for the American Holistic Medical Association. Lisa formulated the antioxidant supplement Body & Vision, and the multi-vitamin/mineral Optimal Daily Allowance which won the NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements Five Star Award in 2014. Recently, Lisa authored a textbook to benefit both practitioners and patients titled Learning to Thrive in a Toxic World and the Impact of Clinical Endocrinology and BHRT, and is working on a follow-up book for practitioners. Lisa is currently seeking her diplomate in constitutional homeopathy as a student of The Canadian College of Homeopathic Medicine.

I am an Optometric Physician who incorporates whole-food plant-based nutrition into the treatment of eye disease. Whether you are a healthy individual trying to get even healthier, a diabetic looking to improve their lifestyle, or a hypertensive wanting to get off medication and take control of their life, I’ve got the tips and tricks for you. I have been watching my patients get healthier and get off medication for years now. Everyone can do this. I will help you.

Christine A. Degnon, MD, MPH (she/hers) is triple-boarded, with board certifications in Family Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine. “Dr. Chris” graduated from Bucknell University with degrees in Biology and Religion, then spent over two years serving as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya. She obtained her Medical Degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania and then completed the Family Medicine Residency Program at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood, South Carolina. She also earned a Master in Public Health degree at Boston University. Since opening Coastal Direct Primary Care in January of 2018, Dr. Chris has been partnering with patients to make health a priority. She believes in patient-centered care and shared decision making, which means she will listen to you and work with you to develop your health and wellness goals, as well as a strategy to meet them.

Dr. Kotlerman started her clinical career as a diagnostic, nutritional therapist specializing in mental imbalance and nutritional deficiencies. Although Dr. Kotlerman was running a successful practice in nutrition, it was obvious that there was a missing piece, as many clients needed more. It was at this time that Dr. Kotlerman walked the El Camino de Santiago, in Europe, and had a life-changing experience that showed her that she needed to commit to the process of being a chiropractor. Four days after returning to the United States, she was enrolled in Life West Chiropractic College in San Francisco, CA.

She graduated Life West Chiropractic College with Emerald clinical honors and as a recipient of the Carl Dieter Philosophy Scholarship. Dr. Kotlerman received education and certification in: Thompson drop table, toggle, diversified Gonstead, activator, DNFT, pediatric, pregnancy, and SOT Chiropractic techniques.

Dr. Kotlerman has since specialized in Averio FNT, a tonal, low-force chiropractic technique that uses sustained contact in specific areas in order to change spinal alignment and function.

Dr. Kotlerman is a published author with two books. Her clinical results book, “Exceptional Health: You Can Have It!” and her personal memoir, “Seeing Magic“. In addition to her books, she has published 6 international case studies in collaboration with the Australian Spinal Research Foundation and the Pan-Asian Chiropractic Journal.

Marc Debay, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D. is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Family Medicine for the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.

Debay received his M.D. from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculté de Médecine (Free University of Brussels), Belgium and a master’s and a Ph.D. in public health from The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. He completed residencies in family medicine at the Glendale Adventist Medical Center and in preventive medicine at Loma Linda University. He is board certified in both family medicine and preventive medicine.

Debay was previously an associate professor in the School of Medicine and in the School of Public Health at Loma Linda University and director of the Primary Care Physicians Services Project, a partnership between the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health and the Loma Linda Faculty Medical Group. He served as an attending physician in the departments of preventive medicine and family medicine and as a physician in the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System. He also focused on training physicians and other health professionals for primary care research and global health service.

His extensive international public health expertise includes reproductive, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, behavior change communication, and health systems strengthening. He has broad experience in program design, implementation, and evaluation at the community, district, national and international levels with a variety of government, academic and private organizations. He has served in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Among his many volunteer activities, he served as faculty advisor and supervisor to the Loma Linda University Street Medicine Outreach, a student-run volunteer medical group providing transitional care to the homeless of San Bernardino. He has also worked with a multitude of international aid organizations such as World Vision International and Doctors Without Borders.

He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Preventive Medicine and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.

He is fluent in both English and French and also speaks Spanish.

His interests include comprehensive patient-centered primary care, program evaluation and quality improvement, and global health education of physicians and other health professionals.

My name is Dr. Joseph Thomas and I am a trained family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician. I grew up health conscious as a vegetarian but after starting residency I learned of the healing power a plant-based diet possessed. I was able to lead a reversing diabetes course during residency and saw several people go from limited mobility to walking around the room. I was able to see peoples weight go down, happiness increase and true healing occur. This set me on a path to find other ways to heal people. After residency I started working in the hospital where I tried to help those in need obtain better help; realizing that the majority of chronic diseases started with the diet. I have since left the hospital and started up my own company (Simpliwell LLC) with my wife (nutrition counsellor in training) so that we could work with people earlier in the disease process to keep them out of the hospital and in a better state of health. It has been a pleasure joining up with the Plantrician Project to help the world achieve better health. 

Dr. Gretchen M. Potschka is an internal medicine/pediatric specialist in Longview, Washington and is affiliated with PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center. She received her medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Dr. Olsen graduated from ISU Family Medicine Residency in 2012 and has been practicing with InterMountain Medical Clinic since then. He attended medical school at Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in the Phoenix area. He enjoys camping, traveling, running, woodworking and backpacking. Dr. Olsen is currently accepting new, qualified patients.

Dr. Crymes is a faculty physician with Cox Family Medicine Residency Program in Springfield, Missouri. She is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served in the US Air Force for eight years. She earned her DO degree at ATSU-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Cox. Over the past five years, Dr. Crymes has become extremely interested in the concept of mindfulness. She has attended courses and obtained certification to teach mindfulness. She currently teaches mindfulness classes to patients for treatment of pain and stress-related illness and has worked to incorporate mindfulness in the medicine curriculum for physicians at the Cox Residency Program as of this spring.

Dr. Marianela Lavena is a seasoned medical professional with over two decades of experience, dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional and integrative medicine. Graduating from medical school 20 years ago, she embarked on a journey of exploration and discovery to unearth the most effective ways to guide her patients towards holistic healing. Driven by her belief in nurturing the interconnectedness of mental, spiritual, and physical well-being, she has cultivated a unique approach that harmoniously blends ancient practices with her extensive knowledge in Allopathic, Functional, and Mind-Body medicine.
Dr. Lavena is committed to providing a sanctuary for healing, community, and growth, and her adoption of a membership model at Inner Healing Medical ensures that each patient receives personalized care and attention. With a strong conviction that food is medicine and that true healing originates from within, Dr. Lavena emphasizes the importance of removing toxins and chronic infections while also fostering the body’s innate healing potential. Her holistic approach extends beyond the physical realm, advocating self-kindness, self-compassion, and the pursuit of purpose. Dr. Lavena’s mission is not only to guide patients on a path to optimal health but also to empower them to discover their inner motivation, embrace their unique life purpose, and lead lives imbued with happiness, strength, and resilience.

I’ am working as a GP at my own practice in Slovac Republic. I’m a lifetime vegetarian and now very passionate about science of plant-based diet and thanks to EBM I can easily educate my patients and motivate them to improve their health through diet.

Sandra has been a physician for over 25 years, now specializing in Food as Medicine, dedicated to preserving health and reversing lifestyle-related chronic disease through whole, plant-based nutrition. Sandy co-founded and runs the nonprofit Plant Docs as an avenue for adults to learn about the power of plant-based nutrition to improve health. Sandy studied Nutritional Sciences in college then earned her MD degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Sandy worked in a primary care practice, taught residents at the medical school at Brown University, and started an Obesity Clinic. Though she has witnessed the healing power of conventional medicine, she has also seen its limitations, especially with regard to disease prevention through healthy nutrition. She obtained the following additional training: a Culinary Coaching certificate from Harvard’s CHEF Coaching program, a certificate in Plant Based Nutrition from eCornell, and a Health Coaching certificate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Sandy is board certified in Pediatrics, Obesity Medicine, and is in the process of becoming board certified in Lifestyle Medicine.  

I am a board certified family nurse practitioner in family and lifestyle medicine in Georgetown, TX. Over the course of my 23-year career in medicine I have worked in both adult cardiac and pulmonary focused intensive care units, home health, hospice and inpatient rehab, as well as assisted living and memory care.  My career has allowed me to practice the full spectrum of adult medicine.  While I believe pharmaceuticals have their place in medicine, my passion is to show my patients how to live a life without them In 2016, my career took an unexpected turn following a health crisis and an eventual autoimmune disease diagnosis.  While researching and reading everything I could get my hands on about autoimmune diseases, I discovered the connection between diet and disease.  Three years after my diagnosis I had reversed my autoimmune illness, was off all my medication, and had almost undetectable antibodies.  I had a new vision for the way I wanted to practice medicine.  I returned to The University of Texas at Austin and completed my Doctorate in Nursing Practice focusing on Lifestyle medicine.

Dr. Rob McNab is a practicing Internist in Joplin, MO. He is double-boarded in Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. He has a passion for medical education and Lifestyle Medicine interventions. Dr. McNab is a 2002 graduate of the Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience. He holds fellowships from both the ACOI and the ACP. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine.
 
Dr. McNab created McNab Wellness – a Foundational Care clinic in 2022.  With a firmly held belief that healthy lifestyles are the foundations of good health, this practice collaborates with clients to optimize their health habits to attain their maximal health span and lifespan!