
About the Event
The Food is Medicine in Oncology Care Symposium was hosted by the NutriCare Research Team, with support from the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation at Harvard Law School, American Cancer Society, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy at Tufts University. This one-day symposium aimed to bring together researchers, healthcare providers, patient advocates, and community leaders to discuss the crucial role of Food is Medicine in oncology care. This event was held in Washington, DC and virtually via livestream on December 5th, 2024.
This timely symposium featured keynote addresses from Dr. Andrew Bremer, Director of the NIH Office of Nutrition Research (ONR), Dr. Chris Economos, Dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and an agenda that showcased the role of nutrition in cancer care in four panels: Panel 1 featured patients and caregivers sharing experiences with nutrition during cancer treatment and survivorship; Panel 2 involved researchers discussing the evidence, priorities, and gaps in nutrition and cancer outcomes and equity in cancer care; Panel 3 explored options to deliver food is medicine programs to cancer patients and survivors; Panel 4 addressed federal and state programs and initiatives promoting equitable access to nutrition-focused cancer care.
Symposium Resources
Speakers

Rahela Aziz-Bose
Attending Physician, Boston Children’s Hospital

Andrew Bremer
Director, NIH Office of Nutrition Research

Joya Chandra
Professor, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Priya Chatterjee
Health Insurance Specialist, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Deirdra Chester
Director, Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS/OSEC), United States Department of Agriculture

Sue Daugherty
CEO, MANNA

Christina Economos
Dean, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University

Rachel Fisher
Senior Advisor, President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Francesca Gany
Internist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Katie Garfield
Director, Whole Person Care, Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, Harvard Law School

Nicholas J. Jury
Director of Legislative Affairs and Policy, NIH Office of Nutrition Research

Rhone Levin
Oncology Dietitian, Florida Cancer Specialist and Research Institute

Laura Makaroff
Senior Vice President of Prevention and Early Detection, American Cancer Society

Dariush Mozaffarian
Director, Food is Medicine Institute

Dawn Mussallem
Medical Director Humanities in Medicine and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center

Catherine Oakar
Special Assistant to the President for Public Health and Disparities, The White House

Colleen Spees
Professor, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Kristen Sullivan
Director, Cancer Wellness, American Cancer Society

Elaine Trujillo
Program Analyst, National Cancer Institute

Roselyn Tso
Director, Indian Health Service

Alissa Wassung
Executive Director, Food is Medicine Coalition

Robin Yabroff
Scientific Vice President, American Cancer Society

Fang Fang Zhang
The Neely Family Professor, Food is Medicine Institute, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University