Laurie Marbas MD, MBA , founder of Plant Based TeleHealth, is a double board-certified family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician, who has been utilizing food as medicine since 2012. Previously, she created a new medical model combining the power of nutrient-dense foods and intensive clinical psychological therapy to treat not only food addiction but also chronic disease. As the Managing Editor for the Plantrician Project’s International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention, she works closely with the journal’s Editor in Chief, Dr. Kim Williams. The journal is focused on bringing plant-based research to the forefront of modern medicine and to the general public. She is also co-founder of Healthy Human Revolution, whose mission is to provide resources that will empower individuals with the knowledge, tools, and mindset to successfully adopt and sustain a whole food, plant-based (WFPB) diet.

In Colorado, when Laurie convinced a large hospital to create a lifestyle medicine program centered around a WFPB diet, the program showed resounding success. At another hospital, she conducted a one-month study of 26 employees on a WFPB diet. All employees were fed from the hospital’s kitchen, and each individual experienced improved health. She has spoken at the Golden VegFest in Colorado, the International Plant-based Nutrition Healthcare Conference, and other venues teaching about the value of the WFPB diet. As a United States Air Force veteran, she served in the Middle East and South America. She is also a wife, mom of three grown children, host of the Healthy Human Revolution podcast, author, speaker, and avid runner.

Dr. Evelisse Capó earned a Magna Cum Laude Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, and Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, and has resided in southwest Florida since 2005. She practices as a health and nutrition educator, lifestyle coach and plant-based cooking instructor, including via “Plants over Pills” workshops through her consulting practice, The Food Pharmacy. She also teaches in PCRM’s Food for Life Program, facilitates CHIP (Complete Health Improvement Program), and is an instructor and the Spanish Outreach Coordinator for T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, covering through these courses many topics involving cancer, diabetes, weight loss and nutrition.

While practicing clinical pharmacy, Dr. Capó witnessed the pain and suffering of many cancer and heart disease patients in hospitals and long-term care institutions. After losing friends and relatives to these devastating diseases, she started to question the effectiveness of the conventional approaches to treating chronic conditions. She switched from eating the standard Puerto Rican diet to a diet rich in plant foods, and discovered a new passion for cooking healthy meals. As she observed the links between health and nutrition in her own family, she decided to practice lifestyle medicine and help educate her community about the benefits of a plant-based diet.

Amy De La Garza MD is a family practice physician who has dedicated a large part of her training and professional practice to the care of patients with substance use disorder. She opened the first community-based, co-located primary care and behavioral health practice in Salt Lake City. Her clinic serves patients who have a primary behavioral health diagnosis, including substance use disorder, with the belief that patients with these diagnoses deserve an integrated approach, including primary care, individual and group therapies, lifestyle education and support including nutrition, exercise, and sleep practices, and complementary therapies (acupuncture, physical therapy, and mindfulness). Dr. DLG believe strongly in the application of integrative and functional modalities to the treatment of behavioral health and substance use disorders. In order to expand her knowledge of these treatments, she plans to complete her training and receive certification in Functional Medicine by the Institute of Functional Medicine. Dr. De La Garza is currently an Addiction Medicine Fellow at the University of Utah. She spends 50% of her clinical time at the University treating patients and engaging with addiction medicine colleagues and plans to graduate in 2021.

Thomas Rosenberg MD grew up in Northern Utah. He attended the University of Utah Medical School. His orthopedic training occurred at the Universities of Utah and of Wisconsin in 1973 to 1978. Rosenberg co-founded the Fitness Institute at LDS Hospital in 1980, The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) in Salt Lake City in 1991, the RCM Clinic in Park City, Utah (with Dr. Vernon Cooley) in 1998, and the non-profit nutrient supplementation company, Nutriex in 1999.

Viewed as an innovator, Dr. Rosenberg invented new arthroscopic menisci repair techniques and developed new tools and methods for ACL reconstruction. Specifically, he is best known for the endo-button and quadrupled semi-tendonosis reconstruction (single and double tunnel methods) techniques for ACL reconstruction. He has developed widely utilized tools for chondroplasty of the knee, including the Full-radius Resector, curved chondroplasty devices, and micro-fracture instruments. He has designed bony-integration patellar implants and techniques for athletic knee replacements. His x-ray method, the 45° flexion P-A weight-bearing view (Rosenberg View), is widely used internationally. Dr. Rosenberg retired from practice in October, 2018.

Patrick Olson MD is an orthopedic surgeon at the Rosenberg-Cooley-Metcalf clinic in Park City, Utah. He obtained a Master’s in Public Health and Doctor of Medicine degrees at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Patrick completed his orthopedic residency in at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire and a Master’s in Healthcare Leadership at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. While in New York completing a subspecialty Fellowship in elbow, wrist, hand, and microsurgery at Columbia University Medical Center, he came across research on the benefits of a whole foods plant-based diet and quickly made the transition to a plant-based lifestyle. He has completed his certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University.

Eve Cohen is a lifelong vegetable lover and home cook. She is the CEO and co-founder of Marcellus Foods, the world's first fresh prep grocer that finally makes cooking and eating at home faster, easier, more equitable and incredibly delicious. Marcellus takes care of 85% of the time and effort of cooking from scratch by selling prepped ingredients that are one step away from becoming great meals. Their convenient buy online, pickup in store model, combined with digital tools and meal ideas in our mobile app, make it easy for everyone to eat well at home.

From the SL Trib: "Cohen has spent her career in food — working on digital platforms to help people buy and cook food at home. Eventually, she said, she realized that “cooking is this mixture of an abundance of time, energy, equipment and experience, right? If you don’t have all four of those things, it’s really challenging.”

Jeanette Padilla Vega is the founder and executive director of the Food Justice Coalitionreating food security and equitable food access through nutrient-dense plant-based shared meals. Jeanette is an experienced community builder and solutionist with a focus on multiculturally diverse communities experiencing food and housing insecurity. Utilizing a holistic and trauma-informed approach, Jeanette guides nonprofit, for-profit, and government-run entities in developing more effective and culturally appropriate programs. Structuring dialogue and planning efforts are optimized through her inclusive and collaborative methods of engagement. Jeanette is a trusted advisor and activator dedicated to creating more just and sustainable communities in which all individuals can thrive.

Sara Patterson is a farmer, chef, advocate, public speaker, dreamer, doer, and founder/owner of Red Acre Farm grew up in the San Fernando Valley and was infatuated with the family garden, the few chicks they had, and anything to do with being outside. Moving to rural Southern Utah at the age of 10 would change her life forever. She started collecting livestock and growing and selling produce. She officially started Red Acre Farm, a CSA with 4 shareholders at 14, and founded Red Acre Center with my Mom at the age of 20. "Here we are today and I embrace farming, cooking, advocating for the local food movement, sharing my journey, and building community with more passion than ever. "

Accreditation: ACCREDITATION: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the University of Utah and Plant Based Utah. The University of Utah is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Speaker and Planning Committee Disclosure Summary: The University of Utah School of Medicine Continuing Medical Education Office (UUCME) meets ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence expectations regarding the identification and mitigation of relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined ineligible companies. Everyone in control of content, including all speakers and planners, must disclose financial relationships in any amount within the past 24 months and any relevant financial relationships must be mitigated prior to the activity start.

Disclosure: None of the speakers or planners or anyone in control of content for this accredited continuing educational activity have any relevant financial relationships since the content does not relate to any products or services of an ACCME-defined ineligible company; therefore, there are no relevant financial relationships to disclose or mitigate.

AMA Credit: The University of Utah School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of ___10.75___ AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

All attendees are encouraged to use the CME system to claim their attendance. Physicians will be awarded AMA PRA Category 1 credits TM; all other professions will be awarded attendance at a CME event credit that they may use for their re-credentialing purposes. Nurses seeking contact hours must claim through the CME system. All users will be able to print or save certificates. For questions regarding the CME system, please contact the UUCME Office. For questions regarding re-credentialing process or requirements, please contact your re-credentialing organization.

Nondiscrimination and Disability Accommodation Statement: The University of Utah does not exclude, deny benefits to or otherwise discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran’s status, religion, gender identity/expression, genetic information, or sexual orientation in admission to or participation in its programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request, with reasonable notice. Requests for accommodations or inquiries or complaints about University nondiscrimination and disability/access policies may be directed to the Director, OEO/AA, Title IX/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 201 S President’s Circle, RM 135, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, 801-581-8365 (Voice/TTY), 801-585-5746 (Fax).

PBU 2023 Survey