***We're proud to offer discounted tickets for students, Steering Committee members, and those working in the non-profit sector. Reach out to us at bnmchealthandwellbeing@bnmc.org to unlock this offer.**
Our 6th Annual Food As Medicine Symposium, Strategies for a Unified Approach to Lifestyle Medicine, will take place on October 15 & 16, 2026.
We are looking forward to gathering together again to share the latest insights and best practices in the Food as Medicine and Lifestyle medicine spaces.
Below is a preview of what’s in store for this year. We will update this page as our 2026 agenda is confirmed.
Priority Topics for Strategies for a Unified Approach to Lifestyle Medicine:
- Integrative, complementary, and functional approaches to medicine and health (Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal medicine, Ayurveda)
- Gut health, the microbiome, gut barrier function, and clinical application
- Autoimmune conditions and nutrition-based anti-inflammatory approaches
- Medical education, clinician mental health, and burnout prevention
- Women’s health, including PCOS, endometriosis, gynecology, and reproductive endocrinology
- Environmental sustainability, agriculture, soil health, and nutrition
- Policy and systems innovation, including CMS 1115 waivers and implementation and evaluation of federal government-led health and nutrition initiatives
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 at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC).
The University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CERTIFICATION
The University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences designates this live activity for a maximum of 10.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The 2026 Agenda Preview
Day 1 – October 15
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* This session is Accredited for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) 8-9 am – Fueling Connection: Light Refreshments & Clinical Networking *9:15-10:15am Keynote: From ROI to Return on Whole Health: Why the Care Model is the Treatment. Kristi Artz, MD FACLM, CCMS 10:45-12 pm Panel Discussion: Partnerships for Implementing a Novel Pediatric Food Prescription Program 12-1 pm Lunch & Strategic Networking 1-2 pm Innovation in Action: Vendor Fair & Research Poster Presentations *2-3:30 pm Panel Discussion: Beyond Conventional Care: Integrative & Functional Medicine Approaches That Deliver Results. *3:30-4:45 pm Panel Discussion: The Root Cause Playbook: Gut Health, Autoimmunity, and Inflammation Through Nutrition & Lifestyle. 5:30-7:30 pm Evening Reception: Building the Future of Food as Medicine. |
2 – 4 pm Concurrent Sessions Sign-up for individual concurrent sessions is not required.2-2:30 pm The Role of Stress Physiology in Gut Health and Autoimmune Disease. Sarah Seweryniak. 2:30-3 pm The Metabolic Topology of Disease: A Computational Biology Approach to the Gut-Liver-Brain Axis. Vivek Nandur 3-3:15 pm Questions and Answers 3:30-3:50 pm Know Thy Medicine: A Plant Level Perspective on FIM. Lindsay Springer 3:50-4:10 pm Tops Feature Presentation: Plant-Based Living, John Persons, CEO, Tops Markets 4:10-4:30 pm Questions and Answers
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Day 2 – October 16
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* This session is Accredited for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) 8 – 8:30 am Light Refreshments and Peer Networking. *8:30-9:30 am Keynote: Delivery of Equitable Lifestyle Medicine to Support Whole Health in Underrepresented Communities. Dr. Alex Ford. *9:45am-10:45am Policy, Payment, and Delivery of Equitable Lifestyle Medicine to Support Whole Health in Underrepresented Communities. *10:45 am- 12 pm Panel Discussion: Healing the Healers: Medical Education, Burnout Prevention, and Building a Resilient Workforce 12-1 pm LUNCH and NETWORKING 1-1:45 pm Vendor Fair and Poster Presentations. *1:45-2:45 pm Panel Discussion: Lifestyle Strategies for Women’s Health. *3-4:30 pm Panel Discussion: From Soil to System: Agriculture, Soil Sustainability, and the Future of Human Health. *4:30-5 pm Closing Session: From Insight to Action, What’s Next for Lifestyle Medicine. |
2 – 4:30pm Concurrent Sessions Sign-up for individual concurrent sessions is not required. Participants can choose which sessions they would like to attend2-3:00 pm Supporting Our Community: Home-Delivered Meals as Food as Medicine 3 – 3:30 pm Dining with Dinosaurs. Jared Byer, ACSM, NASM, ISSA, NETA 3:30-4:00 pm Beyond the Cycle: Periods, Problems, and Preconceived Notions, Reframing Menstrual Health as Preventive Care. Shara Armpreater 4-4:15 pm Questions and Answers |
