Philanthropic Organizations
FIMCON is made possible with the generous support of the Dohmen Company Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, RF Catalytic Capital, Inc. with support from Builders Vision & The Rockefeller Foundation, and Walmart. This support makes the conference possible and enables a scholarship and stipend strategy that deepens the inclusion of community voices.
A Groundbreaking Convening
800+ attendees
Including healthcare professionals, FIM practitioners and program participants, researchers, policymakers, community leaders, and funders.
2 full days
Of programming at the Grand Hyatt Washington in the heart of the nation's capital.
5 leading organizations
Bringing their collective reach and expertise to create a new unified, large-scale convening of the entire Food is Medicine field.
A critical moment
To channel expanding policy opportunities, growing investments, strengthening scientific validation, and rising public awareness into lasting change.
Conference Registration
The moment
Food is Medicine has reached a critical juncture.
Policy opportunities are expanding, investments are growing, and scientific validation is strengthening. The time is ripe for a central convening with the scale and cross-sector reach to channel this momentum into lasting change.
The response
FIMCON is the launchpad for the next era.
Where fragmented efforts become a coordinated force. Where emerging practitioners find mentorship and community. Where policymakers hear from those doing the work. Where funders see the full scope of what's possible.
Conference Registration
General Admission (Non-Profit / Academia / Government) tickets are currently sold out. We are operating off a waitlist — our team monitors it daily. If a spot opens, we will reach out directly.
The "Invited Guest" and "Friends of FIMCON" ticket types are not available for public purchase and are limited to individuals with prior communication from the FIMCON Steering Committee. See the FAQs for details.
This Moment Matters.
Food is Medicine has reached a critical juncture. Policy opportunities are expanding. Federal and state investments are growing. Scientific validation is strengthening. Public awareness is rising. The time is ripe for a central convening with the scale, strategic location, and cross-sector reach needed to channel this momentum into lasting change.
FIMCON Meets This Need.
FIMCON is the launchpad for the next era of Food is Medicine, where fragmented efforts become a coordinated force, where emerging practitioners find mentorship and community, where policymakers hear directly from those doing the work, and where funders see the full scope of what's possible.
Registration
Space is limited, and available tickets will sell out quickly! Be sure to register today!
General Admission: Non-Profit/Academia/Government
We are currently sold out of General Admission: Non-Profit/Academia/Government tickets and are operating off a waitlist. Our team monitors the list daily and we anticipate being able to offer some individuals on the waitlist the opportunity to purchase a ticket around mid-April. If a spot becomes available, we will reach out to you directly.
Please note: The "Invited Guest" and "Friends of FIMCON" tickets are not available for public purchase.These registration types are limited to individuals who have received prior communication from the FIMCON Steering Committee. For more information about these ticket categories, please see the “FAQs” page.
Conference Agenda
FIMCON 2026 will be two full days of plenaries, breakouts, and structured networking, curated by the FIMCON Steering Committee to reflect the priorities of the Food is Medicine field and the full ecosystem supporting this work.
Confirmed Speakers
Edil 'Junior' Lebron
Chef, Cambridge Health Alliance / Boston City Cruises
Dorella Walters, MPA
Chief Program Development Officer, God's Love We Deliver
Lindsay Hanson
Chief Marketing Officer & Head of Health & Wellness Solutions, John Hancock
Steve Brazeel
Founder & CEO, Project FoodBox
Rajiv Shah, MD
President, The Rockefeller Foundation
Arif Kamal, MD
Chief Patient Officer, American Cancer Society
Michelle Howell
Farmer, Writer, & Community Organizer, Need More Acres Farm
Emily Broad Leib, JD
Clinical Professor of Law & Director, Center for Health Law & Policy Innovation, Harvard Law School
Jaclyn Albin, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, & Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Danielle Parker
Vice President & Chief Mover, Dion’s Chicago Dream
Michel Nischan
Chef, Author, & Food Equity Advocate, Co-Founder & Chairman, Wholesome Wave
Karen Pearl
Former President & CEO, God's Love We Deliver
Tom Crohan
Vice President & Counsel, U.S. Law & Government Relations, John Hancock
Katelyn Mulkey
Helena Bottemiller Evich
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Food Fix
Senbagam Virudachalam, MD
General Pediatrician; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Mehmet Oz, MD
Administrator, Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services
Andrea Caracostis, MD, MPH
CEO, HOPE Clinic
Alissa Wassung
Executive Director, Food is Medicine Coalition
Megan Bowman, RDN
National Nutrition Food Security Program Coordinator, Office of Food Security, Veterans Heath Affairs
Gary Besaw
Director, Menominee Tribal Department of Agriculture & Food Systems
Robin McKinnon, PhD, MPA
Acting Director, Nutrition Center of Excellence, Human Foods Program, U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Department of Health & Human Services
Colleen Briggs
Vice President of Corporate Responsibility & President, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
Shakirah Aamir
Community Council Member, Food is Medicine Institute, Tufts University
Dana Feldman
Executive Director of the Office of Consumer & Environmental Protection, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Emily Callahan, MPH, RDN
Director of Policy Strategy, Food is Medicine Institute, Tufts University
Nira Goren, MD
Head of AI for Societal Health & Food is Medicine, Google
Henry Crews
Executive Director, Green Rural Redevelopment Organization
Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay
Lieutenant Governor, State of Delaware
Brian Hillmer
Chief Culinary Officer, Community Servings
Kurt Hager, PhD
Assistant Professor, UMass Chan Medical School
Becky Sheppard
Chairperson, Health Equity Committee,, American Academy of Actuaries
Haleta Belai
Vice President, Enterprise Drivers of Health, Centene Corporation
Jayanta 'Jay' Bhattacharya, MD, PhD
Director; Acting Director, National Institutes of Health; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Steven Chen, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Recipe4Health - Alameda County
Katie Garfield, JD
Clinical Instructor & Director, Whole Person Care,, Center for Health Law & Policy Innovation, Harvard Law School
Christina Economos, PhD
Dean and Professor, The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Chellie Pingree
Member of Congress (D-ME-01), US House of Representatives
Jason Langheier, MD, MPH
Founder, Board Director, & Chief Science Officer, Foodsmart
Merry Davis
Director, Health Through Food, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
Kristin Heltman-Weiss
Executive Director, Providence Farm Collective
Erin Martin
Founder & CEO, FreshRx Oklahoma
Betsy Skoda
Associate Director, Food Supply Chain, Health Care Without Harm
Michele Arthurs, MD
Regional Medical Director for Lifestyle & Obesity Medicine, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group
Tom McDougall
Founder & CEO, 4P Foods
Dion Dawson
Chief Dreamer & President, Dion's Chicago Dream
Alisha Reed, PharmD, MBA
Pharmacist, Participant of American Heart Association Health Care by Food™ Lived Experience Group
Kofi Essel, MD
Food as Medicine Director, Elevance Health
Cathryn Couch
Founder & CEO, Ceres Community Project
Sam Hoeffler
Coalition Director, National Produce Prescription Collaborative
Sarah Downer, JD
Health Insurance Specialist, State & Population Health Group, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation
Rachel Fisher
Senior Advisor, Office of Disease Prevention & Health Promotion, Department of Health & Human Services
Lloyd Smucker
Member of Congress (R-PA-11), U.S House of Representatives
Alicia Higa
Chief Health Equity Officer; Executive Director, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center; 'Elepaio Social Services
Jorie Butler, PhD
Associate Professor, University of Utah School of Medicine
Hollie Harris
President & CEO, Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Ameya Kulkarni, MD
Executive Medical Director, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group
Colin Schwartz
Senior Advocacy Advisor, Health Care by Food™, American Heart Association
Caroline Dotson
Health Behavior Coordinator, Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks
Peter Skillern
Chief Executive Officer, Reinvestment Partners
Nicholas Jury, PhD
Strategic Scientific Advisor, Office of Nutrition Research, National Institutes of Health
Erin McDonald, PhD, MPP
Senior Director, Food Is Medicine Initiative, Arizona State University
Elizabeth Kromm, PhD
Assistant Secretary, Population Health & Strategic Initiatives, Maryland Department of Health
Devon Klatell
Vice President of Food & Lead of Food is Medicine, The Rockefeller Foundation
Michael de la Guardia
Senior Policy Director, The Health Initiative
Lauren Ramos
Deputy Associate Administrator, Maternal & Child Health Bureau, Health Resources & Services Administration
Josh Trautwein
Co-Founder & CEO, About Fresh
Jenefer Jedele, PhD
Health Economist, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Connie Berryhill
P4 & Food Is Medicine Director, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health
Anand Shah, MD, MPH
Senior Vice President of Community & Social Health , Kaiser Permanente
Kim Prendergast, RDN
Vice President, Policy & Strategy, Community Care Cooperative
Rachel Roller
President & CEO, Dohmen Company Foundation
Cait Lamberton, PhD, MBA
Vice Dean of Undergraduate Division & Alberto Duran Professor, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Melanie Bush, MPAff
Deputy Secretary of Medicaid, North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services
Leah Hebert Welles
Chief Executive Officer, Open Arms of Minnesota
Roger Marshall, MD
Senator (R-KS), United States Senate
Sonya Shin, MD, MPH
Associate Physician, Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham & Women's Hospital
Benjamin Martin, JD
Senior Director, Programs & Strategy, Project Angel Food
Rishi Manchanda, MD, MPH
CEO, HealthBegins, LLC
Michelle Jester
Senior Director, Social Determinant of Health Strategy & Product Development, Highmark Health
Sarah Mastrorocco
Vice President & General Manager of Health, Instacart
Julian Xie, MD
Director, Medicaid & Food Security, Share Our Strength
Anuraag Chigurupati
Chief Operating Officer of Devoted Medical, Devoted Health
Stephen Massey
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Health Action Alliance
James Rota
Participant, Living Hungry's Produce Prescription Program
Lisa Goldman Rosas, PhD
Professor, School of Medicine, Stanford University
Alison Gustafson, PhD
Director, Food as Health Program, University of Kentucky
Jim McGovern
Member of Congress (D-MA-02), United States House of Representatives
Anabel Ruiz, MD
Associate Medical Director, La Clinica de la Raza
Grant Leslie
Operating Partner, Government & Policy, S2G Investments
James Wannares
Regional Administrative Leader, Quality & Systems of Care, Kaiser Permanente
Pamela Schwartz, MPH
Executive Director, Community Health, Kaiser Permanente
Kyu Rhee, MD
President & CEO, National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)
Amanda Flaum
Vice President of Community & Social Health Programs, Kaiser Permanente
Noosheen Hashemi
CEO & Co-Founder, January AI
Erika Hanson, JD
Clinical Instructor, Center for Health Law & Policy Innovation, Harvard Law School
Roseline Ifidon
Participant & Client Advocate, Moveable Feast
Bechara Choucair, MD
Executive Vice President & Chief Health Officer, Kaiser Permanente
Marti Macchi, DrPH
President & CEO, Project Angel Heart
Cecilia Gerard
Managing Director, Food is Medicine Institute, Tufts University
Phalba Adams
Participant, American Heart Association Health Care by Food™ Lived Experience Group
Lauren Driscoll
Founder & CEO, NourishedRx
Christina Rodriguez
Founder & Publisher, Pull
David Kim, PhD
Associate Professor, University of Chicago
Donna Lawson
Client & Advocate, Food and Friends, Washington, DC
Lisa Sanders
National Executive Director, Health Care by Food™, American Heart Association
Cate Hensley
Manager of Policy & Projects, Food is Medicine Coalition
Emily Kain, MPH
Senior Program Manager, Food is Medicine, MaineHealth
Seth Berkowitz, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Vice Chief for Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Erika Tribett, MPH
Director, Program Strategy & Design, Project Open Hand
Corby Kummer
Executive Director, Food & Society, Aspen Institute
Danielle Nierenberg
President, Food Tank
Shelby Reed, PhD
Professor, School of Medicine, Duke University
Holly Freishtat
Senior Director, Milken Institute
Stacey Chang
Principal, New Origin Studio
Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD
Director; Scientific Director, Center for Health Incentives & Behavioral Economics; Health Care by Food™, American Heart Association
Joshua Faller
Co-Executive Director, Just Roots
Matt Pieper
Chief Executive Officer, Open Hand Atlanta
Nicole Blackstone, PhD
Associate Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University
Heather Latino, JD
Clinical Instructor, Food Law & Policy Clinic, Center for Health Law & Policy Innovation, Harvard Law School
Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH
Director, Food is Medicine Institute, Tufts University
Aidan Dewar
Co-Founder & CEO, Nourish
Hilary Seligman, MD
Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco
Your Complimentary Stay
Hotel Accommodations + Travel Details
You're our guest! We're treating all attendees to complimentary nights at one of two area hotels. Complimentary rooms are available for specific nights.
If additional nights are needed, please indicate in your registration form and our staff will reach out. Hotel parking is included for those with personal vehicles.
Reservation must be submitted by the specified date to ensure you receive complimentary accommodation. Upon registration, you will receive your accommodation details.
Throughout your stay, food, drink, activities, event transportation, and any event materials will also be provided at no cost to you.
Confirmed Speakers
Hilary Seligman, MD
Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco
Aidan Dewar
Co-Founder & CEO, Nourish
Dariush Mozaffarian
Director, Food is Medicine Insititute
Edil Lebron
Cook, Community Servings
Heather Latino
Clinical Instructor, Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic
Nicole Blackstone
Associate Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University
Matt Pieper
Chief Executive Officer, Open Hand Atlanta
Joshua Faller
Co-Executive Director, Just Roots
Kevin Volpp
Scientific Director, AHA Health Care by Food; Director, Penn Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, AHA and University of Pennsylvania
Stacey Chang
Principal, New Origin Studio
Holly Freishtat
Senior Director, Milken Institute
Shelby Reed
Professor, Duke University
Danielle Nierenberg
President, Danielle Nierenberg
Corby Kummer
Executive Director, Food & Society at the Aspen Institute
Erika Tribett
Director, Program Strategy & Design, Project Open Hand
Seth Berkowitz
Associate Professor of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Emily Kain
Senior Program Manager, Food is Medicine, MaineHealth
Lisa Sanders
National Executive Director, Health Care by Food, American Heart Association
Donna Lawson
Client & Advocate, Food & Friends , Washington, DC
David Kim
Associate Professor, University of Chicago
Lauren Driscoll
Founder & CEO, NourishedRx
Kaski Suzuki
Strategic Operations Manager, Medical Assistance Division, New Mexico Health Care Authority
Phalba Adams
CEO, Embrace Ahead
Cecilia Gerard
Managing Director, Food is Medicine Institute
Marti Macchi
President & CEO, Project Angel Heart
Bechara Choucair
Executive Vice President & Chief Health Officer, Kaiser Permanente
Roseline Ifidon
Participant & Client Advocate, Moveable Feast
Noosheen Hashemi
CEO and Co-Founder, January AI
Christina "Chrissy" Kupferschmidt
Physical Health Programs and Policy Manager, New Mexico Healthcare Authority (Medicaid)
Amanda Flaum
Vice President CA & HI Medicaid, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan
Kyu Rhee
President & CEO, National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)
Pam Schwartz
Executive Director, Community Health, Kaiser Permanente
James Wannares
Regional Administrative Leader, Kaiser Permanente
Grant Leslie
Operating Partner, S2G Investments
Anabel Ruiz
Associate Medical Director, La Clinica de la Raza
Jim McGovern
Congressman, United States House of Representatives
Alison Gustafson
Director Food as Health Program, University of Kentucky
Lisa Goldman Rosas
Professor, Stanford University, School of Medicine
James Rota
Patient, James Rota
Stephen Massey
Co-Founder and CEO, Health Action Alliance
Arif Kamal
Chief Patient Officer, American Cancer Society
Kyle Diamantas
Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Anuraag Chigurupati
COO, Devoted Medical, Devoted Health
Julian Xie
Director, Medicaid and Food Security, Share Our Strength
Sarah Mastrorocco
Vice President and General Manager of Health, Instacart, Instacart
Michelle Jester
Senior Director of Social Determinant of Health Strategy and Program Development, Highmark Health
Rishi Manchanda
CEO, HealthBegins, LLC
Benjamin Martin
Senior Director, Programs & Strategy, Project Angel Food
Shantanu Agrawal
Chief Health Officer, Elevance Health
Sonya Shin
Associate Physician, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Roger Marshall
U.S. Senator for Kansas, Senator Roger Marshall
Leah Hebert
Chief Executive Officer, Open Arms of Minnesota
Melanie Bush
Interim Deputy Secretary, NC Medicaid, NCDHHS - Division of Health Benefits / NC Medicaid
Cait Lamberton
Vice-Dean and Director, Undergraduate Division, University of Pennsylvania
Rachel Roller
President and CEO, Dohmen Company Foundation
Kim Prendergast
VP, Policy & Strategy, Community Care Cooperative
Anand Shah
Senior Vice President, Kaiser Permanente
Connie Berryhill
Food Is Medicine Director, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health
Jenefer Jedele
Health Economist, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Josh Trautwein
Josh Trautwein, About Fresh
Lauren Ramos
Acting Deputy Associate Administrator, Maternal and Child Health Bureau
Michael de la Guardia
Senior Policy Director, The Health Initiative
Devon Klatell
Vice President, Food & Lead, Food is Medicine, The Rockefeller Foundation
Elizabeth Kromm
Assistant Secretary, Maryland Department of Health
Erin McDonald
Senior Director, ASU Food Is Medicine Initiative, Arizona State University
Nicholas Jury
Strategic Scientific Advisor, National Institutes of Health
Andrew Bremer
Director, Office of Nutrition Research, National Institutes of Health
Peter Skillern
Chief Executive Officer, Reinvestment Partners
Caroline Dotson
Health Behavior Coordinator, Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks
VANESSA GEORGES
Advocate, Community Servings
Colin Schwartz
Senior Advocacy Advisor, Health Care by Food™, American Heart Association
Ameya Kulkarni
Executive Medical Director, Permanente Medicine Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group
Hollie Harris
President/ CEO, Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Alexander Vonderschmidt
Postdoctoral Researcher, Food is Medicine Institute, Tufts University
Agenda at a Glance
The FIMCON steeering committee is thoughtfully curating this year's agenda and will not be accepting bids to present.
05/31/2026 04:30 PM
Registration Desk Open
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
06/01/2026 08:00 AM
Registration Desk Open
06/01/2026 08:00 AM
Exhibit Hall Open
06/02/2026 08:00 AM
Exhibit Hall Open
06/02/2026 08:00 AM
Registration Desk Open
06/01/2026 08:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
06/02/2026 12:15 PM
Closed Door: Farm to FIM Working Lunch
This closed-door, interactive lunch is the opening session of the convening workshops on values-aligned purchasing for Food is Medicine, setting the stage for action-oriented discussions by fostering connections across sectors, exploring shared goals, and framing key challenges and opportunities shaping this work.
06/02/2026 02:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Michel Nischan
Chef, Author, & Food Equity Advocate, Co-Founder & Chairman, Wholesome Wave
Michel Nischan
Chef, Author, & Food Equity Advocate, Co-Founder & Chairman, Wholesome Wave
Chef Michel Nischan is a four-time James Beard Award-winning chef with over 40 years of advocating for a sustainable, healthful food system. A lifelong Ashoka Fellow, he co-founded Wholesome Wave, a nonprofit focused on ending food and nutrition insecurity, and founded Wholesome Crave, a food company that supports the groundbreaking work of Wholesome Wave. Chef Michel has authored three cookbooks, owned Dressing Room Restaurant with the late actor Paul Newman, and is the co-founder of the James Beard Chefs Boot Camps for Policy and Change. Most recently, he received the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition’s 2024 Lifetime Impact Award in recognition of his extraordinary career and relentless commitment to improving food equity and nutrition across the U.S. Most recently, Michel launched the OneKitchen program, leveraging his deep experience and knowledge to provide training and mentorship along with an ongoing network of support for chefs who wish to make positive food systems change in the communities they call home.
Karen Pearl
Former President & CEO, God's Love We Deliver
Karen Pearl
Former President & CEO, God's Love We Deliver
Karen Pearl has worked with God’s Love We Deliver for 20 years, first as President & CEO from 2006–2022, then as a Special Advisor (2023-2025) and now as a consultant. God’s Love addresses nutrition insecurity and illness by providing medically tailored meals and medical nutrition therapy to people living with severe illness, largely in the NYC metro area as well as in communities in New York State and New Jersey. Karen also served as the founding Chair of the Food Is Medicine Coalition, a national association of nonprofit, medically tailored food and nutrition services providers advocating for the integration of medically tailored meal services into healthcare for the critically and/or chronically ill.Under Karen’s leadership, God’s Love was the winner of a New York Times Nonprofit Excellence award in 2010, and a winner of the New York State Department of Health Social Determinants of Health Innovation Award in 2018. During COVID-19, God’s Love was recognized as an Essential Services Provider, never missing a delivery. Karen received a City/State Women’s Leadership Award and was named one of Crain’s Notable Women in Health Care.Karen served on the Public Policy Committee of AIDS United and as an advisor for the Women in Leadership Certificate Program at Mercy University. For 10 years, Karen served on the Board of Directors of the Nonprofit New York and is currently on the Board of ACT. She has published articles and guides, and is a regular presenter at national conferences and symposia.Karen was previously Interim President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Nassau County. Karen holds a B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University and an M.A. in Counseling from New York University.
06/01/2026 12:30 PM
Advancing Food is Medicine in Rural Communities
This session will explore the unique challenges–and recent opportunities–for improving access to FIM interventions in rural communities. Panelists will highlight implementation strategies and policy solutions from three states as they strive to use FIM to improve rural health.
Melanie Bush, MPAff
Deputy Secretary of Medicaid, North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services
Melanie Bush, MPAff
Deputy Secretary of Medicaid, North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services
Melanie Bush is Interim Deputy Secretary of Medicaid for the North Carolina Division of Health Benefits (DHB), Department of Health and Human Services – also known as NC Medicaid. In this role, she provides leadership, strategic direction, operational oversight, and managed care supervision for the North Carolina Medicaid program, which serves more than 3 million North Carolinians who cannot afford health care. As Assistant Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, Melanie and her teams led the implementation of managed care transformation, the unwinding of continuous coverage for the COVID-19 public health emergency, and an expansion of Medicaid that extended access to care to more than 700,000 additional North Carolinians. Melanie also serves as a Governor’s appointee to the Board of Trustees for the North Carolina State Health Plan, which provides health care coverage for state and county employees. She is committed to ensuring high-quality health care at the lowest cost possible for the State of North Carolina. Prior to joining NC Medicaid, Melanie was the Medicaid Fiscal Analyst for the Fiscal Research Division of the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA), where she led the Health and Human Services budget team. Her previous roles also include Senior Policy Analyst for Medicaid at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Policy Analyst for the Center for Community Change in Washington, DC. Melanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.
Elizabeth Kromm, PhD
Assistant Secretary, Population Health & Strategic Initiatives, Maryland Department of Health
Elizabeth Kromm, PhD
Assistant Secretary, Population Health & Strategic Initiatives, Maryland Department of Health
Elizabeth Edsall Kromm, Ph.D., M.Sc., is the Assistant Secretary for Population Health and Strategic Initiatives for the Maryland Department of Health. In this role, she serves as the primary advisor to the Secretary on population health improvement strategies and programs. This position incubates and drives high priority initiatives for the Department and works to bridge the gaps that exist in the health continuum between upstream interventions and the clinical delivery system. Previously, she led the Department’s Prevention and Health Promotion Administration, the largest component of public health services with over $600 million in funding, covering impact areas such as chronic disease, maternal and child health, infectious disease prevention and outbreak response and environmental health. Prior to joining the state, she was with the Johns Hopkins Health System as Vice President, Population Health and Advancement for Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center. In that role she led population health, community engagement and strategic planning efforts for the hospital and served as Vice President of Development and Chief Operating Officer for the Howard Hospital Foundation. Dr. Edsall Kromm’s additional work experiences include leadership positions in local government as well as with national non-profits. She served as the policy director for Howard County Government, a senior officer with The Pew Charitable Trusts, a senior adviser and bureau director with the Howard County Health Department and a program manager with the American Cancer Society. Dr. Edsall Kromm earned a doctorate in health policy and management from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she is an adjunct faculty member in the department of Health, Behavior and Society. She holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Emily Kain, MPH
Moderator
Senior Program Manager, Food is Medicine, MaineHealth
Emily Kain, MPH
Senior Program Manager, Food is Medicine, MaineHealth
Emily Kain, MPH, is a leader in Food is Medicine strategy and implementation, bringing nearly two decades of experience advancing equitable access to nutritious food through policy, systems, and community-based solutions. She holds a Master of Public Health in Social & Behavioral Sciences from Boston University, grounding her work in evidence-based approaches that strengthen both patient outcomes and population health.
As Senior Program Manager for Food is Medicine at MaineHealth, Emily partners with clinical teams to implement FIM interventions for patients managing uncontrolled diabetes and heart failure. She has led high-impact initiatives, including launching Maine’s first hospital-based food pantries that now serve more than 5,000 people each month and achieving consistent food insecurity screening across primary care practices.
Emily also leads Maine’s statewide Food is Medicine Coalition and is known for uniting diverse clinical, community, and policy partners to advance solutions that integrate nutritious food into care, improve health outcomes, and strengthen communities across Maine.
06/01/2026 02:00 PM
Closed Door: Food is Medicine State Implementer's Workshop (CHLPI) Part 1
This closed-door workshop provides an opportunity for participants to collectively explore shared learnings, challenges, and best practices in implementing policies to expand access to FIM services at the state level.
06/01/2026 03:45 PM
Closed Door: Food is Medicine State Policy Implementer's Workshop (CHLPI) Part 2
This closed-door workshop provides an opportunity for participants to collectively explore shared learnings, challenges, and best practices in implementing policies to expand access to FIM services at the state level.
06/02/2026 02:15 PM
Closed Door: Food Is Medicine Coalition Part 1
A dedicated, closed-door session for Food Is Medicine Coalition member agency staff, fostering shared learning, collaboration and community around service, research, policy, and best practices shaping MTM and MTG programs.
06/02/2026 02:15 PM
Closed Door: Farm to FIM: Convening on Values-Aligned Purchasing for Food is Medicine Workshop (Part 1)
Through facilitated discussions and collaborative activities, participants will identify and prioritize key barriers and opportunities to advance values-aligned purchasing in Food is Medicine, generating insights and practical solutions informed by diverse perspectives from stakeholders across food and health care systems.
06/02/2026 02:15 PM
Closed Door: National Produce Prescription Collaborative Part 1
This session is for National Produce Prescription Collaborative members. It is an opportunity for us to share and learn from one another as we navigate a changing policy and implementation landscape.
06/02/2026 02:15 PM
Integrating Food is Medicine into Clinical Care to Achieve Better Patient Outcomes
This session will explore how health care organizations are using Food is Medicine programs to improve patient outcomes and support whole-person care. Speakers will share key evidence and real-world lessons from implementation at both state and national levels, with a focus on how these programs align within value-driven care frameworks.
Amanda Flaum
Vice President of Community & Social Health Programs, Kaiser Permanente
Amanda Flaum
Vice President of Community & Social Health Programs, Kaiser Permanente
Amanda Flaum, VP CA & HI Medicaid markets, is a distinguished leader within Kaiser Permanente’s Medicaid line of business, where she oversees strategy, planning, regulatory relationships, and health plan performance across California and Hawaii. Known for her steady leadership and clear strategic vision, Amanda partners closely with regional and national teams to drive operational excellence and improve outcomes for Medicaid members. With more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare sector, Amanda has led large scale organizational transformations, revitalized underperforming operations, and delivered more than $1 billion in enterprise savings and efficiencies. She is widely recognized for her ability to strengthen organizational capabilities, align leaders around shared priorities, and execute with discipline and precision. Amanda has held leadership roles at CenCal Health, Aetna Better Health, Blue Shield of California, and Anthem. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University, Northridge, and completed Harvard Business School’s Women’s Leadership Forum. Beyond her work at Kaiser Permanente, Amanda is deeply committed to advancing community health and equity. She brings her expertise to several nonprofit organizations through board and advisory roles, supporting efforts that improve social care, expand access, and strengthen local communities. Through her role with the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, she actively engages in civic forums that highlight collaboration and resilience within the region’s business community. As a board member of the Partners in Care Foundation, she helps guide the organization that addresses social determinants of health for vulnerable populations, supporting programs that have reached over two million people with critical care coordination and community based services. She is actively engaged with the United Way Ventura County, specifically Women United that supports single mothers on their educational journey. A Southern California native, Amanda lives in the region with her husband, Julian. She is an avid sports fan and brings that same competitive spirit and teamwork mindset to her leadership every day.
Stephen Massey
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Health Action Alliance
Stephen Massey
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Health Action Alliance
Stephen Massey is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Meteorite, a social impact firm that helps health movements scale. Meteorite designs, launches, and manages large-scale coalitions that unite employers, health systems, philanthropies, and community organizations around shared health goals — turning fragmented efforts into coordinated national infrastructure. Stephen co-founded and leads the Health Action Alliance, an 11,000+ employer network representing more than 50 million U.S. workers, which translates public health priorities into workplace action. Through HAA, he also launched U.S. Business Action to End HIV, mobilizing the private sector to help end the epidemic by 2030. He partners with Fortune 1000 companies to build initiatives that reduce barriers to care and address the social drivers of health. Stephen's career spans two decades of coalition leadership at global scale: co-founding an HIV organization in Russia, leading the United Nations' Global Media AIDS Initiative, and serving as a White House Fellow on the National Security Council. He is currently writing Structurally Sound, a book on designing systems for durability and applying organizational design principles to how we build our own lives.
Anuraag Chigurupati
Chief Operating Officer of Devoted Medical, Devoted Health
Anuraag Chigurupati
Chief Operating Officer of Devoted Medical, Devoted Health
Anuraag Chigurupati is Chief Operating Officer at Devoted Medical, the medical group division of Devoted Health, a company focused on dramatically improving the health and well-being of older Americans. Before Devoted, Anuraag started his career at McKinsey & Company and then served in state government as the Policy Director for Cost Trends at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC).
Jenefer Jedele, PhD
Health Economist, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Jenefer Jedele, PhD
Health Economist, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Dr. Jenefer Jedele is a health economist and health services researcher specializing in implementation and evaluation science. As a Health Economist for the Drivers of Health Strategy Team at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Jenefer leads evaluations of pilot programs that test innovative approaches to supporting members experiencing social drivers of health needs. She has expertise in evaluation across a variety of sectors including academia, government, and non-profit; and across a variety of domains including behavioral health, social programs, and public health. Dr. Jedele earned a Master’s degree in Survey Methodology and a PhD in Health Services Research at the University of Michigan.
In her work, she is recognized as a “translator” of complex statistical output into actionable insights and strategies as well as a passionate advocate of data-driven decision-making.
Pamela Schwartz, MPH
Moderator
Executive Director, Community Health, Kaiser Permanente
Pamela Schwartz, MPH
Executive Director, Community Health, Kaiser Permanente
Pamela Schwartz, MPH, is executive director of community health for Kaiser Permanente. She leads a broad portfolio of work addressing social determinants of health in the areas of highest need among Kaiser Permanente members and its communities, including food, housing, mental health workforce development, and financial security. Pam oversees Kaiser Permanente’s $50 million commitment to improve access to healthy food, which includes the Kaiser Permanente Food Is Medicine Center of Excellence created in 2024 to more fully integrate food and nutrition into health care delivery both at Kaiser Permanente and at health systems across the country. A champion for patient- and community-led solutions to social factors shaping people’s health, Pam and her team have created innovative, high-impact initiatives to increase affordable housing and reduce homelessness in dozens of communities and to increase the number of medical respite programs available in communities to help patients experiencing homelessness heal in safe and stable environments.
An experienced leader in health care and community health, Pam has contributed pieces to several academic and health care publications and serves on many advisory committees and expert panels. She is currently on faculty at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in the Department of Health System Science.
Bechara Choucair, MD
Executive Vice President & Chief Health Officer, Kaiser Permanente
Bechara Choucair, MD
Executive Vice President & Chief Health Officer, Kaiser Permanente
Dr. Bechara Choucair, a board-certified family physician, serves as executive vice president and chief health officer for Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest integrated health system with more than 12.5 million members.
In this role, he oversees over $4 billion in annual investments supporting the organization’s community health and social health portfolio, including the creation of the nation’s largest social health network and the organization’s philanthropic giving. This includes support to medical financial assistance and charitable health coverage programs, as well as grants to community health programs throughout the organization’s footprint. Dr. Choucair oversees the organization’s Medicaid line of business covering 1.5 million members, and advances initiatives to increase access to care and improve health outcomes for those enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare. In addition, his accountability includes leading enterprise clinical business development opportunities focusing on care delivery models, technologies, and products. He also leads Kaiser Permanente’s environmental stewardship work, which resulted in the organization becoming carbon neutral in 2020, and he oversees the organization’s goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. From January through November 2021, Dr. Choucair served as the White House national COVID-19 vaccinations coordinator. During his tenure, nearly 500 million doses of the vaccine were administered nationwide.
Hollie Harris
President & CEO, Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Hollie Harris
President & CEO, Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Hollie Harris, MHA serves as President and CEO of Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), the largest healthcare provider and leading employer in southeastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. With more than 20 years of service at ARH, Harris has advanced a bold vision for rural health, strengthening the long-term sustainability of hospitals in medically underserved communities while improving outcomes through innovative, community-centered care. A dedicated champion for health equity, Harris focuses on addressing the social determinants of health that shape life in Central Appalachia, with a particular emphasis on food insecurity and nutrition-related chronic disease. She co-chairs Kentucky’s statewide Food Is Medicine initiative, helping integrate nutrition access into healthcare to prevent and manage conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Under her leadership, ARH has expanded partnerships with food banks, farmers, and community organizations to implement food security screenings, produce prescription programs, and medically tailored food initiatives across its system. Harris’ commitment to “food as medicine” is also deeply personal. After experiencing persistent symptoms traced to a gluten allergy and later navigating an early-detected cancer diagnosis and full recovery, she became even more focused on prevention and whole-person health. That conviction has helped shape ARH’s growing Lifestyle Medicine strategy, including the launch of Kentucky’s first dedicated Lifestyle Medicine service line and the opening of ARH’s first Lifestyle Medicine Clinic in Hazard, Kentucky, with plans to expand across its service region. Harris is also known for building a culture of wellness within ARH, supporting employee wellness initiatives, a subsidized Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program with local farmers, healthy cooking demonstrations, and community-building events that connect people to the food system. She frequently speaks at Food Is Medicine–focused events nationwide, sharing practical lessons from Appalachia and contributing to national conversations on nutrition security and healthcare innovation. Harris is a graduate of the University of Richmond and the Medical College of Virginia. She serves on the boards of the Kentucky Hospital Association, Kentucky Health Collaborative, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, God’s Pantry Food Bank, Sayre School, the Women’s Business Collaborative, and Kentucky’s Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board.
06/02/2026 04:00 PM
Closed Door: National Produce Prescription Collaborative Part 2
This session is for National Produce Prescription Collaborative members. It is an opportunity for us to share and learn from one another as we navigate a changing policy and implementation landscape.
06/02/2026 04:00 PM
Closed Door: Food Is Medicine Coalition Part 2
A dedicated, closed-door session for Food Is Medicine Coalition member agency staff, fostering shared learning, collaboration and community around service, research, policy, and best practices shaping MTM and MTG programs.
06/02/2026 04:00 PM
Closed Door: Farm to FIM: Convening on Values-Aligned Purchasing for Food is Medicine Workshop (Part 2)
Building on earlier insights, participants will co-develop actionable strategies and concrete next steps for advancing values-aligned purchasing in Food is Medicine while strengthening local and regional food systems and supporting cross-sector partnerships.
06/02/2026 12:15 PM
Keynote Luncheon
SAVE THE DATE
June 1 – 2, 2026
Grand Hyatt Washington
Washington, D.C.
Food is Medicine | The Movement Unites in Washington, D.C.
For the first time, leading organizations advancing Food is Medicine are joining forces to launch FIMCON, a national conference uniting an entire ecosystem that is transforming how America thinks about health, nutrition, and care.
June 1 – 2, 2026 | Grand Hyatt Washington
More than 750 healthcare professionals, FIM practitioners and program participants, researchers, policymakers, community leaders, and funders will come together at the Grand Hyatt Washington for a groundbreaking event: a unified, large-scale convening of the entire Food is Medicine field.
This is Food is Medicine by Food is Medicine people.
Powered by the collective reach and expertise of:
- Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School (CHLPI)
- Food is Medicine Coalition (FIMC)
- Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University
- National Produce Prescription Collaborative (NPPC)
This moment matters.
Food is Medicine has reached a critical juncture. Policy opportunities are expanding. Federal and state investments are growing. Scientific validation is strengthening. Public awareness is rising. The time is ripe for a central convening with the scale, strategic location, and cross-sector reach needed to channel this momentum into lasting change.
FIMCON meets this need.
FIMCON is the launchpad for the next era of Food is Medicine, where fragmented efforts become a coordinated force, where emerging practitioners find mentorship and community, where policymakers hear directly from those doing the work, and where funders see the full scope of what’s possible.
FIMCON is made possible with the generous support of:
- Dohmen Company Foundation
- Kaiser Permanente
- RF Catalytic Capital, Inc. with support from Builders Vision and The Rockefeller Foundation
This support makes the conference possible and enables a scholarship and stipend strategy that deepens the inclusion of community voices.
Join us in shaping what comes next.
Complete the form below to stay connected as we announce featured speakers, program details, registration information, and opportunities to contribute your expertise or sponsorship to this landmark event.
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Please note: Food is Medicine Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill will take place directly after FIMCON on June 3, 2026. Advocacy Day is a separate event; more details will be available soon.
Join the Waitlist – General Admission: Non-Profit/Academia/Government
We are currently sold out of General Admission: Non-Profit/Academia/Government tickets and are operating off a waitlist. Our team monitors the list daily and we anticipate being able to offer some individuals on the waitlist the opportunity to purchase a ticket around mid-April. If a spot becomes available, we will reach out to you directly.
Venue & Travel
The Grand Hyatt
1000 H Street NW Washington, D.C. 20001
The Grand Hyatt Washington is FIMCON's host hotel and conference venue, located in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C. A discounted conference rate of $369.88 per night (inclusive of taxes) is available through May 11, 2026, subject to availability.
The Grand Hyatt is connected to Metro Center station, a major transit hub with easy access to all major Metro lines. Reagan National Airport (DCA), Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) serve the region.
Complete hotel and travel information, including booking details and transportation options can be accessed through the link below.
Sponsorships
The FIMCON 2026 Prospectus details sponsorship opportunities available, and each is designed to raise your visibility and connect you with this diverse, influential community in ways that align with where the movement is headed. Your participation matters. This is a groundbreaking opportunity to be part of a unified, large-scale convening at a critical moment for the field. Please reach out to hello@fimcon.org for more information on securing a sponsorship.
Please note: Food is Medicine Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill will take place directly after FIMCON on June 3, 2026. Advocacy Day is a separate event; click here for details.
Join us in shaping what comes next.
FIMCON 2026 is where the Food is Medicine movement unites to build the future of nutrition as healthcare.
Join 800+ leaders at FIMCON 2026, a new national Food is Medicine conference.
June 1–2 in Washington, DC.
Event Sponsors
This moment matters.
Food is Medicine has reached a critical juncture. Policy opportunities are expanding. Federal and state investments are growing. Scientific validation is strengthening. Public awareness is rising. The time is ripe for a central convening with the scale, strategic location, and cross-sector reach needed to channel this momentum into lasting change.
FIMCON meets this need.
FIMCON is the launchpad for the next era of Food is Medicine, where fragmented efforts become a coordinated force, where emerging practitioners find mentorship and community, where policymakers hear directly from those doing the work, and where funders see the full scope of what's possible.
Scholarship & Travel Support
FIMCON is committed to ensuring that community-based organizations and people with lived experience are represented and supported at this year's conference.
Free Ticket Scholarships
Numerous free tickets have already been allocated to known community-based organizations working in the field and to the communities they serve. This additional scholarship pool of 25 free tickets is intended to help conference organizers identify additional important voices that should be at the table—particularly grassroots leaders, emerging organizations, and individuals with lived experience whose perspectives are essential to meaningful dialogue and impact.
Travel Stipends
Limited stipends are available to help offset travel costs for community-based organizations and people with lived experience. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who are historically underrepresented in conference spaces.
FAQs
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