About Susan Allen-Evenson RDN, LDN, FMNS

Susan Allen-Evenson is an internationally recognized Dietitian and Board Certified Functional Nutrition expert providing a unique and very successful approach to personalized health and wellness as she incorporates an overall focus on systems biology and root-cause analysis in her work as a nutrition consultant, mentor, speaker, and author. Susan earned her nutrition degree in Medical Dietetics from the University of Illinois and became a Registered Dietitian (RD) in 1991. She subsequently completed post-graduate level training to develop her specialty in the nutritional aspects of Functional Medicine.

For over 30 years, Ms. Allen-Evenson has worked in many settings besides her private practice. She was involved in one of the first free-standing nationally based Integrative Medicine clinics, American Whole Health. She also consulted for the startup of The Center for Integrative Medicine, which is affiliated with the prestigious Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Ms. Allen-Evenson has held board appointments with The International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ specialty practice group, Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine (DIFM), for which she serves as a 3-yr chair, on the Nutrition Board of the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) and the Scientific Advisory Board of Integrative Therapeutics, Inc., one of the largest natural medicine manufacturers in the United States. Recently, Susan has been added as a contributing trainer for the prestigious Integrative and Functional Nutrition Specialist Certification program with the Turkish Sports Industry Association. 

With her passion for educating, Ms. Allen-Evenson lectures nationwide and has also been a consultant for the nutraceutical industry. In over three decades of practice, Susan has recognized the growing divide between traditional dietetics training and the emerging trends in Integrative and Functional Medicine. Understanding that many healthcare providers, especially dietitians, are missing a key opportunity, she launched a unique national mentoring initiative, Next Level Functional Nutrition, to train registered dietitians and other healthcare professionals wanting to incorporate a more meaningful nutrition approach into their practice.

Considered an authority, she has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, quoted extensively in the press, and is also a published author. She was Chief Nutritional Consultant for the Reader’s Digest book Food Cures: Breakthrough Nutritional Prescriptions for Everything from Colds to Cancer, and she was a contributing author to the first college textbook of its kind, Integrating Therapeutic and Complementary Nutrition, CRC Press 2007. Ms. Allen-Evenson has also authored a chapter in AAPI’s Nutrition Guide To Optimal Health: Using Principles of Functional Medicine and Nutritional Genomics.

Aside from her work in Functional Medicine, Susan is a Reiki Master dedicated to her path of spiritual evolution. 

 

Meet Our Support Team!

Michelle Dwoskin, RDN, LDN

NFLN Support Team Coordinator

Michelle Dwoskin, RD LDN comes to Integrative and Functional Medicine Nutrition as a second career, having graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies in 1992. A cancer diagnosis in 2010, however, changed her life trajectory in a dramatic way. While attempting to survive a full year of extreme chemotherapies and surgeries, Michelle used her research skills to find solutions to the discomfort and complications produced by the cancer treatment she was receiving. She learned that there is power in nutrition and it can offer the support that our bodies need under stress. She decided at that point, that if she survived the cancer, she would return to school to become a Registered Dietitian. Perhaps in this way, she could “pay it forward” by helping others to prevent, support, and recover from acute/chronic illness.

Michelle began working with Susan Allen and NLFN in early 2017 as a student intern from the Coordinated Dietetics Program at Eastern Michigan University. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Second Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics. Immediately upon passing the RD exam, Michelle began working with Susan Allen once again, this time as Intern Coordinator for Next Level Functional Nutrition and provides the team support in any/all manner of required functions.

Michelle’s interests include time with her family and friends, attending concerts, walking/hiking with her boyfriend, and playing with her rescue rabbit, Paul Newman (named for his big blue eyes).

Bonita Davis, RDN

IFMNT Training Course Teaching Assistant

Bonita Davis grew up in central Minnesota on a dairy farm, where ‘whole food and fresh air’ was a way of life. In 1989 she received her BS in Home Economics Education at North Dakota State University. In 1995 she became a Registered Dietitian, as well as completed her Master’s in Adult and Occupational Education at the University of New Hampshire.

Bonita’s career focus has been in pediatrics and community nutrition, where she has worked in various pediatric settings from Head Start, Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, School Age Special Education, and private practice. In her work she has focused not only on the whole person, but the whole family when working with young children. In addition to assessing and supporting nutrient status of children, addressing family dynamics has been an essential piece of helping children with the ‘how’ of eating. Bonita has received additional training in Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management through the CDR. She has also been trained in the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to eating and feeding challenges through the STAR Institute.

In February 2017, Bonita began as a student taking the Foundations course in Next Level Functional Nutrition. She has continued through the Certificate of Training and Advance courses; in addition, she has served at a Teaching Assistant in NLFN courses.

Special areas of interest that Bonita incorporates into her nutrition assessment and counseling include environmental health and trauma informed care that builds resilience. She is a member of the Tompkins County Lead Poisoning Prevention Network workgroup.

Bonita and her husband, Ben, live in Ithaca, NY; they have three adult children. When not working, Bonita enjoys spending time with her family, sewing and quilting, trying new recipes, reading, and hiking.

Shannon Gilmore, MS, RDN, FMNS

IFMNT Training Course Teaching Assistant

Shannon has been a dietician since 2009. She attended the University of California, Davis for her undergraduate work and Simmons College in Boston for her graduate work. She completed her dietetic training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She spent 6 years as the Director of Nutrition at a skilled nursing facility where she casually started online classes, dabbling with the functional medicine perspective. It was with Next Level Functional Nutrition that her world and enthusiasm for nutrition completely expanded. Shannon now joyously operates a private practice combining the principles of functional medicine and mindful eating to help those step into their optimal health.

Elizabeth Rose Berry, MMSC, RDN, LDN

While graduating from Emory University with a Master’s in Medical Science, I worked at Egleston Hospital for Children specializing in G.I., Oncology, T1DM, and parenteral nutrition. Leaving the clinical setting, I moved to Colorado and worked in community nutrition and with several private practice groups as a consultant. Then another turn in the path took me to culinary school in Baltimore, Maryland and County Cavan, Ireland. After several stints as a chef in restaurants, I joined my family’s business in North Carolina for several years. From there, I made the plunge into opening my own restaurant and bakery. I have since owned and operated three restaurants, a bakery and a catering business with the mission of demonstrating nutrious and delicious foods to my clientele. I live and work in rural western North Carolina where I support local and sustainable agriculture. My husband, Marty and I own a cattle farm where we raise South Poll pastured beef cows. Several years ago I enrolled in Susan’s class looking for a deeper knowledge of nutrition that would actually help people achieve optimal health. At this point, I am working to have a immersion into Integrative Nutrition with the possibility of private practice in the future. Susan is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for me as I move forward in this area.

Expert Guest Instructors / Panelists

Mona S. Ottum MS, RDN, IFMCP, CLT, CD

Mona is a second career Registered Dietitian who began as a Chemical Engineer. She has always been a serious gardener, food preserver, cook and foodie.

Passionate about nutrition and health and entrepreneurial, she decided to go back to school and make food and nutrition a career when it transformed the health of herself and her two young children when diagnosed with Hashimoto’s after being utterly failed by the mainstream medical system.

She became an RD in 2009 and completed her MS Human Nutrition in 2014 at Eastern Michigan University. She authored a published peer-reviewed journal article on advanced glycation end-products as a driver of insulin resistance. She became a LEAP therapist in 2014 and completed the certificate of training in Adult Weight Management in 2009 and the advanced certificate in adult weight management in 2012. She began training in Functional Nutrition with Susan in early 2013 in one of her first advanced training cohorts. She also attended the IFM functional nutrition course followed by their 5-day AFMCP functional medicine introduction.

While completing her MS, starting up a private practice and learning functional medicine, she consulted at an award-winning Alzheimer’s and Memory-Care assisted living facility for 8 years. Hearing Dale Bredesen speak at an IFM grand rounds of Alzheimer’s reversal successes, she trained with the first group of 50 practitioners with Dale at Buck Institute. She completed the IFM certification program and became anIFMCP in 2018 and a ReCode 2.0 Bredesen practitioner in 2022.

She has taught functional medicine lifestyle and cooking classes through her local community education and taught as an adjunct at EMU. Her Essential Balance Nutrition private practice took its first client in 2016 and went full time in 2019. Her special interests are gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmunity, neurodegenerative diseases and mood disregulation.

Lesli Bitel, MBA, RDN, LDN

As a Business Strategist, Coach and Practice Growth Expert for Health Professionals, Lesli teaches her clients to overcome the confusion associated with the business side of running a successful practice. Pulling from various leading-edge strategies, Lesli teaches the necessary tools and techniques to attract plenty of right-fit clients and create multiple income streams. The result is building a thriving, successful, and profitable business with 1:1 clients, online courses, and group programs.

Lesli offers private coaching, group programs, classes, webinars, workshops, and more, from her home base, where she splits her time between Salida, CO, and Lake Geneva, WI.

Amanda Archibald, RD

Amanda is uniquely trained as both analyst and nutritionist (RD). This skill set, combined with her food and culinary translation expertise has enabled her to develop a new lens through which we can interpret the relationship between food and health. Amanda has been involved in lecturing, teaching and thought innovation for consumers, health professionals, foodservice operations and corporations since 2003. Accompanying her cutting‐edge vision of uniting science and medicine with the kitchen, Amanda unveiled the concept of Culinary Genomics in 2015. This visionary union of genomic science with the culinary arts is building a new frontier for food, placing chefs and the kitchen and igniting a new food and health conversation for the world.

Her visionary work in Culinary Genomics, unveiled in 2015, has created a new frontier, uniting the fields of Genomic Medicine with the Culinary Arts. Through this work, Amanda is placing food, chefs and the kitchen at the epicenter of nourishment and healing and igniting a new nutrition conversation for the world. Amanda has taught extensively in the USA, Europe, South Africa and will include Australia in 2019. She is a frequent presenter at health, medical and food‐focused conferences, including the Worldwide Food Show, Institute for Food Technology, Translational Nutrigenomics, Institute for Functional Medicine, The Society for Neurogastronomy and is a speaker at Supply side West, 2018. She is a frequent guest on radio shows and podcasts in the UK, USA and Australia.

Currently, Amanda’s work is being trialed on menu at a 5-hospital system in San Diego, California, with the goal of reshaping food and health knowledge for employees, visitors and most importantly, patients. Amanda is from Boulder Colorado, but currently is residing in Western Wisconsin next to the mightily Mississippi River.

Dr. Yael Joffe, RD, PhD, FACN

In her role as 3X4 co-founder and Chief Science Officer, Dr Yael Joffe brings over 20 years of experience in nutrigenomics, nutrition, genetics, sound research, clinical practice and scientific integrity to 3X4.

In the rapidly-evolving discipline of nutrigenomics, Yael is globally acknowledged as a leading expert in the field. She is a highly sought-after speaker, has co-authored two books, ‘It’s Not Just Your Genes’ and ‘Genes To Plate’, and has been published in multiple peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Yael is at the forefront of nutrigenomic education and has helped develop and supervise nutrigenomics courses around the world, including her own Manuka courses, which have trained hundreds of healthcare practitioners globally. She is currently an Adjunct Professor, teaching Nutrigenomics at Rutgers University and MUIH.

Karen Wright, MS, CN

Karen started her career as a research analyst at ABC News.

Currently, Karen is a NY state licensed nutritionist using a Functional Nutrition approach, public speaker, and author of the book: Is it Mold? A Holistic Approach to Managing a Commonly Overlooked Condition.

She is on the adjunct faculty of professional and continuing education for the Maryland University of Integrative Health, for Karen sees many clients with mold illness and Lyme.

She uses her journalist skills to keep abreast of Biotoxin resource and building remediation practices to help her clients experience better nutritional health outcomes.

Lee Anne Walsh, RDN, CLT, CGP

Lee Anne is a registered dietitian nutritionist with advanced training in integrative and functional medical nutrition therapy, functional medicine, food sensitivities and food allergies, gluten-related disorders, SIBO, bioenergetics, and environmental medicine.

She has been practicing nutrition for more than 20 years. Lee Anne is a graduate of Georgia State University in Atlanta. Upon completing the Coordinated Undergraduate Program accredited by the American Dietetic Association, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Department of Health and Human Sciences with an emphasis in Nutrition and Dietetics. Lee Anne felt a great sense of accomplishment when her professors elected her Most Outstanding Nutrition Student and awarded her with the Sara M. Hunt Scholarship, a program in honor of the pioneering professor of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department at Georgia State.

Lee Anne’s career has taken her various places and in many diverse areas of nutrition and dietetics. Her experience ranges from food and medical sales; to consultant dietitian for long-term care facilities and rural hospitals; to clinical dietetics with an emphasis in critical care, nutrition support, and oncology; out-patient counseling; to nutrition educator of nursing students; and corporate dietitian for a food service management company specializing in Senior Nutrition. Prior to starting Be Well, she took on the most challenging, yet most rewarding job of being a stay-at-home mom for her two precious daughters, Annabelle and Josephine (“Josie”) and stepson, Patrick.

Lee Anne’s background in nutrition and dietetics proved to be invaluable when her youngest daughter was diagnosed with food allergies at just weeks old and Celiac Disease years later. As a stay-at-home mom, Lee Anne volunteered at her daughters’ school, and, of course, always found a way to talk about healthy eating habits. She helped educate teachers and staff on food allergies/sensitivities and Celiac Disease and was instrumental in revamping the school lunch program. So, needless to say, although Lee Anne was not out in the professional world, her passion to educate others on good food choices was never relinquished.

Lee Anne was drawn back to her profession for a very simple reason: passion and compassion. It was through her own health journey Lee Anne found a renewed excitement and deeper passion for her profession and a true compassion for those with chronic health problems. “It has always been easy for me to talk about the outcomes of good and/or not so good food choices and how these decisions have a direct impact on our health and lifestyle. However, it was not until I had a personal health crisis that was reversed by a change in my diet, that I truly and deeply understood that we really are what we eat. I decided my case was way too strong to not share with others. I don’t want others to suffer. I can help, and I want to help.”

Dale White LAc, M.S., D.N.B.A.O.

Dale White is a California State licensed acupuncturist in clinical practice since 1990.  He has served diverse patient populations of the San Francisco and North Bay areas including HIV + patients during the AIDS epidemic.  He practiced extensively with neurological rehabilitation and chronic pain patients both privately and in a medical hospital.  In the last several years, his clinical focus has shifted to the epidemics of Lyme Disease, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and Autoimmune Disorders.

He did his undergraduate studies in Pre-Med and mathematics at The Evergreen State College and Seattle Central Community College in Washington State.

He attained his Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the American College of TCM in San Francisco in 1990 and Diplomate status with the National Board of Acupuncture Orthopedics in 1991.

He has certifications in Japanese Classical Meridian Therapy and Toyo Hari and studied with Japanese Masters such as Kobayahi Shoji, Ikeada, Koei Kuwahara and others.

He has additional certifications in Western Herbal Studies and Biological Detoxification.  He has studied Homotoxicology, European Drainage Homeopathy, Darkfield Microscopy and German Biological Medicine in the tradition of Gunther Enerderlien.

In 2001 he began studies in Functional Medicine including blood chemistry, endocrinology, detoxification and brain chemistry.

In 2015 all aspects of a varied and eclectic training and clinical practice came into simple clarity and focus when Dale met Dr. Christopher Shade, founder and chief scientist of Quicksilver Scientific.  Since then he has been a Clinical Consultant for Quicksilver Scientific providing physician education on test interpretation, products and protocols.

Steve Levy

Steve Levy is the founder and president of Certified Mold Inspections, Inc. (CMI). For over seventeen years, CMI is a company dedicated to the detection and prevention of microbial contaminants in one’s indoor environment. CMI offers a variety of inspection and testing methodologies to assist the building owner/manager or homeowner in assessing possible moisture or water intrusion that can result in microbial contamination. Steve has been attending medical conferences throughout the years and has developed an inspection & testing strategy geared toward individuals who may be compromised by mold and mycotoxins.

Steve holds numerous certifications within the indoor air quality industry. Through the ACAC, Steve is a board council certified Indoor Environmentalist (CIEC), a Certified Microbial Consultant (CMC), and a Certified Mold Remediator (CMR), Certified Infrared Thermagrapher (CIT). Licensed for mold investigation & testing for the states of Florida and New York.

ACAC is accredited by the prestigious CESB- Certification for Engineering and Scientific Technicians Board.

Steve also holds other certifications with the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), as a Water Restoration Specialist, Odor Control Specialist and is certified for building science level 1 Thermography (thermal imaging) from Infraspection Institute. Steve is a LEED accredited professional by the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Illinois University.

Steve has performed thousands of mold-specific investigations/inspections and testing projects.

Other notable accomplishments; Steve has co-writted and co-produced a video titled “Where’s the Mold?” (A definitive guide to finding mold in and around your home), as well as, Co-authored a pamphlet on mold, Titled “Mold information for homeowners”. Steve is also a co-creator of the ETS app, which enables mold inspectors and inspection companies to have the ability to log information from the field and prepare comprehensive reports; held continuing education seminars & courses on Mold for NJ state agencies, Building Biologist Institute, IAQA, Medical Community Conferences, as well as, written several case studies on mold investigations and testing results; elected to the IAQA Education Board Member in 2016; chairs a subcommittee that creates indoor air quality awareness content for the public.

Author of a book called “If These Walls Could Talk” A book about how Molds and other Biotoxins may be impacting immune-compromised people’s homes.

Diane Parks NP

Diane Parks is a nurse practitioner and founder of The Well for Health in Davidson, North Carolina, who has more than 35 years of experience providing health care services. She holds an MSc in nursing and certification as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, a Sexuality Counselor, and a Nurse Midwife. With her team of medical and health care specialists at The Well for Health, Diane is passionate about offering the most advanced treatment options to her patients, striving to optimize their wellness by taking a holistic approach that encompasses both conventional and complementary techniques.

Diane understands how important it is for health care providers to continually update their skills and keep abreast of developments in research that could offer solutions to her patients’ health issues. She is a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, having completed a two-year course in this exciting approach to diagnosis and treatment. Diane has advanced training in First Line Therapy–Lifestyle Medicine, Neurotransmitter Evaluation and Treatment, and is certified as a practitioner in the Bredesen Protocol for reversing cognitive decline and the Shoemaker protocol for treating biotoxin illnesses.

Diane is passionate about sexual wellness and provides a range of services at The Well for Health, addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of sexuality. She is the only health care provider in the Davidson area who has dual certification as a women’s health nurse practitioner and a sexual counselor, and this combination enables her to help patients with every aspect of their sexual concerns.

Diane is also an advocate for the benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy and has extensive experience helping people with thyroid and adrenal dysfunction and optimizing gastrointestinal health. At The Well for Health, you can be sure of the highest standards of care delivered in a warm and welcoming environment by professionals who are outstanding in their field.

Elizabeth (Liz) Rose MMSc, RDN

Liz is in Private Practice specializing in Health and Wellness through a Culinary application.  Her path to get to this point began first at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, with her degree in Food, Nutrition and Institution Management, then at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. where she received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition as well as a job at Egleston Hospital for Children.  After several years in Atlanta, practicing pediatric nutrition, she moved to rural Colorado and practiced with several physician groups as a nutrition consultant for their patients as well as the WIC  and American Heart Association programs.

After years of practicing clinical nutrition and frustration with the “traditional medical system,” Liz decided to pursue culinary training in the US and Europe.  In 1999, she opened a restaurant in Western North Carolina which turned into three restaurants and an artisan bakery.  Liz has a passion for delicious food prepared with great ingredients that feed the body, soul and spirit.  Her goal is to promote her nutrition knowledge through food and all it encompasses..the farms and gardens, local producers, culinary skills, techniques and equipment.  The restaurants have been a great place to educate staff and customers and help provide a platform to move into her private practice.  In addition to the restaurants, Liz enjoys conducting culinary and wellness classes for her community.

Liz started training with Susan Allen and NLFN way back when she enrolled in the first course offered.  This was the beginning of her functional nutrition training.  After several years and a desire to move closer to her goal of a private nutrition practice, she enrolled again in NLFN classes only to become part of the research team.  Susan is a wealth of knowledge through her experiences and functional nutrition knowledge.  I enjoy being part of the team!

She is married and lives on a small farm in Western North Carolina raising South Poll cattle.

Susan Drake, M.S., R.D.

Susan Drake, a Colorado native, is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist holding a Certification in Weight Management through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  She graduated from Colorado State University with her Bachelor of Science in 1991 and received her Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics from Eastern Illinois University in 1994.  She has been a Registered Dietitian since 1994.

During her 25-year career, she has had a vast array of experiences in the nutrition field.  She coached thousands of clients on their journey to weight loss, weight maintenance and functional nutrition.  Her philosophy is to eat clean search for any “root cause”.

Currently, she is a Clinical Laboratory Consultant for several laboratories and assisting practitioners establish the best solutions for their patients.  In addition, she is involved with Freedom Practice Coaching which is an organization that teaches and coaches practitioners to create thriving practices.

In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her labradoodle – Allie, traveling, cooking, skiing and mountain biking.  Any activity, summer or winter, as long as it’s outside, is where she likes to be.

Coco Newton, MPH, RD, CNS

Coco Newton is owner of Lifetime Nutrition, LLC, a private practice in Maple City, Michigan.  She has expertise in Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy (FMNT) for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and syndromes. Currently she is devoted to helping patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) throughout the world via her virtual clinical practice and educational programs for patients and professionals.

Coco received her Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Dietetics/Community Nutrition from the University of California (Davis) and her Masters of Public Health (MPH) in Nutrition from the University of Minnesota.  She completed her dietetic internship at the University of California (San Diego) and is a registered dietitian (RD) through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  She is a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) through the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists.

Coco co-founded and served on the Institute for Functional Medicine’s Nutrition Advisory Board from 2007-2010. In 2010, she co-founded the University of Kansas’ Nutrition Fellowship Program, a collaborative program through the University’s departments of Integrative Medicine and Dietetics & Nutrition.

Coco served on the state of Michigan Board of Dietetics and Nutrition from 2007 to 2013, and championed the successful repeal of the anti-competitive and discriminatory Dietetics/Nutrition Licensure Law on July 1, 2014, the first repeal in the United States.

Coco authored the chapter: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): The Application of Integrative & Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy (IFMNT) published April 2020 by Springer in the textbook: Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy: Principles & Practices.

Coco received the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine (DIFM), a practice group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Margo Gasta, DCN, MS, RD, CCH

Margo Gasta, DCN, MS, RDN, CCH, is a doctorate level integrative and functional medicine dietician/nutritionist, Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition, Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, and Certified Classical Homeopath.

With 28 years of experience, she specializes in nutrition for chronic pain, chronic fatigue, autoimmune disease, hormonal and fertility concerns, IBS, gastrointestinal conditions, skin conditions, mental health, emotional and binge eating.

“I help passionate people with chronic, complicated health issues, transform their condition into a state of well-being, so they can live with vitality, vigor, harmony and happiness!”

Jan Patenaude, RDN, CLT

Jan Patenaude, RD, CLT is the first Certified LEAP Therapist and LEAP Mentor who has been a consultant dietitian since 1986. She co-developed the Certified LEAP Therapist training program in 2006 and was one of Today’s Dietitian’s Top 10 RDs of 2014. Her writing has been published in magazines and journals, including Today’s Dietitian, Journal of Home Health Care Management Practice, Topics in Clinical Nutrition, Sully’s Living Without Magazine, and Overdrive Magazine. Aside from print, Jan has also made many TV and radio appearances.

In her thirty-eight-year career, she has consulted in many areas, including hospital clinical, outpatient, and food-service; long term care; home health care; drug/alcohol rehab; hospice; group homes; HMOs; WIC; prisons and jails. She has continued her private practice, at least part-time since 1986, done supermarket tours, worked in research at a USDA human research laboratory, and subcontracted dietitian services. In many ways, she has seen it all.

She has presented at numerous National, State, and District Dietetic Association meetings, including FNCE 2009 and 2014. She’s presented an ADA (now AND) sponsored Webinar, at a national PCOS conference, for the National Kidney Foundation Annual Meeting and the Loma Linda Medical University Annual Post Graduate Conference. She was the past New Jersey Dietetic Association Media Rep and had her own radio slot for a live talk show many years ago in Eastern Colorado.

Jan has received the Nutritionists in Complementary Care (now Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine) 2008 “Excellence in Practice Award” for her work supporting colleagues in building their practices and improving patient outcomes. She was also named the University of Minnesota, Crookston, “Outstanding Alumni of 2010.”

Today, she trains and mentors RDs and physicians interested in working with the MRT test and LEAP Diet protocols.

Kris Ball, RDN

“I have been working as a Registered Dietitian for 21 years. I started my own business, NuMuv Wellness 7 years ago and teamed up with some clinics around my area to help their patients become healthier.

“I have a passion for helping others with gut health and food sensitivities. Everything starts from the gut!! My business has taken a more functional medicine approach to nutrition and love seeing my clients live better lives.

“Outside my work, I love to workout and spend time/travel with my family. My husband Mike and I have 3 boys who keep us running every day. I live a great life and appreciate every day!!”

Sarah Greenfield, RDN, CSSD

Sarah Greenfield is a Registered Dietitian practicing functional medicine and correcting underlying digestive health imbalances.

She has served as the president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Los Angeles chapter, has developed commercial probiotics blends for targeted health outcomes and is an ambassador for Viome, a consumer friendly stool testing kit that analyzes the component of an individual’s gut microbiome.

She has been featured on NBC with Lester Holt and has shared the same stage as President Bill Clinton in for her work on a school program to change the health of students across the nation.

She has her undergraduate degree in nutrition from the Pennsylvania State University, is a Registered Dietitian through the Commission for Dietetics Registration and is certified in functional medicine and sports nutrition.

You can find her on Fearlessfig.com and she just completed her first TEDx talk focused on digestive health.

Amy Schleper, MS, RDN, LD, CDE

Amy began work as a registered dietitian in 2009. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology from the University of Kansas (2004), a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Kansas State University (2008), and a Master of Science in Nutrition from KU Medical Center (2013). Amy obtained her Certified Diabetes Educator credential (CDE) in November 2015.

She has worked at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, gaining experience in heart and liver transplant nutrition. She has also worked at College Park Family Care Center in the Kansas City area, providing nutrition counseling in a primary care setting, where she was also part of a multi-disciplinary Functional Medicine Clinic.

Her integrative experience includes contract work in the development and modification of the Core Food Plan for the Institute for Functional Medicine. She has worked as a research assistant for Genovive, a direct-to-consumer nutrigenomics-based company. Amy has co-authored 2 studies through KU Medical Center. She has also been an invited speaker for a number of professional events in the Kansas City area.

Lacey Hall, MS, RD

Lacey Hall is a Registered Dietitian with a master’s degree in clinical nutrition. Her background spans from use of medical nutrition therapy in acute care settings to application of holistic medicine in the rainforests of Bali, Indonesia. Her original research on dietary supplement usage amongst hospitalized patients, catapulted her into a deeper desire to seek out integrative healthcare solutions. Lacey’s focus led her to a primary specialty in microbiome health and modulation.

At Microbiome Labs, Lacey is the Clinical Director of Learning and Development. Here, she teaches doctors and healthcare providers about gut microbiome testing, therapeutic interventions, and targeted strategies to support a balanced gut ecology. Her goal is to help advance the field of functional medicine through evidenced-based recommendations and treatment protocols that help drive better patient outcomes.

Kiran Krishnan

Kiran Krishnan is undisputedly one of the world’s experts on probiotics as a research microbiologist who has been involved in the dietary supplement and nutrition market for 17 years. He comes from a strict research background the fields of molecular medicine and microbiology and has designed and conducted dozens of human clinical trials and human nutrition.

Currently, Kiran is the Chief Scientific Officer at Positions Exclusive and Microbiome Labs and is involved in numerous human clinical trials on probiotics and the human microbiome. He is an avid speaker on all things microbiome.

Stephanie Hofhenke

Stephanie is the Founder and Marketing Strategist for STRING, a full-service agency for registered dietitians and private health practitioners. Stephanie identifies and creates clear paths for growth, supported by innovative platforms and a top-notch team of talent. Digital marketing is constantly changing, so Stephanie’s passion is taking the confusion out of technology and teaching effective techniques in a practical, compassionate way.

Ilene Cohen, MS, RDN, CDCES, C-IAYT

Ilene Cohen is a Los Angeles based, nationally recognized Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and IAYT-certified yoga therapist. Ilene is a sought-after speaker and has been featured on radio, local television and in publications including Self Magazine and Yoga Journal. Ilene presented at the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Meeting in 2018, was a keynote speaker for the Austin Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Wellness Symposium 2016, and presented at FNCE® 2021 on the topic of intellectual property to protect dietitian businesses.

She maintains a bicoastal virtual group private practice, PranaSpirit Nutrition & Wellness, LLC, specializing in mind-body integrative and functional medical nutrition therapy and therapeutic yoga and is the owner of RefreshExams, LLC providing dietitian board exam preparation. Ilene is currently the owner of various intellectual properties, including trademarks, a soon to be published book, and has successfully registered two published works with the US Copyright Office. Through her own experience as an entrepreneurial dietitian Ilene has become a zealous advocate of protecting RDN businesses and brands through utilizing the Code of Ethics of the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession as both a powerful source of protection and marketing tool.