International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference 2024
- Rebecca Stonor, CEO
- 08 Oct 2024
Dr Heleen Haijema, Co-founder and Chair of the Board, and Rebecca Stonor, CEO, were excited to attend the 12th International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference in Anaheim, California.
PBNHC 2024 is the USA’s premier medical education conference focused exclusively on scientific research conveying the efficacy of whole food plant-based nutrition. The Plantrician Project has been holding conferences since 2012, to educate medical doctors, clinicians, and other health influencers on the indisputable health benefits of a plant-based diet.
The conference is held annually and attracts a wide range of medical doctors, nurses, students, dietitians, nutritionists, health coaches, and the general public interested in nutrition. With both live and virtual delegates, the conference is open to all those passionate about choosing foods to improve health. Both Heleen and Rebecca funded their trips and conference attendance personally, ensuring that donations to DFN remain dedicated to supporting our core mission and programs.
There were a few familiar faces in the crowd with a small group of Aussies and New Zealanders in attendance! Heleen and Rebecca were reunited with colleagues, old acquaintances, and made some new friends.
At this event, attendees learned from the foremost experts in preventative nutritional medicine about practical applications for empowering patients to use food as the foundation of their health and well-being. Topics ranged from weight loss to water fasting, eye health to mental health, and there was a common thread among all presentations: Eating a plant-based diet is not only about preventing, managing, and often reversing chronic disease but also about longevity and promoting’ health span’.
Dr. Scott Stoll, co-founder of the Plantrician Project, opened the Plenary sessions. He emphasized the importance of offering patients messages of hope rather than resorting to fear after a diagnosis. Patients who maintain hope are more effective at overcoming challenges, reducing anxiety, and gaining a stronger sense of control and well-being. Storytelling in healthcare is another powerful tool, with proven positive effects on health outcomes. Dr. Stoll also highlighted the significance of building community by organising potlucks to foster connection—a key element promoted by DFN through their Plant-iful Plates campaign.
The Plenary presentations went over four days and covered a plethora of medical conditions. Speakers included Dr Joel Fuhrman, recipient of this year’s ‘Plantrician Project Luminary Award’, Dr Brooke Goldner, Dr Alan Goldhammer, and Dr Michael Klaper. Dr Rudrani Banik, an ophthalmologist, highlighted the importance of a nutrient-dense diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, for optimal eye health.
Dr Dean Ornish presented his latest research into halting and reversing the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease with a whole food plant-based diet and other lifestyle interventions. Dr. Ornish explained the unifying theory of chronic diseases, demonstrating that the same lifestyle changes—including adopting a whole-food, plant-based diet—can prevent and even reverse the progression of many chronic conditions. After four days of presentations, it became clear that these diseases share a common root: low-grade chronic inflammation, which leads to the development of chronic illness.
Then there was the conference food! Breakfast was included, with steel-cut oats being the staple topped with fresh berries, ground flaxseeds, and nuts. Green smoothies were also on offer! At lunch and dinner, delegates piled their plates high with a buffet of assorted salad vegetables, sauces, spices, and dressings, all carefully chosen for their nutrient density and promotion of optimal nutrition. Soups and warm dishes were served along with cooked whole grains and legumes. The delegates did not go hungry or experience the afternoon sleepiness that comes from the typically heavy, oil-laden, conference food served at many other events.
Attending this conference highlighted the fact that Doctors For Nutrition and the Plantrician Project have been friends for many years. Dr Heleen Haitjema attended their very first conference in 2012, and soon after, she felt compelled to establish a similar charity in Australasia. She has since attended all twelve conferences hosted by the Plantrician Project. Dr Scott Stoll, one of the organisation’s co-founders, publicly thanked her for her long-term and ongoing friendship.
Heleen and Rebecca have returned to Australia with newfound motivation and passion for promoting this vital information in the Southern Hemisphere. To stay informed of upcoming events held throughout Australia and New Zealand by Doctors For Nutrition, subscribe to our mailing list!
