The Heart of the Matter – Adelaide Nutrition in Healthcare Symposium
Adelaide Nutrition in Healthcare Symposium with international keynote speaker, Dr Kim Williams (USA) and local experts.
On Sunday 2 February 2020, DFN held a Nutrition Symposium in Adelaide, welcoming over 200 healthcare practitioners and members of the public to explore the role of nutrition in cardiovascular health.
The full-day event entitled The Heart of the Matter: why we have a cardiovascular disease crisis and how we can eat our way back to health featured presentations by cardiologist Dr Kim Williams (USA), alongside a lineup of local healthcare professionals, medical students and an athletes’ panel.
Delicious whole food plant-based catering was on offer giving delegates a taste of nutritious vibrant ‘food as medicine’, and the day closed with an optional free screening of The Game Changers.
Thanks to generous donors, scholarships were awarded to nine local healthcare students who were delighted to grow their knowledge and networks in the field of preventative nutrition.
We also submitted the proceedings from the symposium to the International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention, which was published in January 2021.

Recap video
With thanks to Inbound Creative.
Symposium proceedings

The full article is available online by creating a free account at ijdrp.org
Symposium sessions

Nutrition and Heart Disease: the Heart of the Matter
Dr Kim Williams (USA), MD, MACC, FAHA, MASNC, FESC
Cardiologist, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago USA • Doctors For Nutrition International Advisor
Dr Williams’ presentation on nutrition and heart disease took delegates on a deep dive into the evidence.
First touching on the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, he went on to explore the key risk factors and the lifestyle interventions that have been proven effective in both treatment and prevention – chief amongst them, the adoption of a whole food plant-based eating pattern.
In turn, Dr Williams unpacked the evidence about dietary interventions to address obesity, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, which are key to promoting and, in many cases, restoring cardiovascular health.
He also highlighted where associated co-benefits of plant-based diets have been established, for example in achieving better emotional wellbeing among those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Nutrition in Medical Schools Q&A Panel
Panel moderated by Dr Kim Williams with medical students Sylvia Gralak and Lucy Brown, and Flinders Medical Center RMO, Dr Juliette Roex

Dr Williams facilitated a lively discussion, in which the panelists explained why they became interested in the role of nutrition in healthcare, and their future career goals. All share a strong commitment to integrating nutrition science into their practice in order to offer true health care as opposed to the prevailing ‘sick care’ model.
The importance of planetary health as a pre-requisite to human health was also emphasised, with Sylvia explaining the potential for plant based diets to not only improve our health significantly but also protect the environment.
All three panelists can attest to the lack of nutrition education in medical schools, something that Sylvia and Lucy are looking to address through their work with the Healthy Communities team at the Australian Medical Students’ Association. This was the topic of their presentation that followed the panel Q&A.
Enhancing Nutrition Education for Medical Students
Australian Medical Students Association representatives
Sylvia Gralak and Lucy Brown, medical students at the University of Adelaide


Sylvia Gralak
Sylvia is a final year medical student at the University of Adelaide. She is the current National Officer for Public Health and Code Green Project Officer with the Australian Medical Students’ Association.
Lucy Brown
Lucy is currently undertaking her third year of the MBBS medical program at the University of Adelaide. Lucy is also part of the Australian Medical Students’ Association Healthy Communities team.
Sylvia and Lucy presented the initial results of the Nutrition in Australian Medical Schools Survey, a project launched in 2019 by the AMSA Healthy Communities team.
After running through the key elements of the survey, they shared the preliminary results. The central finding is that Australian medical students are interested in and motivated to provide nutritional counselling to patients, but do not currently feel equipped to implement this into their future practice.
In light of these findings, AMSA Healthy Communities have mapped out a number of advocacy and education pillars to help progress the integration of nutrition in Australian medical schools.

A Healthy Heart from the Start
Dr Heleen Roex-Haitjema & Dr Juliette Roex
Dr Heleen Roex-Haitjema, MD (non-practising paediatrician) • Co-founder and Chair of Doctors For Nutrition
Dr Juliette Roex, MBBS (Resident Medical Officer) • Lead Student Advisor for DFN
Dr Roex-Haitjema and her daughter Dr Juliette Roex’s presentation set out the importance of healthy food choices from the earliest stages of life

Some of the key references from the presentation:
- Strong JP, Malcom GT, McMahan CA, et al. Prevalence and Extent of Atherosclerosis in Adolescents and Young Adults: Implications for Prevention From the Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth Study. JAMA. 1999;281(8):727–735
- J. P. Strong, H. C. McGill. The pediatric aspects of atherosclerosis. J Atheroscler Res 1969 9(3):251-265
- Vogel RA, Corretti MC, Plotnick GD. Effect of a single high-fat meal on endothelial function in healthy subjects. Am J Cardiol. 1997 Feb 1;79(3):350-4
Science vs Confusion
Dr Heleen Roex-Haitjema, MD
Paediatrician (non practising) • Doctors For Nutrition Co-founder and Chair
Dr Roex-Haitjema’s presentation explored the area of interpreting research studies, with the aim of ensuring the strength of the evidence is prioritised in the ultimate conclusions reached by fellow practitioners, policy makers, and the general public.
With the growing role of industry-funded studies and commercial partnerships permeating the research and public health promotion sphere, Dr Roex-Haitjema also highlighted how to be aware of any third-party influences or potential bias when seeking to evaluate health claims.

Ask us Anything about Nutrition Panel Q&A
Deeni Beetar-Young, APD
Dr Adrian Griscti, MBBS, FACRRM, FASLM
Panel Q&A moderated by Dr Heleen Roex-Haitjema
Dr Adrian Griscti is DFN’s South Australia Ambassadoc and Deeni Betar-Young APD is South Australia Lead Dietitian for DFN
This wide-ranging Q&A covered a number of nutrition topics including:
- Key nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron and iodine
- Whole food plant-based diets for different stages of life and health conditions
- Tips on how to bring up/discuss diet with patients

An Apple a Day Keeps the Cardiologist Away
Dr Adrian Griscti, MBBS, FACRRM, FASLM
General Practitioner, Barossa Valley • Doctors For Nutrition Ambassadoc for South Australia
From decades at the front line of rural community medicine, Dr Griscti shared how patients and their doctors can measurably reduce cardiovascular risk factors with the help of some affordable and simple lifestyle and diet upgrades. He also provided some illustrative anonymised case studies and shared the results of his own cardiovascular health turnaround.
The key takeaway from Dr Griscti’s session was that cardiovascular disease risk factors share many common underlying biological causes, mechanisms and disease pathways which can be significantly improved with a whole food plant-based diet.
Some of the resources and references mentioned in Dr Griscti’s session:

- National Vascular Disease Prevention Alliance: Absolute cardiovascular disease risk management – Quick reference guide for health professionals
- Australian absolute cardiovascular disease risk calculator: cvdcheck.org.au/calculator
- Wright, N., Wilson, L., Smith, M. et al. 2017. The BROAD study: A randomised controlled trial using a whole food plant-based diet in the community for obesity, ischaemic heart disease or diabetes. Nutr & Diabetes 7, e256.
- Ref: McMacken, M. and Shah, S., 2017. A plant-based diet for the prevention and
treatment of type 2 diabetes. Journal of geriatric cardiology: JGC, 14(5), p.342.
Athletes’ Panel
Plant-powered Athletes’ Panel Q&A
Panelists:
- Kate Abraham (New York and Berlin marathons participant)
- Izzi Batt-Doyle (Distance runner, NCAA 10km Bronze, 2017 and 2019 Australian representative at the World University Games, BA Psych (Hons) Mindfulness & Nutrition)
- Ben Loaker (cyclist, personal trainer)
- Samuel Mussared (pro bodybuilder, coach)
Moderator: Damian Espinase (ultra-runner)
In the lead-up to a complimentary screening of The Game Changers documentary, this Q&A provided perspectives from athletes all of whom use a plant-based approach to eating for optimal athletic results, recovery and overall health.

Photo Gallery
The full event photo album can be found here.
Media
Plant Proof Podcast: interview with Dr Kim Williams
Release date: 30 Jan
Plant Based News article about the Symposium
Published: 30 Jan



A full-length audio conversation between Dr Kim Williams and Simon Hill of the Plant Proof Podcast, recorded in the run up to the Symposium, covering a wealth of detail on cardiovascular disease risk factors and the evidence on nutritional interventions. Resource links included.
News article by DFN’s co-founder Lucy Stegley, quoting from Dr Kim Williams and other Symposium presenters, with background about the content and objectives of the event.
DFN video interview with Dr Kim Williams
In this interview, filmed in Adelaide on the day of the Symposium, Dr Williams shares his experience of appearing in The Game Changers, explains his own transition to a plant-based diet, outlines his key concerns about ketogenic diets, and highlights the importance of nutrition education within the medical profession. With thanks to Inbound Creative for videography and editing.
Delegate feedback
The symposium has received positive feedback from delegates, including those within the healthcare sector and laypeople. The wordcloud below shows the most frequently-occurring words and phrases in praise of the event.

Our scholarship recipients emphasised the educational value they gained from the symposium. Below is a selection of their comments:
It was inspiring to hear from doctors who are currently practising the way I would like to in future, in addition to furthering my passion and interest in this area of medicine. – Medical student, University of Adelaide
I am interested in lifestyle-based interventions for people with depression and chronic illness … it is a privilege to learn more about the role of nutrition/lifestyle in disease prevention, and to hear the experts share their clinical experiences. – Health Psychology student, University of Adelaide
As a newly studying Nursing student I hope to be able to educate and aid individuals in fighting health conditions exacerbated by a ‘western diet’ which is what the Symposium speakers are doing. – Nursing student, University of Adelaide

Acknowledgements
This event would not have been possible without the assistance of numerous individuals, organisations and institutions. With warm thanks to:
Our presenters
• Dr Kim Williams • Dr Heleen Roex-Haitjema • Dr Juliette Roex • Dr Adrian Griscti • Deeni Betar-Young APD • Sylvia Gralak • Lucy Brown • Kate Abraham • Izzi Batt-Doyle • Ben Loaker • Samuel Ryland Mussared • Damian Espinase
Our event and scholarship donors
Our venue and venue host
The University of Adelaide Associate Professor Hubertus Jersmann
Our creatives
Ben Adlington and Josh Jarvis from Inbound Creative for filming the event
Jacqui Rose from Jacqui Brogan: Photography . Film . Graphic Design
Our event caterers
Plant B Life
Francesco’s Cicchetti
Wicked Coffee
Our media and promotional partners
Nourish Magazine Australia
Plant Based News
ABC Radio Adelaide
Climate and Health Alliance
International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention
Food For Life by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Our feature film
Our booth holders
Australian Plant Based Medical Students’ group
Doctors for the Environment Australia
Plant Powered Adelaide
Nourish Food & Wellness
Our ticketing partner
Our scholarship recipient attendees and all of our delegates