Recognized experts in medicine, nutrition and behavior change gather to share evidence on best practices to prevent disease May 19 to 21, 2018, at the 5th annual national nonprofit Plant-based Prevention Of Disease (P-POD) conference held at McKimmon Conference Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC.

​

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 86% of U.S. health care expenditures are attributed to chronic disease, 7 of the 10 leading causes of death are chronic diseases, and half of American adults suffer from at least one.  Yet, many of these diseases are preventable through dietary and lifestyle changes, which could save millions of lives and billions of dollars, and improve quality of life immeasurably.  Plant-based whole foods have long been associated with improved biomarkers of health, and those following vegetarian or vegan diets show lower rates of nearly every chronic disease.

​

Healthcare providers can be on the forefront of saving lives by promoting dietary changes, yet many are unfamiliar with the substantial scientific data on disease prevention, and untrained in behavior change methods.  The P-POD conference, a nonprofit without commercial funding, brings together 27 distinguished speakers (shown at https://www.preventionofdisease.org/speakers) to discuss nutritional research and action against disease, via lectures and round tables.

​

The 2nd annual Denis Burkitt, MD Memorial Lecture will be given by Kim A.Williams, MD FACC FASNC FAHA, Past President of the American College of Cardiology, and presently Chief of the Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush Medical College.  The program includes many other unique features throughout the three days, addressing the theme of “The FUTURE of Healthcare Begins with NUTRITION”.  7 of the 27 speakers are Registered Dietitians, and additionally the agenda includes “Perspectives of 8 Different Types of Practitioners“, in which a diverse array of other professionals show how they CAN indeed integrate informed nutrition consciousness within their (and/or their team’s) clinical practice, for purposes of addressing chronic disease risk.

​

The P-POD program includes two annual round tables dealing with local/national/international public policy matters, and with the challenges faced by clinical practitioners, as well as two speakers addressing the environmental implications of dietary choices.  Presenters will include Graham Colditz, MD DrPH;  Virginia Messina, MPH RDN;  Michael Klaper, MD;  Brenda Davis, RD;  Milton Mills, MD;  Saray Stancic, MD;  Stephen J. O'Keefe, MD(UK);  Lois Ellen Frank, PhD;  Baxter Montgomery, MD;  Caroline Trapp, DNP;  and many more.  The program will also include a Saturday evening dance party, a Sunday evening reception/social, optional early morning fitness classes, and vegan whole foods meals without wheat and with no-oil-added options.

​

16.75 to 17 hours of continuing education credits are offered to diverse professionals such as physicians, dietitians and nurses, and are also applicable for candidates for the 2018 American Board of Lifestyle Medicine certifying examination.  Credits are awarded in conjunction with MAHEC, Commission on Dietetic Registration and New Mexico Nurses Association, and all disclosures and details are found at https://www.preventionofdisease.org/continuing-education.

​

P-POD is committed to affordable registration costs.  The public is welcome, and sizable student discounts are available.  P-POD accepts no commercial support, sponsorships or influence.  Nonprofit collaborators and co-sponsors include Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine, and Asian Indians in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Registration is still open.  For information / registration, visit http://PreventionOfDisease.org or www.p-pod.org, or email info@p-pod.org. Some volunteering slots are still open, and inquiries may be emailed to volunteer@p-pod.org.

​

(570 words)