Oregon Convention Center
Professional Presentations for Health Care Providers and the Community
The Northwest Health and Nutrition Conference is a golden opportunity for you to find out the latest information on plant-based diets with respect to clinical nutrition, the effects of diet on chronic disease prevention and control, and on designing an optimum plant-based diet. Interest in plant-based diets is growing, and Portland, Oregon has become a center for that developing interest. This is a professional conference, offering up to 6.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for many medical professionals (6.0 for dietitians), but others with strong interests in health and diet issues are welcome to attend.
Faculty & Talk Descriptions

Michael Klaper, MD
Putting Nutrition to Work in Autoimmune Disease: Plates over Pills
Presentation slides here
Michael Klaper, MD, is a gifted clinician, internationally recognized teacher, and sought-after speaker on diet and health. He has practiced medicine for more than 40 years, and is a leading educator in applied plant-based nutrition and integrative medicine. www.doctorklaper.com

Paulette Chandler, MD, MPH
Nutrition and Cancer: Fight Cancer the Whole Foods Way
Presentation slides here (draft - may add additional slides)
Paulette Chandler, MD, MPH, is a board-certified internal medicine physician, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Associate Epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. She has expertise in clinical innovation using nutrition for chronic disease prevention. As a cancer researcher, her research focuses on evaluating the role of nutrition in cancer prevention and cancer survival and translating the findings into clinical practice. harvard.edu

Neil Nedley, MD
Nutrition, Depression, and Mental Performance
Presentation slides here
Neil Nedley, MD, directs the world's most comprehensive program for depression and anxiety recovery, utilizing nutrition and lifestyle modalities to alleviate these mental illnesses. His program also greatly enhances general intelligence and emotional intelligence. Dr. Nedley is author of three books, including Proof Positive: How to Reliably Combat Disease and Achieve Optimal Health Through Nutrition and Lifestyle, and also an 8-part DVD Workbook Series that is used extensively in mental health education programs throughout the U.S. and other countries. nedleyhealthsolutions.com

Matt Ruscigno, MPH, RD
Plant-based and Powerful: What We Know About Vegan Athletes
Presentation slides here
Athletes are turning to plant foods in increased numbers, but can they thrive without animal products? This talk will discuss nutrient needs and sources, with a focus on protein and iron, as well as the impact physical activity and plant-based diets have on bone health. Matthew Ruscigno, MPH, RD, is the past Chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, works in private practice and is the co-author of No Meat Athlete with Matt Frazier and Appetite for Reduction with Isa Moskowitz. Matt has rare insight into the small but expanding world of plant-based athletics through nutrition counseling, his 19 years of veganism and the video documentary series on vegan athletes he co-founded, Strongest Hearts. An athlete himself, Matt races in ironman triathlons, ultramarathons and 24-hour mountain bike races. truelovehealth.com

Carol DeFrancesco, MALS, RDN, LD
Motivational Interviewing: Conversations that Lead to Change
Presentation slides here
Carol DeFrancesco, MA, RD, LD, is a Senior Research Associate of Medicine in the division of Health Promotion and Sports Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). She originally joined the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition at OHSU, working with Dr. William E. Connor and Sonja L. Connor conducting omega-3 fatty acid research, counseling in the Lipid Disorders Clinic and editing the Lipid News. In 1999, Carol joined the Division of Health Promotion and Sports Medicine and now coordinates PHLAME (Promoting Healthy Lifestyles Assessing More Effects), a research project studying health behavior change in fire fighters. Carol trained as a Motivational Interviewing trainer and is an active member of the international network of Motivational Interviewing trainers. She teaches sports nutrition, yoga and motivational interviewing at OHSU, and has published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles and is an accomplished speaker and motivational interviewing trainer. ohsu.edu
Schedule
Friday, November 13, 2015
Time | Presentation |
---|---|
7:45-8:30 | Registration |
8:30-8:45 | Welcome Remarks |
8:45-10:00 | Neil Nedley, MD: Nutrition, Depression, and Mental Performance |
10:15-11:30 | Paulette Chandler, MD: Nutrition and Cancer: Fight Cancer the Whole Foods Way |
11:45-1:00 | Carol DeFrancesco, MALS, RDN, LD: Motivational Interviewing: Conversations that Lead to Change. |
1:00-2:15 | Lunch |
2:15-3:30 | Matt Ruscigno, RD, MPH: Plant-based and Powerful: What We Know About Vegan Athletes |
3:45-5:00 | Michael Klaper, MD: Putting Nutrition to Work in Autoimmune Disease: Plates over Pills |
5:00-5:05 | Closing Remarks |
Conference Hotel
There is no hotel directly at the Convention Center, so we have reserved a block of rooms at the DoubleTree, on the MAX line about 6 blocks east of the Convention Center:
DoubleTree by Hilton
1000 NE Multnomah
Portland, OR 97232
Use this link to reserve your room, but do so before October 15. Room rates are $134/night for a standard queen bed, and $144/night for two queen beds and a balcony.