PlantPure Nation Board of Advisors
Neal Barnard
Dr. Neal Barnard is an adjunct associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Dr. Barnard received his medical degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the same institution. He practiced at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York before returning to Washington to found the Physicians Committee, where he leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research.
Dr. Barnard has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, and chronic pain, including a groundbreaking study of dietary interventions in type 2 diabetes, funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Barnard has authored more than 70 scientific publications as well as 17 books, including The New York Times bestsellers Power Foods for the Brain, 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart, and the USA Today bestseller Dr. Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes. —bio courtesy of www.pcrm.org
Colin Campbell
Dr. T. Colin Campbell is the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University and is best known for authoring the bestselling book The China Study with his son Thomas Campbell, M.D. He is the founder of the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and the online, internationally recognized PlantBased Nutrition Certificate offered by the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies in partnership with eCornell.
Dr. Campbell’s expertise and scientific interests encompass relationships between diet and diseases, particularly the causation of cancer. Dr. Campbell has conducted original research both in laboratory experiments and in largescale human studies and has authored over 300 research papers. He was trained at Cornell University (M.S., Ph.D.) and MIT (research associate) in nutrition, biochemistry, and toxicology. Dr. Campbell spent 10 years on the faculty of Virginia Tech’s Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition before returning to Cornell in 1975. His legacy, the China Project, is the most comprehensive study of health and nutrition ever conducted.—bio courtesy of nutritionstudies.org
Caldwell Esselstyn
Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. received his B.A. from Yale University and his M.D. from Western Reserve University. He was trained as a surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic and at St. George’s Hospital in London. Dr. Esselstyn has been associated with the Cleveland Clinic since 1968. During that time, he has served as President of the Staff and as a member of the Board of Governors. He chaired the Clinic’s Breast Cancer Task Force and headed its Section of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery. Dr. Esselstyn presently directs the cardiovascular prevention and reversal program at The Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute.
His scientific publications number over 150; “The Best Doctors in America” 1994–1995, published by Woodward and White, cites Dr. Esselstyn’s surgical expertise in the categories of endocrine and breast disease. In 1995 he published his benchmark long-term nutritional research on arresting and reversing coronary artery disease in severely ill patients. That same study was updated at 12 years and reviewed beyond 20 years in his book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, making it one of the longest longitudinal studies of its type. —bio courtesy of www.dresselstyn.com
Kathy Freston
Kathy Freston is a New York Times bestselling author with a concentration on healthy living and conscious eating. Her books include Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World, and Quantum Wellness: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Health and Happiness. Her newest book is THE LEAN: A Revolutionary (and Simple!) 30-Day Plan for Healthy, Lasting Weight Loss (Weinstein Books). Her work has garnered accolades from such respected names as Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Neal Barnard, Marianne Williamson and Dr. Deepak Chopra.
Freston has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Ellen, The Dr. O Show, The View, Good Morning America, Charlie Rose, The Martha Stewart Show, and Extra, and also on OWN. Her work has been featured notably in Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, Self, W, and Fitness. She is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post.
Freston promotes a body/mind/spirit approach to health and happiness that includes a concentration on healthy diet, emotional introspection, spiritual practice, and loving relationships, among other tenets. —bio courtesy of www.kathyfreston.com
Michael Greger
A founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Michael Greger, MD, is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues. He has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, testified before Congress, and was invited as an expert witness in the defense of Oprah Winfrey in the infamous “meat defamation” trial. In 2017, Dr. Greger was honored with the ACLM Lifestyle Medicine Trailblazer Award. He is a graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. His latest book How Not to Die became an instant New York Times Best Seller. He has videos on more than 2,000 health topics freely available at NutritionFacts.org, with new videos and articles uploaded every day. All proceeds he receives from his books, DVDs, and speaking engagements is all donated to charity.
Marilu Henner
With the energy of a teenager, the wisdom of a sage, and the memory of a superhero, Marilu Henner has deservedly earned the nickname “Perpetual Motion.” Along with starring in over 30 films, six Broadway shows, and two hit classic sitcoms, Taxi and Evening Shade, this five-time Golden Globe Nominee is also a New York Times bestselling author of nine books on health, parenting, memory, and lifestyle improvement. Her books, including the recent bestseller Total Memory Makeover, as well as Total Health Makeover, The 30-Day Total Health Makeover, I Refuse to Raise a Brat, Healthy Life Kitchen, Healthy Kids, Healthy Holidays, Wear Your Life Well, and By All Means Keep On Moving, have changed the lives of millions in her quest to make the world a healthier place.
Henner was a pioneer on the Internet, starting her own website, Marilu.com in 1999. In 2000, she began teaching online classes for her growing membership, as well as offering online counseling and support along with her twenty coaches who teach her Total Health Makeover (THM) lifestyle. Henner has spoken before Congress on seven occasions on various subjects, from dietary supplements to women’s cardiovascular disease to The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 2010 to the Veggie Caucus to deadbeat parents; she was one of only a few private citizens selected to contribute to the shaping of our government’s food pyramid. In January 2014, she again faced Congress to present healthy dietary guidelines as part of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. —bio courtesy of Marilu Henner
James Marcum, Senior Medical Advisor
Dr. Marcum is a plant-based cardiologist practicing with the Chattanooga Heart Institute. He received his undergraduate and medical training at the University of Texas. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the Medical Center of Delaware and Fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Kentucky.
He is speaker/director of HeartWise Ministries. Dr. Marcum produces the syndicated radio program, “Heartwise”, heard on 300 affiliates and is host of the television programs, “Ultimate Prescription” and “Heart of Health Live.” This ministry is dedicated to promoting a balanced and evidence-based approach to healthcare.
Dr. Marcum has been named by USA Today as one of the most influential physicians. His latest books “Medicines that Kill” and “Ultimate Prescription” are giving new perspectives on medicine and healing. He gives seminars nationwide and serves as medical advisor to several organizations.
Terry Mason
Dr. Terry Mason is the chief medical officer (CMO) of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System, overseeing hospital quality and safety, coordination of clinical care, and graduate medical education. Prior to his role as CMO, Dr. Mason was appointed the Chicago Public Health Commissioner by Mayor Richard M. Daley. He received his Bachelor’s of Science degree from Loyola University and went on to obtain his medical degree from the University of Illinois College Of Medicine.
After medical school, Dr. Mason completed a general surgery residency at the University of Illinois and a urology residency at Michael Reese Hospital. He is a nationally renowned health educator and is well known for pioneering the use of brachytherapy and for his expertise in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Dr. Mason recently served as interim chief executive officer of the Cook County Health and Hospitals system (CCHHS), overseeing the day-to-day operations of the third-largest public health delivery system in the country. —bio courtesy of publichealth.uic.edu
Michael McEntee
With more than 40 years of experience in healthcare administration and clinical laboratory science, Michael McEntee is a proven healthcare innovator.
A co-founder of eTrueNorth, Michael reimagined a healthcare system dedicated to disease prevention through medical consumerism. He developed strategies and technologies that increase access to programs and services treating obesity and chronic disease by empowering local pharmacists to administer preventive screenings, engage in medication management, and close clinical gaps in care.
With this focus on improved access and lower cost, eTrueNorth has dramatically expanded delivery of screening and diagnostic testing in the U.S. through their network of more than 7,500 CLIA waived laboratories in retail pharmacies.
Michael believes these partnerships with retail pharmacies, self-funded employers, third-party payors, and pharmaceutical manufacturers will improve our collective ability to identify undiagnosed diseases and better manage chronic conditions. Bio courtesy of www.etruenorth.com
Tracye McQuirter
A vegan trailblazer, public health nutritionist, author, lecturer, and 30-year vegan, Tracye McQuirter, MPH, has been teaching plant-based nutrition seminars for nearly 30 years. She has a master’s degree in public health nutrition from New York University and a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College. McQuirter served as program director of the nation’s first federally funded vegan nutrition program, the Vegetarian Society of DC Eat Smart Program. She also served as a policy advisor for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, helping to create the strategy for a groundbreaking lawsuit proving food industry bias in the formation of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.
McQuirter co-founded one of the first vegan websites 17 years ago, and the first-ever vegan website by and for African Americans. She is a national authority on preventing and reversing chronic diseases in African American women using plant-based nutrition, and has been credited in part with increasing the number of African American vegans and vegetarians to nearly 3 million people. —bio courtesy of byanygreensnecessary.com