ABOUT PAN

PAN empowers health professionals, individuals and communities to recognize and use whole food, plant-based nutrition as a powerful tool to create and sustain optimal health. We aim to do so by:

● Providing evidence-based education on nutrition in the prevention and treatment of diseases

● Creating easy to use spaces and tools in order to experience and understand the preventive and therapeutic power of nutrition in health

● Supporting a worldwide community of dedicated individuals in order to effectively work under local conditions

● Strengthening and supporting the scientific community around issues of nutrition and health

ABOUT PAN USA

As the US national office of PAN International, PAN USA works to:

● Create age-appropriate nutrition programs to support pediatric health professionals and families

● Provide resources to expand knowledge of the science of plant-based diets

● Develop support for PAN’s work globally and in the United States

PAN USA BOARD AND TEAM

Dr. Tracy Cushing

Research Advisor
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Megan Fischer

Director of Operations
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Michael Greger, MD

Board Member
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Patty Haan

Board Treasurer
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Mark Hofmann

Board Secretary
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Allan Kornberg, MD

Board President
USA Medical & Executive Director
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Niklas Oppenrieder, MD

Board Chair
INT Medical Director
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Carissa Pitalo

Nutrition for Families Program Manager

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Margaret Telfer

Strategic Advisor
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The current scientific evidence points to a diet centered around whole, unrefined, or minimally processed plant foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, spices, nuts, and seeds.

This is what can be described as a “whole food, plant-based diet.” We will closely monitor the latest evidence in order to continuously reevaluate and update our content and recommendations.

Dr. Tracy Cushing is an associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and faculty in the section for Climate Change and Human Health. She has extensive teaching background in wilderness and environmental medicine, as well as writing, research, and editorial experience. Dr. Cushing is involved with research on clinical nutrition education, clinician's attitudes towards plant based diets, and the role of diet in climate change.

Dr. Cushing received her MD from New York University, completed her emergency medicine residency at the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency in Boston, and her MPH at the TH Chan Harvard School of Public Health.

As PAN USA's Director of Operations, Megan Fischer brings many years of experience in nonprofit administration, communications and project management, as well as a long-time commitment to the benefits of plant-based nutrition to health and well being.

She received a MA in Museum Studies/Public Humanities from Brown University, a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Tufts University, and a BA in Sociology from the University of Georgia.

Michael Greger, MD, FACLM is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues. Dr. Greger has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, and numerous international conferences.

Dr. Greger is licensed as a general practitioner, specializing in clinical nutrition, and is a founding member and fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He was featured on the Healthy Living Channel promoting his latest nutrition DVDs and was honored to teach part of Dr. T. Colin Campbell's esteemed nutrition course at Cornell University.

Author of The Scary Truth Behind America's Low Carb Craze, Dr. Greger's latest book, How Not to Die, became an instant New York Times bestseller. He is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Agriculture and the Tufts University School of Medicine. Greger's work can be found at www.nutritionfacts.org, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Patty Haan serves as PAN USA’s Treasurer and is a volunteer on PAN International’s fundraising team. She brings extensive experience in both corporate and nonprofit start-ups and foundation philanthropy.

Patty received her MBA in Finance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and her MPA from Grand Valley State University in Michigan.

As PAN International's Executive Director, Mark Hofmann brings extensive professional experience and is responsible for the entire organization's business management. He also serves as Board Secretary for PAN USA.

He studied Business Administration in Munich, Germany, specializing in Project Consultancy and International Management.

Dr. Allan Kornberg served as Vice-Chair and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Buffalo, and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Brown University.

He has served as medical director with managed care organizations and provider institutions, as well as government and advocacy groups, typically working with complicated populations, both clinically and socioeconomically.

Dr. Kornberg received his BS in Biology from MIT, his MD from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and his MBA from the University of Rochester.

Niklas Oppenrieder is a physician specializing in pediatrics at Aschaffenburg Hospital in Germany.

Being both PAN International’s Medical Director and Chair of the Board of PAN USA, he heads the strategic development of both organizations, applying his medical and scientific expertise as a pediatrician as well as his first-hand technical knowledge as a member of several different medical associations.

Carissa Pitalo brings years of experience in business management, plant-based education, and public speaking, with a demonstrated history of working in the nonprofit sector, to her role as PAN’s Nutrition for Families Program Manager. She is a passionate advocate for a whole food plant-based diet for good health, as well as environmental stewardship. Carissa’s studies include business management, accounting, and plant-based nutrition.

As Strategic Advisor, Margaret Telfer uses her experience in business and on non-profit boards to grow PAN USA. She is a nationally certified Wellness Coach trained at the Mayo Clinic, a plant-based chef, and deeply committed to the health benefits of good nutrition. As a community volunteer, she has raised millions of dollars for libraries and literary organizations and is using that experience to help find support for PAN USA.