International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine Tackles Today’s Most Pressing Nutrition Topics in Washington, D.C., Aug. 13-15

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Are ultra-processed foods actually good for you? What is the future for GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy? How did politics and industry influence the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans? What is causing the surge in the tickborne alpha-gal syndrome meat allergy and how can people protect themselves? These are just a few of today’s most pressing nutrition topics that more than 30 of the world’s leading nutrition experts will tackle at the 14th annual International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine, taking place in Washington, D.C., Aug. 13-15, 2026.

“We’ll be revealing the meat industry’s influences on the new Food Pyramid, how the foods you put on your plate affect the planet, and the role of nutrition in menopause, the microbiome, and more,” says Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. “Clinicians will also walk away with the lifesaving knowledge and resources to help them put nutrition into action in their practices.”

Hundreds of physicians, nurses, dietitians, nutrition educators, and others will learn about the latest research on nutrition and how to use it in their everyday practice. Highlights from the three-day agenda include:

• Opening Remarks: American Medical Association President Willie Underwood, MD, will kick off the conference.
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Christopher Gardner, PhD, Stanford professor, nutrition scientist, and lead researcher in the Netflix documentary You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment, will delve into the advice, inconsistencies, politics, and industry influence in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• Ultra-Processed Foods: Kevin Hall, MD, an internationally recognized expert in human nutrition, metabolism, obesity, and neuroscience, will share the latest research on processed foods.
• GLP-1 Agonists: Vanita Rahman, MD, director of the Barnard Medical Center, will discuss GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss and where we are now.
• Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Thomas Platts-Mills, MD, a professor of medicine and microbiology at the University of Virginia who discovered the syndrome, will discuss the tickborne red meat allergy.
• Breast Cancer: Kristi Funk, MD, breast surgeon and owner of Pink Lotus Breast Center, will address the topic of ethnic disparities in breast cancer.
• Eating for the Environment: Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, director of clinical research for the Physicians Committee, will discuss plant-based eating for human and planetary health.
• Meat and Mortality: Kim Williams, MD, a cardiologist and the chair of medicine at the University of Louisville, will discuss the toxicology of animal foods.
• Pain: Michael Greger, MD, founder of NutritionFacts.org and author of the How Not to Die series, will cover diet and lifestyle approaches to pain management. 
• Erectile Dysfunction: Robert Ostfeld, MD, director of preventive cardiology and the founder and director of the Cardiac Wellness Program at Montefiore Health System, will discuss how diet and lifestyle impact ED.
• Brain Health: Aedín Cassidy, PhD, director for interdisciplinary research at the Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University, Belfast, will discuss the health benefits of anthocyanins—plant pigments that give foods like cocoa and berries their color—followed by Howard Sesso, ScD, associate professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, discussing the effects of cocoa on cognition and Chef Dustin Harder discussing the culinary applications of berries and cocoa along with a food tasting.

Additional topics include the gut microbiome, heart disease, diabetes, menopause and hormone replacement therapy, kidney health, nutrition for kids, and more.

The conference, which includes plant-based breakfasts and lunches, is jointly provided by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit health advocacy organization of more than 17,000 physician members, and the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Physicians, nurses, dietitians, health coaches, and pharmacists can earn up to 20 continuing education credits for attending.

Learn more about the International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine, which attendees may attend in person or virtually, at PCRM.org/ICNM.