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Embark on a journey towards health and happiness.

Join us for the 6th Annual
Community of Wellness Symposium & Gala!
May 16–17, 2024

Are you aware that a simple self-care routine can improve your health and wellbeing? It’s true!

Attend our annual Symposium and Gala to discover your path to health and happiness through improvements in your self-care practices. Plant-based nutrition, movement, restful sleep, social connection, stress management, and finding your passion can help you live your best life!

Learn about lifestyle medicine from leading health experts who will offer practical advice on how to become your happiest and healthiest self! They’ll share tips to prevent and reverse common health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. Plus, all attendees receive a light whole-food, plant-based breakfast and lunch.

The Community of Wellness Symposium & Gala is a 2-day event filled with practical advice on how to make small shifts in your daily life for better health.

For healthcare professionals — 1.25 CEU available through Winona State University

Food is fuel!

Provide your body with the right foods and give it the nutrition it needs to thrive.

Rest Up!

Keep your body running at peak performance by taking a break and resetting your system.

Relax and Recharge!

Take time to re-center, and step back from the everyday hustle and bustle.

Connect and Thrive!

Build a community of support to reap the benefits of support from like-minded individuals.

Follow Your Passion!

Lose track of time doing something you love.

Get Moving!

Revitalize your existing fitness routine or discover a new reason to get active.

Dr. Amit Sood

Don’t miss the 2024 Community of Wellness Gala celebration!

The “Community of Wellness” Gala on the evening of May 17 will feature a keynote presentation from Dr. Amit Sood with practical tips to cultivate a lifestyle full of resilience, gratitude, kindness, and happiness. A panel discussion will follow with local and national experts discussing the connection between Lifestyle and Happiness. Guests will enjoy delicious whole food, plant-based dinner, live music, silent auction, and an opportunity to network with local health professionals, wellness practitioners, and community organizations dedicated to promoting holistic health. The event will also serve as a tribute to Dr. Hans Diehl, honoring his significant contributions to the Rochester community. Dr. Diehl was a pioneer in Lifestyle Medicine and a lifelong champion of the power of preventative medicine.

Dr. Hans Diehl

Special Bonus for Symposium Attendees!

Weight Loss Champion, Chuck Carroll will host an episode of his nationally recognized The Exam Room Podcast LIVE! Sponsored by the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), this show brings together cutting-edge research with practical tips on how to radically improve your health with plant-based nutrition. Don’t miss it!

Meet Our Featured Speakers

Amit Sood, MD, MS, FACP

Thomas Kottke, MD, MSPH

Courtney Baechler, MD

Brian Carlsen, MD

Lauren Plunkett, RDN LD CDCES

Sara Persinger, DNP, FNP-C

Dawn Jacobson, MD

Letticia Callies, Certified Clinical Aromatherapist

Chad Hergott PT, DPT

Event Hosts

Mei Liu

Ron Hanson

Denise Stegall

Event Musicians

Dwight Jennings

Steven Bjorn van Donselaar

Elden Lai

Tracy Youngberg

Symposium Agenda

Day 1

Thursday, May 16, 2024
8:00 – 8:15am	Introduction – Ron Hanson and Denise Stegall, Emcee; Mei Liu, Founder and President; Mayor Kim Norton
8:15 – 8:45am	Wayne Dysinger, MD, MPH A New Health Care Paradigm
8:45 – 9:15am	Eddie Ramirez, MD The Fires that Destroy Health: Inflammation
9:15 – 9:30am	Q&A
9:30 – 9:45am	Break 1: Chad Hergott, PT will lead the group with stretching exercises.
9:45 – 10:45am	Jengyu Lai, DPM, DipABLM Osteoarthritis: an inflammatory disease Chad Hergott, PT Physical therapy for osteoarthritis
10:45 – 11:00am	Break 2
11:00 – 11:45am	Letticia Callies, Certified Clinical Aromatherapist and Meiping Liu, MS, MBA Mindfulness
11:45am – 12:00pm	Q&A
12:00 – 1:00pm	Lunch break
1:00 – 1:30pm	Dawn Jacobson, MD Hormone Balance for Health and Happiness
1:30 – 2:00pm	Sara Persinger, DNP, DipABLM The Practice of Mindful Acceptance
2:00 – 2:15pm	Q&A
2:15 – 2:30pm	Break 3
2:30 – 3:00pm	Chuck Carroll Protein and Weight Loss from the Perspective of a person who lost 275 lbs.
3:00 – 3:30pm	Brenda Davis, RD Plant Powered Protein
3:30 – 3:45pm	Q&A
3:45 – 4:00pm	Break 4
4:00 – 4:30pm	Panel Discussions
5:30 – 6:15pm	Walk With A Doc (WWAD) – Jengyu Lai, DPM & Chad Hergott, PT
6:15 – 6:45pm	Refreshments and Connections
6:45 – 7:45pm	Chuck Carroll Overcoming Food Addiction and 10,000 Calories Per Day Junk Food Habit Panel Discussions – Healthy Weight, Healthy Life

Day 2

Friday, May 17, 2024
8:00 – 8:15am	Introduction – Ron Hanson and Denise Stegall, Emcee; Mei Liu, Founder and President, Mayor Kim Norton
8:15 – 8:45am	Eddie Ramirez, MD Body Clocks and Your Health
8:45 – 9:15am	Wayne Dysinger, MD Gut Health and Fasting
9:15 – 9:30am	Q&A
9:30 – 9:45am	Break 1
9:45 – 10:30am	Dawn Mussallem, DO, DipABLM The Journey Within: Self-discovery, Love, and Connectedness
10:30 – 10:45am	Break 2
10:45 – 11:15am	Brian Carlsen, MD, DipABLM Thriving With Diabetes
11:15 – 11:45am	Lauren Plunkett, RD Transforming Type 1 Diabetes through Lifestyle Habits… and a Dash of Disobedience
11:45am – 12:00pm	Q&A
12:00 – 1:00pm	Lunch break
1:00 – 1:30pm	Courtney Baechler, MD Mental Health and Heart Disease
1:30 – 2:00pm	Thomas Kottke, MD romoting Personal and Community Well-being Through Civility, Kindness and Appreciation
2:00 – 2:15pm	Q&A
2:15 – 2:30pm	Break 3
2:30 – 3:00pm	Panel Discussion Healthy Weight, Healthy Life

Gala Agenda

Friday, May 17, 2024

5:30 – 6:00pm Social Hour

6:00 – 6:15pm Welcome and Introduction
Welcome and Introduction – Denise Stegall, Ron Hanson, Emcee; Mei Liu, Founder and President; Mayor Kim Norton

6:15 – 7:15pm Dinner

7:15 – 7:35pm A Tribute to Dr. Hans Diehl
Honoring Dr. Diehl’s significant contributions to Rochester and the local healthcare community. Dr. Diehl was a pioneer in Lifestyle Medicine and a lifelong champion of the power of preventative medicine.

7:35 – 7:40pm Jazz music performance

7:40 – 8:10pm Keynote: Amit Sood, MD
Resilient Option–Keys to Happiness

8:10 – 8:30pm Panel discussion
Local stakeholders including the Mayor, guest speakers, corporate leaders, and the community at large will reflect the lifestyle medicine principles presented at the conference and how we can effectively apply those to our daily life. A conversation on how we create happiness at different places, roles, and stages of our life.

8:30 – 8:45pm Closing

Friday, May 17, 2024
5:30 – 6:00pm	Social Hour
6:00 – 6:15pm	Welcome and Introduction Welcome and Introduction – Denise Stegall, Ron Hanson, Emcee; Mei Liu, Founder and President; Mayor Kim Norton
6:15 – 7:15pm	Dinner
7:15 – 7:35pm	A Tribute to Dr. Hans Diehl Honoring Dr. Diehl’s significant contributions to Rochester and the local healthcare community. Dr. Diehl was a pioneer in Lifestyle Medicine and a lifelong champion of the power of preventative medicine.
7:35 – 7:40pm	Jazz music performance
7:40 – 8:10pm	Keynote: Amit Sood, MD Resilient Option–Keys to Happiness
8:10 – 8:30pm	Panel discussion Local stakeholders including the Mayor, guest speakers, corporate leaders, and the community at large will reflect the lifestyle medicine principles presented at the conference and how we can effectively apply those to our daily life. A conversation on how we create happiness at different places, roles, and stages of our life.
8:30 – 8:45pm	Closing