By Beth Machnica, MPH, MS RDN, CDN

What if the most powerful medicine isn’t in a bottle but on our plates? This year’s 5th Annual Food as Medicine Symposium gathers some of the brightest minds and passionate leaders to explore that question and transform how we view health.

Today, over 60% of Americans live with a chronic disease that is often preventable, manageable, and reversible through proper nutrition and lifestyle changes. With millions of families experiencing food insecurity, the need for innovative, collaborative solutions has never been more crucial.

The Food as Medicine Symposium, held from October 23 to 25, will showcase physicians, dietitians, healthcare leaders, wellness businesses, athletes, public health professionals, and community advocates harnessing the power of food to prevent disease, promote healing, and advance health equity.

Sessions will focus on women’s health and nutrition, as well as innovative strategies in nutrition for enhanced performance, whether for athletes on the field or individuals seeking daily vitality. Culinary medicine workshops will offer practical tools that turn scientific knowledge into actionable steps for use in clinics, workplaces, and homes. Integrative functional medicine experts will demonstrate how combining traditional and lifestyle approaches can improve patient outcomes. Additionally, community leaders will highlight the power of cultural interventions that respect traditions while encouraging lasting change.

This symposium is for anyone who believes that the food we eat should help us thrive, not just survive. It’s an opportunity to learn, connect, and contribute to a growing national conversation shaping the future of health. Food as medicine isn’t just a concept—it’s a movement, and it’s happening right here in Buffalo. For tickets, visit https://theticketing.co/e/famsymposium2025. Buffalo Healthy Living readers receive a 20% discount, and students can obtain free tickets by emailing healthycommunities@bnmc.org.

Beth Machnica is the Director of Health and Well-Being at Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.