Veggie Fest Speakers

Don’t miss the talks given by expert health and education professionals about diet, lifestyle, meditation, and environmental issues. Presenters will focus on providing information to help deepen your understanding of these topics. They will inspire and motivate you to take action and look at new ways to improve your health and wellbeing. Parking and admission are free, and all are invited to register online. Talks will be held at three locations at Danada South Park. Program guides and map will be handed out.

Keynote & Distinguished Speakers

August 10- 11

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

Head of Science of Spirituality and Author Veggie Fest Keynote Speaker Saturday, 2:30 pm: Meditation for Healthy Living (Main Tent)
Sunday, 2:30 pm: Inner Peace through Meditation (Main Tent) Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is a world-renowned spiritual Master (or guide) and author who teaches meditation for personal transformation. He gives help and guidance, teaching a simple method of meditation so one can experiment and test for one’s self its transformative benefits for body, mind, and soul. He is author of numerous books, including Meditation as Medication for the Soul, articles, and blogs, sharing this practical method of meditation. His programs are regularly broadcast on TV, radio, and on the Internet. His work in the fields of science, computers, and communications has given him the ability to offer a scientific approach to spirituality. He explains meditation as a science and makes it easy for people to understand and practice for themselves. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj holds meditation seminars, gives public lectures, and hosts international conferences presenting his powerful, yet simple meditation to millions throughout the world. His life has been one continuous thread of service to humanity to bring about a world of peace and spiritual upliftment.

August 10

Dr. Neal Barnard, M.D., F.A.C.C.

M.D., Adjunct Assoc. Prof. at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC & President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Saturday, 1:00 pm: The Power of Plant-Based Food for Health (Main Tent) Dr. Neal Barnard, M.D., F.A.C.C., is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. 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 Institute of Health that paved the way for viewing type 2 diabetes as a potentially reversible condition for many patients. Dr. Barnard has authored more than 90 scientific publications and 20 books for medical and lay readers, and is the editor in chief of the Nutrition Guide for Clinicians, a textbook made available to all U.S. medical students. As president of the Physicians Committee, Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research. His research contributed to the acceptance of plant-based diets in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In 2015, he was named a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. In 2016, he founded the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, DC, as a model for making nutrition a routine part of all medical care. Working with the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and the American Medical Association, Dr. Barnard has authored key resolutions, now part of AMA policy, calling for a new focus on prevention and nutrition in federal policies and in medical practice. In 2018, he received the Medical Society of the District of Columbia’s Distinguished Service Award. He has hosted four PBS television programs on nutrition and health. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Dr. Barnard received his M.D. 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.
Talk Description:
We now know that, properly chosen, foods can reverse heart disease, slash cholesterol and blood pressure, and sometimes even make diabetes go away. Foods can ease sore joints, make weight loss easy, and cure erectile dysfunction, and that’s just for starters. Dr. Neal Barnard’s research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, revolutionized the treatment of type 2 diabetes and is yielding surprising findings for other health conditions. As head of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, he is working to change federal food guidelines. Dr. Barnard is the author of 20 books on food and health, including Power Foods for the Brain, which in 2014 showed that there is more to Alzheimer’s disease than genes and old age. In this lively and inspiring talk, Dr. Barnard will show the power of foods and share easy steps for putting that power to work.

August 11

Terry Mason, M.D.

COO of the Cook County Health Department Sunday, 1:00 pm: Why Plants Work: Increasing Your Quality of Life (Main Tent) Terry Mason, M.D., is currently the COO for the Cook County Department of Public Health. He has had a distinguished career spanning 30 years as a Urological Surgeon, the last 10 years serving as Chief Medical Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer. For over 20 years he’s hosted a weekly radio health talk show—Dr. in the House with Dr. Terry Mason—promoting a healthy lifestyle. He was featured in the groundbreaking film Forks Over Knives.

August 10

John Salley, NBA Athlete

Wellness and Vegan Advocate Saturday, 4:00 pm: Elite Athletes on the Plant-Based Diet (Main Tent) John Salley, NBA Athlete, is the definition of father, athlete, actor, entrepreneur, talk-show host, philanthropist, wellness advocate, vegan and champion.A proud native of Brooklyn, New York, John found a love for basketball at an early age. He accepted a Basketball Scholarship to Georgia Tech to play for legendary head coach Bobby Cremins. From there Salley went on to become a 15-year NBA veteran and was the first NBA player to win four championships with three different teams. During the 80’s, Salley was a member of the Detroit Piston “Bad Boys” squad. Salley went on to Chicago playing with Michael Jordan as part of the Bulls 1996 championship team. In 1999, Phil Jackson invited Salleyto come to Los Angeles to provide experience and leadership to the 1999-2000 Lakers’ championship team. After his retirement from the NBA in 2000, Salley explored several opportunities in both television and film. John’s film credits include Bad Boys 1 & 2, Eddie and Jerry Bruckheimer’s Confession of a Shopaholic. John has served as host for numerous award shows and was also the host of The John Salley Block Partyon 100.3 The Beat Morning Show in Los Angeles. John recently hosted the Reunion Shows of VH-1’s #1 rated show, Basketball Wives. John spent 7 years serving as the co-host of the Emmy nominated, critically acclaimed “The Best Damn Sports Show Period” on Fox Sports Net. He was also the host of the sports talk show “Ballers” on BET. John is the head of his own production company, John Salley Presents, Inc., where he uses his uncanny ability to find unique and interesting people and projects for television, film, and Internet. In April 2011 until recently, John hosted his own talk show Game On! airing on The Reelz Channel. In addition, John was also a co-host on The Car Show, airing on Speed Channel. John has also been the MC for numerous Corporate and Charity events. John is actively involved with Operation Smile, PETA and the fight against Diabetes. In addition, John is involved with PCRM and visited Washington speaking to Congress about the Child Nutrition Act, asking Members to support legislation that would increase vegetarian options in meals served in public schools. John has adopted a plant based (raw vegan) lifestyle, and is a frequent speaker at Veg Fest’s across the USA. As a Wellness Advocate, one of John’s main missions in life is to continue to educate people on the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle thru better eating habits. You can follow John on Facebook John Salley, Twitter @thejohnsalley.com and his website, www.johnsalley.com. John currently lives in Los Angeles with his family.

August 10

Saraswati Sukumar, Ph.D.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Saturday, 12:00 pm: Cancer Prevention with Foods and Herbs (Main Tent) Saraswati Sukumar, Ph.D. is the Barbara B. Rubenstein Professor of Oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in Johns Hopkins, Professor of Pathology, JHUSOM. She joined her first faculty position at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA in 1988 and then moved to Johns Hopkins Oncology Center in 1994 as Associate Professor to assume the position of Director of Basic Research at the newly formed breast cancer research program. She was promoted to Professor in 2001. Her lab developed a blood test, cMethDNA that is currently being automated for use in predicting the course of disease and for prognosticating the outcome of metastatic breast cancer. She has also developed a rapid, automated test for breast cancer diagnosis using fine needle aspirates for detecting breast cancer in suspicious lesions in the underdeveloped countries of the world. She is passionate about her research on prevention of breast cancer using natural products and spices. She is a firm believer in the positive power of meditation and a vegetarian diet.

August 11

Kunwarjit Duggal, M.D.

Rehabilitative Medicine Sunday, 4:00 pm: Eat Green, Get Lean (Main Tent) Kunwarjit Singh Duggal, M.D., F.A.A.P.M.R., is a board-certified specialist in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist (Physiatrist). He earned his medical degree at Rush Medical in Chicago, IL. Dr. Duggal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rush University Medical Center where he lectures on several topics and teaches resident physicians. Dr. Duggal specializes in Pain Management (Non-Surgical Orthopedics, Stroke & Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Spine Pain, Balance/Gait problems, Musculoskeletal Medicine, Electro-diagnostic Medicine, and treatment of the elderly). He lectures extensively on the health benefits of lifestyle modifications including meditation, the plant-based diet, therapeutic exercise, inner peace, and stress-management. He is a contributing author to the book Meditation as Medication for the Soul.

August 11

Arran Stephens

Founder & CEO, Nature’s Path Organic Sunday, 5:00 pm: Meditation: Finding Balance in a Hectic World (Main Tent) Arran Stephens, is the founder and Co-CEO of North America’s largest independent and family-owned organic, vegetarian breakfast foods company, Nature’s Path Organic Foods. Arran has been meditating since 1965 under the guidance of renowned mentors while building an extraordinary enterprise. Along the way, he has received many awards for his lifelong commitment to the environment, volunteering, and philanthropy. Additionally, Arran is a highly accomplished oil painter as well as author of The Compassionate Diet: How What You Eat Can Change Your Life and Save the Planet and Journey to the Luminous: Encounters with Mystic Adepts of our Century.
Talk Description:
Sharing by organic food pioneer, author, and seeker: Come and hear his fascinating account as an entrepreneur and wayfarer, and how he maintains balance between the demands of the world and spiritual practice.

Special Guest Speakers

August 10

Tim Fior, M.D.

Family Practice, Homeopathic Medicine Saturday, 1:00 pm: Overmedicated, Undernourished (Tent B) Tim Fior, M.D. has been practicing Family Medicine and Homeopathy in the Chicagoland area since 1988. He is the co-founder and current president of the Illinois Homeopathic Medical Association, a founding partner for the Center for Integral Health, and Ajunct Faculty at National University of the Health Sciences in Lombard, Illinois. Dr. Fior is a contributor to the book Meditation as Medication for the Soul and has been meditating for over 30 years.
Talk Description:
In the US we are experiencing an epidemic of individuals who are over medicated and undernourished. Dr. Fior will explore how diseases such as heart disease and cancer can be prevented and treated with a transition to a whole food, plant-based diet.

August 11

James Gruft, M.D.

Founder & CEO of From Pain to Wellness Sunday, 4:00 pm: Optimize Your Brain through Plant-Based Nutrients (Tent A) James H. Gruft, M.D., is one of the most forward-thinking pain management specialists. He is the author of From Pain to Wellness: Getting Help and Finding Freedom From Chronic Pain and founder- director of From Pain to Wellness, LLC based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Dr. Gruft is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (P.M.& R, F.A.A.P.M.R) and Pain Medicine (D.A.B.P.M.). Voted as Best Doctor by a nationwide survey of doctors, Dr. Gruft is respected by physicians throughout the country as one of the premier pain specialists practicing today.
Dr. Gruft is a vegetarian, and his health center is vegetarian friendly. He is versed in functional medicine which uses nutrition to address medical issues. A gifted and highly sought-after guest lecturer and speaker, Dr. Gruft has presented to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation on “Comparison of the MOMC (Modified Orientation Memory Concentration)” and as guest lecturer for the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Cincinnati on “Comprehensive Management of Chronic Pain,” (among other engagements). Dr. Gruft regularly teaches C.M.E courses such as “The Use of Opioids in the Treatment of Non-malignant Chronic Pain,” “Pain Management Guidelines: Development, Implementation and Evaluation,“ and offers courses on “Progress in Neuropathic Pain, Mechanism-Based Classifications of Neuropathic Pain Syndrome” and more.
He is a fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a Diplomat of the American Board of Pain Medicine, and member of American Academy of Pain Medicine. As assistant professor at Rush Medical College, Dr. Gruft regularly trains resident physicians in the art and science of pain medicine. At Rush Medical College he received a Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Teacher of the Year for exhibiting the highest quality of teaching to physical medicine and rehabilitation residents. He earned the Golden Apple Award in recognition for excellence in teaching and training at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.
Dr. Gruft received his M.D. from George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Columbia University’s College of Physician and Surgeons, Presbyterian Hospital in New York. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife and their two children.

August 10

Ajili Hodari, Esq.

Lawyer and Motivational Speaker Saturday, 5:00 pm: Power Boosters for Physical and Spiritual Stamina (Tent A) Ajili Hodari, Esq., Director of Seattle Area Law Office, PLLC, attended Michigan State University as a scholar athlete where he received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Advertising. After a career in the printing and publishing industry in the San Francisco Bay area, he received his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1990. He practices in Seattle, WA and manages his own firm, Hodari Law Office, PLLC. Mr. Hodari has spoken about meditation as a way to manage stress in venues throughout the country.

August 11

Monica Lidral, B.S.N., M.P.H.,

Public Health Nursing Sunday, 4:00 pm: Jump Start A Healthy Vegetarian Lifestyle: Transitioning Tips (Tent B) Monica Lidril is a public health nurse who has been a lacto-vegetarian for almost 40 years. She graduated from UW-Madison with a BSN in medical microbiology. Upon realizing that she'd like a more people-oriented career, she joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Paraguay where she met her husband. After the Peace Corps, she earned a BSN from The Catholic University of America. She went on to study for an MPH in Public Health Nursing at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. She and her vegan husband have raised three young men who are lifelong vegetarians. She lived overseas in Guatemala, Burkina Faso, and India. Monica looks forward to talking with you about the interface of nutrition and health.

August 10

Carlos Lozano, Esq.

Diplomat and International Speaker Saturday, 4:00 pm: Meditation for a Compassionate World (Meditación para un Mundo Compasivo) - (Spanish Only)(Tent A) Carlos Lozano, Esq., educated as a lawyer with a specialty in financial law, was a diplomat and former consul to India from Colombia. As an international motivational speaker, he has presented talks and workshops in English and Spanish on meditation and spirituality. At numerous international and national conferences, Mr. Lozano has translated and arranged for talks with dignitaries and world-wide spiritual leaders. Mr. Lozano explores topics such as finding our true purpose and creating world peace without trauma. He has taught an introductory form of meditation which, he says, is fundamental to gaining inner awareness, strength, and calm.

August 11

David Martinez

M.S. in Educational Administration, Special Education for the Blind Sunday, 5:00 pm: Coping with Stress for Resilience (Ser flexibles para sobrellevar el estrés) (Spanish Only) (Tent B) David Martinez, M.A. has a degree in Special Education and Educational Administration as well as a clinical rehabilitation service credential with an emphasis in visual impairments. He currently is an Orientation & Mobility Instructor for the Los Angeles Unified School District working with blind students. He has helped edit and contribute to professional publications for the American Foundation for the Blind. While working on his undergraduate degree, David founded a meditation club and he co-facilitated workshops on the benefits of meditation and the vegetarian diet.

August 11

Matthew Raider, M.D.

Physician in Geriatric Medicine and Medical Director of five Connecticut Health-Care Facilities Sunday, 12:00 pm: Aging Gracefully (Tent B) Matthew Raider, M.D., is a physician in Geriatrics who has held a faculty position at the University of Connecticut Medical School and is the Medical Director of five Connecticut health care facilities. He has coordinated the geriatric teaching program at Middlesex Hospital in Connecticut. Dr. Raider has lectured extensively in the U.S.A. and Canada on meditation and health. Maintaining an energetic, vibrant feeling throughout life takes effort and knowledge about the body. Dr. Raider brings his experience and knowledge from geriatric medicine and shares his insights into how to use food, supplements, and exercise to stay active and independent.

August 11

Louis Ritz, Ph.D

Emeritus Faculty of the Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine and the McKnight Brain Institute Saturday 1:00 pm: Your Brain on Meditation (Tent A) Louis A. Ritz, Ph.D. is an emeritus faculty of the Department of Neuroscience within the University of Florida College of Medicine and the McKnight Brain Institute. For many years, his focus was on medical and graduate education. He was course director for Clinical Neuroscience, taken by second year medical students, and is co-author of the textbook Medical Neuroscience.
He is also director of the campus-wide Center for Spirituality and Health at the University of Florida, which offers workshops, academic programs, and interdisciplinary research ventures exploring the impact of spirituality on health. For the undergraduate Honors Program, Dr. Ritz directs two courses, “Spirituality and Health” and “Neurotheology.” The Honors students named Dr. Ritz the “2018 Honors Professor of the Year.”

August 10

Susan Rose

Nutrition & Vegetarian Lifestyle Coach Saturday, 12:00 pm: Rev Up Your Life with Plant-Based Super Foods (Tent A) Susan Rose, Nutrition & Vegetarian Lifestyle Coach, has been a vegetarian and meditator for over 40 years. She recently completed a certification course in Plant-Based Nutrition through E-Cornell and the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. Susan is also a graduate of the Forks Over Knives Rouxbe Cooking Course. She enjoys creating healthy, easy-to-make recipes for family and friends. Since retiring from a senior executive position in Sales & Marketing, she has conducted numerous talks and workshops around the world on the vegetarian lifestyle and is co-editor of the cookbook Veggies & You.

August 11

Dr. Natalie Santiago

M.D., F.A.A.P., Pediatrician Sunday, 1:00 pm: Healthy Living for Families: Top Ten Questions (Tent B) Dr. Natalie Santiago, M.D., F.A.A.P., is a board-certified pediatrician with over 10 years of experience in community health. A vegetarian for 30 years and a vegan for 6, Dr. Natalie is dedicated to helping families transform their health and their lives with a nutritious, delicious, plant-based diet. In her talk, she will discuss the top ten questions about the plant-based diet. Those questions include concerns about nutrition for children and expectant or lactating mothers, how to incorporate healthy meals into your family’s diet, and how to handle living with non-vegans / vegetarians.

August 11

Bianca Schramm

Student, Performer, and Lifetime Vegetarian Sunday, 12:00 pm: Growing Up Vegetarian (Tent A) Bianca Schramm is a 5th generation vegetarian who is passionate about spreading the plant-based diet. She will be studying Communications, Music, and German at Davidson College in North Carolina. She recently won a scholarship from the Vegetarian Resource Group for being a vegetarian activist. She is also an avid performer. Last year, Bianca was selected as a first-place winner at the International Golden Classical Music Competition in the solo voice category. She performed her winning aria at Carnegie Hall on November 2nd, 2018.

August 10

Linda Scotti, RN, BSN, MA

Registered Nurse and Educator Saturday, 4:00 pm: The Healing Power of Herbs and Spices (Tent B) Linda Scotti, RN, BSN, MA is a Registered Nurse and Educator She has traveled the globe and lived on 4 continents, working as a nurse, educator, and counselor. Linda has been a vegetarian for more than 50 years, and her love for living a healthy lifestyle and keeping fit is what inspires her to share her knowledge and research on the healthy aspects of a vegetarian diet and the healing components of herbs and spices.

August 11

Arjan Stephens

Executive VP of Sales and Marketing for Nature's Path Organic Foods Sunday, 12:00 pm: Sustaining Earth's Resources and Fighting Climate Change (Main Tent) Arjan Stephens serves as the Executive VP of Sales and Marketing for North America’s largest independent and family-owned organic, vegetarian breakfast foods company, Nature’s Path Organic Foods. An international speaker and author, Arjan is also the acting director of the Science of Spirituality Meditation and Ecology Centre in British Columbia. He leads a team of volunteers who grow delicious organic vegetables and prepare meals for their community from the Meditation Centre’s organic garden.

August 10

Rimjhim Duggal Stephens, M.D.

Health and Nutrition Strategist Saturday, 5:00 pm: Vegetable Victory! A Child's Guide to Healthy Eating (Main Tent) Rimjhim Duggal Stephens. M.D. is a champion of health. As a Health and Nutrition Strategist, she keeps us on the cutting edge of nutritional advice and health initiatives. Trained in medicine at Manipal University and the University of the West Indies, Dr. Duggal Stephens has always been drawn to healing through food. She went on to study nutrition science after completing her medical degree, and since then, her extensive knowledge has allowed her to help many patients manage their illnesses for which food was often a common denominator. She acts as a wellness guide both within our community and in the wider world. Dr. Duggal Stephens and her husband, Arjan Stephens, co-created Love Crunch granola and spearheaded Nature’s Path’s “Bite4Bite” initiative, through which up to $1 million is annually donated to food banks in need. A skilled teacher and writer, Dr. Duggal Stephens’ is also a lifelong meditator and has contributed to Meditation as Medication for the Soul. In her spare time, she mentors a global young adult group that focuses on ethical leadership, service, and conscious living.

August 10

Sonia Villarroel Mendoza, M.D.

Physician and Coordinator for Intensive Care Hospital Italiano in Buenos Aires, Argentina Saturday, 5:00 pm: Meditation in the Health Care Profession (Meditación en la profesión de la salud) (Spanish Only) (Tent B) Sonia Dharna Villarroel Medoza, M.D. is a physician specializing in Internal Medicine, Critical Medicine, and Intensive Therapy with a sub-specialty in Post-operative Care of the Transplanted Patient of Solid Organ and Current Transplant Care. She is also an ECMO Coordinator in the Intensive Care Unit of Hospital Italiano in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Raised in a spiritual family, she has been practicing meditation for more than 30 years. Her personal and professional life have benefitted immensely from the peace, calm, and enhanced concentration that she experiences in her meditation practice.

August 10

Calvin Williams

Retired Air Force Officer and Motivational Speaker Sunday 5:00 pm: Developing a Spiritual Focus in a Stressful World (Tent A) Calvin Williams holds a Master’s degree in Economic Management, and is a retired air force officer and IT program manager. He has practiced meditation for over 40 years and conducted spiritual talks & workshops in North America and Europe. Calvin believes that meditation is a vital part of our life equal to food and water. He lives in Wisconsin with his wife, Vivian, and his Eagle Scout son, Myles.

August 11

Jora Young, M.S.

Conservationist and Author Sunday, 1:00 pm: Stories of Hope: What We Can Do for Our Planet (Tent A) Jora Young, M.S. has worked in the field of natural areas conservation and resource management for 37 years. In addition to overseeing the design, management, and restoration of natural areas in Ohio and Florida, she developed and trained an international network of coaches who support conservation teams all over the world. She is the co-author of The Ecology of Hope, a book that highlights how communities can work collaboratively to solve conservation challenges. Along with a long-term career in conservation, Ms. Young has had a 40-year commitment to a meditation practice. Ms. Young has spoken worldwide—sharing her outlook on how our actions can make a difference – for our own health and the health of our planet.

August 10

Mark Young, Ph.D.

Professor, Psychologist, Author Saturday, 12:00 pm: The Secrets of Emotional Well-Being (Tent B) Mark Young, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus at the University of Central Florida’s Counselor Education program and co-founder of the UCF Marriage and Family Research Institute which provides help to low-income couples. For nearly 20 years, he has worked as a therapist in various settings including community mental health, college counseling centers, and private practice. He is the author of five textbooks including the widely used, Learning the Art of Helping (7th ed.) from Pearson.