Saturday, March 14, 2026, 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM ET
A powerful perspective in medicine is gaining evidentiary momentum: the root causes of immune dysregulation—including cancer and autoimmunity—stem from metabolic dysfunction. At its core, metabolic health encompasses mitochondrial and cellular integrity, lipid and glucose metabolism, energy production, and fuel utilization, all of which directly influence immune resilience. In oncology, the field is shifting from the Somatic Mutation Theory, which focuses on genetic damage, to the Metabolic Theory of Cancer, which emphasizes mitochondrial dysfunction as a driver of disrupted signaling and energy metabolism. Adding further complexity, the gut microbiota plays a pivotal role, as its metabolites can either safeguard or impair health-protecting or damaging DNA, regulating inflammation, influencing tumor proliferation, and modulating autoimmunity. All of this places nutrition, diet, and lifestyle front and center in both disease prevention and the optimization of health and immune resilience.
Professor Thomas N. Seyfried, Ph.D.
Speaker Session 1 - Mitochondrial Dysfunction as the Origin of Cancer
Dr. Thomas N. Seyfried, currently a Professor of Biology at Boston College, has built a remarkable career focused on understanding cancer from a metabolic perspective. He began his academic journey at the University of New England, where he completed his undergraduate studies, and then earned a master's degree in Genetics from Illinois State University. He received his Ph.D. in Genetics and Biochemistry from the University of Illinois. Following this, he conducted postdoctoral research in the Department of Neurology at Yale University School of Medicine, where he later joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in Neurology. This diverse academic foundation laid the groundwork for his pioneering research on the metabolic roots of cancer. Dr. Thomas Seyfried's research focuses on understanding cancer's origins, progression, and management.
Stacy Seslowsky, MS, RD, LDN
Speaker Session 2 - Immunology of Cancer: Tumor Microenvironment
Stacy Seslowsky is a functional medicine registered dietitian and the founder of Heal From Food, a practice dedicated to helping patients resolve chronic inflammation and restore immune balance through nutrition and lifestyle intervention. She is the creator of Immunology for Dietitians & Nutritionists (IDN), an advanced eight-week professional education course that teaches practitioners to interpret immune system dysfunction and apply evidence-based strategies to improve patient outcomes. As the leader of the IDN Community Forum, Stacy fosters collaboration among expert-level clinicians through live lectures, research reviews, and case discussions on immune modulation, gut health, and hormone balance. She is the co-founder of Tegrity Health, where she partners with functional medicine physicians to bring precision nutrition care to a wider audience. She also co-teaches the Precision Health Architect Masterclass Series with a genomics expert integrating nutrigenomics and systems biology into clinical nutrition education.
Cindi Lockhart, RDN, LD, IFNCP
Speaker Session 3 - Gut, Mitochondria & Immunity: A Functional Nutrition Roadmap For Managing Autoimmunity and Immune Resilience
Cindi Lockhart is an Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner with over 33 years of experience training nutrition, fitness, and medical practitioners. She is a frequent speaker for military audiences as well as the developer of CEU-based courses and certifications through PESI, Inc. Along with practitioner training, Cindi has been cited regularly in the Experience Life magazine and in USA Today and regularly engages in public speaking events. She has contributed to the upcoming advanced practice certificate of training in integrative and functional nutrition through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as a subject matter expert on gut health. She also maintains a personal practice as she believes the only way she can effectively educate and inspire other practitioners is through her own practical experience with clients. Her focus lies on optimizing one's health and day-to-day function by getting to the root cause(s) of dysfunction through comprehensive assessments and targeted nutrition and lifestyle protocols. In addition to one-on-one coaching, Cindi continues to develop progressive group programs for health improvement on topics such as fasting and menopause transformation. Cindi has extensive expertise in hormone imbalances, gut health, thyroid dysfunction, cancer prevention, detoxification, and weight loss resistance. In her spare time, she enjoys reading (most practice-related), working out, hiking, preparing nutritious meals, and being out in nature with her family and dogs.
Annie B. Kay, MS, RDN, LDN, E-RYT500 C-IAYT
Speaker Session 4 - Integrative Energy in Metabolic Health: From Biochemical Energy Balance to Biofield Therapies
Annie B. Kay is a holistic registered dietitian nutritionist and certified yoga therapist, licensed in Massachusetts. Trained in nutritional biochemistry and nutrition communication, she integrates evidence-based nutrition with yoga and wisdom traditions to support whole-person healing. A former lead nutritionist at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Annie is the author of Every Bite Is Divine and co-author of Yoga & Diabetes (with the American Diabetes Association). She has written for scientific journals and publications including Yoga Journal and EatingWell, appeared on CNN and PBS, and speaks nationally and internationally on women's health, mindful lifestyles, and healthy aging. Annie lives in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, where she continues to write, teach, and explore the intersection of science, spirituality, and everyday life.
4 CPEs submitted, pending approval
We will be recording the symposium for later viewing
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