Food as Medicine: Nutrition, Lifestyle, Longevity, and Living Well
Event Date: Friday, September, 25th, 2026
Event Description:
Food is one of the most powerful tools available to support health, prevent chronic
disease, and enhance quality of life. Yet nutrition does not exist in isolation. The
foods we choose, the relationships we cultivate, the environments we inhabit, and
the daily habits we practice all contribute to our overall well-being.
Join FoodLab at Stony Brook University Southampton for an engaging symposium exploring
Food as Medicine through the lens of positive nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and healthy
aging. Bringing together leaders in medicine, nutrition science, and community wellness,
this event will examine how food and lifestyle choices can help prevent and manage
chronic disease, support longevity, and promote a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Through expert presentations, a culinary demonstration, and audience discussion, attendees
will gain practical, evidence-based insights into the growing role of nutrition and
lifestyle practices in healthcare and everyday wellness.
A healthy lunch inspired by Food as Medicine principles is included with registration.
Speakers & Demonstrators
Raja Jaber, MD
Director of Lifestyle and Integrative Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine
Associate Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at
Stony Brook University
Food is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of health promotion and chronic disease
prevention. In this opening session, Dr. Jaber will explore the scientific evidence
supporting Food as Medicine and examine how nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress
management, and social connection work together to improve health outcomes and reduce
the burden of chronic disease.
About the Speaker
Dr. Raja Jaber is Director of Lifestyle and Integrative Medicine at Stony Brook Medicine
and Associate Clinical Professor of Family Medicine. A nationally recognized leader
in lifestyle medicine, her work focuses on evidence-based approaches to preventing
and treating chronic disease through nutrition and lifestyle interventions that improve
long-term health and well-being.
Krista Zvoch, RD
Director of Nutrition, StoryPoint Group
As people live longer, nutrition plays an increasingly important role in maintaining
health, independence, and dignity. This session will explore how evidence-based nutrition
supports healthy aging, resilience, and quality of life across the lifespan, with
insights drawn from large-scale senior living and wellness programs.
About the Speaker
Krista Zvoch is Director of Nutrition for StoryPoint Group, a national senior living
organization serving more than 12,000 older adults across over 150 communities. With
more than 20 years of experience in clinical, community, and corporate nutrition,
her work focuses on healthy aging, Food as Medicine, culinary nutrition, and improving
quality of life through innovative, evidence-based nutrition programs.
Dr. Sohl Lee
Associate Professor of Modern and Contemporary East Asian Art History
Department of Art at Stony Brook University
Dr. Sohl Lee, Associate Professor of Modern and Contemporary East Asian Art History,
Department of Art, Stony Brook University
Healing extends beyond nutrients to the traditions and relationships that shape how
we care for one another. Dr. Sohl Lee explores the cultural significance of Korean
seaweed soup and how generations of food traditions offer timeless lessons about nourishment,
resilience, connection, and the role of culture in healing.
About the Speaker
Sohl Lee is an art historian and educator whose work explores how food traditions
reflect culture, health, and our relationship with the natural world. She will share
the story of Korean seaweed soup (miyeok-guk), a nourishing dish traditionally served
to new mothers during the postpartum period, illustrating how generations of cultural
wisdom have used food to promote healing, restore strength, and foster connection.
Paula Montagna, MS, RD, CDN, CNSC
Director of Clinical Nutrition, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital
Food can influence health outcomes long before a prescription is written and long
after a patient leaves the clinic. Through a live culinary demonstration, Paula Montagna
will explore how nutrition science can be translated into practical meals and eating
habits that support healthy aging, chronic disease prevention, recovery, and overall
well-being.
Attendees will learn simple, evidence-based approaches to preparing flavorful, nutrient-dense
foods while gaining practical strategies for incorporating healthy eating practices
into everyday life.
About the Speaker
Paula Montagna is Director of Clinical Nutrition at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital
and a leader in Food as Medicine programming. With more than 35 years of experience
in clinical nutrition, she has helped integrate Food as Medicine principles into healthcare,
residency training, and community wellness initiatives. Her work focuses on translating
nutrition science into practical, enjoyable, and sustainable eating practices that
support lifelong health.
Following the Speakers & Demonstrations
Nourish & Connect
Continue the conversation with healthcare professionals, educators, students, community
leaders, and fellow attendees while enjoying a lunch inspired by Food as Medicine
principles.
Hosted by FoodLab at Stony Brook University
Where academic innovation meets community resilience.
FoodLab advances food systems education, workforce development, regenerative agriculture,
and Food as Medicine initiatives through partnerships that connect the university,
healthcare providers, industry leaders, and the broader community.