Food as Medicine
From Promise to Implementation to Scalable Impact
5/5/2026 - May 6, 2026 ALL TIMES CDT
Returning for its sixth year, the Food as Medicine Summit continues its mission of accelerating nutritious food into the hands of individuals in need to help treat and manage health conditions.
Building upon over half a decade of impact, the summit will once again provide the meeting point for healthcare providers, CBOs, insurers, food companies, government, associations, and more to come together and take Food as Medicine from promise to a long-term, sustainable reality. Food as Medicine approaches continue to receive unprecedented attention, but there is still much for us to work through as an industry to truly deliver on this potential.
The Food as Medicine Summit continues to be the place where the defining conversations and connection-building of the industry happens, and this is your chance to be part of them. Key themes for this year's event include expanding the impact of the new administration, evolving partnership models, expanding the reach of Food as Medicine, and much more. Enhanced networking and event experiences are also planned for 2026. With our commitment to quality and tangible takeaways, attendees will leave the Summit with new connections, learnings, and an even greater appetite for driving forward Food as Medicine.
Coverage will include, but is not limited to:
• The impact of recent and upcoming policy and regulatory changes
• Demonstrating the “Value†of Food as Medicine
• Expanding and scaling the reach and impact of Food as Medicine programs
• Improving access and outcomes for participants
• Multistakeholder discussions with leaders from across the industry
• Growing and unifying the Food as Medicine movement
Building upon over half a decade of impact, the summit will once again provide the meeting point for healthcare providers, CBOs, insurers, food companies, government, associations, and more to come together and take Food as Medicine from promise to a long-term, sustainable reality. Food as Medicine approaches continue to receive unprecedented attention, but there is still much for us to work through as an industry to truly deliver on this potential.
The Food as Medicine Summit continues to be the place where the defining conversations and connection-building of the industry happens, and this is your chance to be part of them. Key themes for this year's event include expanding the impact of the new administration, evolving partnership models, expanding the reach of Food as Medicine, and much more. Enhanced networking and event experiences are also planned for 2026. With our commitment to quality and tangible takeaways, attendees will leave the Summit with new connections, learnings, and an even greater appetite for driving forward Food as Medicine.
Coverage will include, but is not limited to:
• The impact of recent and upcoming policy and regulatory changes
• Demonstrating the “Value†of Food as Medicine
• Expanding and scaling the reach and impact of Food as Medicine programs
• Improving access and outcomes for participants
• Multistakeholder discussions with leaders from across the industry
• Growing and unifying the Food as Medicine movement
Tuesday, May 5
Registration & Networking Breakfast
Kick off the Food as Medicine Summit by grabbing breakfast with new connections and old friends.
THE FOOD, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH LANDSCAPE
Chairperson's Welcome Remarks
Panel Moderator:
KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION AND OPEN Q&A:
The Food as Medicine Industry Speaks
Panelists:
Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)
Coffee Break with Exhibit Viewing
Networking is a core pillar of The Food as Medicine Summit. To help kick off The Food as Medicine Summit, this extended networking session will enable you to connect with new peers and old friends to broaden and deepen your network in the field.
THE VALUE AND ROI OF FOOD AS MEDICINE
Creating Shared Value—How Better-for-You Brands Drive Health and Growth
This session explores how brands are redefining value by improving consumer health outcomes while strengthening retailer performance. Hear how initiatives like the Good Food Collective are aligning industry standards, policy proposals such as front-of-pack labeling, and brand collaboration to create measurable impact and mutual benefit across the food ecosystem.
Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION AND OPEN Q&A:
Beyond Demonstrating the Value—How Can We Convince Commercial Decision-Makers?
Panelists:
Networking Luncheon
FOOD AS MEDICINE IN CARE SETTINGS
Fruitful Collaboration—Enhancing Health through Culinary Care
Culinary medicine integrates nutrition science with cooking skills to empower individuals to manage and prevent chronic diseases through their food choices. This evidence-based field emphasizes healthy food preparation and selections to make nutritional changes sustainable and enjoyable. This presentation is full of tools and real-life examples of strategies for building collaboration in order to help elevate the dining experience for individuals and families while building healthier communities.
Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION AND OPEN Q&A:
Revolutionizing Outcomes for Patients through Food as Medicine
Panelists:
Refreshment Break with Exhibit Viewing
Continue making new connections, reconnect with folks you met for the first time earlier in the day, or catch up with old friends—take advantage of this extended networking break to make one, two, or all of these happen!
SCALING FOOD AS MEDICINE APPROACHES
Harnessing Collaborative Expertise to Scale Food as Medicine
Utilizing the collective expertise of physicians, dietitians, nurses, pharmacists, and other care professionals is essential to advancing Food as Medicine within healthcare. This session will highlight how coordinated, team-based approaches can drive successful implementation and expansion of Food as Medicine programs across diverse care settings. Speakers will share lessons learned in aligning clinical workflows, managing data sharing, and establishing sustainable funding mechanisms that enable consistent impact and measurable outcomes.
Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION AND OPEN Q&A:
Aligning Incentives to Drive Scalable, Sustainable Food as Medicine Models
Virginia Barnes, MPH, CHIE, Director, Blue Health Initiatives, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas , Director Blue Health Initiatives , Blue Health Initiatives , Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
Panelists:
Networking Reception (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)
At the end of Day 1, continue to make new connections, connect with folks you met earlier during the day, and catch up with old friends.
Close of Day
Wednesday, May 6
Registration Open & Networking Breakfast
Connect with your new, extended network over breakfast to get Day 2 of The Food as Medicine Summit started.
THE FRONT LINE OF FOOD AS MEDICINE
Chairperson’s Remarks
KEYNOTE INTERVIEW:
Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION AND OPEN Q&A:
Lessons Learned from the Front Line of Food as Medicine
Panelists:
Coffee Break with Exhibit Viewing
The final extended networking break gives attendees the opportunity to make extra connections and set the next steps for their discussions beyond the walls of the event with the new and old members of their network.
BUILDING THE FOOD AS MEDICINE ECOSYSTEM
Scaling Impact—What We Learned from 1 Million Screenings, 200 Thousand Referrals, and 3 Years of Food as Medicine
Explore how Feeding America’s network of food banks and food co-ops have evolved from emergency food providers to strategic health partners. This session presents the final health outcome data, from their three-year Food as Medicine evaluation, highlighting how food bank-health care partnerships are reshaping chronic disease care. The presentation will explore how participant feedback, health metrics, and community engagement informed program design and delivery.
Leveraging Technology to Expand Access
- Using digital platforms to connect patients to food resources
- Leveraging telehealth and remote monitoring to support adherence
- Building data systems that strengthen integration with healthcare​
Panel Moderator:
PANEL DISCUSSION AND OPEN Q&A:
Developing a Vibrant Food as Medicine Network in Managed Care
Panelists:
Close of Conference
For more details on the conference, please contact:
Jason Green
Senior Conference Director
Cambridge Healthtech Institute
Email: jgreen@cambridgeinnovationinstitute.com
For sponsorship information, please contact:
Phillip Zakim-Yacouby
Senior Business Development Manager
Cambridge Healthtech Institute
Phone: (+1) 781-247-1815
