Vitality Room- For Our Health – For a Thriving Body, Mind, and Spirit

The Vitality Room offers a variety of topics related to plant-based nutrition, preventive care, and what are the best dietary choices to help us thrive. The video links are posted below!

This room is organized and hosted by Live Lifestyle Medicine supported by the Eugene Plant Based Providers. Learn more here.

Please note: A plant-based diet and vegan lifestyle are not a cure or replacement for medical treatment. If you are experiencing serious symptoms, have a disease diagnosis, or are managing a chronic condition, please consult a qualified medical professional. While a well-planned vegan lifestyle can provide numerous health benefits and support overall well-being, it should not be considered the only approach to health management.

Vitality Room Schedule 2026

11:00 – 11:45 am:

Nutritional Myths Uncovered

with Scott Wagnon PA-C and Charlie Ross DO

This talk will address common nutritional myths and questions such as, where do I get my protein? I thought soy was bad for you? Do I get enough calcium without consuming dairy products? What is the difference between a vegan diet, vegetarian diet, and a whole foods plant based diet? and many more.

Charles “Charlie” Ross DO, DipABLM is board certified in Family Practice and Lifestyle Medicine and has been a practicing osteopathic physician in Oregon for over 48 years. Charlie’s current life goal is to change the practice of medicine from treating symptoms to treating the root causes of disease. He has been teaching free community classes on the science of nutrition and food as medicine for over 12 years.

Scott Wagnon has been a Physician Associate since 2005 and is currently working in Family Practice in Springfield, OR. He switched to a Whole Food Plant Based Diet in 2012 when he was overweight and developed high blood pressure, high cholesterol and prediabetes, despite riding his bicycle 7,000 miles a year. He studied Nutrition and eventually became board certified in Lifestyle Medicine through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Scott has been teaching free classes on Diet and Lifestyle in the Eugene/Springfield community since 2018.

You can learn about the free classes here: https://www.livelifestylemedicine.com

12:00-12:45 pm

Raising a Vegan Family: Panel Discussion

Panelists: Eric Colgrove MD, Amy Kinkle MD, Kathy Meldrum PT, Elisabeth Maxwell PhD, and Tyler & Ashlee Shupe

Eric Colgrove MD is a Pediatrician board certified in Pediatrics and Lifestyle Medicine who promotes health through a lifestyle-based approach with an emphasis on plant-based nutrition.

Amy Kinkel MD is a board certified Pediatrician who earned her medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine. She recently opened Awesome Possum Pediatrics, a direct primary care clinic for families. As a parent who has raised vegan children, she enjoys sharing her lived experience and helping families find practical ways to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets.

Kathy Meldrum PT is a Physical Therapist and plant-based health advocate who is passionate about helping people reduce pain, restore mobility and support the body’s natural ability to heal.

Elisabeth Maxwell has a PhD in Public Health, has been vegetarian since high school, and is now fully committed to being vegan. Elisabeth is passionate about spreading the word about a whole food plant based diet to improve the health of our community on an individual and population level, to help heal our environment, and to stop animal suffering.

Tyler Shupe and Ashlee Shupe are both Physical Therapists working for Eugene School District 4J. They have raised both of their children, now aged 9 and 11, vegan. They bring a unique perspective on how to make a vegan lifestyle work for the family and out in the Eugene/Springfield community.

1:00 – 1:45 pm

Green Smoothie Demonstration

with Food For Life Instructor Tamera Wilhite and Trish Kingsbauer

Join us for a yummy green smoothie demonstration with samples!

Tamera Wilhite was diagnosed with macular degeneration in her early 20s, and was told she would be blind by the time she was 40. She prevented this, and improved her vision, with a whole food plant based diet. Motivated by her healing, she became a Food For Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in 2013. Today, she is passionate about teaching others how to prepare delicious and nutritious whole plant based meals while supporting them on their own journey, and empowering individuals to take control of their health through food.

2:00 – 2:45 pm

Sense and Non-sense in Plant Based Nutrition

with Michael Klaper MD

Dr. Michael Klaper is a gifted clinician, internationally-recognized teacher and speaker on diet and health. In addition to his clinical practice and private consultations with patients, he’s a passionate and devoted educator of physicians and other healthcare professionals about the importance of nutrition in clinical practice and integrative medicine.

Dr. Klaper’s talk is based on his new book Moving Medicine Forward. His book will be available for purchase, and Dr. Klaper will be signing books both before and after his presentation. Come join us for his presentation — it will be educational and potentially life changing!

He is also the author of Vegan Nutrition; Pure and Simple and has produced numerous videos, webinars and dozens of articles for both scientific journals and the popular press. As a source of inspiration advocating plant-based diets and the end of animal cruelty worldwide, Dr. Klaper contributed to the making of 2 PBS television programs, Food for Thought and the award-winning movie, Diet for a New America. He is dedicated to the healing and flourishing of all living beings and our planet.

Website: www.doctorklaper.com

Vitality Room Presentation Videos

2025

Build Your Body on a Plant-Based Diet with Robert Cheeke

Champion vegan bodybuilder and New York Times bestselling author Robert Cheeke shares the most important lessons to be learned in the process of building a better, healthier body with plants. Learn how to eat to fuel your athletic interests, lose weight, gain muscle, lower stress and prevent injuries.

Robert Cheeke grew up on a farm in Corvallis, Oregon where he adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1995 at age 15, weighing just 120 pounds. Today he is the author of the books, Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, Shred It!, Plant-Based Muscle, the New York Times bestseller, The Plant-Based Athlete and now his latest book, The Impactful Vegan. He is often referred to as the “Godfather of Vegan Bodybuilding,” growing the industry from infancy in 2002, to where it is today. As a natural bodybuilding champion, Robert is considered one of VegNews magazine’s Most Influential Vegan Athletes. He tours around the world sharing his story of transformation from a skinny farm kid to champion vegan bodybuilder. Robert is the founder of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness and VeganBodybuilding.com. He is a regular contributor to Forks Over Knives, The Center for Nutrition Studies, Plant Powered Athlete, Vegan Strong, and No Meat Athlete, is a former multi-sport athlete, and has followed a plant-based diet for more than 29 years. For more about Robert, visit www.veganbodybuilding.com

WATCH THE VIDEO OF ROBERT'S PRESENTATION

Eat Plants and Thrive! The Health Benefits of a Vegan, Whole Food Plant Based Diet with Charlie Ross DO and Scott Wagnon PA

You can learn about the free classes here: https://www.livelifestylemedicine.com

WATCH THE VIDEO OF CHARLIE AND SCOTT'S PRESENTATION

Vitality for the Mind and Soul: Social Connection, Stress Management, and Restorative Sleep
with Psychologist Pam Birrell PhD

Pam Birrell is a PhD psychologist and holds a master’s degree in biochemistry. She has been vegan and plant exclusive for 15 years. She has become passionate about the effects of plant-based eating on mental health and the nervous system. In her work as a psychotherapist, Pam became very aware of the importance of connections, with the self, with others, and with our natural world.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF PAM'S PRESENTATION

Take Health To Heart: A Vegan, Whole Food Plant Based Diet and Heart Disease
with Cardiologist Kristin Linzmeyer MD

Kristin Linzmeyer MD FACC has board certifications in general cardiology and lifestyle medicine. While pursuing a masters in public health degree in 2016, she became more interested in the impact of public health measures and lifestyle choices and habits in preventing and reversing disease. This led to the discovery of Lifestyle Medicine as a subspecialty to enhance and improve her ongoing work in cardiovascular medicine. She currently is working at Oregon Heart and Vascular Institute at Riverbend Hospital developing a preventive cardiology clinic where she can use her skills and knowledge about lifestyle choices to help patients treat and potentially reverse their cardiovascular risk factors. Through education and lifestyle prescriptions that encourage whole food plant-based nutrition, physical activity, good sleep hygiene, healthy stress management, avoidance of toxic substances, and the importance of social connections, she wants to empower people to make healthy choices that support wellness and longevity.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF KRISTIN'S PRESENTATION

Eugene VeganFest is a project of Compassionate Living.

Compassionate Living is a community-based 501c3 non-profit organization working to not only relieve the suffering of farmed animals, but to help build a more sustainable, just, and non-violent world, one where human and nonhuman animals can all prosper in peace and well being. Your tax deductible donation helps us continue our work for a more compassionate, healthy, and sustainable future.

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