WEBINAR SERIES
MCNER 2024 - 2025 Webinar Series for
Health Professionals
Plant-based diets (PBD) have been embraced as a healthy dietary regimen with well recognized health and environmental benefits. According to a US News and World Report survey, the use of plant-based diets has more than doubled in the past decade, from 12% in 2012 to 26% in 2022. Because of differences in ways they are defined and adopted, plant-based diets may vary widely in nutritional composition and food selections. Consequently, the impact on preventing or reversing metabolic syndrome, characterized by central obesity, dyslipidemia insulin resistance, hypertension and low-grade inflammation, varies based on the type of plant-based diet consumed. During this webinar, we will explore different types of plant-based diets and their impact on a variety of health biomarkers that affect chronic disease risk. The practitioner will leave with a greater understanding of the latest evidence-base on plant-based diets by type and receive additional guidance that may positively affect a patient鈥檚 food choices and eating plan adherence.
Earn 1 free contact hour (RN) or 1 CPEU (RD/RDN/DTR)
Upon completing this activity, the learner will be able to:
- Understand the components of metabolic syndrome and latest research on its far-reaching health consequences.
- Explore a variety of plant-based diets using the latest clinical trials and research, comparing each regarding its impact on metabolic syndrome.
- Discuss health implications of plant-based diet selection on guidance for patients.
Maria-Luz Fernandez, PhD
Maria-Luz Fernandez, PhD, spent 26 years as a Full Professor of Nutrition at the Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut and is currently teaching at the School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness at the University of Arizona. Dr. Fernandez conducted research around the world on the effects of dietary strategies and drug treatment to prevent cardiovascular disease. Dr. Fernandez received her PhD in nutritional sciences from University of Arizona and is an author on close to 300 journal publications, as well as a sought after international speaker. In addition to her extensive research experience, during her tenure at University of Connecticut, Dr. Fernandez was major advisor to 36 PhD and 23 Master鈥檚 students from all over the world in the area of diet and heart disease who currently hold prominent positions in academia, industry and government agencies.
Visit or email mcner@villanova.edu to join our Contact list or for more information on how to become a Webinar Sponsor. A non-profit center, MCNER is based in the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at 草榴社区. MCNER supports and develops educational programs for health professionals, educators, work sites and the public.
Details on CE Credits
There are no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved with the ability to control the content of the activity.
To receive a CE certificate, you must individually register online for the webinar and attend the full program. In addition, all nurses must complete an online evaluation. 草榴社区 M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center鈥檚 Commission on Accreditation.
This activity awards 1.0 CPEU in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration鈥檚 CPEU Prior Approval Program.
Despite advances in medications, heart disease continues to rise in the United States, affecting approximately 50% of Americans. Lifestyle medicine approaches, including the use of plant-predominant eating styles have been shown to be beneficial in both cardiovascular disease treatment and prevention. Given the rapidly evolving research on plant-based diets, staying abreast of the latest evidence base is challenging but necessary in fine-tuning patient guidance and recommendations. This webinar, presented by a cardiologist with a passion for prevention, will focus on the most recent (2024) research on plant-based eating and health implications and equip health professionals with additional sound and evidence-based recommendations that may be incorporated into patient care and nutritional counseling.
Earn 1 free contact hour (RN) or 1 CPEU (RD/RDN/DTR)
Upon completing this activity, the learner will be able to:
- Review the most recent research findings on plant-based diets from an extensive 2024 literature review.
- Identify ways to apply the latest research to clinical practice to patient care and counseling.
Andrew Freeman, MD, FACC, FACP
Andrew Freeman, MD, FACC, FACP is a board-certified cardiologist, Director of Clinical Cardiology and Operations and Director of CVD Prevention at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado. He earned his MD with Research Honors from the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and completed an Internal Medicine Residency at Brown University Rhode Island Hospital. Dr. Freeman combines both traditional and Western medicine with a holistic approach on overall wellness and disease prevention through a combination of advanced cardiology diagnostics and lifestyle medicine, including a whole foods-plant based diet, regular exercise, mindfulness and support. In addition to being a sought-after speaker for health professional and consumer audiences, he holds leadership positions at both the local and national American College of Cardiology and runs the popular 鈥淲alk with a Doc鈥� regional program in Denver, a favorite with patients for over 14 years.
Visit or email mcner@villanova.edu to join our Contact list or for more information on how to become a Webinar Sponsor. A non-profit center, MCNER is based in the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at 草榴社区. MCNER supports and develops educational programs for health professionals, educators, work sites and the public.
Details on CE Credits
Dr. Freeman is a consultant for several pharmaceutical companies. The relevant financial relationships listed for this individual have been mitigated. The Nurse Planner will monitor the program for any evidence of commercial bias.
To receive a CE certificate, you must individually register online for the webinar and attend the full program. In addition, all nurses must complete an online evaluation. 草榴社区 M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center鈥檚 Commission on Accreditation.
This activity awards 1.0 CPEU in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration鈥檚 CPEU Prior Approval Program.
There are 13 different types of obesity-related cancers that account for nearly half (40%) of all cancers in the United States. Although physical activity and healthy food consumption have been shown to reduce obesity and cancer risk, respectively, living in food deserts (areas with no grocery stores) or food swamps (areas with increased unhealthy food options) are known barriers to accessing healthy foods. Interventions using gardening and other community-based strategies have been proposed to combat this challenge. Currently, there is scarcity in the literature regarding the association between food deserts, food swamps, and obesity-related cancer outcomes and most healthy lifestyle interventions incorporating different gardening methods focus mainly on school-aged children rather than the general adult population. During this webinar, we will explore cancer health disparity in the United States, review recent evidence demonstrating the association between food deserts, food swamps, and obesity-related cancer outcomes, and discuss the effectiveness of gardening-based healthy lifestyle interventions and other community-based initiatives in reducing obesity and cancer risk among underserved populations.
Earn 1 free contact hour (RN) or 1 CPEU (RD/RDN/DTR)
Upon completing this activity, the learner will be able to:
- Understand the relationship between environment, specifically food deserts and food swamps, on obesity-related cancer.
- Discuss cancer health disparity in the United States and the impact of lifestyle on obesity-related cancer outcomes.
- Review effectiveness of gardening-based interventions and other community-based initiatives, on reducing obesity and cancer risk.
Malcolm Bevel, PhD, MSPH
Malcolm Bevel, PhD, MSPH, is Assistant Professor, Cancer Prevention, Control & Population Health at Augusta University鈥檚 Georgia Cancer Center, where he conducts independent research and serves as a Principal or Co-Investigator on cancer prevention and survivorship-related grant-funded projects. Dr. Bevel earned his PhD in Epidemiology from the University of South Carolina, M.S. in Public Health from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee and was a Grace Jordan McFadden Professors Program scholar recipient. Dr. Bevel authored multiple journal articles related to racial, cancer and health disparities in underserved population groups and has also been featured in the media as a content expert contributor on these topics.
Visit or email mcner@villanova.edu to join our Contact list or for more information on how to become a Webinar Sponsor. A non-profit center, MCNER is based in the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at 草榴社区. MCNER supports and develops educational programs for health professionals, educators, work sites and the public.
Details on CE Credits
There are no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved with the ability to control the content of the activity.
To receive a CE certificate, you must individually register online for the webinar and attend the full program. In addition, all nurses must complete an online evaluation. 草榴社区 M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center鈥檚 Commission on Accreditation.
This activity awards 1.0 CPEU in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration鈥檚 CPEU Prior Approval Program.
Sarcopenia, age-related loss of muscle and function, affects 5-13% of adults ages 60-70, and increases to 11-50% by age 80 and up. While many studies have linked dietary factors such as protein intake, the Mediterranean Diet, and other dietary strategies with preservation of muscle mass and function, emerging studies are also exploring meal timing and its potential impact. This webinar explores precision nutrition's role in promoting healthy aging, focusing on how dietary timing (chrononutrition) can influence muscle health, cardiometabolic markers, and cardiorespiratory outcomes in older adults. Drawing from recent studies, Dr. Farsijani presents evidence linking chrononutrition behaviors to improvements in health markers and discusses potential pathways, including the gut microbiome. The findings support targeted nutrition strategies to meet the unique needs of aging populations. Join us as we learn how age-specific dietary strategies can enhance health outcomes through evidence-based approaches.
Earn 1 free contact hour (RN) or 1 CPEU (RD/RDN/DTR)
Upon completing this activity, the learner will be able to:
- Understand precision nutrition鈥檚 role in promoting healthy aging.
- Explore and discuss recent evidence demonstrating the relationship between meal timing and muscle health, cardiometabolic and cardiorespiratory outcomes in adults.
- Identify targeted nutrition strategies to meet the unique needs of aging populations.
Samaneh Farsijani, PhD, RD
Samaneh Farsijani, PhD, RD, is a Registered Dietitian, Assistant Professor and nutritional epidemiologist in the Center for Aging and Population Health, School of Public Health at University of Pittsburgh. She earned a PhD in Human Nutrition from McGill University in Montreal, Canada and an MS in Epidemiology from University of Pittsburgh. Her research interests include chrononutrition in prevention and management of metabolic disease, and precision nutrition to replace the 鈥渙ne size fits all鈥� approach to aging and nutrition. She currently is Principal Investigator on the Microbiome & Inflammaging Ancillary Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA) cohort and is an author on numerous related publications.聽聽
Visit or email mcner@villanova.edu to join our Contact list or for more information on how to become a Webinar Sponsor. A non-profit center, MCNER is based in the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at 草榴社区. MCNER supports and develops educational programs for health professionals, educators, work sites and the public.
Details on CE Credits
There are no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved with the ability to control the content of the activity.
To receive a CE certificate, you must individually register online for the webinar and attend the full program. In addition, all nurses must complete an online evaluation. 草榴社区 M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center鈥檚 Commission on Accreditation.
This activity awards 1.0 CPEU in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration鈥檚 CPEU Prior Approval Program.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing healthcare, offering unprecedented opportunities to improve patient care, enhance clinical decision-making, and advance research, yet there is a lack of awareness and understanding among some researchers and practitioners about how AI can be effectively applied in these areas. This session will introduce the transformative potential of AI in healthcare, with a specific focus on its groundbreaking applications in obesity and nutrition research. In addition to AI's cutting-edge applications, we will also discuss crucial ethical considerations surrounding patient privacy, algorithmic fairness, and transparency in AI-driven healthcare. This webinar is designed to be accessible to individuals without prior expertise in AI, providing a clear and understandable introduction to its applications in healthcare. Join Dr. Mengmeng Ji as she guides us in this engaging and informative discovery session.
Earn 1 free contact hour (RN) or 1 CPEU (RD/RDN/DTR)
Upon completing this activity, the learner will be able to:
- Learn key applications of artificial intelligence in obesity and nutrition research
- Gain an understanding of the main challenges and ethical considerations associated with AI in health research.
- Learn the importance of leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration to advance AI-driven healthcare solutions.
Mengmeng Ji, PhD, MBBS
Mengmeng Ji, PhD, MBBS, is Instructor of Surgery in the Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis. Dr. Ji earned her MBBS (MD equivalent) from Kunming Medical University in Kunming, Yunnan, China, and her PhD in Community Health and M.S.in Epidemiology from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She completed postdoctoral work in the Department of Surgery at the School of Medicine, Washington University at St. Louis. Dr. Ji is a physician-scientist and clinical epidemiologist specializing in outcomes research and survival analysis and has expertise in health economics, including cost-effectiveness analysis and comparative studies. Her research interests include the prevention and control of obesity and obesity-related cancer and the impact of health policies on reducing health disparities and she is an author on multiple journal articles on these topics.
Visit or email mcner@villanova.edu to join our Contact list or for more information on how to become a Webinar Sponsor. A non-profit center, MCNER is based in the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at 草榴社区. MCNER supports and develops educational programs for health professionals, educators, work sites and the public.
Details on CE Credits
There are no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved with the ability to control the content of the activity.
To receive a CE certificate, you must individually register online for the webinar and attend the full program. In addition, all nurses must complete an online evaluation. 草榴社区 M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center鈥檚 Commission on Accreditation.
This Continuing Professional Education (CPE) activity is pending review and approval for 1.0 CPEU.
To view past webinar and program recordings, check out our Material Archives page.
DETAILS ON CE CREDITS
To receive a CE certificate, you must individually register online for the webinar, attend the full program and complete an online evaluation.
草榴社区 M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center鈥檚 Commission on Accreditation.
草榴社区 Fitzpatrick College of Nursing MacDonald Center for Nutrition Education and Research provides Continuing Professional Education in accordance with the Prior Approval Program of the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
CDR members: Any feedback about the quality of the activity can be sent directly to CDR at QualityCPE@eatright.org
