Rip Esselstyn
For many years, Rip, a University of Texas all-American swimmer, was one of the world’s top professional triathletes. He took first place in many major events, including the 2001 Police and Fire World Games, the world’s largest athletic competition. He also won the Capital of Texas triathlon eight times and was the leader and top three finisher at many televised events, including the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, where he was first out of the frigid, shark-infested waters six years in a row. Rip still competes in various events, recently winning the master national championships in the 200-yard backstroke and setting the American record in the process.
Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr.
Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., received his B.A. from Yale University and his M.D. from Western Reserve University. In 1956, pulling the No. 6 oar as a member of the victorious United States rowing team, he was awarded a gold medal at the Olympic Games. He was trained as a surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic and at St. George’s Hospital in London. In 1968, as an Army surgeon in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star.
Dr. Esselstyn has been associated with the Cleveland Clinic since 1968. During that time, he has served as President of the Staff and as a member of the Board of Governors. He chaired the Clinic’s Breast Cancer Task Force and headed its Section of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery.
T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D
For more than 40 years, Dr. T. Colin Campbell has been at the forefront of nutritional research. His legacy, “The China Project,” is the most comprehensive study of health and nutrition ever conducted. Dr. Campbell has more than 70 grant years of peer-reviewed research funding and has authored more than 300 research papers and coauthored the best-selling book The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health. Dr. Campbell’s principal scientific interests, which began in his graduate training in the 1950s, have been the effects of nutritional status on the causation of cancer and long-term health.
Neal Barnard, M.D.
Neal Barnard, M.D. is the president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He has led several clinical trials investigating the effects of diet on health, including a recent study of dietary interventions in diabetes, funded by the National Institutes of Health.
John McDougall, M.D.
John McDougall, M.D. is a board-certified internist, author of 11 national bestselling books and the international online “McDougall Newsletter,” host of the nationally syndicated television show McDougall M.D. and medical director of the 10-day, live-in McDougall Program in Santa Rosa, California. He is an Associate Professor at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Mare Island, in Vallejo, California.
Jeff Novick, M.S., R.D., L.D., L.N.
Jeff Novick is truly a unique dietitian and nutritionist. With over 24 years of experience in nutrition, health, fitness and natural living, he offers expert health advice distilled into powerful, easy-to-understand language on a variety of current topics.
Novick’s insightful and humorous approach to nutrition and health has helped thousands worldwide make the transition to healthy living. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Indiana State University in nutrition, with a minor in exercise science.
Douglas Lisle, Ph.D.
Delightfully candid and warm, Dr. Douglas Lisle is one of psychology’s most innovative and curious minds. Deeply dedicated to exploring the mysteries of human behavior from fresh, uncharted waters, his research in evolutionary psychology and its impact on health, happiness and the pursuit of pleasure is generating critical acclaim.
Dr. Lisle is the Director of Research for TrueNorth Health Center and has published numerous articles in the scientific literature. He is the co-author of the The Pleasure Trap. Dr. Lisle is in private practice conducting psychotherapy at the TrueNorth Health Center.
Ann Crile Esselstyn
Ann Crile Esselstyn graduated from Smith College and received a master’s degree in Education from Wheelock College. She taught English and History for 27 years, receiving the Hostatler Award for Outstanding Teaching, and was a Field Hockey Coach for 15 years. She balanced raising four children, teaching and figuring out plant-based, oil-free ways to cook that are delicious and appealing. Since 2000 she has focused her energy on creating recipes to prevent and reverse heart disease, counseling patients on how to prepare and eat plant-based foods. She has frequently been referred to as the “Julia Child of plant-based cooking.”
Matthew Lederman, M.D.
Matthew Lederman, M.D. is a board-certified, Internal Medicine physician specializing in nutrition and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Lederman has participated in projects such as lecturing for the eCornell Certificate Program in Plant-Based Nutrition and has appeared in films such as Healing Cancer and Forks Over Knives. He also coauthored the popular book Keep It Simple, Keep It Whole: Your Guide to Optimum Health. Dr. Lederman joined Whole Foods Market in 2010 to help direct various health and wellness projects and is currently focusing on piloting an innovative healthcare model that will revolutionize the way primary care is delivered to patients.
Jane Esselstyn, RN
Jane Esselstyn, R.N. is a wellness instructor and a plant-strong presenter and cook, as well as a married mother of three. She loves presenting about disease prevention through nutrition and, like the rest of her family, has been plant-strong for over 25 years. She has been a sex education teacher to middle school boys and high school girls for over two decades, and helps them learn about the amazing benefits of plant-based foods. She recently finished developing recipes for the next Engine 2 book with her brother, Rip.
