Food is Medicine Resources

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Food is Medicine in Kansas

Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, connect with statewide partners, or stay informed on the latest developments, these initiatives provide opportunities to learn, collaborate, and help advance Food is Medicine in Kansas.

Virtual Learning Series

Food is Medicine is a growing effort to unite healthcare and community partners around the power of food to improve health, reduce hunger, and strengthen local economies. Our virtual learning series explores how Food is Medicine models and services are taking shape in Kansas and across the country.

Together, we’ve discussed how Kansas can continue to build sustainable, equitable, and evidence-based approaches that integrate nutritious food into healthcare, expand local food access, and create lasting systems change.

This learning series:

  • Builds a shared language and understanding of Food is Medicine and local foods work in Kansas
  • Highlights effective programs, models, and evidence that show what works and why
  • Surfaces opportunities for collaboration that bridge healthcare and local food access
  • Supports Kansas in advancing sustainable approaches to Food is Medicine and local food systems alignment

Watch recordings and explore resources from the Learning Series sessions below: 

  1. Foundations of Food is Medicine: Recording and Resources
  2. Landscape of Needs, Gaps & Opportunities: Recording and Resources
  3. Food as Healthcare: Evidence, Outcomes & Coverage Models: Recording and Resources
  4. Bridging Healthcare, Food is Medicine & Local Food Systems: Recording and Resources
  5. Strengthening Food is Medicine Through the Charitable Food System: Recording and Resources
  6. Role of Producers, Processors & Grocers in Food is Medicine: Recording and Resources
  7. Improving Health Through Nutrition Education & Local Foods: Recording and Resources
  8. Equity in Food is Medicine & Models for Target Populations: Recording and Resources
  9. Measuring Impact & Building the Case for Food is Medicine: Recording and Resources
  10. Overview: Kansas’ Food is Medicine Roadmap: Recording and Resources

Steering Committee

Advisor & Facilitator
Karen Shore, MPH, DrPH (c)
Founder & Principal
Upstream Strategies LLC

Amy Hampton
Senior Program Officer, Healthcare
Patterson Family Foundation

Anna Arthur, Ph.D., MPH, RDN
Associate Professor, Dietetics and Nutrition
The University of Kansas Health System

April Holman
Executive Director
Alliance for a Healthy Kansas

Ashlyn Luna
Food Programs Assistant
Kansas Food Bank

Carlie Houchen, MPH
Director of Health Systems
Sunflower Foundation

Courtney Koenig
Program Manager
Kansas Department of Health and Environment

David Jordan
President & CEO
United Methodist Health Ministry Fund

Derik Flerlage
Senior Deputy Division Director for the Division of Public Health
Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Drew Wilburne
Associate Vice President
Kansas Health Foundation

Donna Martin
Public Health Program Manager
Mid-America Regional Council

Eileen Horn
Public Policy Lead
Kansas Food Action Network

Elizabeth Burger, PhD, MBA, EMT
Senior Vice President of Programs & Strategy
Sunflower Foundation

Emily Brown
Founder & CEO
Attane Health

Emily Campbell
Founder & Food Systems Strategist
Cultivate Impact, LLC

Emily Masters
Program Officer, Community Engagement
Patterson Family Foundation

Erika Debrick Kelly
CEO
Hunger Free Kansas

Erin Gabert
Senior Community Health Director
American Heart Association-Midwest Region

Jessica Gnad
Director of Economic Development
Kansas State University

Jodi Schmidt
Executive Director
The University of Kansas Health System Care Collaborative

Johnathan Sublet
Executive Director
SENT Topeka

Karen Braman, RPh, MS
Senior Vice President Clinical and Strategic Initiatives
Kansas Hospital Association

Katherine Nick, MPH
Advocacy & Special Projects
Hunger Free Kansas

Kelli Mark
Director of Healthy Communities
Sunflower Foundation

Lainey Faulkner
Director, Bureau of Health Promotion
Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Maria Fairman
Director
Kansas Alliance for Tribal Community Health (KATCH)

Marissa Love, MD
Assistant Professor, Allergy, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology
The University of Kansas Health System

Meagan Cramer
Senior Director
Kansas Farm Bureau

Mende Barnett
Section Director, Community Health Promotion
Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Miranda Miller-Klugesherz
Executive Director
Kansas Food Action Network

Perla Lopez
Program & Process Specialist
Genesis Family Health

Rial Carver
Program Director
Kansas State University Rural Grocery Initiative

Rosanna Bauman
South District Board Member
Kansas Farmers Union

Tamara Bauer, EdD
Director of Leadership & Service Programs and Assistant Professor
Kansas State University

Tom Buller
Executive Director
Kansas Rural Center

Virginia Barnes, MPH, CHIE
Director Blue Health Initiatives
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

To help advance progress of this work and strengthen collaboration across sectors, we recently established the Kansas Food is Medicine Steering Committee. This representative and nimble group of leaders and practitioners has convened over several months to align our work and provide strategic input.

In our next phase, the committee will remain focused on establishing a statewide framework and structure, as well as recommendations to advance Food is Medicine in Kansas. This includes advocating for sustainable funding pathways to improve nutrition, food security and chronic disease prevention, and supporting local food production and distribution.

We are excited about the progress and are eager to engage a broad statewide coalition to build a healthier and hunger-free Kansas. Should you have questions about the Kansas Food is Medicine Steering Committee, please contact one of the following:

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