The Plantrician Project Board of Directors
Scott Stoll, MD
Co-founder & Board Chairman
Tom Dunnam, MBA
Co-founder & Board Member
Susan Benigas
Co-founder & Board Member
Ethan Brown
Board Member
Eydie Desser
Board Member
Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., MD
Board Member Emeritus
James W. Heavener
Board Member
John H. Hull
Board Member
Jana Kohl, PsyD
Board Member
William Li, MD
Board Member Emeritus
Cheryl Mothes
Board Member
Daniel O'Halloran
Board Member
Helen Powell-Stoddart
Board Member
Brian Wendel
Board Member
Scott Stoll, MD
Co-founder & Board Chairman
Dr. Scott Stoll is recognized as an international leader in lifestyle medicine and whole food plant-based nutrition. He is the co-founder of the Plantrician Project, the International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference, the International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention, and the Regenerative Health Institute, a unique collaborative project with the Rodale Institute that integrates a regenerative vision of human health, agriculture, and the environment. He served as the chairman of the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Coordinated Health for 16 years, a team physician for Lehigh University and the United States Bobsled and Skeleton Team and was a member of the Whole Foods scientific and medical advisory board. Dr. Stoll is the Chairman of the board for The Plantrician Project.
Every year Dr. Stoll hosts the very popular one-week Total Health Immersions in Florida and helps attendees recover lost health, overcome addictions, and restore emotional balance. In addition to authoring several books and numerous scientific articles, Dr. Stoll has appeared on a wide variety of national shows including the Dr. Oz show, hosting a 2018 PBS special Food as Medicine, and numerous documentaries including Eating You Alive, Wait till its Free, and The Game Changers. As well as being a published author and member of the 1994 Olympic Bobsled Team, he is a highly sought-after international speaker. Dr. Stoll and his family live in Franklin, TN.
Tom Dunnam, MBA
Co-founder & Board Member
With attention paid to every minute operational detail, Tom has successfully married his business management expertise with his passion for health promotion in his role with The Plantrician Project. He co-founded the International Plant-based Nutrition Healthcare Conference and also serves as president of Total Health Immersions (THI). THI is a 7-day lifestyle intervention program that, several times each year, touches employees of some of the nation’s most admired employers that are committed to reining in healthcare costs and improving the quality of life for their employees.
Holding a BA in Management from St. Leo University, where Tom was a pitcher and team captain of the baseball team, he concluded his graduate studies with an MBA from the John F. Welch College of Business at Sacred Heart University. Along with his wife, Andrea, and their two children, Tom calls the West Palm Beach, FL area home.
Susan Benigas
Co-founder & Board Member
Susan’s work has spanned the gamut, from running political campaigns to serving in senior management and consultant roles for organizations ranging from professional sports and media to healthcare technology and worksite health promotion. It was while president of a worksite wellness company that she had the paradigm-shift leading to her life’s passion: She questioned the status quo approach to “wellness”—all too often to diagnose and medicate—as opposed to a primary focus on identifying and eradicating the cause of disease.
With a B.S. in Communications from the University of Tulsa and a Certificate in Plant-based Nutrition from eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, Susan’s passion for reaching the gatekeepers of dietary recommendations—our nation’s physicians and healthcare practitioners—led to her founding The Plantrician Project and co-founding the International Plant-based Nutrition Healthcare Conference, showcasing the efficacy of whole food, plant-based nutrition in its ability to prevent, suspend and often even reverse much of the chronic, degenerative disease afflicting our world.
Her experience and successful track record in the areas of organizational leadership, project management, strategic marketing, public relations, development, and Internet-based solutions design and development have helped to fuel the success of many organizations and endeavors. In addition to her work with The Plantrician Project, Susan serves as executive director of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
She and her husband, Jon, and furry family member, veggie-eating dog Bailey Blue, reside in Town & Country, MO, where Jon serves on the Board of Aldermen and is chairman of the Green Commission.
Ethan Brown
Board Member
Ethan Brown, chief executive officer and co-founder of Beyond Meat — a company focused on perfectly replacing animal protein with plant protein – gained a profound appreciation for the natural world from his father, a professor and conservationist. Ethan’s passions for the environment shaped the direction of his adult life. After earning an MBA from Columbia University and an MPP from the University of Maryland, he embarked on a career in clean energy which included eight years at Ballard Power Systems, the world’s leading PEM fuel cell company focused on helping to create a better world.
Although he enjoyed a successful career in the clean energy sector, Ethan felt a need to make a bigger impact by addressing climate change, global resource constraints, animal welfare and human health. Committed to a plant-based diet, he often wondered if the staggering amount of animal protein produced and consumed could be significantly reduced if a perfect plant-based meat replication existed.
Pursuit of this idea led him to Dr. Fu-hung Hsieh and Harold Huff at the University of Missouri. Their collaboration along with support from The University of Maryland, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and The Obvious Corporation led to the creation of Beyond Meat in 2009. The company also gained support from Morgan Creek Capital, The Humane Society, Closed Loop Capital and most recently, Bill Gates.
Eydie Desser
Board Member
A marketing specialist, Eydie has over 20 years’ experience in local media sales management in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Dallas for CBS, and has overseen media sales for the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
She’s earned a Grande Diploma of Culinary from the French Culinary Institute in NYC as well as a certification in Rouxbe’s Plant-based Cooking Professional Course. She is the Founder & Curator of Garden of Eydie.
Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., MD
Board Member Emeritus
Dr. Esselstyn received his B.A. from Yale University and his M.D. from Case 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.
During his association with the Cleveland Clinic, which began in1968, Dr. Esselstyn 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.
In 1991, Dr. Esselstyn served as president of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, That same year he organized the first National Conference on the Elimination of Coronary Artery Disease. In 1997, he chaired a follow-up conference, the Summit on Cholesterol and Coronary Disease, which brought together more than 500 physicians and health-care workers. In April, 2005, Dr. Esselstyn became the first recipient of the Benjamin Spock Award for Compassion in Medicine. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association in 2009. In September 2010, he received the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Award. Dr. Esselstyn received the 2013 Deerfield Academy Alumni Association Heritage Award In Recognition of Outstanding Achievement & Service, and the 2013 Yale University GEORGE H.W. BUSH \‘48 LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP AWARD.
His scientific publications number over 150, “The Best Doctors in America” 1994-1995 published by Woodward and White cites Dr. Esselstyn’s surgical expertise in the categories of endocrine and breast disease. In 1995, he published his bench mark long-term nutritional research arresting and reversing coronary artery disease in severely ill patients. That same study was updated at 12 years and reviewed beyond twenty years in his book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, making it one of the longest longitudinal studies of its type. Dr. Esselstyn and his wife, Ann Crile Esselstyn, have followed a plant-based diet for more than 26 years. Dr. Esselstyn presently directs the cardiovascular prevention and reversal program at The Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute and serves on the Medical and Expert Advisory Board for the International Plant-based Nutrition Healthcare Conference. The Esselstyns have four children and ten grandchildren.
James W. Heavener
Board Member
James W. Heavener is the CEO of The Heavener Company, through which he holds and manages his interests in education, media & film production, Internet services, real estate franchising, banking and information technology.
Mr. Heavener is Co-Chairman and CEO of Full Sail University, Co-Chairman of LA Film School, and RMCAD (Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design). His real estate interests include serving as a Managing Director of ERA Europe, a group of 1,100 European residential real estate offices located in 19 European Union countries, Co-Chairman of ProMarketWeb, Ltd., a European residential MLS, and Co-Chairman and CEO of Silver City Partners of Florida, a real estate holding company with assets in apartments, land development, office buildings and single purpose net leased assets. He is the Co-CEO and Director of Pioneer Technology Group, LLC, a software development company specializing in software solutions for government institutions. He is controlling shareholder of Florida Capital Bank, which specializes in mortgage banking and Government lending programs.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Mr. Heavener serves as the Chairman of the University of Florida Board of Trustees, the State of Florida’s preeminent University, the University of Florida Investment Company (UFICO), is a Distinguished Alumni at the University of Florida, Director of the University of Florida Alumni Association, a Director with The University of Florida Foundation, a Legacy Director and past-President of the University of Florida Booster Association and a member of the Advisory Council to the University of Florida Warrington College of Business. He serves on the Board of Enterprise Florida, Inc., The Gianna Simone Foundation, and the Tim Tebow Foundation. He is a Member of the Harvard Club of Central Florida and New York.
Mr. Heavener holds a BSBA from the University of Florida and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School OPM.
John H. Hull
Board Member
For over 25 years John has been advising middle-market companies on a variety of transactional matters from M&A to capital raising. John has worked with clients in a number of industries including manufacturing, consumer products, healthcare, life sciences and business services.
Prior to joining The Fortune Group in 1998, he was a member of the mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance practice groups of a leading St. Louis law firm for several years. John started his career as a commercial bank lender servicing family-run and middle-market businesses. As an adjunct professor, John has taught M&A classes at Washington University’s School of Law. In addition, he has written articles for trade publications and has spoken at a number of events on M&A-related topics. John is registered with FINRA and maintains the following license: Series 24, Series 82, and Series 63.
John is an active member of his community and has served in volunteer leadership roles for several non-profit organizations, including youth sports leagues, business groups and his church.
Jana Kohl, PsyD
Board Member
Jana Kohl, PsyD is a doctor of psychology, author, artist, activist and philanthropist. She has been an advocate for plant-based nutrition for the past fifteen years, as well as a champion of many causes. Having worked for the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, she has long been concerned with how society sanctions cruelty and abuse. Dr. Kohl testified before the Illinois legislature on the link between violence against animals and inter-human violence and has worked on legislative initiatives seeking bans on animal cruelty practices in various industries. She is the author of ‘A Rare Breed of Love.’
Dr. Kohl’s interest in plant-based nutrition had a moral and ethical basis but over the past decade she has embraced the other benefits now attributed to a plant-based lifestyle: Human health, reversing environmental destruction, the means to ending world hunger, and a positive impact upon failing economies.
One of Dr. Kohl’s passions is in assisting people on the journey to plant-based health and happiness. As a psychologist she is interested in understanding why people either resist or embrace change, especially when offered a chance to reverse or prevent illness through a plant-based diet. She is also interested in spreading the word about pediatric nutrition since her twin sons have thrived on a plant-based diet from infancy.
She and her children currently live in CA, where they grow organic fruit and vegetables, which they share with anyone who comes to visit.
William Li, MD
Board Member Emeritus
Dr. Li is president, medical director, and co-founder of the Angiogenesis Foundation. He trained in the lab of Dr. Judah Folkman, pioneer of the angiogenesis field, and has been actively engaged in angiogenesis research and clinical development for 22 years.
Under Dr. Li’s leadership, the Foundation has developed a unique social enterprise model based on national and international collaborations with leading medical academic centers around the world, biopharmaceutical innovators, the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, and medical associations. The Foundation’s work has led to the realization of 27 new treatments for diseases ranging from cancer to blindness to diabetic complications. Having testified and presented before congressional and other government panels on the impact of angiogenesis in healthcare, Dr. Li lectures widely on angiogenesis-related topics in front of clinical, government, and industrial audiences. He is involved in global efforts to advance the application of angiogenesis to health and wellness, and is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative, has designed programs featured at the World Economic Forum, and launched the Eat to Beat Cancer, and Do iT Yourself Health campaigns to bring science- and evidence-based health recommendations to the public. Dr. Li has been published in Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and other leading peer-reviewed medical journals.
Receiving his A.B. with honors from Harvard College and his M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dr. Li completed his internship, residency, and fellowship training in General Internal Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He has held appointments on the clinical faculties of Harvard Medical School, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, and is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School. Dr. Li is an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Wound Care Specialists and has served as advisor and consultant to leading global public and private companies.
Cheryl Mothes
Board Member
Cheryl Mothes, a former cattle rancher from a small town in Kansas, is now a passionate advocate for healthy living. Her journey began after reading “Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won’t Eat Meat,” which led her to discontinue her involvement in the production and consumption of meat and other creatures.
She holds a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and obtained an MBA from Washington University while serving as Vice President for Saint Francis Healthcare Systems in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. After leaving healthcare in 1999, she became a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones and has since obtained her Series 7 and Series 66 licenses as well as her CFP®.
In 2019, Mothes and her husband Rick, a retired law enforcement professional and business entrepreneur, opened their first Fresh Healthy Café to offer healthy eating options in their community. Mothes completed her Ph.D. in Holistic Nutrition in 2020 and uses her platform to educate others about the benefits of plant-based whole foods.
Mothes is a strong advocate for advancing the status of women and girls worldwide, in addition to her passion for healthy living. She plans to retire with her husband to Geneva, Switzerland, and volunteer for the United Nations to continue her work for women on a global scale.
Daniel O'Halloran
Board Member
Daniel O’Halloran is a seasoned executive with nearly two decades of global experience leading major power infrastructure projects. Dedicated to innovation, he excels not only in the energy sector but also in emerging technologies. As an investor, Daniel focuses on projects contributing to the greater good.
With a rich background, Daniel has served on the boards of private and publicly listed companies in roles such as Executive Chairman and Director. His success includes raising tens of millions from private and institutional investors, showcasing expertise in team building, strategy development, compliance, governance, and effective organizational scaling.
In 2007, Daniel founded Celtic Power Group, a venture that expanded internationally, notably restoring Puerto Rico’s power network post-Hurricane Maria. Under his leadership, Celtic Power executed projects worth hundreds of millions, showcasing his strategic vision and leadership.
Simultaneously, Daniel actively contributes to PolyPico since 2014, advising on intellectual property, market exploration, and strategic partnerships in precision low-volume dispensing technology.
Beyond the corporate sphere, Daniel champions transformative causes. As an Executive Producer and Sponsor of “Planet Vegan,” he has a keen focus on Plant Based living and the Animal Rights movement. He is also the founder of the Gold Coast Gaels GAA Irish club on the Gold Coast Australia, now with over 2000 active members.
In his recent role as Chairman and CEO of TYMLEZ, an ASX-listed Blockchain technology company, Daniel led a strategic relocation of the IP and key positions from the Netherlands to Australia. This move, coupled with a rebuilt board, spurred substantial company growth, increasing valuation and a strategy for future growth.
Helen Powell-Stoddart
Board Member
Dr. Helen Powell-Stoddart is a board-certified physician of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She earned both her Master’s in Anatomy and Medical Doctorate from Howard University in Washington, DC. Dr. Helen’s interests in integrative medicine and wellness were first piqued when she lost her mother to the diet-exacerbated illnesses of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Shortly after, her father was diagnosed with metastatic cancer, her interest in learning as much about the inner workings of the human body and its ability to obtain true health was solidified.
Dr. Helen was one of only two students accepted each year into the 5-year dual residency of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as Internal Medicine at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University. She completed her fellowship in Sports Medicine and Non-Surgical Orthopedics and acquired additional specialized training in Interventional Pain before she began practicing in the Alabama area.
Dr. Helen seamlessly weaves diet and nutrition into her treatment protocols to promote optimal health and well-being. She is the author of the book “Reverse it!” and the companion “Reverse it! Success Journal”. The pair serve as the foundation for her Reverse it! Program that teaches people how to reverse lifestyle-related diseases like the ones that claimed the lives of her parents. Dr. Helen is also an avid chef and is integrally involved in crafting the recipes used in the Revers it! program. She is also a frequent guest chef and lecturer on the 3ABN Network teaching the cooking principles of reversing these potentially deadly diseases.
Dr. Helen’s 100% virtual practice and coaching program, Pain 2 Wellness Healthcare, provides individualized strategies to reverse type 2 diabetes in her clients around the world.
Dr. Helen is married to John Stoddart, a recording artist and composer. Together, they have 2 beautiful daughters with one following in her father’s footsteps and one following in her mother’s. Dr. Helen’s favorite pastime is spending time with her family which includes her hairy Chow Chow son, Kadoh.
Brian Wendel
Board Member
Brian is founder and president of Forks Over Knives, a lifestyle brand that empowers people to live healthier lives by changing the way the world understands nutrition.
He created and executive produced the 2011 documentary film Forks Over Knives, which made the case that chronic ailments such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes can be prevented, halted, and oftentimes reversed by leaving animals foods and highly refined foods off the plate, and adopting a whole-food, plant-based diet instead. The film, which received rave reviews from medical experts and entertainment critics alike, has been viewed by millions of people around the world and has become one of the most influential documentaries of our time.
Under Brian’s leadership, Forks Over Knives has evolved into a multimedia brand that offers an array of tools to make plant-based living easy and enjoyable—including bestselling books; a top-ranked mobile recipe app; the weekly, customizable Forks Meal Planner service; Forks Over Knives magazine; a growing line of food products; and a website that serves as a leading destination for people seeking plant-based health news, real-life success stories, and delicious recipes.
Brian is a partner in the commercial real estate firm Huntington Group, LLC and a member of the board of directors for the Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation. He lives in Santa Monica, California.
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