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Join Us to Celebrate 10 Years of Impact at the 2025 Teaching Kitchen Symposium!
December 9–11 | 1440 Multiversity, Scotts Valley, CA

About the Symposium

Celebrating 10 Years of Impact with the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative!

The 2025 Teaching Kitchen Symposium marks a powerful moment in our journey—building on the momentum of last year’s inaugural Symposium, we now gather to celebrate 10 years of collective impact through the TKC. Since its founding, the TKC has grown into a vibrant, interdisciplinary community at the forefront of transforming health through food, lifestyle, and hands-on education.

This year’s Symposium honors that legacy while looking boldly to the future. Designed for professionals across healthcare, culinary arts, research, education, and public health, this immersive, continuing education experience features dynamic presentations, panels, culinary demos, interactive sessions, and invaluable networking.

Hosted at the stunning 1440 Multiversity campus in Scotts Valley, CA, the Symposium will unite a passionate community committed to advancing food and lifestyle as medicine in both clinical and community settings.

Whether you’re a long-time TKC member or new to the movement, join us for this milestone gathering—a chance to reflect, connect, and help shape the next decade of impact.

Learning Objectives:

After participating in the Symposium, attendees will be able to: 

  • Explain the vital role of teaching kitchen programs in the growing Food is Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, and Whole Person Health movements.
  • Identify opportunities to leverage teaching kitchens and local food ecosystems to bridge the gap between communities and healthcare.
  • Create strategies for approaching and engaging potential stakeholders and funders.
  • Acquire language and skills for creating culturally responsive and inclusive teaching kitchen programming and environments that cater to diverse learners and advance health equity. 
  • Implement practical solutions for improving teaching kitchen programs and operations, including integrating environmental sustainability, enhancing technology for virtual engagement, adapting curricula for diverse audiences, and refining data tracking to increase reach and effectiveness. 

Program Schedule

Thank you to those who submitted session and speaker ideas for the 2025 Teaching Kitchen Symposium! Stay tuned as we’ll be reviewing submissions and sharing programming updates in the coming weeks.

Below is a sample overview of the schedule. A detailed agenda, including session and presenter information, will be available in summer 2025. In the meantime, please explore last year’s program to get an idea of the type of content to expect.

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

1 – 3 PM Arrivals & Registration
3 – 5 PM Symposium Opening Session(s)
5:30 – 7 PM Dinner (An add-on ticket, purchased during advanced registration, is required for dining at Kitchen Table, 1440’s communal dining room. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.)
7:30-8:30 PM Wellness Class TBD (optional; included with registration)

 

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 

7 AM Wellness Class TBD (optional; included with registration)
7:30-8:30 AM Breakfast (included with registration)
8:30 AM Symposium Sessions
10:30 AM Break
11 AM Symposium Session(s)
12:30 PM Lunch (included with registration)
2 – 3:30 PM Breakout Sessions
3:30 PM Break
4 – 5:30 PM Breakout Sessions
5:30 – 7 PM Dinner (An add-on ticket, purchased during advanced registration, is required for dining at Kitchen Table, 1440’s communal dining room. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.)
7:30-8:30 PM Wellness Class TBD (optional; included with registration)

 

Thursday, December 11, 2025

7 AM Wellness Class TBD (optional; included with registration)
7:30 – 8:30 AM Breakfast (included with registration)
8:30 AM Symposium Sessions
10:30 AM Break
11 AM Symposium Closing Session(s)
12:30 PM Lunch (included with registration)
1:30 – 2 PM Departures 

 

*The TKC Annual Meeting for Organization and Corporate Members will begin at 3 PM on Thursday, December 11, 2025 following the Symposium and continue through lunch on Friday, December 12, 2025. Please check the TKC’s Member Portal and email communications for more information and to RSVP for the Annual Meeting. 

Registration

Registration will open in May/June. In the meantime, please review the details below about fees, deadlines, member discounts, and add-on dinner tickets so you’re ready to complete your registration as soon as it becomes available.

Registration Fees & Deadlines:

Early Registration

(available until Aug 8)

 General Registration

(Aug 9 – Nov 3*)
Physicians $825 $949
Other Professionals  $625 $749
Students (limited) $349 $399

*Registration will close on Monday, November 3. We are unable to accommodate late registrations. 

Discounts for TKC Organization and Professional Members: 

  • TKC Organization members receive $100 off current registration rate using the discount code provided in member communications. 
  • TKC Professional members receive $50 off current registration rate using the discount code provided in member communications. 

Add-On Dinner Tickets:

Enhance your experience by enjoying a meal at Kitchen Table, 1440’s communal dining room. An add-on dinner ticket, available exclusively during advanced registration, is required to dine at this popular venue. Please note, tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.

To secure your spot, dinner tickets for Tuesday, 12/9 and Wednesday, 12/10 are available for $110 each when you register. Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance during the registration process!

If you choose not to purchase a dinner ticket, you will need to make arrangements to secure your own dinner offsite.

Ticket Cancellation/Transfer Policy: 

Tickets purchased before the registration deadline (November 3, 2025) are eligible for a full refund, minus processing fees. Once the registration deadline has passed, tickets can no longer be refunded. To request a cancellation and refund (if eligible), please contact us in writing at [email protected]. If you need to transfer your ticket, please notify us in writing by November 3.

Continuing Education

Joint Providership Statement:
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by RUSH University Medical Center and the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative. RUSH University Medical Center is jointly accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit Designation Statements

For Medicine:
RUSH University Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 12.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

For Nursing:
RUSH University Medical Center designates this knowledge-based live activity for a maximum of 12.00 nursing contact hour(s).

For Psychologists:
RUSH University Medical Center designates this live activity for 12.00 CE credits in psychology. Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The
APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

For Dietitians:
This live activity has been approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration for 12.00 CPEUs.

Housing & Travel

Location & Venue:
1440 Multiversity
800 Bethany Drive
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Map >>

Accommodations at 1440: 

  • 1440 Guestroom Packages & Rates:
    • 1440 will provide booking link for guests to select their accommodations, which include
      • Private Room with Private Bath – 1 person: $300/night + taxes ; 2 people: $600/night + taxes (note: premium room upgrades will also be available through the booking link)
      • Shared Pod (up to 8) with Hall Bath – 1 person: $200/night + taxes

Other Local Accommodation Options for Attendees to Consider*:

*Please note that transportation to/from these offsite locations will need to be arranged by the guest, and that availability is not guaranteed.

Sponsors

Financial support plays a vital role in delivering a high-quality educational and community experience at the Teaching Kitchen Symposium. Sponsorships help offset operational costs and subsidize registration fees, increasing access for individuals who might not otherwise be able to attend.

Limited and thoughtfully selected to align with our mission, Symposium Sponsors and Exhibitors gain meaningful visibility, showcase innovative products and services, and engage directly with a passionate and multidisciplinary audience. All commercial support is managed in accordance with ACCME standards to maintain the integrity and independence of CME-accredited activities.

Click Here for Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities!

For more information about sponsor and exhibitor opportunities, please contact Katie Welch at [email protected]. 

Planning Committee

Frank Ashmore
1440 Multiversity (Host Site)

Hope Barkoukis, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND
Case Western Reserve University

Deanne Brandstetter, MBA, RDN, CDN, FAND
Compass Group North America

Ghislaine Challamel, MS
Food is in the Air

Sian Cotton, PhD
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Theresa Dvorak, MS, RD
University of Utah

David Eisenberg, MD
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Aviad “Adi” Haramati, PhD
Georgetown University School of Medicine

Mary Jo Kreitzer, PhD, RN, FAAN
University of Minnesota

Jennifer Massa, ScD
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Allison Righter, MSPH, RDN (Conference Director)
Teaching Kitchen Collaborative

Kate Shafto, MD, FAAP, FACP
University of Minnesota

Terri Stone, MD
MedStar Health

Contact Us

For general inquiries, please email [email protected]

Speakers

Coming soon!

Here’s what last year’s attendees said about the Symposium:

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"Nothing compares to the energy felt being in the same room with like-minded individuals on the same mission as you. It reminds me that the work I am doing is VERY important and can be impactful if I continue this journey because I am not alone."

Conference Attendee
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“I often come away from conferences/symposia with more knowledge, but rarely do I feel genuinely inspired and motivated. I feel this symposium did both for me – I left motivated, inspired, and with a better understanding of techniques and tools."

Conference Attendee
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"I left the Symposium feeling inspired and ready to learn more about implementing impactful virtual teaching kitchens. Learning from a wide variety of experts in this space expanded my view of the possibilities and I hope to contribute to this movement in a meaningful way.”

Conference Attendee
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"I feel better equipped to assess outcomes and now have resources to help publish them."

Conference Attendee
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"I feel extremely validated that I am heading in the right direction, while being reminded that there is so much more to accomplish."

Conference Attendee
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"Attending the symposium gave me tools to create strategies for culinary and lifestyle programs, from funding to execution, and presenting to leaders. Despite budget cuts at my healthcare system, I now feel confident creating and executing these programs independently in my community, using local partnerships and grants."

Conference Attendee

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