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

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 is now closed! We are unable to accommodate late registrations. 

Tickets for the add-on dinner package are no long available for purchase. If you did not purchase the package in advance, please plan to make your own off-site dining arrangements.

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 info@teachingkitchens.org. 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 11.00 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 11.00 nursing contact hour(s).

For Psychologists:
RUSH University Medical Center designates this live activity for 11.00 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 11.00 CPEUs.

For Social Work:
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, RUSH University Medical Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved continuing education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 11.00 general continuing education credits.

For National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWCs): This course has been approved by NBHWC Program Approval Department for 12 CE credits. Course Number: CEA-100125-1.

Housing & Travel

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

The campus is conveniently located between Santa Cruz and Silicon Valley, just off Highway 17. The three closest airports are San Jose (SJC) (27 mi), San Francisco (SFO) (60 mi), and Oakland (OAK) (71.5 mi). Please note that 1440 does not offer an airport shuttle service, and strongly encourages guests to use rideshare services, carpools, or hire a taxi.

What Your Registration Includes:

Your Symposium registration provides access to daily wellness classes, freshly prepared and locally sourced breakfast and lunch at Kitchen Table (1440’s communal dining room), all-day snacks and beverages at Common Grounds Café, and complimentary wi-fi and on-site parking. Please note: on-site dinners are an additional cost and must be purchased in advance during registration. 

Enhance Your Symposium Experience by Staying On-Site at 1440

Make the most of your Symposium experience by staying on campus and enjoying all the 1440’s amenities. Choose from a variety of overnight accommodations, including single, double, and pod-style rooms. We encourage you to review 1440’s unique lodging offerings and campus policies before booking– this is not a typical hotel!

The reservation deadline for accommodations at 1440 was November 3. If you have questions about your reservation, please contact 1440 directly at +1-888-727-1440.

Other Local Accommodation Options for Attendees to Consider*:

• Four Points by Sheraton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley (1.9 mi / 5-6 min drive to/from 1440)
• Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley (3.5 mi / 8-10 min drive to/from 1440)
• Dream Inn Santa Cruz (10 mi / 18-20 min drive to/from 1440, ideal for those who want to be in downtown Santa Cruz)

*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.

We are no longer accepting sponsors for 2025. For more information about sponsor and exhibitor opportunities for 2026, please contact Jen Singer at jen.singer@teachingkitchens.org. 

THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 SUPPORTERS!

Gold Sponsors:

Bronze Sponsors : 

Friend of the Symposium Sponsor:

Non-Profit Sponsors:

Educational Grantor: Meshewa Farm Foundation

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

Katie Welch
Teaching Kitchen Collaborative

Contact Us

For general inquiries, please email info@teachingkitchens.org

Speakers