Mario Ferruzzi, PhD
Associate Professor, Departments of Food Science and Foods and Nutrition
Purdue University

Dr. Ferruzzi studies phytonutrients and botanical chemistry, focusing on the body’s ability to absorb and use these plant nutrients in support of health. His main interest is in natural plant pigments, including flavonoids, a type of polyphenol found in Concord grapes among other plant-based foods. He is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), American Society for Nutrition (ASN), and American Chemical Society (ACS), and is a recipient of the Samuel Cate Prescott Award given annually to an IFT member who has shown outstanding ability in research in an area of food science and technology.

I’m proud to serve on Welch’s Health & Nutrition Advisory Panel because it provides a collaborative environment focused on leveraging the best food and nutrition science to deliver quality products to consumers of all ages.

Tara Gidus, MS, RD, CSSD, LD/N
“The Diet Diva” and Nutrition Communications Consultant
Team Dietitian, Orlando Magic
Nutrition Consultant, University of Central Florida (UCF) Athletic Department

Tara Gidus is an expert spokesperson on nutrition, fitness, and health. A past national media spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, Tara currently appears biweekly as the “Diet Diva” on the national morning television show, The Daily Buzz. She is also the nutrition advisor for American Baby magazine, as well as a healthy eating expert and blogger on healthline.com. Her first book, Pregnancy Cooking and Nutrition for Dummies, is coming out in the fall of 2011.

I’m proud to serve on Welch’s Health & Nutrition Advisory Panel because it’s a family-farmer owned company that cares about promoting whole family health through education on grape science and the importance of eating a nutritious, produce-rich diet.

Naomi Hamburg, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Boston University Medical Center

As a practicing cardiologist, Dr. Hamburg's work focuses on strategies and approaches to support heart health. She has an active research program that includes studying the impact of exercise and foods and beverages on cardiovascular wellness. She is chair-elect of the Vascular Council at the American Society of Echocardiography, a Fellow of the Society of Vascular Medicine, and an active member of the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology.

I'm proud to serve on Welch's Health and Nutrition Advisory Panel because of the company's devotion to scientific research that is advancing our knowledge about how grapes and grape products promote heart health.

Don Ingram, PhD
Professor and Chief of the Nutritional Neuroscience and Aging Laboratory;
Director of Animal Metabolism and Behavior Core
Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Dr. Ingram’s research focus is on aging, including age-related cognitive decline and the impact of nutrition and pharmacological (drug) treatments on aging. His work focuses on the health benefits of low-calorie diets as well as berry fruits and other functional foods. Dr. Ingram serves as editor-in-chief of AGE: The Journal of the American Aging Association as well as on editorial boards of several biomedical journals, including Neurobiology of Aging, Biogerontology, Rejuvenation Research, and Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences, and he currently serves as president of the Gerontological Society of America.

I’m proud to serve on Welch’s Health & Nutrition Advisory Panel because of the company’s commitment to producing quality foods and beverages for families, and their dedication to conducting research on the health benefits of grapes and grape products.

Christine M. Palumbo, MBA, RD
Nutrition Communications Consultant, Columnist
Adjunct Faculty, Benedictine University

Based in the Chicago area, Christine Palumbo is an active speaker, spokesperson and author on wellness and nutrition topics. She is a contributing editor to Environmental Nutrition and the “Good Sense Eating” columnist for Chicago Parent and New York-area newspapers. In addition to her private practice, she has worked in the past with numerous food industry partners. She is a former member of the American Dietetic Association Board of Directors and was named Outstanding Dietetic Educator for the Illinois Dietetic Association in 2011.

I’m proud to serve on Welch’s Health & Nutrition Advisory Panel because it’s yet another way to remind colleagues and clients of the nutrition power of colorful fruits and vegetables.

Robin Plotkin, RD, LD
Culinary and Nutrition Communications Consultant

As a culinary nutritionist, Robin Plotkin creates learning experiences surrounding food and nutrition for consumers and professionals in a relevant, realistic and often social media-centered way. Her combined culinary and nutrition expertise, along with sales, marketing, and public relations experiences, has helped her create a diverse client base. She is the former chair of the Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group for the American Dietetic Association and is the former president of the Dallas Dietetic Association. Robin is a mommy blogger for sheisdallas.com and writes her own blog, Robinsbite. Robin launched her culinary and nutrition communications business in 2003.

I’m proud to serve on Welch’s Health & Nutrition Advisory Panel because Welch’s truly invests in and believes in quality ingredients and nutrition. Welch’s is a trusted source of research-based information and tips that I can feel good about passing along to consumers.