In 2025, Midwest Dairy launched the Wellness Warriors program to leverage the expertise of credible dietitian thought leaders in engagements designed to build trust in dairy among school nutritionists, WIC leaders, and other health professionals. These influential dietitians bring expertise in human nutrition, public health, school nutrition, food allergy management, and sustainable food systems. From 2025 through 2026, these Wellness Warriors will be present at conferences, webinars, podcasts, and other platforms to build trust in dairy among influential thought leaders and consumers. Meet a few of these Wellness Warriors below and see what they have been up to!
Cook County Physicians
What started as a spark at Midwest Dairy’s 2024 urban farm event in Chicago grew into something powerful this spring. Inspired by that experience, Dr. Yvonne Collins brought a similar event to members of the Cook County Physicians Association (CCPA) in June.
Together with sustainability partner Just Roots, Midwest Dairy hosted a farm-to-table dinner and discussion at the St. James Community Farm in Chicago. Guests toured the urban farm, where half of the food grown is donated, and enjoyed a meal prepared by local chef Sebastian White.
The evening featured impactful conversations with Alicia Nesbary Moore of Herban Produce, dairy farmers Sarah and Andy Lenkaitis, and dietitian Dorian Doss. Dorian Doss is a champion of Midwest Dairy and has recently been activated as a Wellness Warrior. Topics ranged from urban agriculture and sustainable dairy farming to nutrition in Black communities. CCPA members left informed and inspired, citing dairy’s health benefits, sustainable farming practices, and its role in reducing disparities as key takeaways.
Arkansas Medical Conference
On June 7, 2025, Midwest Dairy partnered with the Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association (AMDPA) to co-host a compelling session during the 2025 AMDPA Scientific Session in Little Rock, Arkansas. The session, “Roots of Health: Closing the Maternal Gap Through Early Life Nutrition,”focused on the vital role of maternal nutrition in shaping long-term health outcomes for mothers and their infants.
Wellness Warrior Caroline Weeks, a physician assistant and registered dietitian, led the session with an in-depth presentation on the unique nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating women. Weeks emphasized that nutrition-based interventions, particularly those incorporating dairy foods, can improve maternal and infant health, reduce disparities, and support lifelong well-being.
The session concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Dr. William Greenfield, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The panel featured diverse perspectives from Weeks; Nicolle Fletcher, a doula and midwife; and Zenobia Harris, Executive Director of the Arkansas Birthing Project and Acting Director of Birthing Project USA.
The panel addressed persistent maternal health disparities and emphasized the importance of collaborative, community-based solutions. Their discussion highlighted how inclusive partnerships—spanning healthcare providers, public health leaders, and organizations like Midwest Dairy—can help build a healthier future for mothers and their babies through evidence-based nutrition education and outreach.
Region V National Medical Association and Oklahoma Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
To elevate dairy’s role in addressing nutrition equity and health disparities, Midwest Dairy sponsored a session at the Region V National Medical Association’s annual conference in early April in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The session, “Opportunities to Close the Nutrition Equity Gap: Amplifying Cultural Relevance of Dairy Foods in Tackling Health Disparities,” was led by Wellness Warrior and registered dietitian Krystal Dunham and moderated by Dr. Donald Peghee. The presentation sparked thoughtful discussion among physician attendees, particularly about lactose intolerance and the importance of offering real dairy solutions that support the diverse nutritional needs of patients from various cultural backgrounds.
Midwest Dairy also brought the conversation to the Oklahoma Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (OKAND) Spring Conference, once again sponsoring a session led by Krystal Dunham, who also serves as OKAND President at the time. Her presentation explored the power of milk, cheese, and yogurt to support wellness across life stages, focusing on public health nutrition, cultural relevance, and nutritional accessibility.
Both events served as foundational touchpoints in Midwest Dairy’s 2025 campaign, which focuses on the critical role of nutrition, including dairy, during the first 1,000 days of life.