About the Physicians Association for Nutrition

Together, we’re transforming nutrition and healthcare

Our Mission

One in 5 premature deaths globally is due to poor nutrition. The current food system is also fuelling the climate crisis and pandemic risk. At the same time, physicians tend not to use the immense power of nutrition to prevent and treat disease in the first place.

Our mission is to address this issue at the source and educate medical students and physicians about how nutrition can be used as an effective tool to treat their patients. Through empowering healthcare professionals with the tools, techniques and know-how to treat their patients differently, we enable them to save more lives.

We also approach the bigger global problems of the broken food system through engaging an international community and support network of physicians, dieticians, medical students and other healthcare workers. Through our combined efforts, we can influence policy-makers and change food environments for the good of human and planetary health. PAN’s influence is expanding and we regularly establish new national branches around the world. By partnering with like-minded international colleagues we can work effectively at a local, national and international scale to maximise impact.

Eliminate diet-related deaths globally by 2050

We have established branches in various countries in Europe and beyond, and we continue to grow our reach globally. Our national branches are all registered non-profit organisations in their respective countries. For more information about our international branches, click here.

Our free online education platform, PAN Academy, was launched in September 2021. Our team of nutrition experts and physicians is creating various modules on nutritional science ranging from basic knowledge to more in-depth topics about nutrition and diseases. Each module includes a series of video lessons accompanied by quizzes and activities. Take a look at the available modules here.

PAN University Groups are active in over 27 medical schools (and counting) across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Through engaging medical students and educating them about nutrition, we can have a big impact on the future of healthcare. Find out more about the activities of PAN University Groups here.

We regularly hold one-off webinars as well as webinar series’ in German and English with our team of presenters as well as with guest speakers who are experts in their respective fields and medical specialities. Check out our upcoming webinars on our events page or contact us at info@pan-int.org to inquire about booking a PAN presenter to speak at your medical gathering, corporate event or conference.

Our Work Is Science-Based

PAN International’s resources, perspectives and recommendations are always based on high-quality scientific evidence about nutrition and its impact on individual, public and planetary health. Our international team of experts thoroughly evaluates the relevance, quality and reliability of scientific evidence on a large number of topics to provide top-notch guidance for physicians, healthcare professionals, students, policymakers and the general public.

We acknowledge that scientific evidence is not absolute nor definitive and often involves uncertainty. We are fully aware of the intrinsic challenges of science and communicate uncertainty and research gaps clearly and openly.
We are always willing and open to scientific exchange as this is the way that science evolves.

Our actions are motivated by the desire to improve lives and provide evidence-based guidance for health professionals and decision-makers when implementing the most healthy dietary patterns and food environments.

2022 - The Year in Numbers Infographic

Take a look at some of our key milestones and highlights from 2022.
View Infographic

2022 - The Year in Numbers Infographic

Take a look at some of our key milestones and highlights from 2022.
View Infographic

Our story so far…

The Physicians Association for Nutrition was established in 2018 in Munich, Germany when we set out on our journey to become the international medical network implementing plant-based nutrition in healthcare. With global synergies and pragmatic approaches, we are creating the long-awaited food transformation.

Making better physicians

Ready to improve your nutrition knowledge?

Sign up for the PAN Academy and take our free online courses on nutrition science.

Mini Modules on Diet-Related Diseases

This series of short modules addresses common diet-related diseases such as heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Learn the causes and which patients are at risk, and find out practical solutions to managing these diseases through whole food, plant-based eating.

Making better physicians

Ready to improve your nutrition knowledge?

Sign up to the PAN Academy and take our free online courses on nutrition science.

Mini Modules on Diet-Related Diseases

This series of short modules addresses common diet-related diseases such as heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Learn the causes and which patients are at risk, and find out practical solutions to managing these diseases through whole food, plant-based eating.

 

Our Goals

Educate Medical Students & Health Professionals

  • by providing evidence-based educational materials and online courses on the preventive and therapeutic potential of nutrition
  • by holding webinars for medical students and health professionals
  • by striving to make nutrition education a key part of medical schools and the training of all healthcare professionals
  • by posting educational content on social media
  • by holding conferences and events on nutrition and health

Educate

Empower

Empower Health Professionals, Individuals and Communities

  • by establishing PAN University Groups in medical schools and universities
  • by expanding an international volunteer and member’s network to exchange knowledge and support each other regarding local, national and global initiatives
  • by offering practical resources for physicians to treat patients
  • by creating whole food plant-based guides and recipe ideas for the general public
  • by developing resources specifically for paediatricians and families

Engage the Medical Community and Policy-Makers

  • by interacting with healthcare professionals and medical organisations in efforts around improving food and health environments
  • by partnering with other like-minded international organisations including Charité University Berlin, Global Climate and Health Alliance, KLUG, European Public Health Alliance and the 50by40 network
  • by establishing a pilot program in Germany for healthy hospital food
  • by campaigning for changes to public health policies and food systems

Engage

Our Goals

Educate Medical Students & Health Professionals

  • by providing evidence-based educational materials and online courses on the preventive and therapeutic potential of nutrition
  • by holding webinars for medical students and health professionals
  • by striving to make nutrition education a key part of medical schools and the training of all healthcare professionals
  • by posting educational content on social media
  • by holding conferences and events on nutrition and health

Empower Health Professionals, Individuals and Communities

  • by establishing PAN University Groups in medical schools and universities
  • by expanding an international volunteer and member’s network to exchange knowledge and support each other regarding local, national and global initiatives
  • by offering practical resources for physicians to treat patients
  • by creating whole food plant-based guides and recipe ideas for the general public
  • by developing resources specifically for paediatricians and families

Engage the Medical Community and Policy-Makers

  • by interacting with healthcare professionals and medical organisations in efforts around  improving food and health environments
  • by partnering with other like-minded international organisations including Charité University Berlin, Global Climate and Health Alliance, KLUG, European Public Health Alliance and the 50by40 network
  • by establishing a pilot program in Germany for healthy hospital food
  • by campaigning for changes to public health policies and food systems

Sign up for our newsletter

Get the latest science-based nutrition news delivered to your inbox!

Meet the Team

Niklas Oppenrieder, MD

Chairman of the Board

Wendy Walrabenstein, RD

Vice Chair
&
Treasurer of
PAN The Netherlands

Ronnie Hasson M.Sc. RD

Board Member
&
CEO of PAN Israel

Team_Kerstin_Plehwe

Kerstin Plehwe

Board Member
&
President of PAN USA

Mark Hofmann

Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Anne Lotte Potzel Dip IBLM/BSLM

Medical Director

Dr. Miriam Sonntag

Medical Content Executive

Roberta Alessandrini, PhD

Medical Content Creator – International Content

Salvatore Melidoro

Community Coordinator

Katie Dunn

Social Media Manager

Alisia Schrieder

Social Media Manager

Katharina Hofmann

Data Manager & Finance

Sören Kube

Project Manager “Healthy Hospital Food”

Our Volunteers

Various activities and projects. More about volunteer opportunities here.