Dr. Shireen Kassam, medical doctor and passionate plant-based nutrition advocate discussed the important role that plant-based health professionals play in the broader vegan movement. Dr. Kassam is the founder of Plant-Based Health Professionals UK, an organization that educates health professionals, the public, and policymakers about the human health benefits of whole-food, plant-based nutrition. Register here: https://info.vegfund.org/plant-based-living-webinar If you’re a plant-based health and wellness professional, this webinar will show you creative and practical ways to spread the word about plant-based living. Discover what you need as a health professional to take your plant-based advocacy to the next level! In this webinar, you’ll learn how to: Use your knowledge and experience as a health professional to promote plant-based living Incorporate creative yet practical advocacy strategies Adapt your messaging and outreach to the needs of different audiences Overcome the challenges you’ll face while helping patients understand and follow plant-based dietary guidance Acquire the skills and knowledge you need for successful plant-based advocacy Apply the lessons learned by Plant-Based Health Professionals UK on their journey

1. How Health Professionals Can Promote
Plant-Based Living
Dr Shireen Kassam
Consultant Haematologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer,
King’s College Hospital, London
Plant-based nutrition, Winchester University
1

2. About me
• Vegan since 2013, vegetarian since 2001
• Consultant Haematologist and Lifestyle Medicine Physician
• Winchester University
• Founder and Director of Plant-based health professionals UK
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
Webiste: PBHP.UK; IG @plantbasedhealthprofessionals Twitter: plantbasedhpuk; FB: wholefoodplantbasednutrition
2

3. Testing the water…
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n3

4. The creation of PBHP UK
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n4

5. Vision for PBHP UK
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
Policy
Aligned organisations
Campaigns
Responding to nutrition
policy consultations
Health professionals
Membership
Conferences
Online education
Public
Events
Online education
Patient stories/articles
Cooking
5

6. Health professionals
Don’t need to start from scratch
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n6

7. Health professionals
Infiltrate the conventional systems
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
• Educate yourself
• Connect with reputable institutions
• Provide evidence-based education
7

8. Health professionals
Infiltrate the conventional systems
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n8

9. Health professionals
Infiltrate the conventional systems
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n9

10. Health professionals
Infiltrate the conventional systems
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n10

11. Health professionals
Infiltrate the conventional systems
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n11

12. Health professionals
Build a strong network
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
• Key individuals that share your vision
• Membership programme
• Engage with students
• Social media
• Vegan organisations
• Environmental campaign groups
• Plant-based nutrition organisations
• Engage vegan businesses to promote your message
12

13. Health professionals
Build your professional network
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n13

14. Health professionals
We have science on our side
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
Lifestyle therapy begins with motivational interviewing techniques, nutrition
counselling, and education. All patients should strive to attain and maintain an
optimal weight through a primarily plant-based meal plan high in polyunsaturated
and monounsaturated fatty acids, with limited intake of saturated fatty acids and
avoidance of trans fats.
14

15. Health professionals
We have science on our side
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
Lancet. Published Online January 16, 2019 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016S0140-6736(18)31788-4
15

16. Health professionals
We have science on our side
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
Plant-based diets have an enormous potential to improve healthcare and
to allow for more sustainable medicine…. Tackling animal product
consumption….. is consequently not only beneficial with regard to many
chronic conditions, but also in terms of planetary health. Protection of the
environment is a fundamental responsibility of physicians because they are
in a unique position knowing about the interconnection between planetary
and human health. Plant-based diets are a powerful tool – not using and
advocating for them is not only unethical, but harms patients and the
planet alike.
16

17. Health professionals
Share Doctors’ stories
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n17

18. Health professionals
Using work-place opportunities
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n18

19. Health professionals
Challenges
• Frustration and sometimes anger
• Vegan vs plant-based
• Assume you have a bias
• Educating mainly vegans initially
• Change is slow within healthcare systems
• Physicians advocate based on their lifestyle choices
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n19

20. Patients advocacy
• Potentially very motivated
• Readily available resources
• Ability to follow up and support
• Sign pointing
• Patients advocacy groups
• Community support
• Online directory of healthcare professionals
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n20

21. Patients advocacy
Community support
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n21

22. Patients advocacy
Sharing stories
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n22

23. Patient advocacy
Challenges
• Mixed message from healthcare professionals
• Mixed messages in the media
• Add confusion rather than clarity
• Socioeconomic determinants of health
• Changing behaviours and habits is tough!
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n23

24. • Overstating the data and benefits – the science is complicated!
• Information overload
• Too high expectations
• Meeting the patient where they are
• Don’t let your frustration act as a barrier
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
Patient advocacy
Pitfalls
24

25. General public
Collaborations
• Include them in your work as they will be a great support
• Contribute to evidence-based education to help dispel myths
• Collaborate with established public events
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n25

26. General public
Specific resources
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n26

27. Influencing policy
• More difficult….
• Join groups that influence policy makers
• Respond to consultants
• Write to Government and Policy makers
• Use the current issues to our advantage
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n27

28. Health professionals
We have credibility
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/22/doctors-urge-uk-go-vegan-avoid-future-pandemic-12738682/
https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/27/100-doctors-call-tax-junk-food-handle-obesity-epidemic-12765023/
28

29. www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1922686117
The bigger picture
29

30. 30

31. www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1922686117
“There is time, but the window of opportunity is almost closed.
We must save what we can, or lose the opportunity to do so
forever. There is no doubt, for example, that there will be more
pandemics if we continue destroying habitats and trading wildlife
for human consumption as food and traditional medicines. It is
something that humanity cannot permit, as it may be a tipping
point for the collapse of civilization. What is at stake is the fate of
humanity and most living species. Future generations deserve
better from us.”
Climate and ecological emergency
31

32. Health professionals are key players
‘Without decisive and urgent action, the climate crisis will
increasingly undermine human health and disrupt
healthcare delivery. There are both moral and practical
reasons for health professionals to be at the forefront of
climate action’
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
BMJ 2020;371:m3785
32

33. Influencing policy
challenges
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n33

34. Overall challenges
• Volunteer organisation
• Funding
• Negativity from friends and colleagues
• Working outside of your comfort zone
• Constant undermining from media
• All consuming
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n34

35. The joys
• Meeting and working with like minded individuals
• Aligning your profession with your values
• Good will amongst the vegan community
• Learning new skills and gaining knowledge
• Being able to offer patients an alternatives to a lifelong
diagnosis or treatment
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n35

36. Social justice
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
Wealthiest tenth of people consume about 20 times more
energy overall than the bottom ten, wherever they live.
36

37. Animal & human Justice
37

38. Social justice
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n38

39. Essential components
• Inclusive movement
• Represent all voices in society
• Non-hierarchical structures
• Be true to the science
• Work together prioritising the bigger picture rather than
individual interests
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n39

40. In hindsight….
• More time on strategy
• More time building a strong and inclusive team
• Campaigns take meticulous planning
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n40

41. What you can do
• Educate yourself
• Use the influence you have in your own workplace/role
• Join your country-based advocacy group and contribute
• Get to know your community groups who will support
your patients
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n41

42. 42

43. Acknowledgements
P r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e h e a l t h a n d n u t r i t i o n
PBHP UK team and members
My family
Many individuals – time and money
43