The Mediterranean diet originates in the food cultures of ancient civilizations which developed around the Mediterranean Basin and is based on the regular consumption of olive oil (as the main source of added fat), plant foods (cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, tree nuts, and seeds), the moderate consumption of fish, seafood, and dairy, and low-to-moderate alcohol (mostly red wine) intake, balanced by a comparatively limited use of red meat and other meat products. A few decades ago, the Mediterranean diet drew the attention of medical professionals by proving extended health benefits. The first reports ascertained cardiovascular protection, as multiple large-scale clinical studies, starting with Ancel Keys’ Seven Countries Study, showed a marked reduction of atherosclerotic clinical events in populations with a Mediterranean dietary pattern. Ensuing trials confirmed favorable influences on the risk for metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. While its health benefits are universally recognized today by medical professionals, the present state of the Mediterranean diet is challenged by major difficulties in implementing this protective dietary pattern in other geographical and cultural areas and keeping it alive in traditional Mediterranean territories, also tainted by the unhealthy eating habits brought by worldwide acculturation.
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Michelle Vancura
Michelle is a Senior Consultant for The Pharmacy Group (TPG). TPG provides consulting services to healthcare service, information technology, and pharmaceutical companies to grow revenue and improve the financial performance of their products and services.
Michelle is an executive leader with deep experience in business development, client service and operations. She builds strong partnerships with internal and external resources to develop and implement market driven business solutions. She has demonstrated ability to develop markets, drive net new sales and retain customers profitably. Michelle is an excellent communicator and negotiator known for influencing and engaging others, as well as for building highly effective teams focused on customer satisfaction and achieving results.
Michelle recently retired from Cigna where she was the Senior Vice President, Go To Market Lead. She was responsible for the overall segment-specific product, marketing, sales, distribution and account management strategies and implementation for Cigna Pharmacy Management’s 9.1 million customers in commercial business. During her time at Cigna, her work contributed to membership growth, earnings growth and retention strategies, and client guarantee creation and delivery have driven over $1.4B in additional earnings in the past 8 years, an annual growth rate of 22%.
Prior to her work with Cigna, Michelle was the CEO at Pharmacy First – Wholesale Alliance, a Senior Vice President at Medco Health Solutions, working with regional health plans, mid-market and large market employers and resellers. Michelle began her career at Aetna Pharmacy Management focused on system and benefit set up and maintenance.
Michelle is heavily involved in the healthcare industry. She is a member of Women Business Leaders in Health Care and Global Leadership Program. She is on the Board of Directors for the National Council of Prescription Drug Programs Foundation, and ChoicePays, a patient financing company.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Minnesota State University and a Financial Instruction Certificate from the Wharton School of Business.
Tricia is a consultant with The Pharmacy Group (TPG). TPG provides consulting services to healthcare service, information technology, and pharmaceutical companies to grow revenue and improve the financial performance of their products and services.
Sue is a senior consultant for The Pharmacy Group (TPG). TPG provides consulting services to healthcare service, information technology and pharmaceutical companies to grow revenue and improve the financial performance of their products and services.
Dr. Milgram is a Physician Consultant for The Pharmacy Group (TPG). TPG provides consulting services to healthcare service, information technology, and pharmaceutical companies to grow revenue and improve the financial performance of their products and services.
Christine is a Senior Consultant for The Pharmacy Group (TPG). TPG provides consulting services to healthcare service, information technology, and pharmaceutical companies to grow revenue and improve the financial performance of their products and services.
Kathleen is a Senior Consultant with The Pharmacy Group (TPG). TPG provides consulting services to healthcare service, information technology, and pharmaceutical companies to grow revenue and improve the financial performance of their products and services. As a trained pharmacist, health economist, and outcomes researcher, Kathleen brings three decades of diverse experience and leadership in delivering new products, programs, and services to market within the global healthcare sector.
Gayle is a Senior Consultant with TPG Data Services (TPG-DS). TPG-DS and our team of senior healthcare and clinical consultants are transforming the way providers and payors monitor healthcare information to control costs and enhance efficiencies.
Brian is a senior consultant with The Pharmacy Group (TPG). TPG provides consulting services to healthcare service, information technology, and pharmaceutical companies to grow revenue and improve the financial performance of their products and services.
Nancy is a Senior Vice President with The Pharmacy Group, responsible for all financial aspects of the TPG Family of Companies, as well as operational matters. She joined The Pharmacy Group in March 2012, in addition to performing the overall financial management she evaluates project profitability and pricing, manages cash flow, analyzes financial performance, and makes financial recommendations. Additionally, she handles HR functions, and frequently is involved in client contracting.
Jeff joined The Pharmacy Group (TPG) in August 2008 to support its administrative functions. Over the years he has taken on additional responsibilities including marketing initiatives, client communications, and general web support. As a vice president Jeff is primarily responsible for attendee recruitment for all TPG activities, from the planning and strategy of recruitment to the execution and oversight of those initiatives.
Kari Ratkevich is a consultant with The Pharmacy Group (TPG). Kari’s broad range of pharmacy experience spans over 29 years. Kari has a proven track record for successful sales increases, inventory and purchasing, and minimizing pharmacy expenses and operational costs in retail pharmacy.
Dr. John Vazquez is a Physician Consultant with TPG International Health Academy (TPG-IHA). TPG-IHA has hosted educational programs for senior healthcare executives for 25+ years, holding week-long Educational Summits in over 30 countries across the globe. The Academy is powered by three pillars: education, networking, and cultural immersion.
Mr. Brook has over 30 years in health care industry management and consulting. He has managed medical and health economic educational programs, convention activities, and promotional product support as both an employee and a consultant. He has worked on market access programs with the National Payor Roundtable since the organization formed in 2005, (as the National Managed Care Roundtable). He managed the daily operation of a pharmacy benefit manager’s formulary programs and was instrumental in the development and implementation of over 20 custom formularies. Mr. Brook has worked with state and federal agencies in refining the diagnosis-related-group system, in developing the resource-utilization-group system—part of the U.S. Federal Long-Term-Care Minimum Data Set, and in developing a mental health classification and reimbursement system. Mr. Brook has taken an active role in the developing and reporting the results of the National Payor Roundtable advisor survey. He reviews for several journals including the American Journal of Managed Care and Current Medical Research and Opinion. He has a variety of therapeutic experience with marketed and developmental products and holds several degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, including an M.S. in operations research and statistics, an M.B.A. in health systems finance, and a B.S. in management information systems.
Dr. Sax is co-founder and President of The Pharmacy Group LLC in Glastonbury, Connecticut where he provides marketing services to healthcare service providers; pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device clients; and information technology and companies to grow revenue and improve the financial performance of their products and services.
Helen is a Senior Consultant with TPG Healthcare Consulting (TPG-HC). She has a track record of developing successful businesses and teams and advancing effective use of medications. She has over 25 years of healthcare experience as a practicing pharmacist, clinician, consultant, and healthcare services leader. She has represented billions of dollars in pharmaceutical purchasing decisions for Fortune 50 companies, international employers, federal and state funded programs, health plan associations, healthcare systems, health plans, and a US intelligence agency. Helen is a visionary with experience in strategic planning and implementation, including startup companies; she is a published international speaker and instructor on the US healthcare system and pharmaceutical market access.
Winston Wong is a Senior Consultant with The Pharmacy Group (TPG). TPG provides consulting services to healthcare service, information technology, and pharmaceutical companies to grow revenue and improve the financial performance of their products and services.
Rich Balest has served as a health industry consultant utilizing over 25 years of experience in data mining, data modeling, data warehousing, and information delivery. Rich has comprehensive experience analyzing detailed claims and eligibility from CMS, insurance companies, and managed care organizations including prescription benefit managers (PBM), and account and medical record detailed patient data from hospital patient accounting systems, clinical ancillary systems, and professional and institutional billing systems.
Sarah is a Vice President of Business Development for The Pharmacy Group (TPG). Her primary responsibility is coordinating business growth across the various LLCs in the TPG Family of Companies. She joined The Pharmacy Group in February 2015— initially to augment the organization’s business development and administrative activities. In the years since she has worked on marketing initiatives, client communications, general web support, and program development.
Marjorie Pestel Zimmerman, MS, BS Pharm, is a registered pharmacist with diverse experience in the healthcare industry. During her practice in a large tertiary care center, she held numerous positions, including decentralized clinical pharmacist and Assistant Director of Operations within the pharmacy department. As a consultant for a psychiatric hospital, she performed medical staff drug usage evaluations and led patient medication groups.
In August 2015, Leon Edelsack became the President of TPG Healthcare Consulting (TPG-HC) and also serves as the president of TPG-HC’s sister company, TPG Data Services (TPG-DS), a position he has held since 2009.