RLMI Staff and Board Members
Ted Barnett, MD, FACLM
Founding President and Board Chair, RLMI
Founder and CEO, RLMG
- Dr. Barnett is the “High-Tech Doctor with Low-Tech Solutions”
- BS from Yale University, MD from Tufts University
- Board Certified in Diagnostic Imaging (1984) and Vascular and Interventional Radiology (inaugural exam 1995) and has practiced in the Rochester area since 1986.
- Partner, Borg and Ide Imaging, Rochester, NY
- Board Certified in Lifestyle Medicine, having passed the inaugural examination given by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine in October 2017.
- Teaches a 6 week plant-based nutrition course (accredited for 12 professional CME).
- Trained CHIP facilitator
- He, his wife and three children have thrived on an exclusively plant-based diet since 1991.
Susan Friedman, MD, MPH
Director of Clinical Studies and Vice Chair, RLMI
Medical Director, RLMG
- Trained at Northwestern and Johns Hopkins Universities
- Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester
- Board certified internist and geriatrician
- Lead author of the White Paper on Healthy Aging published in 2018 by the American Geriatrics Society.
- Board Certified in Lifestyle Medicine, having passed the inaugural examination given by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine in October 2017.
- Completed eCornell Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate at T. Collin Campbell Center for Nutritition Studies.
- Special interest in healthy aging
- Recipient of numerous research grants
- Trained CHIP facilitator
- At home, she is happy to find new plant-based recipes for her husband, and 3 growing boys.
Carol H. Barnett, PhD, JD
Board Member and Secretary/Treasurer, RLMI
- BA from St. Bonaventure University (class Valedictorian); PhD in English Language and Literature from Yale University; Law degree (JD) from Yale Law School
- Co-Coordinator with husband Ted D. Barnett, MD of the Rochester Area Vegan Society since 1995
- Vegan since 1991; raised three vegan children
- Recipe and curriculum development and food preparation for plant-based nutrition course taught by Dr. Barnett
- Curriculum development for “A Plant-Based Diet: Experiential Lifestyle Medicine Training for Clinicians”
- Involved in town governance and green space protection, most recently as a founding member of the Rush Recreation and Park Association
Maria Dewhirst
Administrator, RLMI
Practice Manager, RLMG
- Maria has a BS in Human Services from SUNY Empire State College
- Maria came to RLMI with over ten years of experience as a nonprofit administrator. Most recently, she worked as the administrator of His Branches, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Rochester, NY.
- Several years ago, Maria became plant-based after being diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 48 and is an enthusiastic WFPB advocate.
Robert Franki
Communications Director
Jumpstart Project Manager
- Graduated with an MA in Digital Art Systems from SUNY Buffalo
- Bloomberg Financial Markets, Senior Manager in IT
- Contributor and manager in IT, data base management, graphics, and A/V production
- Implemented learning management systems (LMS) in computer security and workplace harassment prevention
- He and his wife combined homeschooling with business by developing an early music education program.
- Completed eCornell T. Colin Campbell Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate
- Bob’s WFPB journey has included losing 115 lbs. over a 3-year period, and he enjoys sharing “survival tips” with anyone working to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Beth Garver
Director of Strategic Development
- Beth graduated with a BA in Spanish/Latin American Studies, an MS in Education and a Certificate of Advance Study (CAS) in Educational Administration.
- Diverse background in telecommunications, curriculum/instructional design, marketing/communications strategies, grant writing, teaching and home schooling, innovation, health care and technology education, and entrepreneurship.
- Trained CHIP Facilitator.
- Vegetarian since 1989, Vegan since 2009.
- After participating in a 15 Day Jumpstart in 2019, adopted a low fat whole-food plant-based lifestyle.
- Beth is married with a daughter, foster daughter and 3 loving cats.
Bubbie Staron
CHIP and Jumpstart Facilitator, Cooking Instructor
- Currently a supervisor at Monroe County Department of Human Services, on the County’s Employee Wellness Committee since it’s inception
- Co-founder of Rochester VegFest
- Vice President of Animal Rights Rochester
- In August 2019, Bubbie became a Certified Food For Life instructor. Food For Life is a program from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and is recognized as an award-winning nutrition education and cooking class program that provides an innovative approach to diet-related chronic diseases.
Kim Taylor
Jumpstart Facilitator
- Graduated with a BS in Business Management from St. John Fisher
- AADP certified Holistic Health Practitioner
- Certificate in Nutrition from the Vegetarian Health Institute
- Business owner, Life Coach, spent several years as a manager/district manager for a non-profit agency
- Kim has been plant-based for 2 years. After taking Dr. Barnett’s 6-week nutrition course and the Jumpstart program last year, she has adopted the whole-food plant-based lifestyle.