Vitamin D Policy Panel: Advancing Public Health Dialogue

Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, May 3, 2026 – On behalf of the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, we are pleased to share an upcoming public policy panel organized by GrassrootsHealth Nutrient Research Institute in collaboration with IPAK-EDU.

This panel convenes leading experts in vitamin D research, clinical medicine, and public health to examine current evidence and its implications for U.S. public health policy. The discussion is intended to contribute to an open, evidence-informed dialogue relevant to agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, while remaining accessible to the broader public.

Event Details

• Date: May 21, 2026
• Time: 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM (Pacific Time)
• Registration required for live access
• Recording: Available free after the event
• Registration Fee: $12

Register Now

Organizer / Host

• Jen Aliano – Executive Director, GrassrootsHealth Nutrient Research Institute

Panelists & Presentation Topics

• James Lyons-Weiler, PhD
  IPAK; MAHA Institute
  The Statistical Mistake by the IOM
• Michael Holick, PhD, MD
  Boston University School of Medicine
  IOM / Endocrine Society Guidelines: History & Shortcomings
• Sunil Wimalawansa, MD, PhD, MBA
  Director, Cardiometabolic & Endocrine Institute
  Vitamin D Fundamentals
• William Grant, PhD
  Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center
  Importance of Observational Studies
• Edward Giovannucci, MD, ScD
  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
  Insights from RCTs & Mendelian Randomization
• Carol Wagner, MD
  Medical University of South Carolina
  Vitamin D Effects on Prenatal & Newborn Health
• Bruce Hollis, PhD
  Medical University of South Carolina
  Vitamin D, Lactation, Early Childhood
• Scott Weiss, MD
  Harvard Medical School / Brigham and Women’s Hospital
  Pregnancy: Scientific Issues Needing to be Addressed
• Hooman Mirzakhani, MD, MMSc, PhD
  Harvard Medical School / Brigham and Women’s Hospital
  Pregnancy: Trials Needed to Address Issues
• Leigh Frame, PhD, MHS
  George Washington University
  Vitamin D & Immune Health: Hospitalizations & Surgeries
• Richard Z. Cheng, MD, PhD
  Editor-in-Chief, Orthomolecular Medicine News Service;
  Board Director, Riordan Clinic
  Why Clinical Responses to Vitamin D Vary: A Systems Medicine Perspective
• Beth Sanford, DNP, RN
  GrassrootsHealth, Director of Education & Clinical Practice
  Implementation into Clinical Practice & Public Health

Discussion Focus

• Current evidence on vitamin D and health outcomes
• Gaps and limitations in existing public health recommendations
• Nutrient status vs. intake-based guidelines
• Implications for chronic disease prevention and population health

Despite decades of research, vitamin D deficiency remains widespread. This panel aims to help bridge the gap between evolving scientific evidence and current public health policy.

We are pleased to support the dissemination of this important dialogue and encourage participation from clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and the broader public.

Collaborative Outreach Partners

• Organic & Natural Health Association
• Orthomolecular Medicine News Service
• Institute for Natural Medicine
• Power Up Nursing
• Crossroads Health Foundation
• International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine
• Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center

Thank you to our other collaborative partners – please contact us if you would like to partner to share about this upcoming event.

Further materials (including promotional banners and posters) will be released by the organizers.

Orthomolecular Medicine

Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org

Find a Doctor

To locate an orthomolecular physician near you: http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v06n09.shtml

The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource.

Measure Your Vitamin D Levels, Include Omegas to Save 15% with Code OMEGA3S

Create your custom home blood spot kit to help determine if you are getting enough of the following nutrients shown to benefit overall health, along with other measures, including:

• Vitamin D
• Omega-3 Index plus Omega-3:Omega-6 and AA:EPA Ratios
• Magnesium (plus Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Lead, Cadmium & Mercury)
• hsCRP
• HbA1c
• Type 1 Diabetes Autoantibodies
• TSH

Enroll and test your levels today, learn what steps to take to improve your status of omega-3s, vitamin D and other nutrients and blood markers, and take action! By enrolling in the GrassrootsHealth projects, you are not only contributing valuable information to everyone, you are also gaining knowledge about how you could improve your own health through measuring and tracking your nutrient status, and educating yourself on how to improve it.

Enroll in D*action and Test Your Levels Today!