Destiny Davis LPC CRC (formerly Destiny Winters)

Licensed Professional Counselor (mental health therapist), wife, mom - but most of all, human. As someone with personal experience living with chronic pain and illness, I know what it’s like to feel like you’re trying everything, doing everything right, and seemingly getting nowhere. If you’ve ever been told “your labs are completely normal” or “there’s nothing wrong with you” but you’re in constant pain and discomfort, you’ve come to the right place. My main work is with those who experience hard-to-diagnose health issues and syndromes. Things like gastrointestinal problems, arthritic pain, back pain and other bodily aches, and genetic disorders are all within my wheelhouse. We work on things like coping with pain, increasing energy, managing stress, building healthier relationships (with romantic partners, friends, and healthcare professionals), and healing childhood emotional wounds.

Devin August Sailer is a nationally recognized teen changemaker, nonprofit founder, and legislative advocate transforming how America approaches food allergy safety. Living with 31 life-threatening allergies, Devin turned a personal health crisis into a powerful public mission. At just 17, he founded Safe to Eat — a nonprofit bringing allergen-aware food to domestic violence and homeless shelters across New York State. His work with advocacy groups has helped pass three statewide epinephrine access laws, with more on the Governor’s desk.

Devin’s work has been featured by Newsweek, Spectrum News, Inspiring Teens Magazine, and numerous local and national media outlets. He is a Billy Michael Leadership Award recipient from the National WWII Museum, a CFARR Ambassador at Northwestern University, and a nominee for the Global Youth Award through The Legacy Project.

David Stukus, MD, is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Nationwide Children's Hospital. He holds multiple leadership positions in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and is one of twelve allergists invited as a member of the Joint Task Force for Practice Parameters. In 2018, Dr. Stukus was invited to become the first Social Media Medical Editor for the AAAAI, where he produced and hosted their podcast "Conversations From the World of Allergy". He has been named a Top Doctor in Pediatric Allergy every year since 2015. Dr. Stukus is very active on social media and uses his popular Twitter and Instagram accounts @AllergyKidsDoc to dispel myths and combat misinformation. 

FAACT Director of Behavioral Health

Emery Brown, a native of New Jersey, has been heavily involved in the food allergy community for years. Emery is a practicing School Psychologist and School Based Registered Play Therapist. As a person who has lived with food allergies the entirety of her life, Emery is passionate about helping others manage food allergy related anxiety and encouraging others that a thriving life is possible. 

Emery began her collaboration with FAACT as a volunteer teen counselor for FAACT’s Camp TAG when it launched in 2010 and was a counselor every summer in our New Jersey location through 2018. She was also a teen leader for FAACT’s Teen Retreat for many years. 

Emery holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a concentration in Health Communication from the The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and a Master’s of Arts and Ed.S. in School Psychology from Rowan University. 

Emery Brown is a practicing School Psychologist and School Based Registered Play Therapist. As FAACT's Director of Behavioral Health, Emery speaks to the real-life experiences of a person living with food allergies a person who has lived with food allergies the entirety of her life. Emery is passionate about helping others manage food allergy related anxiety and encouraging others that a thriving life is possible.

Emery began her collaboration with FAACT as a volunteer teen counselor for FAACT’s Camp TAG. As FAACT’s Director of Behavioral Health, Emery creates various behavioral health resources for families and individuals with food allergies. She is also involved with FAACT’s Roundtable Podcast, as well as leads education sessions at FAACT’s Camp TAG and Digital Influencer Summit.

Founder and CEO of the Food Allergy Fund

Ilana Golant is a marketing and PR executive, an attorney, and a former government official. She is also the mother of a child with food allergies.

Ilana has extensive experience working with media organizations, academic institutions, and Fortune 100 clients. She has held executive roles at WPP, the world’s largest advertising and PR conglomerate, as well as at NBCUniversal, specifically working with CNBC, MSNBC, and NBC News.

Prior to joining NBCU, she was an attorney-advisor in the Office of Financial Stability at the U.S. Department of Treasury and an attorney at Mayer Brown LLP. She received her B.A. from Columbia University and her J.D. from the New York University School of Law.

Jenna Gestetner is an entrepreneur and founder with a passion for health. Her work speaking and consulting focuses on the importance of relationships in healthcare and how brand strategy impacts that. Jenna has amassed large following on multiple social media platforms, where she shares her personal health journey with chronic conditions and over 100 allergies. Her content under @jennaxhealth focuses on highlighting the optimistic side of living with health challenges. Jenna is also an entrepreneur and founder passionate about reimagining health care through creativity and digital media. Jenna Gestetner created her business X Health Studio where she offers services including creative marketing, experience design, and content creation, primarily focused in healthcare. 

Profound lessons of grief, loss, healing, and personal growth have left an indelible mark on my life. As I navigate retirement, I am driven to share shamanism’s wisdom and its alternative healing practices with the world through our podcast, The Urban Grief Shamans. I believe that we need to bring grief literacy out into the open, and that’s precisely what our podcast aims to do. Each episode is a unique journey of discovery, merging spiritual insights with practical guidance for healing and personal growth. We offer an alternative healing path for navigating the complexities of loss and personal challenges. Our conversations are a source of enlightenment, providing a deeper understanding of the healing process, enriched by our personal stories and the perspectives of our guests. Join us on our mission to spread the word about shamanism’s alternative healing practices and make grief literacy more open.

Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard is the 2024 award winner for Distinguished Contributions to the Science and Profession of Psychology by the Pennsylvania Psychological Association. She is a licensed psychologist and Board Certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology with expertise in CBT for children, adolescents, and adults.

Dr. Dahlsgaard was formerly Clinical Director of The Anxiety Behaviors Clinic and The Picky Eaters Clinic and Co-Director of The Food Allergy Bravery Clinic at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She began her career as a research assistant to Aaron T. Beck, the “father of CBT,” and published multiple research articles with him on suicide prevention. She is currently in private practice, sees patients via telehealth from 43 states, and continues to publish in peer reviewed journals and present at national academic conferences. 

Kendra's Story

I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2017, I found that eating a strict gluten-free diet was very challenging due to many instances where food in restaurants contained gluten, even though it should have been gluten-free. After getting sick many times, I decided to train a gluten detection dog. We have been training since Suki was 6 months old. She checks all my food, medicine, and personal care products. She has already saved me several times from getting violently ill from gluten.

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Suki's Story

Suki is a Portuguese Water Dog who is a Gluten Detection Dog. She checks food, medicines, and personal care products for her mom, Kendra who has Celiac Disease. She raises a paw when she detects gluten and noses a leg when there is none.  She was born March 27, 2020, and she is a true pandemic puppy.

Kyle Dine is an educator and musician who performs at schools across North America raising food allergy awareness. Over the past 6 years, he has performed at over 700 schools and reached over one million students. He has grown up managing his own allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, seafood and mustard. His songs help empower, support, and educate all children. He has released two professional CDs.

Laurel Francoeur is a prominent advocate for people with food allergies, leveraging her personal experiences and legal expertise to champion their rights and raise awareness about the challenges they face. As both a mother of a child with life-threatening food allergies and an attorney specializing in food allergy law, Francoeur brings a unique perspective to her practice. As a practicing attorney, she has provided legal counsel to individuals and families affected by food allergies, offering guidance on issues such as disability accommodations, discrimination, product liability, and school policies. She drafted legislation in Massachusetts to allow easy access to epinephrine for students in classrooms and has testified at the state and federal level about food allergy issues. She has also worked with the Mass. Department of Public Health on food allergy guidelines for restaurants.

Lisa is the Founder of NNMG Food Allergic Families, (originally No Nuts Moms Group). When Lisa’s son was diagnosed with life-threatening food allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, she learned as much as she could to educate herself and everyone around her about food allergies. Her search for a food allergy group ended in a dead end, so she started her own group for food-allergic families looking to meet and connect with others. The word about No Nuts Moms Group quickly spread, and requests for local groups in the United States and Canada came rolling in. Lisa gave other moms a chance to start their own local groups, and now No Nuts Moms Group is internationally known for supporting and connecting people with food allergies.  Lisa was also instrumental in getting the Stock Epinephrine Bill passed into law in Michigan. Lisa has helped thousands of families across the country. 

Lucy Upton, The Children’s Dietitian, is a UK-leading Paediatric Dietitian and Nutritionist with over 15 years of experience helping families navigate children's nutrition. From fussy eating to allergies and growth concerns, she makes food and mealtimes easier with evidence-based, practical advice. A trusted media expert, Lucy has been a guest on BBC Breakfast, collaborates with brands like What Mummy Makes, Pampers and Tilda Rice, and speaks at events including The Baby Show.

As a mum herself, Lucy understands the everyday challenges of feeding little ones and combines expert knowledge with genuine empathy for the realities of family life.

Her debut book, The Ultimate Guide to Children’s Nutrition, is a must-read for parents feeding kids in the first five years, offering accessible advice and practical strategies on feeding from milk feeding through to weaning, fussy eating, and allergies.

Mark Elvidge co-founded Vermont Nut Free Chocolates, a pioneer in the allergen-free confectionery space with his wife Gail over 27 years ago. Mark has served as President & CEO since 2012 and has transformed a personal need into a thriving brand, delivering premium-quality, peanut and tree-nut-free chocolates that cater to both allergy-conscious consumers and chocolate lovers alike.

Under his leadership, Vermont Nut Free Chocolates has built a dedicated, long-term customer base, strong retail and supplier partnerships, and a reputation for excellence in food safety, product innovation, and craftsmanship. Mark’s ability to build a niche brand while maintaining authenticity has positioned the company as a leader in the specialty chocolate industry and free-from space.

Meenal Lele is the founder and CEO of Hanimune Therapeutics, which she founded with the aim of developing food allergy preventative products. The company's goal is to create solutions for parents preventing food allergies and doctors seeking better options to support tolerance. 

Lele was awarded the 2025 Spark Prize from the Missouri Foundation for Health based on her significant contributions to health improvement.

Melissa is a Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow with a concentration in Allergy and Asthma in the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She earned her PhD and MA in Clinical Psychology from Emory University, as well as an MA in Developmental Psychology from the University of Minnesota, and completed her predoctoral psychology internship at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine. Clinically, Melissa works with a variety of pediatric populations, with a focus on children and adolescents with chronic medical conditions. Her research at CFAAR focuses on identifying and addressing the unique psychosocial challenges faced by youth with food allergies. Melissa has published in several academic journals and enjoys presenting her work at both allergy and psychology conferences. 

Mia Silverman is a food allergy advocate and social media influencer known as Allergies With Mia. She is a recent NYU graduate with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Child & Adolescent Mental Health Studies.

Living with over 50 food allergies, many of them life-threatening, Mia began sharing her personal experiences to raise awareness and foster community. After a TikTok listing her allergies went viral, she gained a wider platform and now regularly shares the realities of dining out, traveling, and living a full, joyful life despite severe food allergies.

Mia is an incoming graduate student in Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, with the goal of becoming a food allergy psychologist to improve care, conduct research, and support the mental health of others living with severe allergies.

Michael Suhy is the Fire Chief for the Cuyahoga Heights Fire Department in Northeast Ohio, where he has served as a firefighter/paramedic since 1996. 

Rebecca (Becca) Suhy brings 25 years of experience in public relations crafting compelling narratives to help brands elevate their presence.

Together they founded the Allison Rose Foundation in honor of their daughter, Allison after her death from a severe allergic reaction. The Suhys have turned their grief into action, ensuring that no other family endures the same heartbreak. The Allison Rose Foundation's efforts raise awareness, provide education, and advocate for stronger food allergy safety measures. Through training programs and outreach, they empower others to recognize and respond to life-threatening allergic reactions—turning Allison’s legacy into a life-saving movement.

Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc, FAAP, is a pediatric allergist and the Director of Food Allergy Advocacy, Education and Prevention at Mass General for Children, Harvard Medical School. He specializes in food allergy and anaphylaxis management in infants and toddlers. Dr. Pistiner's team proposed modified criteria for identifying anaphylaxis in young children and developed the Food Allergy Management and Prevention Clinician Support Tool for Infants and Toddlers (FAMP-IT.org). He has also been deeply engaged in school food allergy advocacy and education at the local, state and national level, having served as Chair of the Food Allergy Management in Schools Advisory Council and member of the CDC/USDA Workgroup for School Guideline Development for Managing Food Allergy in School. Dr. Pistiner is a member of the AAP Section on Allergy and Immunology and Council on School Health.

Michael Sawers is a food allergy advocate who has worked with Food Allergy Canada to support young people with food allergies. He is also a singer-songwriter who performs as The M.A.S. Project. The initials stand for Michael Anthony Sawers, and “project” is just that - a work in progress. 

The M.A.S. Project’s music has been featured on numerous Spotify playlists like “New Music Friday Canada” and “Fresh Finds Canada”. He’s headlined classic Toronto venues like The Drake Hotel, and even got a chance to play a corporate show at the coveted Massey Hall. His hopes are high for the musical adventure ahead of him.

@the.mas.project

Nishti is the CEO and founder of Nishti’s Choice, a global clinic specializing in Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy, multiple food allergies, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, histamine intolerance, and eating disorders such as ARFID. An international registered dietitian, Nishti is known for her practical, no-nonsense approach to food allergies and childhood nutrition. As the founder of Nishti’s Choice, she leads a dedicated team of dietitians who provide daily help and support to families worldwide. Nishti’s unique approach blends evidence-based nutrition with conscious parenting, helping parents support their child’s natural ability to eat intuitively—without projecting their own fears and expectations onto them. Her work ensures that children develop a healthy, stress-free relationship with food.

Portia Barton is a grieving mother working to honor the life, legacy and memory of her daughter, Charlotte Rose Barton. Charlotte died from a severe allergic reaction in 2022 at the age of 12. Charlotte meant so much to so many, and the fact she is no longer here to share her story about living with life-threatening food allergies means I have much work to do.   

From Portia's website:

"So many people go through life trying to find purpose & reason--their “WHY."

I never imagined nor wanted grief to be my “WHY." That I would take an event so incredibly tragic & transform the utter devastation of losing Charlotte into purpose & meaning. That to say the words FOOD ALLERGIES & FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS would become associated with the name Charlotte Barton. Yet, here I am, doing my best to honor Charlotte & make sure we never forget the person she was, the dreams that she had, the love that she gave."

Renata Doerr is a Physician Assistant and mother of four children, two of whom have multiple food allergies. For over a decade, she has been a board member of Greater Buffalo Food Allergy Alliance (GBFAA), a support group for parents and individuals managing food allergies. The group recently became a 501c charitable organization, and is working on educating the community and providing resources for individuals and families managing food allergies. 

Addie Lao is a 9-year-old with multiple anaphylactic food allergies to dairy, peanuts, tree nuts and sesame. Life with food allergies is tough, but it has made her brave!  Her mission is to raise awareness, educate, and advocate for the food allergy community.  She loves to learn how to make safe allergen-free recipes, play tennis and read books.

Robyn Huey Lao is an allergy mom advocate and pediatric nurse practitioner supporting Addie to help make her world more allergy safe. She received her Masters in Nursing from University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in Healthcare Leadership from the University of San Francisco. She was a past president of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)- San Francisco chapter, and she was the founding president of the NAPNAP Sacramento Chapter. She has been the Legislative Chair of NAPNAP Sacramento for the past 3 years.

Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH, is a professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is an attending clinician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and is the founding director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research. Dr. Gupta is world-renowned for her groundbreaking research in food allergy and asthma epidemiology, most notably for her research on the prevalence of pediatric and adult food allergy in the United States. She is the author of "The Food Allergy Experience" and "Food Without Fear," has written and co-authored over 180 peer-reviewed research manuscripts.  As a physician, food allergy researcher, and food allergy mom, her driving passion is to improve the lives of children and their families through discovery, clinical care, outreach and education.

Sandra Beasley is the author of Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl: Tales from an Allergic Life, a disability memoir. Her nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, The American Scholar, Virginia Quarterly Review, LitHub, and A Harp in the Stars: An Anthology of Lyric Essays. She has published four poetry collections, including Made to Explode, and she edited Vinegar and Char: Verse from the Southern Foodways Alliance. Honors include an NEA fellowship, the Munster Literature Centre’s John Montague Fellowship, and six DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities fellowships. She lives in Washington, D.C.

Photo credit: Andrew Lightman

@TheEagerTeacher

Scott H. Sicherer, MD is the Director of the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute and the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Professor of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology.  He is Chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology in the Department of Pediatrics and Medical Director of the Clinical Research Unit, a component of Conduits-the Institutes for Translational Sciences at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.  Dr. Sicherer is a clinician and clinical researcher.  His  research interests, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health and Food Allergy Research and Education  include numerous areas of food allergy: clinical manifestations,, allergic diseases caused by specific foods, natural history, environmental risk factors, diagnostic issues,  epidemiology, psychosocial issues, genetic epidemiology, the development of educational materials, and novel treatments. D

Sloane Miller, MFA, MSW, LMSW, ACC, specialist in food allergy management and author, is founder and president of Allergic Girl Resources, Inc., a consultancy devoted to food allergy awareness. Ms. Miller combines a lifetime of personal experience and passion with professional expertise to connect with people about how to live safely, effectively, and joyously with food allergies. In 2006, she started Please Don't Pass the Nuts, an award-winning blog for and about people affected by food allergies. In 2011, John Wiley & Sons published her definitive how-to guide, Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well With Food Allergies. You can find her at allergicgirl.com.

The ADINA Act, formally known as the Allergen Disclosure In Non-food Articles Act, is more than just a piece of federal legislation—it’s a lifeline for the millions of Americans, including families like mine, who navigate the daily challenges of living with severe allergies. This bill mandates the clear labeling of top food allergens and gluten-containing grains in all over-the-counter and prescription medications, ensuring that everyone, regardless of where they live or what they believe, has access to the critical information needed to protect their health and well-being.

If packaged food products are required to clearly label allergens to prevent life-threatening reactions, why isn’t the same standard applied to the medications we trust with our lives? This bill is a common-sense solution that transcends party lines, uniting us in a shared commitment to transparency, safety, and the well-being of our communities.

Thomas Silvera is the co-founder of the Elijah-Alavi Foundation and a dedicated advocate and educator in the field of food allergies. After the tragic loss of his son, Elijah, to an anaphylactic reaction, Elijah's parents Thomas Silvera and Ondina Hawthorne established the foundation to honor Elijah's memory and prevent similar tragedies. The foundation focuses on educating parents, caregivers, and educators about the dangers of food allergies and the importance of proper training in handling allergic reactions. They have also worked on legislation to protect children with food allergies and asthma, including Elijah's Law and more.

Zoë Slaughter is the food-allergic individual behind the blog & website Invisibly Allergic. She has a life-threatening peanut allergy causing anaphylaxis. She is cross-contact reactive & airborne reactive to peanuts. She has known about my life-threatening peanut allergy since the age of 2, and is now well into her thirties and thriving. Zoë also has eczema, autoimmune-related food sensitivities, and a couple dozen other environmental & chemical allergies, and discusses those on her blog and social media accounts.