Critical Care Physician, Inova Fairfax Hospital

Member of the Board of Directors, Plant-based Prevention Of Disease, Inc.

Member of the Vegan Hall of Fame, North American Vegetarian Society

Milton Mills, MD practices urgent care medicine in the Washington DC area, and has served previously as Associate Director of Preventive Medicine and as a member of the National Advisory Board, for Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). He has been a major contributor to position papers presented by PCRM to the United States Department of Agriculture regarding Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and has been the lead plaintiff in PCRM’s class action lawsuit that asks for warning labels on milk.

Dr. Mills earned his medical degree at Stanford University School of Medicine, and completed an Internal Medicine residency at Georgetown University Hospital. He has published several research journal articles dealing with racial bias in federal nutrition policy. He frequently donates his time via practicing at free medical clinics, and travels widely, speaking at hospitals, churches and community centers throughout the country. He was featured in the recent attention-getting film “What the Health,” and will also appear in the upcoming film “The Silent Vegan.”

A major focus of Dr. Mills’ patient advisement as well as his lecturing, is the use of nutritional measures to reduce the risk of major chronic diseases. He notes that the scientific research literature shows plant-based diets as supporting better overall immune system function, and during work with HIV-positive and AIDS patients at clinics, he’s observed that those who go vegetarian seem to improve, with increased energy and higher T-cell counts. He therefore hopes throughout the future to examine further the relationships between diet and immune functionality, particularly the effects of plant-based eating choices upon outcomes for HIV-positive patients.

Catch Dr. Mills at Rochester VegFest 2026

🍽️ 10:15–11:30 PM – Milton Mills, MD, at the Speaker Tent

Read more about Dr. Mills at drmiltonmillsplantbasednation.com

Founder and CEO, Allied Scholars for Animal Protection

“The most important speech you will ever hear“

Dr. Faraz Harsini is a lifestyle medicine scientist, biomedical scientist and the CEO and founder of Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP), a non-profit that’s building the very first infrastructure to promote animal protection and veganism in universities.

ASAP supports students who are interested in advocating for animal and environmental protection, public health, lifestyle medicine, and pursuing careers that can make the most difference.

He was also a Bioprocessing Senior Scientist at Good Food Institute, where he worked on advancing scientific and technological methods to produce alternative proteins on a large scale.

Dr. Harsini’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, with a focus on process design and nanobiotechnology. He also has a Master’s degree in biotechnology and cancer research, as well as a PhD in Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics and a diploma in Lifestyle Medicine.

As a Protein Expression and Process Development scientist, he has extensive experience in discovering and developing therapeutic proteins for diseases such as influenza, cancer, and inflammatory diseases in the biopharmaceutical industry as a Protein Expression and Process Development scientist. Today, he leverages this experience to promote alternative proteins.

Through ASAP, Dr. Harsini empowers students, promotes plant-based nutrition and alternatives to animal testing in universities and medical schools, expands animal and environmental protection on college campuses, and helps dining halls transition to plant-based menus.

Catch Dr. Harsini at Rochester VegFest 2026

🍽️ 12:00–1:00 PM – Dr. Faraz Harsini, at the Speaker Tent

Read more about Dr. Harsini at alliedscholars.org

Author, Speaker, CEO of FatManRants, LLC

“Eat Like Your Life Depends on It—Because It Does” (How Changing My Food Changed Everything)

Join Tim Kaufman—former addict, chronic pain sufferer, and 400+ pound fast-food junkie turned Ironman athlete—as he shares the raw, inspiring truth behind his transformation. In this powerful talk, Tim reveals how one small choice led to a life he never thought possible—and why the food on your plate might just be the most important decision you’ll ever make. Get ready to laugh, reflect, and walk away inspired to live like your life depends on it—because it.

Catch Tim Kaufman at Rochester VegFest 2026

🍽️ 1:30–2:30 PM – Tim Kaufman, at the Speaker Tent

Read more about Tim Kaufman at fatmanrants.com

Founder & President of Asha’s Farm Sanctuary

“Beyond the Vilest Species: Radical Mercy as Our Path to Healing“

Tracy’s talk passionately addresses the cycle of anger and “human-hating” that often stems from witnessing animal abuse. It explores why holding onto vitriol hinders our mission and how extending radical mercy—even toward our own species—is the only sustainable path to personal healing and effective advocacy.

About the Speaker:
Arrested, shackled and jailed, while her peaceful sanctuary was being raided, Tracy Murphy-Cipparone knows the true cost of standing for one’s convictions. As the founder of Asha’s Farm Sanctuary, her path of advocacy led her from the sanctuary to the courtroom, where she was forced to endure the legal system’s harshest realities until her ultimate dismissal. Rather than emerging with bitterness, Tracy transformed this trauma into a profound philosophy of “Radical Mercy.” She now speaks to audiences about the power of choosing compassion over the corrosive stress of hate, proving that the road to healing and effective advocacy begins by letting go of vitriol, even in the face of profound injustice.

Catch Tracy Murphy at Rochester VegFest 2026

🍽️ 3:00–4:00 PM – Tracy Murphy, at the Speaker Tent

Read more about Tracy Murphy at ashasfarmsanctuary.org

Physician-DO, at Plantician providers

Join Dr. Burns and a distinguished panel of physicians for a discussion and Q&A session on plant-based nutrition and health.

Dr. Burns earned his degree in osteopathic medicine (DO) with a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He graduated from Brown Family Medicine Residency and is board-certified in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine. Through expert lifestyle counseling and hands-on manipulation, Dr. Burns helps patients optimize their bodies so they can prevent and reverse chronic conditions.

Examples of topics to discuss – primary care, lifestyle medicine, chronic disease reversal through nutrition, deprescribing, osteopathic manipulative medicine, pediatrics, disadvantaged populations, public health, and nutrition education in medical school.

Catch Dr. Burns and the Vegan Doc Panel at VegFest 2026

🍽️ 4:15–5:00 PM – Ask a Vegan Doc Panel, at the Speaker Tent

Read more about Dr. Burns at plantrician.org/places/united-states/new-york/city-of-rochester/familymedicine/zachary-burns-do

Scientific Advisor at Plant Based Treaty | Yale PhD Physicist

Join Dr. Cushman for an introduction and discussion of the “Plant Based Treaty” initiative.

The Plant Based Treaty is a grassroots initiative creating bottom-up pressure for the negotiation of a global Plant Based Treaty as a companion to the UNFCCC Paris Agreement. Modeled on the Fossil Fuel Treaty, the Plant Based Treaty aims to put food systems at the forefront of combating the climate crisis to halt the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture and to promote a shift towards healthier, sustainable plant-based diets.

Individuals, groups, businesses and cities that endorse the Plant Based Treaty are expressing their support for national governments to come together to negotiate a global Plant Based Treaty, including the three core principles of: Reditect, Relinquish, and Restore.

Attend this workshop and learn not only about this vital initiative, but also how you can contribute to this growing movement!

Catch Dr. Cushman and the Plant Based Treaty Workshop at VegFest 2026

🍽️ 11:30–12:00 PM – Plant Based Treaty Workshop with Kimmy Cushman, at the Speaker Tent

Read more about Dr. Cushman and the Treaty at plantbasedtreaty.org