Founder & President of Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary

About the Speaker:
Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary was founded by best friends, Jonell Chudyk and Jon Tedd, who shared the same mission: to provide lifetime sanctuary to farmed animals. In 2015, founder Jonell Chudyk purchased a crumbling 1800’s era farm and, as a team, they turned the original dairy farm into a sanctuary. Mockingbird has grown into a beautiful space of rehabilitation.

Catch Jonell Chudyk at Rochester VegFest 2026

🍽️ 3:00–4:00 PM – Jonell Chudyk, at the Speaker Tent

Read more about Jonell Chudyk at https://www.mockingbirdfarmny.com/

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 does.

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

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 informative workshop on the “Plant Based Treaty” initiative.

Dr. Kimmy Cushman is a scientific advisor and New England city campaigner at Plant Based Treaty, a global grassroots organization working to bring the food system to the forefront of climate change policy. Having completed her PhD in physics at Yale University, Dr. Kimmy is now leveraging her scientific background to educate policy makers and the public about the environmental impacts of animal agriculture. In 2026, she led the organizing efforts to achieve Plant Based Treaty city endorsements from Cambridge, Somerville, and Newton Massachusetts and Providence Rhode Island.

At the Plant Based Treaty workshop people will learn how they can take action in ways that align with their own skills and passions, whether or not they identify as an activist. With the Plant Based Treaty, we can all take action in our local communities towards a global vision, through activities like community education outreach, cooking workshops, lobbying policymakers, networking with local organizations, organizing plant-based catering at community events, developing social media content, and graphic design.

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

🍽️ 11:30–12:00 PM – Plant Based Treaty Workshop with Dr. Kimmy Cushman, at the Food Demo Tent

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