“Diet and nutrition are essential for therapeutic approaches to chronic diseases. Food has a profound effect on the progression of chronic illnesses, impacting patients’ symptoms and quality of life.”
–Irina R. Rozenfeld, DNP, MSHS, MBA, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, assistant professor and director of Concierge Medicine Services, NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Rozenfeld, Nancy Klimas, M.D., and James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein were presenters at the 2025 Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine (INIM) conference. Klimas is the director of the Institute for Neuro Immune Medicine (INIM) and serves as a professor and chair of the Department of Clinical Immunology at the NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. The scientists and clinicians at INIM work to address all aspects of patient care, and nutrition is one of those concerns.
Since nutrition plays a key role in managing chronic illness, this year’s conference theme, The Power of Nutrition in Autoimmunity, highlighted that connection. Bernstein shared personal stories of using food as medicine while living with psoriatic arthritis, and Klimas and Rozenfeld provided their medical perspectives.
“I was honored to be at the 2025 INIM conference,” said Bernstein. “Sharing my story with so many generous, kind and intelligent people was the highlight of my month. Drs. Rozenfeld and Klimas are so incredibly intriguing and are filled with passion and useful information. I loved spending time with them and hearing about all the good they do for their patients.”
The goal of the event is to provide practical tools for INIM patients and the chronic illness community to use at home to support their own health. This year’s sponsors included the Alvin Sherman Library, Immunocine Cancer Center, and Dabdoub Law Firm.
The Immunocine Cancer Center provides innovative research that is utilized by INIM in supporting patients during their health journeys. Matthew Halpert, Ph.D., Immunocine’s founder and chief executive officer has also been a guest on the Hope and Help podcast and has shared his groundbreaking work on cancer treatment and research at INIM seminars in the past. The Dabdoub Law Firm represents chronic illness patients navigating disability insurance claims.
“Chronic illnesses, autoimmunity, and cancer are all supported by a dysregulation of a person’s natural defense system, and understanding and utilizing scientific underpinnings is critical to overcoming these challenges,” said Halpert. “As INIM continually demonstrates leadership in the space of educating patients to fundamental biological principles and strives to make knowledge as accessible as possible, Immunocine is honored to partner with INIM to bolster this lofty mission.”
“We are deeply grateful for our partnership with INIM and are proud to sponsor the 2025 conference. So many of our clients benefit from the research and work being done by the institute,” said Edward Dabdoub and Bryn Natland, attorneys with the Dabdoub Law Firm.
For more information on the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, visit nova.edu/inim/ or contact Makena Carr at mcarr1@nova.edu.