GUEST EXPERTS
Conversations That Nourish Body, Mind, and Perspective
Our guest experts reflect the heart of this retreat: evidence-based wellness, creative inquiry, and meaningful connection. Through talks, discussions, and interactive sessions, you’ll explore how food, mindfulness, and lifestyle choices shape long-term vitality—offered in a way that feels accessible, human, and deeply relevant.
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Laura Klein, MBA, is a Food as Medicine CHEF and Health Coach dedicated to making healthy living delicious. Through her business, Well Seasoned Coaching, she collaborates with lifestyle medicine practices to deliver engaging culinary medicine classes. A true expert in her field, Laura is a faculty member for Harvard Medical School’s Clinicians CHEF Coaching program and co-developed and teaches the plant-based series at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. Certified across premier health, coaching, and culinary institutions (including Wellcoaches, ACE, ACLM, the Natural Gourmet Institute and the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts), Laura is always ready to talk food and inspire sustainable wellness.
The Art of Nourishment: A Culinary Experience
WITH CHEF LAURA
Join Chef Laura, founder of WellSeasonedCoaching, for an interactive culinary experience that celebrates the connection between food, nourishment, and well-being. Drawing on her background in culinary arts and lifestyle medicine, Laura will guide guests through a hands-on cooking experience, sharing approachable techniques and inspiration for preparing wholesome, flavorful meals. The experience concludes with a thoughtfully prepared dinner and conversation, inviting guests to connect, savor, and discover the joy of nourishing themselves from the inside out.
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Sandra Musial, MD is a physician specializing in food as medicine, with a focus on supporting women’s health through midlife and beyond. Her work centers on how whole, plant-based nutrition can support energy, metabolic health, gut balance, and healthy aging—especially during the hormonal and lifestyle shifts that occur in midlife.
She is triple board certified in Pediatrics, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine, and holds a BS in Nutritional Sciences from the University of New Hampshire and an MD from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Sandra has worked in private practice and at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, where she taught medical trainees from Brown University.
Through years of clinical experience, she has seen both the strengths and limitations of conventional medicine—particularly when it comes to preventing chronic disease and supporting women as they age. She founded Plant Docs to make practical, evidence-based nutrition education more accessible, and now focuses exclusively on Food Is Medicine programs and consultations that empower women to use food as a daily tool for vitality and longevity.
Food is Medicine:
Top 10 Foods for Vitality
WITH DR SANDRA MUSIAL MD
In this informative and empowering session, Dr. Sandra Musial explores how everyday food choices can become a powerful foundation for long-term health. Centered around her Top 10 Foods for Vitality, this talk breaks down how whole, nutrient-dense, plant-based foods support cellular health, stabilize energy, nourish the gut microbiome, and promote healthy aging.
Rather than focusing on restriction or rigid rules, this session emphasizes practical, evidence-based guidance you can actually use—helping you understand why these foods matter and how to incorporate them into daily life with confidence and ease. You’ll leave feeling informed, inspired, and better equipped to make nourishing choices that support resilience, longevity, and overall well-being.
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Mariah Stump, MD is a physician specializing in integrative and lifestyle medicine, with a focus on stress resilience, mindfulness, and whole-person health—particularly for women navigating the pressures and transitions of midlife. She is triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, and Integrative Health, and holds an MD from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and an MPH in women’s health from Johns Hopkins University.
Mariah is an attending physician at Brown University Health and an assistant professor and clinician educator at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where she leads lifestyle and culinary medicine courses and develops integrative medicine curricula for medical trainees. She is also affiliate faculty at the Mindfulness Center at the Brown University School of Public Health.
In addition to her clinical and academic work, Mariah is a yoga teacher, mindful movement instructor, and medical acupuncturist—bringing a uniquely embodied, compassionate approach to mindfulness that bridges science, movement, and lived experience.
Finding Peace in a Frantic World
WITH MARIAH STUMP, MD
This interactive mindfulness session explores how simple, science-backed practices can help calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and support emotional resilience—especially during demanding seasons of life. Grounded in concepts from Finding Peace in a Frantic World, the session blends evidence-based insight with experiential practice.
Participants will explore mindfulness through the lenses of acceptance, gratitude, and the power of pause, with practical tools that are easy to integrate into daily routines. Rather than striving for stillness or perfection, this session invites a more compassionate, sustainable approach to mindfulness—one that supports clarity, presence, and well-being both during the retreat and at home.
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Master Djembefola, Musician & Teaching Artist
Originally from Mali, Sidy Maïga is a master djembefola who has spent more than 25 years sharing the traditions and transformative energy of West African drumming with audiences and students around the world. After beginning his training with master drummers in Mali, Sidy went on to perform professionally before making Rhode Island his home in 2006. Sidy Maïga
His work bridges traditional Malian rhythms with a wide range of global musical influences, while his teaching brings people together through rhythm, movement and shared experience. Sidy has taught djembe and dundun drumming in schools, universities and healthcare settings throughout the country and is also the founder of Providence's Afrika Nyaga West African Dance and Drum Festival. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he brings warmth, joy and a deeply rooted understanding of rhythm to every gathering he leads.
Rhythm & Connection: A West African Drumming Experience
WITH SIDY MAIGA
This interactive drumming session invites guests to experience the energy and connection of West African rhythm firsthand. Through accessible rhythms and guided group drumming, Sidy will create an experience centered on listening, expression, presence and the simple joy of making music together.
No musical experience is needed. Rather than a traditional performance or lesson, the session offers an opportunity to step out of your head, tune into rhythm and connect with the group in an entirely different way. Expect an uplifting, energizing experience that celebrates music as a powerful way to bring people together.
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Carrie Parker is a dedicated educator, community builder, and the founder of Newport Mahj based in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. A former high school teacher and a proud mother of three, Carrie seamlessly blends her professional background in education with her passion for Mahjong to create engaging, high-quality learning experiences.
With five years of dedicated play, Carrie understands that Mahjong is more than just a game. It is a powerful tool for sharpening the mind, preserving traditions, and building lasting social connections. Her teaching philosophy centers on patience, clarity, and inclusivity, ensuring that players of all skill levels feel confident and supported at the table.
Whether guiding a complete beginner through their first Charleston or hosting a private group event, Carrie is committed to fostering a welcoming environment where strategy meets community.
The Art of Mahjong: Learn, Play & Connect
WITH CARRIE PARKER, NEWPORT MAHJ
In this relaxed, hands-on introduction to Mahjong, Carrie Parker will guide guests through the fundamentals of the game, from getting familiar with the tiles and terminology to understanding the flow of play and beginning to build a hand.
Designed with beginners in mind, the session is as much about connection as it is about learning something new. Guests will have time to practice, ask questions, and experience the rhythm and strategy that have made Mahjong such an enduring social tradition. It’s an opportunity to engage the mind, enjoy a little friendly play, and connect around the table in a welcoming, low-pressure setting.