Lillian Fountain Smith Foundation Conference

Lillian Fountain Smith Foundation Conference • April 16-17, 2026, Fort Collins, CO 

 
Attendees: Director of Scientific Strategy Dr. Carmen Byker Shanks and Senior Project Manager Shelly Palmer. 

Overview: 
Director of Scientific Strategy Dr. Carmen Byker Shanks and Senior Project Manager Shelly Palmer attended the Lillian Fountain Smith Foundation Conference at Colorado State University, which convened more than 200 attendees to advance nutrition research and practice. Dr. Byker Shanks was a featured speaker, presenting “Navigating Change in Today’s Public Health Nutrition Landscape,” which explored how professionals can adapt to shifting policies, funding priorities, and evolving practices. 

Shelly presented a poster titled, “Strengthening Care Through Food Is Medicine: Healthcare Provider-Patient Relationships and Provider Fulfillment in a Produce Prescription Program.” This work highlights CNHI’s continued contributions to advancing Food is Medicine initiatives through research and evaluation. 

Participation in the conference strengthened CNHI’s visibility in the field and supported ongoing efforts to translate research into practice across nutrition and public health systems. 

(Left to right) Dr. Sarah Stotz, Shelly Palmer, Shannon Brooks, and Dr. Byker Shanks by their poster presentation.