Heather Gibbs, Ph.D., RD, LD
Heather Gibbs, Ph.D., RD, LD, is an associate professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she brings her expertise in nutrition and dietetics to both research and education. With a Ph.D. in Food Science and Human Nutrition and a registered dietitian (RD) credential, Gibbs has over 20 years of experience in advancing nutritional science and promoting health through diet.
In the classroom, Gibbs has taught a two-semester course in medical nutrition therapy for over a decade, fostering a commitment to evidence-based nutrition practice in the next generation of clinical dietitians. Her research interests encompass developing and implementing nutrition interventions for clinic and mobile settings that use clear communication and patient-centered education techniques. She is known internationally in the nutrition research community for her pioneering work in nutrition literacy. Gibbs is dedicated to improving the delivery of nutrition care to support high diet quality and healthy outcomes for children and adults.
Outside academia, Gibbs enjoys sharing life and adventuring with her husband, marveling at the amazingness of her three daughters, being walked daily by her Lahsa-Poo (Sadie) and crocheting things she may never wear. She looks forward to sharing insights on how food is medicine and its implications for overall health and wellness.
Laura Motsinger, Ph.D., MBA
Laura Motsinger, Ph.D., MBA, obtained bachelor’s degrees in animal science and agricultural business from Northwest Missouri State University in 2017. Following completion of her undergraduate program, Motsinger graduated from Utah State University in 2022 with a Ph.D. in animal nutrition and growth biology where her research focused on investigating how nutrition and exogenous compounds impact growth, production and meat quality attributes of cattle, swine and avian species and examining the molecular mechanisms through which nutrition impacts skeletal muscle growth. In the latter half of 2022, Motsinger obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Northwest Missouri State University and began a postdoc at the University of Georgia, specializing in nutritional and cellular influencers of skeletal muscle growth and their relation to meat quality attributes and shelf-life stability. In January 2023, Motsinger began in her current role as a senior scientist on the Global Clinical Nutrition and Claims team at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Throughout her career, Motsinger has authored/co-authored several publications, including 14 peer-reviewed journal articles, 23 abstracts, 2 fact sheets and 1 book chapter. Motsinger is passionate about sarcopenia and nutritional support for aging pets; however, her recent research efforts have focused on supporting dogs and cats with dermatological sensitivities, gastrointestinal upset, urinary issues and cognitive decline.
Cary Rivard, Ph.D.
Cary Rivard, Ph.D., grew up working in his family’s greenhouse business in Kansas City, Missouri, and received his B.S. in agriculture sciences and biology from Truman State University in 2004. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University in 2007 and 2010, respectively, and worked at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems while there. Cary is a professor and extension specialist at Kansas State University in the Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, and is director of the Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center. His research program focuses on sustainable farming production systems and current projects include vegetable grafting, high tunnel production, reducing food losses and agrivoltaics. He also oversees the Growing Growers beginning farmer program (www.growinggrowers.org), which seeks to develop new diversified growers in the region.