About

Director

Kamal Patel is a nutrition researcher with an MPH and MBA from Johns Hopkins University, and is on hiatus from a PhD in nutrition in which he researched the link between diet and chronic pain. He has published peer-reviewed articles on vitamin D and calcium as well as a variety of clinical research topics. Kamal has also been involved in research on fructose and liver health, mindfulness meditation, and nutrition in low income areas.

Kurtis Frank graduated from the University of Guelph with a bachelor's degree in Applied Human Nutrition. His research work on Examine.com began while he was still a student. Upon graduating in the spring of 2012, gathering and analyzing research on supplementation and nutrition became his fulltime job.

A recreational bodybuilder and powerlifter, Kurtis has a passion for dietary supplements due to a desire to harmonize the discord between the preventative and rehabilitative potential of some dietary supplements and the medical community's lack of interest in combining supplements and preventative medicine. Kurtis strives to expose the supplements rife with inefficacy and insufficient data, in order to uncover the diamonds in the rough.

Gregory Lopez , PharmD obtained a BA in biochemistry & molecular biology from Reed College, an MA in molecular biophysics from Johns Hopkins University, and a PharmD from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. He enjoys bringing his quantitative and analytical skills to bear on issues relevant to people's health and wellbeing.

Bill Willis , PhD received a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry and PhD in Biomedical Science at Ohio State University. An avid member of the fitness industry for the past 15 years, Bill is currently a postdoctoral fellow, where he is examining the role of metabolic stress in the control of protein synthesis and inflammation in health and disease.

Pablo Sanchez Soria , PhD received his doctoral degree in Pharmacology & Toxicology, and his bachelor's degree with a double major in Nutritional Sciences and Microbiology from the University of Arizona. He works as a toxicologist evaluating the relationship between chemical exposures and disease. He has research experience in the fields of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, as well as virology, and plant biology, bringing with him a unique set of expertise to the team.

Pablo enjoys weightlifting and taking part in multiple recreational sports and outdoor activities. While earning his bachelor's degree, he was a competitive cyclist, at the local, regional and national levels. He also enjoys spending time wrenching and tweaking his car to compete in track racing events as the occasional weekend warrior.

Cassandra Forsythe , PhD, RD, received her doctorate in kinesiology from the University of Connecticut, and completed her dietetic internship at UMass Amherst, both in 2009. She works as a nutrition educator and weight loss coach and is the author of two popular books for women: "The New Rules of Lifting for Women", co-authored with Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove, and "Women's Health Perfect Body Diet". She has been featured in Women's Health and Men's Health, and made appearances on The Biggest Loser. She is a Registered Dietitian (RD), certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and is a Certified Sports Nutritionist (CISSN) through the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN).

Director of Strategy

Sol Orwell has a different story than most. Dabbling in web development while still in high school, he found he had a knack for building websites that were both useful and popular. He incorporated his first business while still studying computer engineering at the University of Toronto.

In his mid-20s, he opted to retire, freeing up time to do what he wanted, when he wanted. Transforming from fat to fit, he began to investigate the whys and hows behind nutrition, health, and fitness. It was this research that lead to Examine.com, the culmination of thousands of hours of research into anatomy and nutrition.

Director of Technology

Andre Marcelo-Tanner has been developing and tinkering with websites since 1997. Understanding how important it was to make information accessible, he has a deep understanding on how to present information to a user that is both easy to use but also brings a depth of data.

In his free time, Andre likes to run, and when his daughters give him the time, sleep.

Copy Editor

Dmitri Barvinok graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. He is passionate about fighting misinformation in media and works to bridge the gap between science writing and journalism. He is a recreational strongman and enjoys pressing heavy objects overhead.

Gillian Mandich is currently completing her doctoral studies at Western University in Health and Rehabilitation Science with the International Centre for Health Innovation Research at the Richard Ivey School of Business. Gillian Mandich's research examines health promotion, specifically physical activity, childhood obesity, nutrition, sustainable happiness, and diabetes. Prior to her PhD studies, Gillian worked in public health at the Middlesex-London Health Unit and received her Master's degree from Western University.

Gillian is one of the co-hosts of the popular health/fitness podcast and TV show “ The Holistic Health Diary ”. Gillian also writes a health and wellness column for Chatelaine Magazine; contributes to numerous print and online media including Oxygen, Sweat Equity, Mind Body Green, Inside Fitness, and STRONG; and is the president of the Western Chapter of the Canadian Obesity Network.

Tavis Piattoly , MS, RD, LDN is co-founder and Director of Sports Nutrition education for My Sports Dietitian , an online sports nutrition education company that helps High School and College Athletes through the guidance of a Licensed Sports Dietitian.

He is the Sports Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant for Tulane University Athletic Department, Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine’s NFL Players Association Brain and Body program, Fairchild Sports Performance in Houston, and Traction Center for Sports Excellence. He was the Sports Dietitian for the New Orleans Saints from 2006-2013 and New Orleans Pelicans from 2008-2013. He’s been fortunate to work with training expert Mackie Shilstone and designed the nutrition programs for boxing champions Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. along with working with Olympic, NFL, MLB, and NBA athletes to various college and high school programs.

Jose Antonio, PhD is the CEO of the International Society of Sports Nutrition .

He was the 2005 recipient of the NSCA Research Achievement Award and the 2009 NSCA Educator of the Year. When he has to work, he manages to write textbooks, science manuscripts and a plethora of consumer-friendly articles in the fitness/nutrition genre. He is an avid outrigger paddler who'd rather spend time on the ocean than pretty much anything else. He is also an Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sports Science at Nova Southeastern University in beautiful South Florida.

Alan Aragon has over 20 years of success in the fitness field, and is one of the most influential figures in the movement towards evidence-based information. He is a continuing education provider for the Commission on Dietetic Registration, National Academy of Sports Medicine, and National Strength & Conditioning Association. Alan writes a monthly research review focused on providing cutting-edge theoretical and practical information to health and fitness professionals. Alan's work has been published in the popular media as well as the peer-reviewed scientific literature. He maintains a private practice designing programs for recreational, Olympic, and professional athletes. Alan is the nutrition advisor for Men's Health magazine.

Adam Bornstein is the founder of Born Fitness , and an award-winning fitness and nutrition journalist and editor.

Named "one of the most influential people in health," Bornstein was previously the editorial director for LIVESTRONG.COM and the fitness editor for Men's Health magazine. His first book, The Impact! Body Plan was a fitness bestseller, which was followed by The Men's Health Diet (with Stephen Perrine), The Women's Health Big Book of Abs , and The Men's Health Big Book: Getting Abs . He is currently working on Man 2.0: Engineering the Alpha (with John Romaniello).

Bryan Chung, MD, PhD is the founder of the blog Evidence-Based Fitness .

After obtaining his MSc from McGill University in Rehabilitation Science in Biomechanics, he went on to earn his PhD at the Sport Medicine Centre at the University of Calgary, focusing on research methods and biostatistics in musculoskeletal health, followed by his MD, also at the University of Calgary. He completed his residency training in Plastic Surgery at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia and his fellowship in Hand Surgery at NYU. He is currently in practice as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Bryan is a research methodologist who has won research awards at both international sport medicine and plastic surgery meetings. He sits on the editorial board for the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine and is a peer-reviewer for several journals, as well as the Cochrane Collaboration , which publishes the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Brad Pilon, MSc is one of the world's most sought after intermittent fasting advocates. His book Eat Stop Eat continues to be one of the best selling books on intermittent fasting on the internet.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Applied Human Nutrition and his master's degree in Human Biology and Nutritional Science, where his main area of interest was the effect of short periods of fasting on human metabolism. His book Eat Stop Eat is the result of this research. Brad has also spent over 7 years working in Research and Development in the sports supplement industry. During this time he helped design multiple clinical trials and create dozens of popular bodybuilding supplements, and is listed as an author on multiple patents involving methods to increase muscle mass and decrease body fat.

Through appearing on national television, speaking at national scientific conferences and his book Eat Stop Eat, Brad has helped millions of people become aware of the amazing health benefits that can be achieved by simply taking an occasional break from eating and by taking a practical approach to nutrition and exercise.

Lou Schuler is a National Magazine Award-winning journalist and author whose books include, most recently, The New Rules of Lifting Supercharged , with Alwyn Cosgrove. Currently a contributing editor to Men's Health magazine, he's worked as fitness editor for both Men's Fitness and Men's Health , and contributed to a long list of magazines, including Shape , Men's Journal , Better Homes & Gardens , Fit Pregnancy , and Women's Health . In addition to the New Rules of Lifting books, he's author or coauthor of The Testosterone Advantage Plan , Home Workout Bible , Book of Muscle , and the upcoming Eat, Move, Live , with Wolfgang Puck and Chad Waterbury.

Emma-Leigh Synnott, MBBS graduated in medicine from Sydney University, and is currently undertaking specialist physician training in Rehabilitation Medicine. She is a certified Sports Nutrition Specialist with the International Society of Sports Nutrition, and is an accredited Australian Strength and Conditioning Association Level 1 Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Since 2005, Emma-Leigh has run a performance and lifestyle consulting service, providing an integrated, balanced and sustainable approach to training, diet and lifestyle, whilst optimizing physical performance, body composition, and health. Her other experience includes observation in the Biochemistry and Nutrition Labs at the University of Sydney, and assisting in research at the Diabetes and Obesity Unit of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Prior to studying medicine, Emma-Leigh completed a degree in Veterinary Science (Hon I, and awarded the University Medal), and a Certificate III in Fitness.

Peter J. Woolf, PhD 's research spans the fields of machine learning, bioinformatics, biological engineering, and biostatistics. He has authored over 30 peer reviewed scientific articles. Dr. Woolf received his PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan, followed by postdoctoral work in developmental biology and biological engineering at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Woolf was a faculty member in chemical and bioengineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, until in 2010 he left to found two companies, Foodwiki and ExtraorDNA.