VegMed, then and now: the story behind Europe’s largest conference on plant-based nutrition
VegMed is the result of ambitious individuals dedicated to changing the world for the better. In 2011, the seeds of the event were planted when Dr Christian Kessler, Physician for Complementary and Integrative Medicine at Immanuel Hospital Berlin and subsequently the Medical Supervisor of VegMed, got together with Sebastian Joy, CEO of ProVeg. Driven by the desire to incorporate plant-based nutrition into the medical field, they met in a tiny office in Friedrichshain, Berlin, to discuss starting a medical conference. As a result, in 2012, the first VegMed event was born, attracting around 150 delegates.
The event quickly gained momentum, outgrowing its first venue while expanding its programme and including international speakers and delegates. By the time VegMed 2018 rolled around, the event included more than 1,000 participants who attended the three-day event in Berlin. With VegMed London in 2019, the event crossed borders for the first time, while the online format of VegMed Web 2021 will unite health professionals from around the globe.
Although the event has grown over the years, its spirit remains unchanged from the early days. VegMed continues to gather enthusiastic, committed young (and young at heart) health professionals who are dedicated to improving the health care system as we know it, thinking outside of the parameters of traditional medical education. It is our ambition as the VegMed team to inspire and encourage participants to take action and contribute to future-proofing both our healthcare and food systems.