Special Episode: We Have a Weight Problem with Yaffi Lvova, RDN, Alisa Minkin, MD, FAAP, Tobi Ash, RN, BSN, MBA and Dr. Marcy Forta, EdD, MBA

JOWMA (Jewish Orthodox Women's Medical Association) Podcast

Yaffi Lvova, RDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and twin mom who is passionate about providing nutrition education for the pregnant or breastfeeding woman, help with nutrition for colicky or fussy babies, and assistance with initial food introduction. Yaffi graduated magna cum laude with a bachelors of science in nutrition and dietetics from Arizona State University in 2010 and went on to complete the Iowa State University dietetic internship. Yaffi partners with families to grow happy, healthy babies and confident parents by breaking down complex scientific concepts, ideas, theories, and research into easier to understand language so that parents can make informed decisions about their child’s wellness. “Together, we can transform complex science into simple words that describe why things work and what formulas, recipes, and strategies you can use to achieve optimum health for your child and you.”

Marcy Forta EdD, MBA is the founder and director of Atzmi, an organization dedicated to supporting the mental health of Jewish girls through programs that improve their self-esteem, body acceptance, and reduce the focus on outward appearances. She specializes in eating disorder education, awareness, and prevention, focusing specifically on risk factors and prevention within the Jewish Orthodox Adolescent Female Community. She is also a Body Project Facilitator, and a Certified Holistic Nutritionist. Dr. Forta’s doctoral research focused on community healthcare stakeholders descriptions of religious and environmental risk factors unique to the Jewish orthodox adolescent female community. Community healthcare stakeholders include rabbis, teachers, principals, mental and physical health professionals. Her research was conducted over a period of several years and focused on the U.S. Midwest region. There is long established evidence supporting prevention programs and their impact, this being the impetus to create Atzmi as the evidence suggests that their efficacy is vastly improved when tailored to specific demographics. Her research forms the basis of the eating disorder awareness, education, and prevention programs designed for this community. Dr. Forta lives in Oak Park, Michigan. She is a lecturer, blogger, and sought after expert in the eating disorder field. Her personal website is marcyforta.com.

Alisa Minkin, MD is host of JOWMA Podcast which provides health education geared to the Orthodox community. Dr Minkin also produces the JOWMA Preventative Health hotline (929-4-GEZUNT/929-444-9868) and is past chair of the JOWMA Preventative Health Committee. She is a board-certified pediatrician in Oceanside, NY. She attended Johns Hopkins University followed by New York University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. Dr Minkin is on the Leadership Panel of the Haredi Health Coalition which serves as a liaison between NYC’s Department of Health and the New York hareidi community. She has worked on numerous Covid-19 and vaccine related community health efforts in the past, including the EMES Vaccine Task Force. Dr Minkin’s public health efforts on behalf of the Orthodox community has been featured in numerous Orthodox media outlets including Mishpacha and Wellspring magazine.

Tobi Ash, RN, BSN, MBA is completing her Ph.D. in Health Promotion. For more than 25 years, Tobi has been teaching, mentoring, researching, and helping women and girls with healthcare issues. Her book on puberty for neurotypical and neuroatypical girls is being published by Mosaica Publishing in the coming year. A former midwife, childbirth educator, critical care/trauma/ER nurse, and managing director of a women's health care clinic, Tobi enjoys making a major difference in the health of all people with competent, compassionate care.