Virtual: Navigating the Alpha-Gal Diet with Prudence Athearn Levy of Vineyard Nutrition

The Vineyard Haven Public Library is pleased to welcome Prudence Athearn Levy, dietitian and co-owner of Vineyard Nutrition, for a virtual conversation about navigating life with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS). Hosted in collaboration with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program and the Alpha-Gal Support Group of Martha’s Vineyard, this virtual program will be held at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, July 14th, via Zoom. Interested patrons may register on the Vineyard Haven Library’s event calendar. 

The presentation will explore some of the most common questions people have about food triggers, hidden mammalian ingredients, cross-contamination concerns, providing practical day-to-day strategies for living with AGS. Prudence will also elaborate on an important reality of AGS: not everyone reacts to the same exposures or at the same level. While some individuals are highly sensitive to trace ingredients, others may tolerate dairy and experience inconsistent reactions to mammal meats. The goal of this program is to provide practical guidance that helps those suffering from AGS to better understand their own triggers, navigate recommendations safely, and make informed choices without becoming overwhelmed. Prudence will be in conversation with local epidemiologist Lea Hamner of the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program. Audience questions and participation are encouraged!

Prudence Athearn Levy, MS, RDN, LDN, earned her Masters’ degree in Human Nutrition from Colorado State University in 2003 and completed her dietetic internships through the University of Northern Colorado in 2004. Since then, Prudence has dedicated her work to providing medical nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling for nutrition-related diseases and conditions in clinical, community and outpatient settings. Her experience includes counseling and education for cardiovascular health, diabetes, weight loss, weight gain, eating disorders, food allergies including alpha gal syndrome (AGS), nutrition therapy for the management of gastrointestinal diseases, sports nutrition and all stages-of-life nutrition, from childhood to senior nutrition. Prudence provides nutrition counseling and recommendations in a variety of settings, but the majority of her practice is focused on one-on-one nutrition counseling tailored to meet the specific nutrition needs of each client. Her true passion is helping people achieve their nutrition goals with a positive perspective and the knowledge that they can realistically maintain them for life. Prudence’s diverse background in farming, advertising, literature and writing add to her nutrition perspective and experience. Prudence is an 11th generation islander (the first Athearn, Simon, came to the island in the mid 1600s) and thrilled to be practicing nutrition in her own community. Prudence is also an avid cyclist, runner, hiker, gardener, cook, and mother.

Lea Hamner, MPH, is a public health epidemiologist specializing in tick-borne diseases, Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), and community-based public health systems. She works with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program, local boards of health, and the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative, focusing on disease surveillance, public education, healthcare collaboration, and tick-borne disease prevention. With 10 years of experience in local public health epidemiology, Lea is recognized regionally and nationally for her work on AGS surveillance and advocacy. She is on the board of the Massachusetts Epidemiology Collaborative, the Alpha Gal Alliance and a steering committee member of the Alpha-Gal Expert Advisory Council. A graduate of Yale College and the Yale School of Public Health, she is passionate about translating complex science into practical, community-centered information and “bringing science to the community, and the community to the science.”

The Alpha-Gal Support Group of Martha’s Vineyard is a welcoming space to connect with others who understand the challenges of managing food allergies, lifestyle changes, and ongoing health concerns related to Alpha-Gal. The group provides: peer support & shared experiences; education & coping strategies; resources for managing symptoms & navigating care; and a safe, judgement-free environment. This support group meets at the Up-Island Council on Aging in West Tisbury from 5:00-6:00 PM on the third Thursday of each month. 

For more information, please contact the library at vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org or (508) 696-4211.