Mediterranean Fest and Award Ceremony - Mediterranean Diet Roundtable

MEDITERRANEAN FEST & AWARDS CEREMONY

World Bank
1818 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20433

Thursday, May 7th, 2026
4:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Join us for a celebration of the Mediterranean Diet and a special tribute to outstanding leaders in the Food Industry, promoting health and wellness in different environments and capacities!

A new, unique and immersive experience by the MDR!

The program will feature a presentation by Dr. Darius Mozaffarian, followed by a guided tasting and international tasting stations, expertly designed by the World Bank’s exceptional culinary team.

RSVP required. To be accredited, please reply to info@MDRproject.com

Business chic attire suggested.
Sponsorship opportunities available.

FULL HOUSE

Team

Dr. Darius Mozaffarian

Dariush Mozaffarian is a cardiologist, public health scientist, and Director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University. He is also Distinguished Professor, Dean Emeritus, and Jean Mayer Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; Professor of Medicine at Tufts School of Medicine; and attending physician in the Division of Cardiology at Tufts Medical Center. Dr. Mozaffarian’s overall goal is to create the science and translation for a food system that is nutritious, equitable, and sustainable. He is globally renowned expert in Food is Medicine and has authored more than 600 scientific publications on nutritional priorities for cardiometabolic health and on evidence-based policy approaches and innovations to advance nutrition security, reduce diet related diseases, improve health equity, and reduce healthcare costs in the US and globally. He has served in numerous advisory roles, including on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, and his work has been featured in an array of media outlets. Thomson Reuters named him as one of the World's Most Influential Scientific Minds.

Dr. Mozaffarian received his B.S. in biological sciences from Stanford University, M.D. from Columbia University, and Doctorate in Public Health from Harvard University; with clinical training in internal medicine at Stanford University and in cardiology at the University of Washington. He is married, has three children, and actively trains as a Fourth Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo.

SPECIAL GUEST:

Kyle Diamantas J.D.

Deputy Commissioner for Food

As the Deputy Commissioner for Food, Mr. Diamantas leads the agency’s Human Foods Program, overseeing all FDA nutrition and food safety activities. In this role, Mr. Diamantas exercises authority over all Human Food Program entities and operations, including resource allocation, risk-prioritization strategy and decision making, policy initiatives, and major response activities involving human foods. Mr. Diamantas also oversees food resources in the agency’s Office of Inspections and Investigations.

As the FDA’s top food executive, Mr. Diamantas sets the strategic direction and operations for food policy in the U.S., while serving as a critical liaison between the agency, Department of Health and Human Services, and The White House. He also represents the agency on food activities and matters in dealings with foreign governments and international organizations.

Mr. Diamantas has extensive experience working with various federal and state agencies and policy makers, scientific organizations, consumer advocacy groups, and industry stakeholders. He has wide-ranging experience on matters spanning regulatory, compliance, investigative, enforcement, rulemaking, and legislation. Mr. Diamantas holds a juris doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and a bachelor’s in pre-law political science from the University of Central Florida.