Meet the Experts

LLuminari Experts

LLuminari physicians and experts are first and foremost leaders in their fields. Our experts are distinguished by their ability to communicate with clarity and conviction on the broadest spectrum of health and wellness topics - always uncovering the science behind the issue; separating fact from fiction. The media often call on LLuminari experts to explain and comment on breaking news, new research findings, and related lifestyle information. Learn more about LLuminari's Experts.

Miriam E. Nelson, PhD

Dr. Miriam Nelson is Director of the Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition and Associate Professor of Nutrition at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. She is also a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, an honor reserved for those who have demonstrated superior leadership and research in the field of exercise.

For the past 15 years, Dr. Nelson has been principal investigator of studies on exercise and nutrition for older adults, work supported by grants from the government and private foundations. During this time she was named a Brookdale National Fellow, a prestigious award given annually to only five or six young scholars deemed to be future leaders in the field of aging. She was also awarded a Bunting Fellowship at the Mary Ingraham Bunting Institute at Radcliffe College. In 1998, Dr. Nelson received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Massachusetts Governor's Committee on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Dr. Nelson is the author of the international best-sellers, Strong Women Stay Young, Strong Women Stay Slim, Strong Women, Strong Bones, Strong Women Eat Well, and Strong Women and Men Beat Arthritis. These titles, published in 13 languages, have collectively sold more than a million copies worldwide. Strong Women, Strong Bones received the esteemed "Books for a Better Life Award" for best wellness book of 2000 from the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

In August 2001, Dr. Nelson appeared in her own PBS special entitled Strong Women Live Well, which focused on the benefits of exercise and nutrition for women's health. She has been featured on many television and radio shows, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, Fresh Air, and the Discovery Channel. She is also a motivational speaker who lectures about women's health around the world.

She lives in Concord, Massachusetts with her husband and three children.