SOBeFiT Magazine

ANTHONY ABBOTT (EDD, FACSM, FNSCA)

Dr. Anthony Abbott is the President of Fitness Institute International, a vocational school in South Florida providing comprehensive academic instruction and extensive practical training for personal trainers preparing for certification with the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength & Conditioning Association. He is a national and international presenter on various health and fitness topics and has written extensively on the subject of safety considerations in exercise programming. As an educator and researcher in exercise science and instructor standards, he is frequently retained as an expert witness in fitness facility litigation, including over 40 injury and death cases.

BRIAN BIAGIOLI (PHD)

Brian Biagioli is the Graduate Program Director for Exercise Science at Florida International University. He also serves as the Executive Director for the National Council on Strength and Fitness. An international presenter and author, Brian is a foremost authority on the disciplines of training and conditioning.

CHARLES STUART PLATKIN (PHD, JD, MPH)

Charles Stuart Platkin, “The Diet Detective,” is a syndicated columnist covering health, nutrition and fitness in more than 165 newspapers nationwide. He is a member of several scientific c organizations, including the American Society for Nutritional Sciences, the American Obesity Association, American Public Health Association and the American Council on Exercise. A graduate of Cornell University, Charles also holds a law degree from Fordham University and a master’s degree in public health from Florida International University (FIU), where he is Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health. He is also a certified personal trainer. Don’t miss his new TV series I Want to Save Your Life on WEtv.

CHARMAINE DEFRANCESCO (PHD)

Charmaine DeFrancesco is a Hall of Fame Athlete and graduate of Northern Illinois University, and is an NJCAA Coach of the Year. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Teaching and Administration from Northern Colorado University, and her PhD from Florida State University. DeFrancesco is a researching professor at Florida International University, focusing on the psychosocial aspects of sports and sport performance.

JOHN OFFERDAHL

The former 5x All-Pro Miami Dolphins linebacker has traded in his helmet and pads for none other than a grill. Offerdahl’s Café Grill grew out of John Offerdahl’s passion for cooking. He and his wife, Lynn, run a total of nine quick-casual restaurants featuring freshly grilled foods and baked goods. Offerdahl’s Café Grill evolved over time, after success with the original Offerdahl’s Bagel Gourmet shop co-founded in 1990. The bagel shop quickly branched into 10 stores, and in 1995 formed Einstein Bros. Bagels with three other bagel entrepreneurs. The company currently has more than 400 locations. The Offerdahls are constantly involved in many local community service organizations and reside in Fort Lauderdale with their three children.

JON VREDENBURG (RD, MBA)

Jon Vredenburg is a registered dietitian and board certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. He is also a certified Health Fitness Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine. Jon has 15 years of work experience in health and fitness, and recently spent three seasons as the team dietitian for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He continues to work with professional and amateur athletes in the North Florida area, and was recently appointed by Charlie Crist to serve on the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness.

KEITH S. HECHTMAN (MD)

Dr. Keith Hechtman is a founding partner of UHZ Sports Medicine Institute, and is board certified in both orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Dr. Hechtman is Associate Professor at the University of Miami, Department of Orthopedics, as well as Clinical Adjunct Professor at UM’s Department of Exercise and Sports Sciences. He is the head team physician for Florida International University and assistant team physician for UM and the Florida Panthers professional hockey team. He is well recognized for his expertise on treating elbow injuries in the throwing athlete and ligament injuries to the knee.

LONI FIALA NOVAK (RN)

Loni Fiala Novak, a native of Prague, Czech Republic, is a registered nurse. Employed by Baptist Hospital of Miami for 26 years, she is active in cardiac care and has been a CPR instructor for 15 years. She is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and helps facilitate the nationally recognized Women Heart Support Group.

MICHELLE AUSTIN

Michelle Austin is the owner of On Thyme Consulting, a cuisine management and design company. Her consulting and catering portfolio includes professional athletes, Fortune 500 executives and entertainers. She has been featured on NBC and CBS, and is a member of original conceptual teams for local award-winning restaurants in South Florida. She has catered events ranging from intimate, formal VIP dinners to 30,000 golf fans at the U.S. Senior Golf Tournament.

NELL AMOS

Nell is a certified Pilates instructor for The Sports Club/LA – Miami and a certified yoga instructor. Nell founded Integrated Wellness, a holistic nutrition and wellness program, and holds a Master of Exercise Science degree from George Washington University. She is a graduate of The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City, where she trained as a Certified Health Counselor accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP).

SHEAH RARBACK (MS, RD)

Sheah Rarback is Assistant Professor for the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, concentrating on nutrition, metabolic disorders, decreasing disease risk, evaluating nutrition research and obesity. Formerly a media spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA), Sheah writes a column for The Miami Herald and a monthly column for South Florida Parenting magazine.

Michael Ozner, MD, FACC, FAHA

Dr. Michael Ozner is one of America's leading advocates for heart disease prevention and a national spaker in the field of preventive cardiology. As author of The Miami Mediterraean Diet and The Great American Heart Hoax, he has been featured in The New York Times and CBS News and other media outlets. Dr. Ozner is a board certified cardiologist, a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (AHA), Medical Director of Wellness & Prevention at Baptist Health South Florida, Voluntary Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and past Chairman of the AHA of Miami. He has been elected to "Top Physicians in America" and is the 2008 recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the AHA.

Leslie Baumann (MD)

Dr. Baumann is CEO of the Baumann Cosmetic & Research Institute. A researcher and former professor, she is the author of the New York Times best seller The Skin Type Solution, which identifies 16 skin types and how to treat them, and the medical textbook Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice.