Our Collaborators
Alan Nguyen, DO
Dr. Alan Nguyen specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation and interventional spine and sports medicine. He treats a wide range of neuromusculoskeletal conditions and focuses on offering comprehensive solutions for back pain and sports injuries. As an avid advocate for proactive healthcare, he promotes education and injury prevention strategies, empowering individuals to make informed decisions to optimize recovery and regain peak performance.
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Dr. Nguyen actively contributes to the sports community as a member of the Florida Athletic Commission. His involvement in this capacity has given him the opportunity to treat and support professional athletes from some of MMA's top promotions, including the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Bellator, One Championship, Professional Fighters League, Combate Global, and more. Through this role, he plays an integral part in promoting athlete safety, ensuring rigorous standards are met, and offering his insights to enhance sports performance and injury prevention.
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Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Nguyen harbors special interests in brain health as it relates to contact sports and tactical athletes, cognitive decline in the aging population, exercise physiology, sports nutrition, and human performance. His involvement in academic societies including the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the Society for Sports Neuroscience, and the American Society for Pain and Neuroscience allows him to stay at the forefront of research and developments in said topics and further enriches his ability to address the needs of his patients and the active population, considering the intricate interplay between physical and cognitive well-being and athletic pursuits
Dr. Arny Ferrando, Ph.D.
Dr. Ferrando’s academic training consists of a B.S. in Engineering from West Point, a M.B.A. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a Ph.D. in Nutrition from Florida State University, and a post doc in Protein Metabolism and Space Physiology at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Dr. Ferrando’s research endeavors have focused on the amelioration of muscle loss during sarcopenic or cachectic states. His research has involved the examination of muscle protein metabolism in circumstances ranging from inactivity to critical illness to disease states to aging. These research efforts include inactivity as a clinical paradigm and model of microgravity, space flight, orthopedic surgery, pediatric and adult burns, end-stage renal disease, and the sarcopenia associated with aging. In particular, his research has focused on hormonal and nutritional control of muscle protein metabolism in these situations. Overall, these studies have demonstrated that the restoration of anabolic influence on skeletal muscle can ameliorate the loss of lean body mass and improve survivability and functionality, while decreasing hospitalization and/or rehabilitation.
Michael Sagner, MD, FRSM, FRCP, FESPM
Dr. Sagner is a physician and researcher specializing in sports medicine, preventive medicine, and cardiometabolic health. He previously served as Medical Director of Europe's first university medical center dedicated to preventive and lifestyle medicine and co-founded a multidisciplinary clinic and research institute focused on cardiology, endocrinology, metabolism, sports medicine, and preventive care. Throughout his career, he has worked with elite athletes, executives, and high-performance professionals.
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An internationally recognized leader in preventive and personalized medicine, Dr. Sagner has pioneered clinical applications in endocrinology and cardiometabolic prevention, including early adoption of GLP-1 therapies in Europe. His work integrates systems biology with clinical practice to advance predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory (P4) healthcare.
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Dr. Sagner directs the European Society of Preventive Medicine, collaborates with organizations including the World Health Organization, World Heart Federation, and World Obesity Federation, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Progress in Preventive Medicine. He is a widely published author, textbook editor, and international consultant, advising governments, healthcare organizations, and industry on the future of preventive medicine.
Luke Bucci, Ph.D, CCN, CNS
Dr. Luke Bucci attained earned his bachelors in Chemistry (Magna Cum Laude) from St. Edward’s University and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Texas at Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, with Postdoctoral appointments in Experimental Radiotherapy. Dr. Bucci has been instrumental in educating and certifying health care practitioners and clinical nutritionists as Board Member, Instructor and Adjunct Faculty. Dr. Bucci taught the first Dietary Supplement Regulations course for undergraduates at the University of Utah Department of Nutrition. Dr. Bucci is a member of the American Nutrition Society, American Nutrition Association (Certified Nutrition Specialist), International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists (Certified Clinical Nutritionist) and the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
Dr. Bucci has particular interests and publications in AUB of nutrients (Absorption, Uptake & Bioavailability), bone/joint health, sports nutrition, adaptogens and functional nutrients. Dr. Bucci has authored academic books and book chapters, books for the public, patents and peer-reviewed articles on nutritional topics. Dr. Bucci has lectured on nutritional topics in Asia, Europe and North America. In addition, Dr. Bucci has a strong Regulatory background in successfully supporting dietary supplement claims and science by necessity.
Dr. Douglas M. Bibus, MS, Ph.D
Dr. Doug Bibus is an internationally recognized expert in omega-3 fatty acid biochemistry and nutrition and serves as a community faculty member at the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality & Healing. Trained under Dr. Ralph T. Holman—the scientist who coined the term omega-3 and established its essential role in human health—Dr. Bibus has spent his career advancing the science of lipid nutrition. He is also the founder and director of Lipid Technologies, LLC., where he provides analytical and consulting expertise for the biotechnology, nutrition, and food industries.
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Dr. Bibus' research focuses on the role of omega-3 fatty acids in inflammation, chronic disease, and human health. His work has explored applications in cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, mental health, inflammatory diseases, and critical care, and he developed one of the first Omega-3 blood tests to assess omega-3 status. He has received numerous professional honors, serves in leadership roles with the American Oil Chemists' Society, and is a frequent invited speaker and author on fatty acid science, nutrition, and health.
Dr. Stephen Schmitz, MD, MPH
Stephen Schmitz, MD, MPH is the Co-founder of Supplement Safety Solutions. He was originally trained and board certified in Family Medicine, and later Occupational Medicine. He received in medical degree from Rutgers Medical School, and Master of Public Health from Boston University.
For over 10 years, he has worked full-time in drug safety and clinical development for several leading biotech and medical imaging companies in the Boston area, and for a contract research organization (CRO). He is on the editorial board of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), and has served as the medical monitor for a variety of drug and medical device studies. He consults with leading dietary supplement companies in safety and risk assessment.
Bob Lemieux, BS, MS
Bob Lemieux serves as Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance at Kent State University, where he has spent more than 20 years developing championship-caliber student-athletes. He oversees the university's comprehensive sports performance program, providing year-round training for all varsity athletic teams, while working directly with volleyball, women's basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, and men's and women's golf. Throughout his tenure, he has contributed to more than 50 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships and has twice served as interim head strength coach for the football program.
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In 2014, Lemieux earned the prestigious Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (MSCC) designation from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa)—the profession's highest honor. He also serves as a CSCCa-approved mentor, helping educate and prepare the next generation of collegiate strength and conditioning professionals. In addition to his leadership in athletics, he is an adjunct professor at Kent State, teaching strength and conditioning, exercise science, nutrition, and career development.
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Lemieux holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Kent State University and has completed postgraduate coursework in nutrition. He serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Center for Applied Health Sciences, has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in strength training and sports nutrition, and is a frequent speaker at professional clinics and conferences on performance training, program development, and nutrition.