The nutrition community is made up of individuals with diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas. This diversity is the fundamental strength of our professional society. Through this member spotlight series, we celebrate our diversity and the vast achievements made by our members in the field.
Meet Dr. Chloe Lozano, an Assistant Professor in the Population Sciences in the Pacific Program at the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center. In this conversation with ASN’s Member Engagement Coordinator, Sara Genell, Dr. Lozano shares how her passion for community-engaged, equitable approaches to nutrition science has grown throughout her career—from her early work as a dietitian in Australia to her ongoing research across Hawai‘i and the Pacific. She also discusses her role in organizing the NUTRITION 2025 session Digital Tools to Promote Behavior and Diet Quality and her leadership as current chair of ASN’s Nutrition Education and Behavioral Science (NEBS) Research Interest Section (RIS), including efforts to co-host a GEM Forum in collaboration with the Community and Public Health Nutrition (CPHN) RIS, themed Food is Medicine: Advancing Research, Practice, and Policy to Promote Food and Nutrition Security in the US.
Sara Genell: Thank you, Dr. Lozano for joining me today. I am excited to dive into and learn more about the two sessions you’ve helped organize for NUTRITION 2025. Can you begin by introducing yourself and share what sparked your interest in nutrition and community-based research for health disparities?
Dr. Lozano: Thank you, Sara, for this opportunity. I’m Dr. Chloe Panizza Lozano, Assistant Professor in the Population Sciences in the Pacific Program at the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center. My work focuses on culturally tailored, mobile health (mHealth) interventions to improve diet quality and reduce chronic disease risk in underserved communities across Hawai‘i and the Pacific. The spark for my interest in nutrition and community-based research began early in my career while working as a dietitian in Australia. It was further ignited through volunteer work in India, where I saw first-hand how deeply nutrition and health are shaped by social context, culture, and access. Living and working in Hawai‘i over the past decade has continued to strengthen this drive—deepening my understanding of health disparities and reinforcing my commitment to community-engaged, equitable approaches to nutrition science.
Genell: The first session I’d like to discuss is Digital Tools to Promote Behavior and Diet Quality. Please tell us what you have planned for this featured session.
Dr. Lozano: Our session, Digital Tools to Promote Behavior and Diet Quality, explores how technology can enhance the design and delivery of nutrition interventions. I’ll present three studies that reflect the diverse and innovative ways digital tools are being used to improve dietary behaviors across the lifespan. This session will be held on Monday, June 2, 2:00 – 3:30 ET.
Genell: What exciting new research or insights will this session highlight? What do you hope attendees will gain from participating in this session?
Dr. Lozano: First, I’ll share results from our PortionSize Ed (PSEd) intervention with adolescents in Kaua‘i, where real-time dietary feedback from the PSEd app was integrated into SNAP-Ed to support healthier eating. Second, I’ll highlight our ongoing clinical trial at Queen’s Medical Center, which evaluates the use of the PSEd app to support adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet among stroke survivors with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Lastly, I’ll discuss findings from a pilot validation study assessing an AI-based dietary assessment technology in adults. This session will showcase how mHealth and Nutrition AI can support healthy behavior change by making dietary tracking more personalized, real-time, and scalable. Attendees will gain practical insights into designing, validating, and implementing digital nutrition tools—whether in schools, clinics, or research settings.
Genell: Very exciting! Switching gears now, you are the current chair of ASN’s Nutrition Education and Behavioral Science (NEBS) Research Interest Section (RIS). The NEBS forum this year will be held jointly with the Community and Public Health Nutrition (CPHN) RIS. Is there anything you can share with us about this joint forum?
Dr. Lozano: This year’s joint GEM forum with the CPHN RIS is themed “Food is Medicine: Advancing Research, Practice and Policy to Promote Food and Nutrition Security in the US.” We’re hosting an interactive roundtable session with table topics spanning clinical, policy, and community research. Attendees will engage in structured discussions about barriers, facilitators, and future directions for Food is Medicine. The session also celebrates our award winners, promotes networking, and encourages inclusive participation—whether attendees are new to the field or seasoned experts. It’s a space designed to elevate emerging voices and catalyze action in the Food is Medicine space and beyond.
Genell: Lastly, what has been the most rewarding for you while attending ASN’s Annual Meeting in previous years?
Dr. Lozano: One of the most rewarding aspects of attending ASN’s annual meeting is the opportunity to connect with people across disciplines, sectors, and career stages— to exchange ideas and build a sense of community. It’s always inspiring to engage with others who share a deep commitment to advancing nutrition science.
Only at NUTRITION 2025
Digital Tools to Promote Behavior and Diet Quality → View in the Schedule Planner
Saturday, May 31, 2025
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM ET
In this session, explore the groundbreaking intersection of technology, health, and nutrition with a focus on improving dietary outcomes. This session dives into ongoing nutrition research utilizing innovative approaches to leverage digital tools, ecological momentary assessment, AI, and real-time data for more effective and personalized nutrition interventions.
GEM Forum: Food is Medicine – Advancing Research, Practice and Policy to Promote Food and Nutrition Security in the US → View in the Schedule Planner
Sunday, June 1, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:20 PM ET
This 80-minute interactive session will explore the intersection of research, practice, and policy in promoting food and nutrition security. Attendees will engage in table discussions covering clinical, policy, and community research aspects. Table leaders will facilitate, guiding conversations with discussion prompts and light background information to encourage organic dialogue and networking. The session will conclude with a ‘call to action’, summarizing key insights and outlining next steps for advancing food and nutrition security efforts.
