Gordon Saxe, MD, PhD, MPH

Executive Director, Center for Integrative Nutrition

Dr. Saxe, a Preventive Medicine physician and nutritional epidemiologist is the Co-Director of the CIM Natural Healing and Cooking program, the Course Director of the new UCSD online certificate program in Integrative Nutrition, and an international expert in the "food as medicine" movement. He also has a background in conducting whole food, plant-based dietary intervention research with cancer patients.

Lauray MacElhern, MBA

Co-Director, Center for Integrative Nutrition
Managing Director, Centers for Integrative Health

Lauray MacElhern has been cooking, studying, and experimenting with healing foods through her career working with physicians, dietitians and chefs to teach healing cooking classes at hospitals, cancer centers, universities, and academic health centers.  She is co-founder, teacher, and trainer of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Natural Healing & Cooking Program, co-developer of the UCSD Certificate in Integrative Nutrition: Food As Medicine, and Managing Director of the UCSD Center for Integrative Medicine.

Tiffany Holt, MS, RDN

Integrative Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Tiffany Holt is an integrative registered dietitian nutritionist and research dietitian. She is passionate about working with patients challenged by any conditions, but particularly enjoys exploring the use of whole-foods for healing or preventing disease. Tiffany has advanced nutrition experiences working with the UCSD Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research, Rip Esselstyn Immersion Training and Research program, and the Bastyr Center for Natural Health (BCNH). Tiffany is also a board member with the San Diego chapter of the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (CAND), a state affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).

Anna Morrell, MS, RDN

Integrative Dietitian Nutritionist

Anna Morrell, MS, RDN, is an integrative registered dietitian with the Center for Integrative Nutrition. When working one-on-one, Anna takes a whole-person approach to nutrition, helping patients achieve balanced and healthy living. She utilizes the principles of integrative and functional nutrition, combined with foundational medical nutrition therapy, to support her patients’ well-being. While well-versed in many conditions, she particularly enjoys working with individuals on digestive health, disease prevention, and women’s health. Anna also teaches a variety of culinary medicine courses, where she blends her love for cooking with her expertise in functional foods—helping others harness the healing power of food in everyday life.

Before joining CIH, Anna worked as a bariatric weight loss dietitian and conducted academic research in the areas of diabetes, functional foods, and bone health. She holds a Master’s in Nutritional Science, a Bachelor’s in Molecular and Cell Biology, and completed her dietetic training through UC San Diego Health’s dietetic internship.

Outside of work, Anna enjoys gardening, tending to her chickens, cheering on the Padres, and going on walks with her husband, son, and two Labrador retrievers.

Jessica Matthews, DBH, MS, NBC-HWC

Director of Integrative Health Coaching

Dr. Matthews is assistant professor and program director of the Master of Kinesiology in Integrative Wellness program at Point Loma Nazarene University. An award-winning educator, she has developed and implemented graduate degree and professional certificate programs at several colleges in San Diego, in addition to creating and teaching a variety of graduate courses in areas such as integrative health and mind-body medicine. One of the first national board certified health and wellness coaches (NBC-HWC) in the country, Dr. Matthews serves as chair of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) health coaches member interest group and is senior advisor for behavioral health coaching for the American Council on Exercise (ACE), serving as lead author and editor of The Professional's Guide to Health and Wellness Coaching.