Who We Are
Food and Nutrition Expert, Rachel Cheatham, PhD, joins Virilion as new VP for Food, Agriculture and Nutrition
04/22/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON, DC - April 21, 2008. Dr. Rachel Cheatham has joined Virilion as its new Vice President for Food, Agriculture and Nutrition. As Virilion expands to meet the varied needs of all its clients, the move is another step in Virilion’s continued growth as a full service interactive agency.
Armed with a doctorate in nutritional biochemistry from Tufts University in Boston, MA and with real-world experience as professional communicator in print, television, radio and online media, Rachel was most recently the Director of Science & Health Communications at International Food Information Council, a non-profit located in Washington, DC. Before attending graduate school, Rachel worked professionally as a commercial television and radio producer for Mercantile Stores and Videc, Inc.
"Like all matters related to health and wellness, people are going online to find answers to their food and nutrition concerns," said Dan Solomon, CEO of Virilion. "Rachel brings a depth of topical knowledge and communications experience that will help us better serve those institutions and organizations with an interest in food and nutrition."
Rachel has co-authored publications about optimum health in peer-reviewed journals including a paper on the dietary intake of head and neck cancer patients treated with chemoradiation, published in the Proceedings of American Society of Clinical Oncology, and another on long-term caloric restriction in overweight humans published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. She has also submitted two first-author publications to peer-reviewed journals. In addition, Rachel has given talks to diverse audiences ranging from researchers at scientific conferences to aspiring students to policy makers. Rachel sits on the board of National Farm City Council and is a member of the Obesity Society (NAASO) and American Dietetic Association (ADA).
Rachel Cheatham says, "Never before has there been so much attention given to issues of nutrition, health and where our food comes from. The insights, techniques, expertise and online communication strategies offered by our Virilion team will allow for credible message dissemination leading to impactful action on these key issue areas. And we all have to eat, so why not eat well and be well!"
Rachel grew up in a small town in Iowa and has a healthy appreciation for farmers, agricultural land and where our food comes from. She currently lives in downtown Washington, DC with her husband and adopted greyhound, Zen. Together, they all enjoy not having to use the family car for daily living.
Select Speaking Engagements include:
Experimental Biology (American Society for Nutrition) – San Francisco, CA; Apr 2006
New Mexico Ag Leadership – Washington, DC; Mar 2007
American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Conference – Washington, DC; May 2007
California Institute of Food & Agriculture Research – Davis, CA; Oct 2007
Kansas BIO-NXT (keynote address) – Wichita, KS; Dec 2007
American Farm Bureau Annual Convention – New Orleans, LA; Jan 2008
National Association of Wheat Growers Annual Meeting – Washington, DC; Feb 2008
About Virilion:
Virilion is a full-service interactive agency that for more than ten years has helped major organizations and institutions transform their ideas and issues into results through digital media. With offices in Austin, Boston, Los Angeles and Washington, DC, Virilion was named one of INC. Magazine’s fastest growing companies in 2007.
Contact:
Mimi Carter \ Publicist \ mimi@virilion.com
A: 1025 Vermont Avenue, NW \ Suite 1200 \ Washington, DC 20005
P: 202-521-4430 C: 202-627-948 U: www.virilion.com
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