When Dr. Phillip Davis [2004 MUSC graduate] was in medical school a decade ago, he recognized physicians were well trained in treating illness, but received very little instruction in nutrition and disease prevention.

Then, about four years ago Davis noticed he had borderline high blood pressure. With a family history of cardiovascular disease, that health scare sounded an alarm and Davis began changing his diet to incorporate more fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy snacks.

Davis took his healthy eating one step further after reading the research on the benefits of choosing sustainable, locally grown food.

Those series of realizations spawned the idea for www.GetLocalFoods.com, a free online tool for consumers, growers, restaurants and markets to find and share information on nutritious, sustainable food that helps people live healthier lives. The site promotes local food producers, provides educational information on nutrition, and helps keep food dollars in the local economy.

From left are Angel French, Dr. Phillip Davis, Pete Ambrose, Drs. Edward and Claire O'Bryan. Kneeling: Iverson Brownell and Dale Snyder. The mission of GetLocalFoods is to develop healthy sustainable food systems, promote proper nutrition and improve wellness in the community. Visit www.GetLocalFoods.com.

"The focus is to reconnect people with the origins of their food," Davis said. "We hope they'll begin to substitute grocery store trips with visits to local farms, restaurants and markets where real food can be found."

As he and his wife, Angel French, began to develop the idea, Davis turned to a friend from medical school, Dr. Edward O'Bryan [2004 MUSC graduate] and his wife, Claire O'Bryan, a nurse practitioner at Hollings Cancer Center and an MUSC alumna. Both have a passion for healthy eating, and often host farm to table dinners with friends and family.

Edward O'Bryan then recruited a registered dietitian, Shani Friedman, to the project, rounding out a team of health and medical professionals who truly understand the impact diet and food choices have on our overall health and wellness.
A native of Israel, Friedman grew up eating what was grown in her back yard and community so she didn't need much convincing to come on board this project. "It's what I believe," she said. "It's the whole spirit of nutrition."

Local chef Iverson Brownell and farmers Dale Snyder (Sweetgrass Garden) and Pete Ambrose (Ambrose Family Farm) are also helping develop the concept. The idea is to create more than just a directory; this site will be a visually appealing tool that connects and engages users. Rich imagery and videos will help the public gain a better understanding of the practices and methods of local food producers. There will be information on nutrition, recipes, new research findings, and videos on how to prepare food at home.

The site is still in beta (preview) and a campaign was launched in June on www.Indiegogo.com to raise additional funds to enhance the site. Eventually it will expand across South Carolina and to other cities so people can find local resources in their community.

Additional plans include nutrition consults and the development of a line of products, such as healthy snacks that can be purchased on the site.

Editor's note: Reprinted with permission from the Charleston Regional Business Journal. Profiles in Business 2012.