The Vitamin D Council was a proactive nonprofit organization committed to advocating the utilization of Vitamin D for achieving peak health and wellness. Founded in 2003 by Dr. John Cannell, a psychiatrist who observed that many of his patients were vitamin D deficient, the council has since grown to become a leading resource for information on vitamin D and its numerous health benefits. Dr. Cannell believed that vitamin D deficiency was a contributing factor to the mental health issues experienced by his patients.
From their Website: “Why,” you might ask. Simply put, humans do not get enough sun exposure in the 21st century. Because of this, many – if not most – humans are deficient in vitamin D. “What’s so wrong with that,” you might ask.
Researchers are beginning to discover that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for many diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Furthermore, researchers are discovering that vitamin D deficiency may make some diseases more severe. Research on vitamin D is pouring out and it’s hard to keep up with the latest information. Recommendations on vitamin D and sun exposure are confusing, conflicting and inconsistent.
We’re here to help both the public and health professionals sort through everything. The Vitamin D Council serves as a center for evidence-based vitamin D research and is a reliable source for the general public.The Vitamin D Council was formed in 2003 by John J Cannell, MD. He founded the Vitamin D Council to educate the public on the importance of sun exposure and vitamin D.
In November 2019, they issued a plea: “We need to raise $35,000 in 30 days in order to continue fulfilling our mission.” Unfortunately, it appears that they fell short of reaching their target. It seemed as though Cannell had finally relinquished his efforts to rescue the council. However, Mr. Cannell informed that he is alive and in Las Vegas. He has now ventured into the world of art as the owner of Gallery54. Rest assured, Dr. Cannell continues to make a positive impact and is very much alive.
Vitamin D – Overview
Vitamin D Council – former Staff & Board members
John J. Cannell, M.D., Founder and Medical Director
Dr. John Cannell founded the Vitamin D Council in 2003 upon a renewed interest in clinical nutrition while working as a psychiatrist at the Atascadero State Hospital. A born activist, he has found himself at the forefront of various campaigns in his lifetime, including education reform and anti-smoking campaigns. Dr. Cannell has published several peer-reviewed papers on vitamin D and often gives talks on the subject all over the country.He is the proud father of five. Dr. Cannell holds a Doctor of Medicine from the University of North Carolina and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland. He has served the medical field as a general practitioner, itinerant emergency physician, and psychiatrist.
John J. Cannell, M.D., Founder and Medical Director
Missy Sturges, Executive Director
Missy is the Executive Director of the Vitamin D council. She is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic planning of the organization. She also focuses on writing articles, fundraising and keeping up with the latest research. She holds a Bachelor of Science in nutrition from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Missy’s passion for vitamin D derives from her personal battle with an unexplained inflammatory disorder. When she is not at the Vitamin D Council, she enjoys her time with her husband, animals and the outdoors.
Missy Sturges, Executive Director
Riley Peterson, Program Manager
Riley is the Program Manager of the Vitamin D Council. She is responsible for customer’s concerns, managing social media, and overseeing test kit production. She is attending California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo with a major in nutrition. Riley is passionate about health and fitness, and spends a lot of her time outside in the sun staying active with friends and family. She loves her work at the Vitamin D Council as it enables her to spread awareness on health and wellness in her community.
Riley Peterson, Program Manager
Sara Nygaard, Customer Relations Representative
Sara is the Customer Relations representative of the Vitamin D Council. She is responsible for customer’s concerns, managing social media, and overseeing test kit production. Sara is a fourth year Nutrition student at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is expected to graduate in the fall of 2018. Outside of work, Sara volunteers for her church to help at risk youth and enjoys spending time with her friends.
Sara Nygaard, Customer Relations Representative
Geoffrey Lubbock, President
Geoffrey Lubbock is Vice President of Financial Strategic Planning and Policy at NSTAR. He is the son of David Lubbock and grandson of Nobel Prize winner Lord Boyd Orr, who respectively, were the inaugural Secretary General and Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, the first world nutrition branch of the United Nations. Previously, they had set up one of the first nutrition research facilities, the Rowett Research Institute.They played a critical role in introducing milk in schools in Scotland to eliminate rickets through the provision of vitamin D and calcium to every child.
Geoffrey Lubbock, President
William Grant, PhD, Board member
Dr. Grant is Founding Director of Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center (SUNARC), an entity devoted to research and education relating to the prevention of chronic disease through changes in diet and lifestyle. He has published numerous peer-reviewed papers on a variety of subjects within the field of health and nutrition, etiology and of course, vitamin D. He is particularly interested in the role of solar ultraviolet-B(UVB) in reducing the risk of many types of disease including cancer and infectious diseases. Dr. Grant has a Doctorate of Philosophy in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley.
William Grant, PhD, Board member
Roy Casto, Board member
Roy H. Casto has a total of 38 years professional experience in the field of education. He has taught on a variety of different platforms including high school, college, university and professional nursing program levels. Born and raised in West Virginia, Roy is married, the father of four and the grandfather of seven. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a Master of Science in Biology.
Roy Casto, Board member
Sadeq Quraishi, MD, MHA, Board member
Dr. Quraishi is a practicing staff Anesthesiologist and an Intensive Care Unit physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. As an Assistant Professor of Anaesthesia at Harvard Medical School, his research interest is in the role of vitamin D in acute stress and critical illness. Dr. Quraishi is also very passionate about education reform and the need to drive effective social policies through good science.As such, he holds leadership positions within multiple academic, civic,and health policy-related organizations.
Sadeq Quraishi, MD, MHA, Board member
Patrick Crawford, Board member
For the past thirty years, Patrick Crawford was the principal partner in the Research Group, a commercial real estate evaluation and consulting firm in Los Angeles. He retired from the Research Group in 2010, and now does part-time consulting work for various bank clients in Southern California.
