Vanessa Weisbrod, B.A., C.A.

Vanessa Weisbrod, B.A., C.A. is the Chief, Education and Community Engagement Officer at the Celiac Disease Foundation and the Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) Celiac Disease Program. In her role at BCH, she strengthens ties between the clinical team and the Celiac Kids Connection support group, while engaging local and national partners. Prior to joining BCH, Vanessa spent 12 years as the Director of the Celiac Disease Program at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, where she led efforts to create national recommendations for managing children with celiac disease in educational environments and conducted research on gluten cross-contact in shared kitchens and schools. A graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education, Vanessa developed innovative educational tools such as cooking and nutrition videos, an interactive app for celiac education, and web-based forums to support gluten-free living. As an active advocate, she serves on the executive committee of the Harvard Medical School Celiac Research Program, the board of Celiac Kids Connection, and the executive council for the Society for the Study of Celiac Disease. Diagnosed with celiac disease in 2004, Vanessa shares a personal connection to her work, as does her son, who was diagnosed in 2016. She has authored four gluten-free cookbooks, including The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook, and was the executive editor of Delight Gluten-Free Magazine. Passionate about improving the lives of those with celiac disease, she is dedicated to making gluten-free living accessible and enjoyable.