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Dr. Akil Taher is a practicing physician, author, and heart disease survivor who has transformed personal challenges into opportunities for growth and advocacy. At age 61, after undergoing open-heart bypass surgery due to high cholesterol and elevated lipoprotein(a) [LP(a)], he embraced healthy lifestyle changes including a whole food plant-based diet, exercise and appropriate medications to successfully control his cholesterol levels and continues to thrive in spite of insurmountable health issues.

A year after surgery, Dr. Taher trekked Mount Kailash at 19,000 feet. He has since run marathons, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and participated in triathlons, cycling, and other adventurous activities, demonstrating that it’s never too late to redefine one’s limits.

Now at 77, this septuagenarian athlete is a passionate advocate for heart health and wellness. To continue his legacy, he shares on topics and his story as covered in his book, OPEN HEART: The Transformational Journey of a Doctor Who, After Bypass Surgery at 61, Ran Marathons and Climbed Mountains. He delivers monthly Heart Healthy Doc talks on heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other chronic conditions. He also shares his culinary skills each month when he cooks up an easy, tasty dish right in his kitchen as part of his Shop & Cook with the Doc monthly broadcasts.

From conferences and college campuses to rotary clubs and podcasts, Dr. Taher inspires others to embrace the power of plant-based nutrition for personal health, animal welfare, and the planet.