Meet Our Expert Advisors and Curators

Dr. Bruce Daggy

Senior VP of R&D and Chief Science Officer for Shaklee.

Dr. Bruce P. Daggy, Ph.D., served as Senior Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Science Officer of NutriSystem Inc. since February 2010. Dr. Daggy joined the NutriSystem, Inc. ("Nutrisystem") in 2010.

His responsibilities included new product development, clinical research, and outreach to the medical community. Dr. Daggy has 25 years of experience in Healthcare R&D, working across a number of therapeutic areas and in product formats ranging from beverages and supplements to pharmaceuticals.

Prior to joining Nutrisystem, he spent 13 years at GlaxoSmithKline, including four years as Vice President of Weight Control R&D. As Vice President of GlaxoSmithKline’s Nutritional Healthcare Division from 2001 to 2005, he led a research program that encompassed a wide range of applications, from fortified beverages in developing countries to sport nutrition. In addition, Dr. Daggy held various positions in Healthcare R&D with Procter & Gamble.

He currently also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences Department of Florida State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry from Cornell University and a BA in Biology from University of Virginia, and is a Member of the American Society for Nutrition and the Obesity Society.

He has authored over 75 publications and twelve issued U.S. patents. His volunteer activities include Membership on the Philadelphia Board of Directors of the American Diabetes Association, and Co-Chair of the Corporate Advisory Council of the Obesity Society.

Dr. James Scala

Dr. Scala is a certified nutrition specialist and a biochemist with degrees from Columbia and Cornell universities. He did post-graduate studies at Harvard and Indiana universities and was awarded an honorary degree (LHD) from Hofstra University in recognition of his book for people with Crohn’s disease.

He also taught biochemistry related to chronic illness at Georgetown medical school. Most of his students were doctors in the military as they had a broader responsibility than most physicians.

His focus has been on teaching contemporary nutrition and the biochemistry of inflammation.

He has authored 14 books, including Eating Right for a Bad Gut, Prescription for Longevity, and The Arthritis Relief Diet, along with more than 50 scientific papers and magazine articles. He is a fellow in the American College of Nutrition who taught at Georgetown Medical School, UC Berkeley, and other universities.

With the Shaklee Corporation, he made a four-part video entitled. The Nature of Nutrition that is used in schools and most notably the U.S. Olympic Training Center.  Jim served as nutritionist for the Voyager flight, three Mt. Everest expeditions, and was the U.S. Olympic Ski Team nutritionist for the 1984 and 1988 Games. He was awarded a gold Mickey Mouse watch by Walt Disney for his work on Disney’s EPCOT center. He also toured with the astronaut Alan Shepard to teach nutrition.

Dr. Richard Brouse

Dr. Brouse is a retired chiropractic physician, biochemist, certified clinical nutritionist, and seasoned lecturer. Author, teacher, and passionate health advocate, Dr. Brouse is not just about treating symptoms - he's about reshaping lives.

In 1977, his vision led to the establishment of The Sunnyside Health Center and Chiropractic Clinic. After dedicating 44 enriching years to clinical practice, he's shifted his focus to something groundbreaking: biochemical coaching. Tailored to those who yearn for a holistic wellness journey, he intricately designs programs balancing diet, exercise, stress relief, and evidence-based nutritional supplements.

But what truly distinguishes Dr. Brouse is his innate ability to make complex scientific concepts digestible for everyone. Attend his weekly Coffee Talks, and you're in for a transformative experience – one that bridges the gap between science and everyday health.

Dr. John Westerdahl

Dr. John Westerdahl is an international recognized authority in the fields of food, nutrition and wellness. He is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Nutrition Specialist, ACLM Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional, Board Certified Anti-Aging Health Practitioner, Master Herbalist, Health Scientist and Health Educator.

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Rusty Ost RPh

Rusty Ost is a registered Pharmacist.
He received his degree in pharmacy from the University Of Nebraska College Of Pharmacy.
After obtaining his pharmacy degree, Rusty did post-graduate work on designing dosage forms and delivery systems for human and veterinary medicine. Following a tour of duty with the U.S. Army, he began his practice of pharmacy. His practice ranged from owning a chain of retail pharmacies to managing a pharmacy for a national chain.

Rusty has served as the President of his County Pharmacy Association and the President of the Nebraska State Chapter of The Epilepsy Foundation of America. Rusty was voted the first Pharmacy Preceptor of The Year for his skills in teaching and mentoring pharmacy students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

His two main passions are to provide responsible information about nutrition, and to help as many people as possible improve their health using nutritional supplements and herbs as a vehicle toward that end. His studies included extensive training in herbs and phytomedicinal products, as well as the extraction and identification of medicinal alkaloids from plant sources using techniques involving Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Hight-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)... a technique for separating complex mixtures of chemicals or proteins into their various constituents.

In 2000 Rusty left his pharmacy career and joined his wife June, who is also a pharmacist, in their Shaklee business. Rusty has conducted numerous seminars throughout the United States educating people about nutrition and herbal remedies.

He is the author of PhytoBytes: a synopsis of the Shaklee herbal remedies and nutritional supplements; and a collection of recording on nutrition, herbal remedies, and health-care professionals. Rusty is a member of the Association of Natural Medicine Pharmacists, and delights in sharing his decades of knowledge of nutrition and herbal remedies. His desire is to help people understand the symbiotic relationship that can exist between traditional and alternative medicine.

Dr. Jamie McManus M.D.

Dr. Jamie McManus practiced family medicine for 15 years with special emphasis in preventive medicine and women’s health.

She has also shared her knowledge of nutrition, weight management, exercise, and healthy lifestyle on stage, radio, and television for many years.

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Dr. Stephen Chaney

Dr. Stephen Chaney PhD is a best-selling author and has taught human metabolism and nutrition to first-year medical and dental students for 40 years and ran an active cancer research program for 37 years.

He has published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and is a highly sought-after speaker on the topic of holistic approaches to health.

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Debbie Miller

Debbie Miller is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York and is a Graduate of the Functional Nutrition Digestive Intensive through Andrea Nakayama’s Functional Nutrition Lab. Debbie specializes in functional gut health using natural nutrition.

Debbie is excited to announce that she has just completed Harvard Medical School’s Executive Education Course: "Health & Wellness – Designing a Sustainable Nutrition Plan." The course focused on five main areas:

1. Using the five-step collaborative process to motivate and empower clients to adopt and sustain healthy patterns.


2. The importance of the 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine, and their interconnectedness.


3. Implementing behavioral change with a focus on the client's joyful journey as they sustain healthy practices throughout life stages.


4. Instilling a growth mindset, self-compassion, and internal motivators.


5. Applying evidence-based guidelines for healthy eating patterns; and communicating why certain foods promote good health.

Dr. George Wootan M.D.

Dr. George Wootan is a Family Physician specializing in Functional Medicine, which focuses on restoring the patient's health by looking at the cellular function rather than symptoms.