My research develops and tests integrative, food-as-medicine approaches to improve cancer prevention and survivorship outcomes for patients and their families. Illustrations of my work include culinary medicine programs, medically tailored meals, caregiver coaching and mind-body wellness interventions to support treatment tolerance, dietary quality and psychosocial well-being among diverse cancer populations and their caregivers. Current projects include family-centered culinary medicine programs in pediatric oncology, medically tailored meal and coaching interventions for families undergoing active cancer treatment and culturally tailored survivorship programs for Hispanic and Chinese communities.

A central focus of my work is the health and well-being of family caregivers, who play a critical yet often overlooked role in the cancer care continuum. Using mixed methods and community-based participatory approaches, I identify caregivers’ nutrition- and health-related needs and design practical, skills-based interventions that strengthen both caregiver self-care and patient support.

In parallel, my research examines how interactions with natural and community environments influence dietary behaviors and health. By studying nature exposure, community gardens and neighborhood food environments, I identify environmental pathways that promote dietary diversity, sustainable eating and overall well-being.

Across my program of research, I collaborate with clinicians, chefs, behavioral scientists and community organizations to bridge clinical and community settings and translate evidence into scalable, real-world programs. As an educator and mentor, I am passionate about training the next generation of nutrition scientists through experiential, interdisciplinary learning that integrates research, culinary practice and community partnership. In my professional service, I work to advance integrative oncology and nature-informed approaches to health through interdisciplinary collaboration, curriculum and program development, and contributions to initiatives such as the Nature and Health Alliance that strengthen connections between clinical care, community health and the natural environment.

Professional Society

Society for Integrative Oncology
Nature and Health Alliance

Selected Publications

Stott, D., Bruneau, M., Deutsch, J. M., Ippolito, R., Forde, D., Vitolins, M. Z., Nasser, J. A., & Milliron, B. J. (2026). The connections among interactions with nature, diet quality, and sustainable eating: Insights from a mixed methods study. Social Science & Medicine, 393, 119104.

Milliron, B. J., Mountain, P., Salman, K., Longo, G., Schlechter, H., Deutsch, J. M., & Jubelirer, T. (2025). “Let’s cook together” culinary medicine series: Protocol for a mixed methods feasibility study to improve pediatric cancer patient and caregiver outcomes through nutrition and culinary support. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 11, 120.

Milliron, B. J., Zegans, M., & Deutsch, J. (2025). Toward an eco-biopsychosocial framework for understanding food, nutrition and health: The crucial role of food studies and food systems. Nutrition and Health.

Milliron, B. J., Klobodu, C., Deutsch, J. M., Martyn, K., Dychtwald, D., Riahi, E., Carro, S., Hisek, T., Darcy, N., & Klassen, A. C. (2023). “Keep your chin up, and keep eating”: Perceptions of barriers and facilitators to healthful dietary behaviors among individuals with gastrointestinal cancer and caregivers. Cancer Control.

Milliron, B. J., Klobodu, C., Gunen, B., Bahruddinov, M., & Klassen, A. C. (2023). Household and nutrition-related characteristics associated with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices in Tajikistan. Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 18(4), 485–502.

Grant participation:

Caregiver’s Kitchen: Integrating culinary medicine into pediatric oncology care. (PI: Milliron). Children’s Cancer Research Fund, 2026-2028.

Chinese Wellness Culinary Circle (CWCC): A mind–body–culinary medicine approach to support healthy cancer survivorship. (mPI: Milliron & Sifat). Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center CRiC Pilot Funding Initiative, 2025-2026.

From Kitchen to Clinic: A family-centered, food-as-medicine approach using medically tailored meals and caregiver coaching in pediatric oncology care. (mPI: Milliron & Jubelirer). MANNA, 2026-2028.

SALUD: Supporting Access, Literacy, and Understanding for Disease & Cancer Prevention. (PI: Canete; Role: Milliron, Cancer Research Collaborator). Philadelphia Communities Conquering Cancer (PC3), 2025-2026.

Efficacy of a multi-level intervention designed to promote adherence to WCRF/AICR dietary guidelines for cancer prevention. (PI: Butryn; Role: Co-Investigator). NIH/NCI, 2025-2030.

Piloting a patient navigator program to facilitate uptake and persistence with evidence-based weight loss interventions. (PI: Butryn; Role: Co-Investigator). NIH/NCI, 2025-2027.

Culinary Home Empowerment for Food Waste Prevention and Minimization (CHEF-WPM). (mPI: Milliron & Deutsch). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2023-2025.

Sharing digital self-monitoring data with others to enhance long-term weight loss: A randomized trial using a factorial design. (PI: Butryn; Role: Co-Investigator). NIH/NIDDK, 2021-2026.

Research Interests

Cancer survivorship, nutrition, caregiver health, cancer prevention, global nutrition, maternal and child health, nutrition environment

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Wake Forest School of Medicine, 2010-13, Postdoctoral Research Fellowship,
Cancer Prevention & Control, National Cancer Institute (R25 CA122061-05)

Arizona State University, 2007-10, PhD, Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness

Arizona State University, 2003-05, MS, Human Nutrition

University of Colorado at Boulder, 1998-2001, BS, Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology