Shari Youngblood
Shari
Youngblood
Assistant Professor
Campus:
- College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences
- Department
- Integrative and Functional Nutrition
- Institution
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Saybrook University
- Biography
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Dr. Shari M. Youngblood is an Assistant Professor and Core Faculty Member in the Department of Integrative & Functional Nutrition at Saybrook University, where she teaches in the MS and PhD programs, mentors doctoral research, and serves on numerous dissertation committees. A board-certified and licensed clinical nutritionist, Dr. Youngblood is a clinical researcher whose work bridges nutrition science and oncology care, with a particular focus on integrating food-as-medicine interventions into oncology and hematology clinical trials.
Her research centers on developing and testing therapeutic nutrition strategies that improve treatment tolerance, reduce cancer-related fatigue, and enhance survivorship outcomes. A key priority in her work is expanding access and equity-designing interventions that are both scientifically rigorous and practically achievable for underserved populations. She is particularly interested in digital health and app-based delivery models that allow patients to participate in research and receive evidence-based nutrition therapy remotely, reducing the need for travel to large medical centers and helping patients maintain continuity of care through and beyond treatment.
Highly trained in both ketogenic metabolic therapy and time-restricted eating (TRE), Dr. Youngblood explores their potential role within oncology and hematology settings as part of her broader investigation into metabolic and nutritional strategies that support treatment response and recovery.
In addition to her academic role, Dr. Youngblood serves as the Lead Clinical Nutritionist at Balance Point Wellness, where she provides therapeutic nutrition care for individuals with mental health and complex chronic illness. Her interdisciplinary background spans integrative and functional nutrition, culinary medicine, and the social dimensions of food and health. Having lived for more than two decades in Mediterranean France, she brings a deep appreciation for Mediterranean food culture and the role of shared meals in wellness and recovery.
Dr. Youngblood currently serves as Associate Editor-in-Chief for Cancer Management and Research (Taylor & Francis/Dove Medical Press) and as an Ad Hoc Reviewer for Supportive Care in Cancer (Springer Nature), JMIR Research Protocols, and the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR Publications). Through these roles, she helps advance rigorous, interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of oncology, nutrition, and clinical innovation.
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Courses Taught:
- IFN 5670: Foundations of Integrative & Functional Nutrition
- IFN 5705: The Psychobiology of Eating
- IFN 5687: Capstone Seminar in Integrative & Functional Nutrition
- IFN 5900: Integrative Approaches to Chronic Disease
- IFN 8100: Independent Study in Nutrition
- IFN 5661: Nutritional Foundations of Mental Health
- Areas of Expertise
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Area Expertise Clinical Psychology / Mental Health Integrative Mental Health Health Psychology Health and Wellness Military Psychology Militarily-relevant, Objective Resilience Competency Assessment Tools Nutritional Science Clinical Nutrition Community Nutrition Integrative Nutrition Therapeutic Diets Research Design/Methodology Case Study Narrative Inquiry Qualitative Inquiry - Education History
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Degree Institution DCN, Doctor of Clinical Nutrition Maryland University of Integrative Health MA, Sociology (Health & Aging) University of Florida BA, Anthropology (Culture & Medicine) University of Florida - Professional Memberships
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Role Organization Member American Nutrition Association (ANA) Member Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) Member Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4US) Member Society of Clinical Research Associates Member Maryland Nutrition Association - Licenses
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Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, LDN No. DX5551, Maryland Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, LDN No. 164008579, Illinois Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, LDN No. DN008756, Pennsylvania Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, LDN No. DN-0011287, Delaware Certified Nutrition Specialist, CNS No. 17992, National Board Certification - Community Involvement
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Role Organization Culinary Educator Kuhn Hall Teaching Kitchen, Fort Meade, Maryland Member President’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council (JEDI) Member Research Mentorship Subcommittee, Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4US) Speaker Baltimore Creative Alliance, Culinary Medicine, "Art to Dine For" Series - Publications
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Journal Chung, K. H., Youngblood, S. M.,* Clingan, C. M., Deighton, D. C., Jump, V. A., Manuweera, T., McGeorge, N. M., Renn, C. L., Rosenblatt, P. Y., Winder, A. T., Zhu, S., Kleckner, I. R., & Kleckner, A. S. (2024). Digitizing survivorship care plans through the POST-Treatment Health Outcomes of Cancer Survivors (POSTHOC) Mobile App: Protocol for a Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Research Protocols, , DOI: 10.2196/59222 (*co-first authorship).
Harvey, B. I., Youngblood, S. M., & Kleckner, A. S. (2023). Barriers and facilitators to adherence to a Mediterranean diet intervention during chemotherapy treatment: A qualitative analysis. Nutrition and Cancer, 75 (5), 1349-1360, DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2023.2192891.
Kleckner, A. S., Peppone, L., Youngblood, S., & Reschke, J. (2022). Development of a remote Mediterranean diet intervention for patients with cancer during chemotherapy treatment: A mixed methods analysis. Current Developments in Nutrition, 6 , 245-245, DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzac052.012.
Kleckner, A., Reschke, J., Cherubin, L., Youngblood, S., & Peppone, L. (2022). Development of a remote Mediterranean diet intervention during chemotherapy treatment: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 40 (16),
Kleckner, A., Clingan, C., Youngblood, S., Kleckner, I., Quick, L., Elrod, R., Zhu, S., Manoogian, E., Panda, S., Badros, A., & Emadi, A. (2025). Time-restricted eating to address persistent cancer-related fatigue among cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.. Supportive Care in Cancer, 33 (353),
Other Kleckner, A. S., Reschke, J. E., Cherubin, L., Youngblood, S. M., Peppone, L. J. (2022). Development of a remote Mediterranean diet intervention during chemotherapy treatment: A qualitative analysis. American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. (Accepted Abstract). doi:no. e24033
- Professional Skills
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Culinary Coaching, ServSafe