The Harbor Entrepreneur Center hosts Functional Health and the Workplace on October 13
October 8, 2026
Free program with Tikvah Health and Wellness features Professor Thomas Seyfried and panels on employee health and mental well-being
The Harbor Entrepreneur Center, in partnership with Tikvah Health and Wellness, will host “Functional Health & The Workplace” on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m. at 11 eWall Street in Mount Pleasant. General admission is free. The program brings together business leaders, healthcare professionals, and innovators to explore employee health, workplace benefits, and well-being approaches.
Featured keynote speaker Professor Thomas Seyfried will present “Metabolism, Chronic Disease & a Different Way of Thinking About Health.” His presentation will explore the relationship between metabolism and chronic disease, as well as perspectives on prevention, treatment, and long-term health.
“From Sick Care to Health Care: Functional Health in the Workplace” will examine employers’ healthcare challenges, gaps in traditional benefits, and how functional health might complement existing healthcare strategies. Dr. Patrick Lovegrove, functional medicine physician and founder of Merge Medical, will moderate. Panelists include Melanie Parrish of Strategic People Services; Dan Poch, former benefits leader and founder of AlestaCare; and functional medicine practitioner Melissa Altman.
“Rethinking Mental Health: The Whole-Person Approach” will explore how stress, sleep, nutrition, physical health, and other factors fit into a broader conversation about mental well-being. Functional medicine practitioner Kristin Cunningham will moderate a panel featuring Jeff Luther – EO Charleston President, Podcast Host of “All Can, No Can’t”; Dr. Maia Gill, clinical director of Gnosis Wellness Collective; and Kelly Hyland, director of psychosocial oncology research within MUSC’s Survivorship and Cancer Outcomes Research program.
The Harbor Entrepreneur Center, along with Tikvah Health and Wellness, invites employers and community members to consider what workplace health initiatives could look like in practice. Discussions will bring together perspectives from human resources, employee benefits, clinical care, and research, with an emphasis on how employers and communities can support employee well-being.
Free general admission includes access to the full program and all main activities. For event details and registration, visit https://bit.ly/hechealth
About The Harbor Entrepreneur Center
The Harbor Entrepreneur Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering and advancing the Lowcountry’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since its founding in 2013, The Harbor has supported more than 200 companies through its innovative programs, providing mentorship, education, and resources to help entrepreneurs scale their
businesses. More than 100 companies are housed within the nonprofit’s main facility in the Town of Mount Pleasant, creating a dynamic regional hub for innovation and collaboration. By cultivating a thriving startup community, The Harbor plays a vital role in driving economic growth and innovation locally and beyond. Learn more by visiting harborec.org.
