Plant-Based U.P., formerly Plant-Based Marquette, improves the health and wellbeing of residents in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula by sharing the transformative power of whole food, plant-based nutrition.

Plant-Based U.P. got its start in the fall of 2022 as an initiative spearheaded by Skandia resident, Natasha Lantz, and Marquette physicians, Ryan Brang, MD and Katrina Brang, MD of Northcountry Health, and Evan Loukusa, MD. After a highly successful community event in January of 2023 and a follow up support session, the four of us found ourselves engrossed in work and family life, leaving little room for community outreach.

Late in 2024, Dr. Loukusa introduced Natasha to a new colleague, Maureen Bodenbach, PA-C, MSH, DipACLM. During an initial conversation between Maureen and Natasha, they discovered that Maureen is a graduate of the Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate Program offered by the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies where Natasha serves as the director of operations and communities.

In late spring of 2025, the universe conspired to bring the five of us together to continue the work that started in 2022. In order to be more inclusive, the name of our initiative became Plant-Based U.P.