Dr. Stephen Phinney is a pioneer physician-scientist and world-renowned leader in the science of nutritional ketosis. He has spent 5 decades studying human energy metabolism, diet, exercise, fatty acids, and inflammation with groundbreaking research that has fundamentally shaped our understanding of low carbohydrate nutrition in the context of health and performance.
Steve received his MD from Stanford University, PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from MIT, and did post-doctoral training at the University of Vermont and at Harvard. He then went on to hold academic positions at the Universities of Vermont, Minnesota, and California at Davis, where he achieved the rank of full professor. His research has largely focused on the physiological adaptations to carbohydrate restriction and the therapeutic applications of a well-formulated ketogenic diet.  Although his initial papers on this topic in 1980 and 1983 were viewed with skepticism, he is more recently credited with shedding light on the physiology of nutritional ketosis and the process of keto-adaptation as powerful tools in health, disease, and athletic endeavors.
In the process, Steve has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and 4 books, including “The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living” and “The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance”. Over a decade later, these two books, co-authored with Dr. Jeff Volek, continue to be fundamental resources used by healthcare providers, researchers and the educated layperson.   These two books value in the academic sphere is highlighted by the fact that both qualify as ‘highly cited’ (i.e., more than 100 citations) in the medical literature.
As an internal medicine physician and laboratory scientist, Steve’s career has been dedicated equally to innovation and demonstrating the integration of his research into clinical and individual practice. He co-founded of Virta Health in 2014, serving initially as founding Chief Medical Officer and subsequently as Chief Innovation Officer, highlighting Steve’s commitment to creative and sustainable solutions to address metabolic health challenges.
When not scouring the scientific literature, advising scientists and clinicians, or generating his next innovative hypothesis, Steve enjoys biking, skiing, organic vegetable gardening, cooking, and spending quality time with his wonderful wife and two adult children.
A list of books, peer-reviewed publications, and conference presentations is available on Google Scholar–Phinney SD.