Presenters

Benjamin Bikman PhD

Benjamin Bikman earned his Ph.D. in Bioenergetics and was a postdoctoral fellow with the Duke-National University of Singapore in metabolic disorders. Currently, his professional focus as a scientist and associate professor (Brigham Young University) is to better understand the role of elevated insulin in regulating obesity and diabetes, including the relevance of ketones in mitochondrial function. He is an international expert in insulin-related molecular processes and insulin resistance. He is the author of “Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It” published in July 2020. The forward is written by Jason Fung MD, nephrologist and published researcher in intermittent fasting and low-carbohydrate diets in diabetes treatment: “I met Dr. Bickman when we were both presenting at an international nutrition conference. I was discussing the clinical benefits of intermittent fasting on obesity and type 2 diabetes, both primarily diseases of hyperinsulinemia. Ben was presenting the molecular processes underlying insulin and it’s influence on health and disease. What I was seeing clinically, he was studying scientifically in his lab and I was impressed with how he explained many of the metabolic benefits I was seeing in my patients.”

Rob Brown MD

Rob Brown offers a blended perspective of healthcare, one that derives from his conventional career as an allopathic physician combined with a deep rooted passion for wellness and spiritual exploration. After graduating from Brown University, Dr. Brown’s medical education began at the University of Miami School of Medicine, in Miami, Florida. Following, he completed a diagnostic radiology residency training program in Pittsburgh, PA. After an experiential year of world travel, he completed fellowship training at the University of California, San Diego in musculoskeletal radiology. As a diagnostic radiologist, Dr. Brown has worked in both private practice and academic centers, including NYU Medical Center and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Over the span of his 30 year career, he has authored many peer reviewed publications and several book chapters in the radiology literature. Interestingly, one of his first papers was to prove the safety of injecting a mixture of the rare earth metal gadolinium with iodine contrast before MRI imaging to evaluate a joint. Having participated in the training of radiology residents and medical students over many years, Dr. Brown has been able to teach the importance for developing medical intuition as well as perfecting a diagnostic skill set. Dr. Brown’s work and varied life experiences, including surviving a diagnosis of malignant melanoma, have brought him to an understanding that wellness is optimally achieved by allowing the body to heal, rather than manipulating it with medication and procedures. He firmly believes that removing biochemical and electromagnetic toxins, particularly from the home environment can have a profound impact on one’s health. Dr. Brown emphasizes in his book “Toxic Home/Conscious Home: A Mindful Approach to Wellness at Home” that creating an environmental sanctuary at home for the body to rest and heal is essential to maintain optimal wellness.

Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABIHM, ABoIM, IFMCP

Dr. Carnahan completed her residency at the University of Illinois Program in Family Medicine at Methodist Medical Center. In 2006 she was voted by faculty to receive the Resident Teacher of the Year award and elected to Central Illinois 40 Leaders Under 40. She received her medical degree from Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago in 2003 and her Bachelor of Science degree in Bio-Engineering at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana in 1998. She was board-certified in Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM) in 2005 and in Family Medicine (ABFM) in 2006 through 2016.

Dr. Jill was also part of the first 100+ health-care practitioners to be certified in Functional Medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFMCP). Following residency Dr. Carnahan’s vision for health and healing resulted in the creation of Methodist Center for Integrative Medicine in Peoria, IL where she served as the Medical Director for 4 years. In 2010, she founded Flatiron Functional Medicine in Boulder, Colorado where she has a widely sought after medical clinic with a broad range of service including medical and nutritional consultations, and massage therapy.

Dr. Jill has overcome both breast cancer and Crohn’s disease and passionate about teaching patients how to “live well” and thrive in the midst of complex and chronic illness. She is also passionate about teaching other physicians how to address underlying cause of illness rather than just treating symptoms through the principles of functional medicine. She is a prolific writer, speaker, and loves to inspire others with her passion for health and healing!

Anne Marie Fine NMD

Dr. Anne Marie Fine, NMD is a practicing doctor, award-winning researcher, internationally recognized speaker, and bestselling author. She currently serves as the Vice-President of the National Association of Environmental Medicine, and Founding Director of Environmental Medicine Education International, teaching global healthcare providers this emerging specialty. As well, she is a member of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine and a Science Advisor for the non-profit MadeSafe which is a certifying body for non-toxic products. Dr. Fine speaks and consults globally within the personal care product industry and guides companies to formulate with cleaner ingredients. Dr. Fine has been published in numerous peer-reviewed medical journals, Thrive Global, and popular magazines alike. She is featured regularly on health podcasts, radio and T.V. shows. Dr. Fine is also the international bestselling author of “Cracking the Beauty Code: How to program your DNA for health, vitality, and younger-looking skin.” a book that synthesizes her knowledge of skin aging, gene-environment interactions/epigenetics, and environmental medicine.

Boyd Haley PhD

Dr. Haley received his BS in Chemistry/Physics from Franklin College of Indiana in 1963. From 1964 to 66 he served as a medic in the U.S. Army. He obtained his M.S. in Chemistry at the University of Idaho (1967) and his Ph.D. in Chemistry/Biochemistry at Washington State University (1971). He was an NIH Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Physiology, Yale University Medical School from 1971 to 1974. His first academic appointment was at the University of Wyoming in 1974 where he was promoted to full professor in 1983. In 1985 he was hired by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center with academic appointments as professor in the College of Pharmacy in the Division of Medicinal Chemistry and in the Department of Biochemistry. He was appointed to be Chair and Professor of Chemistry/Biochemistry in the Department of Chemistry from 1996 to 2005. Dr. Haley had funding from NIH from 1974 through 2007 to develop numerous componds useful for diagnostics involving photoaffinity labeling. He retired from the University of Kentucky in July 2008. He has lectured throughout the world and testified before Congressional committees and the Institute of Medicine regarding various aspects of mercury toxicity and neurological diseases.

Dr. Haley gave a seminar at a DAN (Defeat Autism Now) conference in 1999 and subsequently testified before Congress and two National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine Committee meetings in 2000 and 2004 regarding his hypothesis that thimerosal (the mercury containing vaccine preservative) was a likely factor in the exacerbation of the apparent autism increase in 1990s. Recently he has addressed the fact that oxidative stress is a common occurrence in many diseases and has addressed the associated, low glutathione levels in people with oxidative stress as a major risk factor for many viral infections including influenza, HIV and COVID19 infections.

To medically address the issue of oxidative stress Dr. Haley formed EmeraMed a small drug development company dedicated to developing a hydrophobic, non-toxic drug, emeramide, which has both exceptionally tight toxic metal chelation properties and hydroxyl free radical elimination properties. These properties make emeramide a very good treatment for several illnesses that have oxidative stress as a symptom. The chemical properties of emeramide make it capable of crossing all biomembranes allowing it to enter the cytoplasm of all cells of all tissues and allows it to cross the blood brain barrier to chelate toxic metals in central nervous system tissues. EmeraMed has filed the drug emeramide with the USA FDA an IND (investigational new drug) application and is now finishing the final FDA recommended and required studies to be able to submit a NDA (new drug application) in 2020 for its orphan drug designation for mercury toxicity.

Judy Hinojosa ND

Dr. Judy Hinojosa, is a naturopathic medical doctor, the lead physician and owner of Vitality Wellness Clinic, an environmentally-friendly state of the art Wellness Center in Chandler, Arizona. She has been practicing medicine for the past 13 years. Prior to medical school, Dr. Judy completed her Degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies. She graduated from SCNM in 2008. As a licensed general family practitioner, Dr. Hinojosa optimally integrates the best features of integrative medicine with naturopathic medicine to treat each patient individually. She specializes in the areas of women’s health, chronic immune disorders (Lyme Disease, Auto-Immune Disease, Mold and Heavy Metal Toxicity), hormone balancing and environmental medicine. She has received extensive training in Environmental Medicine and Lyme Disease.

Her passion lies in finding the root cause of her patients’ illnesses, using cutting edge science-based testing to successfully craft individualized treatment plans for her patients. While running a busy practice, Dr. Hinojosa is passionate about teaching and sharing her knowledge with the public. Dr. Hinojosa was a featured speaker in the Broken Brain Docuseries and Sleep Master Class with Dr. Mark Hyman. She has done public speaking and held women’s wellness retreats over the past few years. She was a speaker at the Feel Good Summit, A-Fest and at 1440 Multiversity. She speaks on the topics of environmental medicine and women’s health.

Dr. Hinojosa combines her formal medical training and clinical experience with her expanded intuition to help align the body. Is her belief that addressing the energetic component of disease and the body is essential to fully complete the healing process.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. serves as President of Waterkeeper Alliance, as well as Founder, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Legal Counsel for Children’s Health Defense, and of counsel to Morgan & Morgan, a nationwide personal injury practice. Mr. Kennedy is an esteemed author, with a long list of published books including the New York Times’ bestseller, “Crimes Against Nature.” Mr. Kennedy was named one of Time magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” for his success helping Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. His reputation as a resolute defender of the environment and children’s health stems from a litany of successful legal actions. He received recognition for his role in the landmark victory against Monsanto last year, as well as in the DuPont Case that inspired the movie "Dark Waters" (2019).

Paul Lam MD

Dr. Paul Kwun Lai Lam is a pediatrician with a private practice in Hong Kong. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh), Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Fellow of the International Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology and the American College of the Advancement of Medicine. He has presented papers about adverse effects of environmental pollutants on human health and possible management to restore health at numerous international medical conferences. His recent article in the Townsend Letter entitled “Spectrum of Ill Health in Infants and Children from Environmental Pollution” outlines his identification and treatment of a clear toxic metal burden in infants and children leading to serious illness and the use of EDTA IV, DMSA rectally, and IV nutrients to treat and reverse these conditions.

Tom Malterre MS

Tom Malterre is a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and is Faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine. He holds both a Bachelors and Masters degree in nutritional sciences from Bastyr University and is a past Medical Affairs team member at Thorne Research. Tom has lectured across North America on various functional medicine and nutritional biochemistry topics, has trained Functional Medicine practitioners onsite at clinics and universities,  and currently offers online educational programs at  www.WholeLifeNutrition.net. Tom is a best-selling author of The Elimination Diet and has been in clinical practice in Bellingham, Washington for the last 15 years. In his free time, Tom loves to hike, climb, skateboard, snowboard, and wild-harvest herbs with his children.

Rob Metzinger EET BBEC EMRS

Rob Metzinger, EET, BBEC, EMRS, President, Safe Living Technologies, Inc. Rob Metzinger is by trade, an Electronics Engineering Technologist. He is also a BBI, certified Building Biology Environmental Consultant and a certified Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist. Rob has applied his 18 years of experience in the field of Electromagnetic Radiation and is passing on his knowledge as an instructor at the Building Biology Institute USA since 2008.

Rob is currently the President of Safe Living Technologies Inc. and is a factory certified Gigahertz Solutions Test Equipment Technician and Instructor. Safe Living Technologies is now designing and manufacturing their own brand of RF meters called the Safe and Sound RF Meter line. To contact Rob, please visit his website at www.SafeLivingTechnologies.com

Judy Mikovits PhD

Dr Mikovits  earned  a BA in Chemistry from University of Virginia in 1980 and a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from George Washington University in 1992. In her forty-year quest to understand the causes, prevent and treat chronic diseases, she has co-authored seminal papers culminating at least a decade of research in each of four fields: immunology, natural products chemistry, epigenetics, and HIV/AIDs drug development. Dr Mikovits has co-authored more than 50 peer reviewed publications and book chapters; holds patent # WO 2012061790 A1. “Combination Therapy for Prostate Cancer using Botanical Compositions and Bicalutamide” and co-authored the books, Plague and Plague of Corruption and The Case Against the Masks. The formation of M.A.R.C. Inc. in 2016 with colleague, Dr. Frank Ruscetti, has afforded Dr. Mikovits the opportunity to come full-circle back to her first love, natural products chemistry. In 2020 MARC Inc evolved to become Dr J solutions a consulting company focused not only on education but on providing solutions for prevention and treatment auto immune/auto-inflammatory diseases resulting from viral infection, drugs and environmental toxins. Her heart and passion is to focus on natural products chemistry and plant based drug therapies. Its current focus is on medical cannabis with breakthroughs in understanding of the pathophysiology of neuroimmune diseases as acquired endocannabinoid immune dysfunction (AEIDS).

Bob Miller CTN

Bob Miller is the founder and president of Functional Genomic Analysis, an online software program that organizes and analyzes genetic SNPs for functional health professionals. Bob is a Traditional Naturopath specializing in the field of genetic-specific nutrition. For the past several years, he has been engaged exclusively with functional nutritional genetic variants and related research, specializing in nutritional support for those with chronic Lyme disease. Bob lectures nationally and internationally at seminars to educate health care practitioners about genetic variants and nutritional supplementation for achieving optimal health. To support his growing genetic research efforts, in 2015, Bob founded the NutriGenetic Research Institute to research the relationship between genetic variants and presenting symptoms. Bob has created 72 nutritional supplement products exclusively for health professionals. The products he formulated are based upon his genetic research and are designed to support function that may be impaired by genetic weakness.

Neil Nathan MD

Neil Nathan MD has been practicing medicine for 46 years, and has been Board Certified in Family Practice and Pain Management and is a Founding Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. With Dr. Rich van Konynenburg he did the ground-breaking clinical research which demonstrated the importance of methylation chemistry in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and he has recently completed a study with Dr. Robert Naviaux on the metabolomics of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He has written several books, including Healing is Possible: New Hope for Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Persistent Pain, and Other Chronic Illnesses and On Hope and Healing: For Those Who Have Fallen Through the Medical Cracks. He has hosted an internationally syndicated radio program/podcast on Voice America called The Cutting Edge of Health and Wellness Today. He has been working to bring an awareness that mold toxicity is a major contributing factor for patients with chronic illness and lectures internationally on this subject which led to the publication of his book, Mold, and Mycotoxins: Current Evaluation and Treatment, followed in 2018 with his book Toxic: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness.

Dr. Nathan has been treating chronic complex medical illnesses for over 25 years and Lyme disease for the past 15 years. As his practice has evolved, he finds himself increasingly treating the patients who have become so sensitive and toxic that they can no longer tolerate their usual treatments, and his major current interest is in finding unique ways of helping them to recover. The recent findings that mast cell activation and porphyria are more common than has been appreciated by the medical profession are of particular importance in this regard. His current medical practice is the Redwood Valley Clinic in Northern California.

Ana Navas-Acien MD PhD

Ana Navas-Acien is a physician-epidemiologist (MD, University of Granada, Spain '96) with a specialty in Preventive Medicine and Public Health (Hospital La Paz, Madrid '01) and a PhD in Epidemiology (Johns Hopkins University '05). Her research investigates the long-term health effects of environmental exposures (arsenic and other metals, tobacco smoke, e-cigarettes, air pollution), their interactions with genetic and epigenetic variants, and effective interventions for reducing involuntary exposures. She collaborates with major cohort studies such as the Strong Heart Study, a study of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in American Indian communities, and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a study of cardiovascular, metabolic and lung disease in urban settings across the US. Both in the US and internationally, she evaluates exposure to tobacco smoke including emerging public health challenges such as waterpipe smoking and e-cigarettes. Her goals are to contribute to the reduction of environmental health disparities in underserved and disproportionately exposed populations.

Lyn Patrick ND

Lyn Patrick ND graduated from Bastyr University in 1984 with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine and has been in private practice as a state licensed naturopathic physician in Arizona and Colorado for 35 years. She is a published author of numerous articles in peer-reviewed medical journals, a past Contributing Editor for the former Medline-indexed Alternative Medicine Review journal, and recently authored a chapter in the newly released textbook Clinical Environmental Medicine (Elsevier 2019). She speaks internationally on environmental medicine, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, endocrine disruption, metal toxicology and other topics. She is currently Faculty for the Metabolic Medicine Institute Fellowship in collaboration with George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is also a founding partner and presenter at the Environmental Health Symposium, an annual international environmental medicine conference based in the United States. She is continuing to educate primary care providers through the EMEI (Environmental Medicine Education International) Environmental Medicine Training Course and EMEI Review podcasts. In her spare time she enjoys biking, hiking and kayaking the mountains, lakes, and rivers of southwestern Colorado.

Lawrence B. Palevsky MD

Dr. Palevsky is a NYS licensed pediatrician, who utilizes a holistic approach to children’s wellness and illness. Dr. Palevsky received his medical degree from the NYU School of Medicine in 1987, completed a three-year pediatric residency at The Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC in 1990, and served as a pediatric fellow in the ambulatory care out-patient department at Bellevue Hospital, NYC, from 1990-1991. Since 1991, his clinical experience includes working in pediatric emergency and intensive care medicine, in-patient, and out-patient pediatric medicine, neonatal intensive care medicine, newborn and delivery room medicine, and conventional, holistic and integrative pediatric private practice. Dr. Palevsky is a diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine, and Past–President of the American Holistic Medical Association. He received his pediatric board certification in 1990, and passed his pediatric board recertification exams in 1997, 2004, and 2011.

In his current pediatric practice, Dr. Palevsky offers well-child examinations, consultations and educational programs to families and practitioners in the areas of preventive and holistic health; childhood development; lifestyle changes; nutrition for adults, infants and children; safe, alternative treatments for common and difficult to treat acute and chronic pediatric and adult conditions; vaccination controversies; mindful parenting; and rethinking the medical paradigm. Additionally, he teaches holistic integrative pediatric & adolescent medicine to parents, and medical and allied health professionals, both nationally & internationally, and is available for speaking engagements worldwide.

For more information, or to contact Dr. Palevsky, please visit www.drpalevsky.com

Richard Semelka MD

Dr Richard Semelka has written 350+ peer-reviewed articles in medical journals and 17 textbooks, including Health Care Reform in Radiology.

He has been one of the most accomplished authors on safety in Radiology, especially regarding medical radiation, patient information, overuse of imaging, NSF, and most recently Gadolinium Deposition Disease.

He has been Director of MR services (Dec 1992- Jan 2017) and vice Chair of Quality and Safety (Dec 1, 2007 – Jan 2017) at the Universityof North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Presently he focuses on consulting and treating patients with Gadolinium Deposition DIsease at the IntegrativeMedical Clinic of North Carolina.

Christopher Shaw PhD

Dr. Christopher Shaw is a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of British Columbia, and holds cross appointments with the Department of Experimental Medicine and the Graduate Program in Neuroscience. He is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed articles as well as numerous book chapters and special reviews. Shaw has edited four books on neuroscience themes. The main focus of his research has been on the Guamanian neurological disease spectrum, ALS-parkinsonism dementia complex (ALS-PDC). Recent work in the laboratory has developed animal models of the disease that are able to recapitulate all the essential behavioural and pathological features. The model is also being used to understand gene-toxin interactions, define neurodegeneration pathways involved, and to attempt therapeutic interventions at early, mid and late time points. Work in the laboratory also provided one of the first models of aluminum adjuvant-induced neuropathology and these studies have become a new research direction. He is the founder and a former director of Neurodyn, a biotechnology company based out of Prince Edward Island. Neurodyn’s efforts are directed at early phase detection and treatment for age-related neurological disorders. Dr. Shaw is also on the scientific advisory board of Children’s Medical Safety Research Institute.

Jocelyn Strand ND

Jocelyn Strand ND graduated from Bastyr University in 2005 with a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine.Following graduation, she spent time practicing in the Seattle area, where she worked at Pharmaca–Integrative Pharmacy, as a primary care doctor, in a gastrointestinal clinic, and alongside a rheumatologist. She returned to Minnesota in 2008, with the vision of increasing the availability, affordability, and awareness of Naturopathic Medicine. Since then, she has had additional training in amino acid therapy for myriad conditions and works as a clinical consultantfor Bio-Botanical Research. Dr. Strand is registered as a Primary Care Provider through the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice.

Scott Tips JD

Scott Tips attended UCLA as an undergraduate major in History, where he obtained his B.A. degree, Magna Cum Laude, followed quickly by a year at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.Returning to the United States, he then studied law at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall). At Boalt Hall, he was accepted onto theCalifornia Law Review, where he became its Managing Editor and helped to bring that journal back on schedule. After three years of study, Scott obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from Boalt Hall and then quickly took and passed the California Bar Exam.

A California-licensed attorney, he has specialized in food-and-drug law and trademark law, but also engages in business litigation, general business law, and nonprofit organizations, with an international clientele. Since 1989, Scott has been a board member of theNational Health Federation, the World’s oldest health-freedom organization for consumers, as well as the Editor In Chief of its magazine,Health Freedom News. In 2007, he became NHF President, and has been a frequent speaker for the organization and for health freedom on several continents and through many radio and other programs.

A legal columnist, Scott writes a monthly column forWhole Foods Magazinecalled “Legal Tips,”a column he started several decades ago. Currently, he is primarily occupied with health-freedom issues arising from national governments’ and such international organizations as the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s attempts to limit individual freedom of choice in health matters. In that capacity, he has compiled, edited, and published a book on the subject entitledCodex Alimentarius –Global Food Imperialism. He also attends Codex meetings worldwide and has attended more Codex meetings than all other health-freedom activists combined.