Dr. Maurice Werness:
Strategies for addressing the epidemic of Chronic Disease, based on the dietary habits of the world’s healthiest people.

We spend close to 2.5 trillion dollars a year in treating chronic disease in this country and yet 75% of Americans will still die from these diseases. There are places in the world called Longevity Hot Spots (LHS) where the individuals there live with almost no chronic disease and have a 300% better chance of reaching 100 years of age than we do. We developed a lifestyle education system based on the habits of the world's healthiest people engaging over 30,000 individuals across the country. This lifestyle education system incorporated LHS habits of nutrition, movement, relaxation, community and purpose and had profound effects on prevention and reversal of chronic disease. We will look at specific case studies of application of these wellness principles and the reversal of chronic disease and the profound effects of these practices on the mind/body of human kind. There will also be a review of current research on chronic disease reversal via lifestyle change. This program could serve as an ideal model for a giant movement within the naturopathic community centered in the sphere of Public Health.

Bio:
In his 20 years of practice as a Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Werness has seen time after time how we can reverse illness by accessing the body’s natural capacity to heal through natural medicines including: clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, mind-body connections, and physical medical therapies. By focusing on health, disease is mitigated. After graduating from Bastyr University as a Naturopathic Doctor in 1992, Dr. Werness began his career in natural medicine, in Seattle, Washington. A few years later he moved back east and has worked in private and collaborative practices in North Carolina since 1997. He served as President of the Institute for Natural Medicine and co-authored four books on The Natural Way of Healing. Today he lives with his wife and son in Durham, NC. He travels across the country doing public speaking engagements on the topic of healing with natural medicine.

Dr. Mitch Stargrove:
historical review of nutrition in the ND profession.

Bio:
Mitchell Bebel Stargrove, ND, LAc, is a naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist practicing in Beaverton, Ore. He is the developer and editor in chief of the Integrative BodyMind Information System (IBIS), an encyclopedic reference work of natural medicine. He is also founder of Integrative Medical Arts, which produces professional and consumer reference and educational tools in the areas of alternative therapy, complementary health care, and natural medicine.

Dr. Heather Zwickey

Bio:

Dr. Zwickey is the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies Director at NCNM’s Helfgott Research Institute. Her training at the world renowned National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver prepared her to complete a post-doctoral fellowship at Yale University. Dr. Zwickey seeks to prove natural therapies’ benefit to immunological responses. Her research experience examining the effects of botanicals, probiotics, energy medicine, and diet on immunological parameters in humans is pivotal to achieving this task. Dr. Zwickey also explores the mechanisms involved in infectious disease, cancer, autoimmune disease, psychoneuroimmunology, and immunological tolerance.

Dr. Paul Gannon:
In-depth into Probiotics

All too often we recommend ‘a probiotic’, with little differentiation beyond recommending a bacterial-based probiotic vs. a yeast-based one. But with gut bacteria numbering in the trillions and supposedly composed of hundreds of varieties, what does a 20 billion capsule actually do? What probiotics actually matter and what are just hype due to a patent and good marketing? Let’s investigate this myriad of species together and find out if the nuances from one product to another even make a difference…

Bio:
Dr. Paul Gannon is a naturopathic physician with over 15 years of experience as a primary care doctor offering safe and effective natural medicine to people of all ages and conditions. By utilizing only all natural, non-toxic therapies such as homeopathy, herbal medicine, diet and nutrition, lifestyle counseling, detoxification protocols, Unda drainage remedies, and Bach flower remedies, he assists people who are seeking better balance to their health and well-being. He is a holistic health expert who loves to share health tips as a speaker, educator & blogger.

Dr. Andrew Simon:
More than "Managing Stress” for IBD: A Mind Body Medicine Approach

More than just a sentence in a textbook of managing stress for treatment of Inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease. How do you manage stress and the have influence on the nervous system to assist with co-management of inflammatory bowel disease? Understanding the basic mechanisms of what it means to calm the nervous system through mind body medicine techniques, biofeedback, and counseling. The importance of providing prognosis, expectations, and helping patients develop a new way of orienting to their symptoms, diagnosis, diet, medications, and lifestyle approaches to manage and safely treat IBD while reducing negative sequelae associated with IBD. Updates on research, literature, continuing education and treatment approaches.

Bio:
Dr. Andrew Simon is a Bastyr University Graduate of 2013, with CNME Residency at BCNH 2013-2014. He has since maintained an Adjunct Professor role with Bastyr University in Washington as both a clinical supervisor and academic professor. Dr. Andrew Simon is Board certified in biofeedback and currently maintains a private practice at Fit Wellness Centers in Ballard, Seattle, that specializes in biofeedback and physical medicine.

Presentation description:
How do you manage stress and the have influence on the nervous system to assist with co-management of inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease? Understanding the basic mechanisms of what it means to calm the nervous system through mind body medicine techniques, biofeedback, and counseling. The importance of providing prognosis, expectations, and helping patients develop a new way of orienting to their symptoms, diagnosis, diet, medications, and lifestyle approaches to manage and safely treat IBD while reducing negative sequelae associated with IBD. Presentation includes updates on research, literature, continuing education and treatment approaches pertaining to mind body medicine and biofeedback.

How Biography Becomes Biology: Childhood Trauma and Obesity, IBS and Other Digestive Issues in Adulthood

Dis-ease tells a story, not just of the cells (biology) but of the self (biography). We need to listen to, and integrate, both stories in our clinical care. Stress is a contributing factor in illness. The latest research is confirming and expanding on this idea in ways that can, and should, revolutionize our treatment approach. Research into the impact of childhood trauma on adult disease reveals a deeper relationship than previously recognized between adverse childhood events, stress and trauma and chronic diseases in adulthood. Biography can and does influence our biology. There is a growing realization of importance of effectively and skillfully integrating this knowledge into the practice of medicine. BIO: A pioneer and leading voice in Mind-Body Integrative Medicine, Paul Epstein, ND has persistently been leading the charge to bring awareness to the mind-body connection – and its extraordinary role in healing – for over 30 years. Dr. Epstein graduated from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) in 1984. His post-graduate residency program focused on preventive medicine and lifestyle counseling. He was the Co-founder and Co-director of the Israel Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Israel. In his practice, Dr. Epstein integrates naturopathic medicine with life-changing mind-body therapies. He has a long history of successfully treating patients with chronic diseases and serious health challenges. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Epstein travels worldwide, lecturing and presenting workshops. He is a sought after presenter for all of the major Naturopathic and Holistic Medicine organizations throughout the US and Canada including the AANP, NHAND, AARM, OncANP and the OAND. He has lectured and taught workshops for many Naturopathic colleges and universities – most recently SCNM and CCNM. Dr. Epstein is currently partnering with several providers of online Naturopathic Continuing Education to deliver webinars that train Naturopathic Physicians to incorporate the use of mindfulness and the treatment of trauma into their clinical care protocol.

Holly Lucille, ND

What Does Digestion Have to do With Hormones Anyway?

For years, practitioners have understood the brain-gut connection and its relevance to treating disorders such as IBS and Fibromyalgia. Dr. Lucille will dive deeper into the complex enteric nervous system and the multifarious interactions between the endocrine and digestive systems. She will highlight how an imbalance in either profoundly affects the other, causing many of the persistent clinical symptoms seen in integrative practices each and every day. Dr. Lucille will share clinical case studies that include symptoms such as PMS, fatigue, weight gain, thinning hair, disrupted circadian rhythms, night sweats, mood fluctuations, depression and anxiety. As well, she will reveal the "why" and the "what to do about it"!

Bonus Round: Media Must Haves and Practice Pearls

Bio:

Dr. Holly Lucille, ND, RN, is a nationally recognized and licensed naturopathic doctor, educator, natural products consultant, and television and radio host. She is also the author of several books including Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Women’s Guide to Safe, Natural, Hormone Health and The Healing Power of Trauma Comfrey.

An acclaimed expert in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Lucille lectures throughout the nation on a variety of natural health topics. Her appearances include national media programs and networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Dr. Oz, The Doctors, Lifetime and the Discovery Health Channel.

Dr. Holly is a health blogger for Newsmax online magazine and is on the editorial advisory board of Alternative Medicine, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Advances in Mind -Body Medicine and Natural Practitioner. She is regularly quoted as an expert in both consumer and peer journals, and in 2007, was listed in Time magazine’s “Alt List” as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People.” In 2012 she launched her own talk show, “Myth-Defying with Dr. Holly” on the Z Living network and is now host of “Inherently You” on RadioMD.

She is currently the chair of the Natural Partners INC. educational advisory board and on vice chair of the Institute for Natural Medicine. As the past president of the California Naturopathic Doctors Association she worked to ensure the availability of safe naturopathic health care by spearheading a lobbying effort to have naturopathic doctors licensed in the state of California. She was awarded the “SCNM Legacy Award” for her “contribution to the advancement and development of the field of naturopathic medicine.”

As a graduate from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, Dr. Holly received the prestigious Daphne Blayden Award for her “commitment to naturopathic medicine, academic excellence, compassion, perseverance, a loving sense of humor and a positive, supportive outlook.”

Dr. Lucille believes in the science, art and mystery of healing and has a heartfelt passion for the individual wellness of all people. Built on this foundational belief, she uses the magnificence of multiple media platforms to truly make a difference and empower people to heal. Her private practice in Los Angeles, Healing from Within Healthcare, focuses on comprehensive naturopathic medicine and individualized care.

She is the founder of “Inherently You,” an organization helping people bridge the gap between “knowing and doing” when it comes to their inherent health. In her “off time” Holly enjoys being with her family (two- and four-legged) playing the bass guitar, coaching crossfit, tending to her hydroponic garden, and riding motorcycles.

Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth Overview

Interest in Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) has been increasing ever since it was identified as an underlying cause of IBS- the most common gastrointestinal disorder in the US. SIBO can cause symptoms of bloating, abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhea and food reactions. Treatment can offer remarkable benefits. Discussion will include Underlying Causes and Risk Factors, Testing and Treatment Strategies, including Diet, Antibiotics, Herbal Antibiotics, Elemental Diet and Prokinetics. Dr. Siebecker will share a treatment algorithm, clinical pearls and offer plenty of time for Q & A. Join us for this comprehensive SIBO overview.
Learning Objectives

• Understand the pathophysiology and etiology of SIBO
• Discuss the role of SIBO in common gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS
• Identify and apply key treatments for SIBO

Bio:

Allison Siebecker, ND, MSOM, LAc, has worked in the nutritional field since 1988 and is a 2005 graduate of The National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM). She was the co-founder and former medical director of the SIBO Center for Digestive Health at NCNM Clinic and has specialized in the treatment of SIBO since 2010. Dr. Siebecker is passionate about education- she is Instructor of Advanced Gastroenterology at NCNM, Board of Advisor for the GI Health Foundation, Curriculum Coordinator of the 2014 and 2015 SIBO Symposiums, teaches continuing education classes for physicians, and is the author of the free educational website siboinfo.com. She received the Best in Naturopathy award from the Townsend Letter for her articles: “Traditional Bone Broth in Modern Health and Disease”(2005), "Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth: Often Overlooked Cause of IBS" (2013) and “SIBO: Dysbiosis Has A New Name” (2015). Dr. Siebecker is currently writing a book synthesizing the SIBO data into one source.

Tabatha Parker, ND

What's up in global health?

Interested in global health? Find out what's happening in global health from South America to the WHO. Learn about the future of our medicine and how you can get involved.

Bio:

Dr. Tabatha Parker co-founder of Natural Doctors International (NDI), the first and oldest naturopathic global health organization, worked in Nicaragua for over a decade focusing on tropical medicine, women and children – specifically women’s empowerment, cervical cancer screening and primary care. As NDI Executive Director, she led the organization in developing the first permanent global naturopathic clinic as well as naturopathic global health courses and inter-disciplinary internships. She has worked in the trenches seeing how structural violence in developing nations and in the USA affects people and health. Over the past decade, Parker has worked inter-professionally and collaboratively to further professions like naturopathic medicine. She has served on the boards of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), The California Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND), sat on Educational Working Group of The Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care and the Multi-Disciplinary Committee of Integrative Medicine (ACCAHC) for the Underserved (IM4US) and the Naturopathic Coordinating Council (NCC). In 2012, she became the first naturopathic doctor to graduate as a Faculty Development Scholar from UCSD’s, “Addressing the Health Needs of the Underserved” headed by Dr. Ellen Beck. A founding faculty member of the Bastyr University California branch campus, she worked to successfully under the leadership of Dr. Moira Fitzpatrick. During that time, she organized the Affordable Care Act Strategic Meeting the first meeting of its kind to bring together MDs, DCs, NDs, LAcs and Midwives with key policy figures for ACA. She worked with the World Health Organization on the WHO Benchmarks for Training in Naturopathy and recently became one of two NDs to attend a WHO World Health Assembly as guests of the World Federation of Chiropractic in 2014, again furthering inter-professional collaboration. Parker is Co-Chair of the Masters of Science in Global Health at National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM), the first global health program offered at a naturopathic medical school. She joins the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM) as Director of Education with great enthusiasm. Tabatha is a writer, social justice activist, artist, singer and dedicated wife and mother of two. In 2011, she was given the prestigious UTNE Reader Visionary of the Year award, alongside other global visionaries.