In this interview, Karolyn A. Gazella explores the topic of clinical empathy with integrative internal medicine physician David Cannon, MD. Dr Cannon discusses the research associated with empathy in the healthcare setting and describes ways that clinicians can cultivate more connection with patients to create a more enhanced empathetic environment. Dr Cannon is a physician with Privia Health in Lynchburg, VA.
About the Expert
David Cannon, MD, earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Duke University, followed by postgraduate training in Primary Care Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia. After two years of active duty in the US Navy, he joined a growing multispecialty practice in Lynchburg, VA. Dr Cannon completed an Integrative Medicine fellowship at the University of Arizona in 2005. He enjoys running, vegetarian cooking, woodworking, and exploring the many dimensions of healing. He is married with 3 children.
Can the gut microbiome help determine how resilient a person is? New research sheds light on this fascinating topic. Arpana Church, PhD, who is a neuroscientist at UCLA’s Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center, and her colleagues set out to explore the complex interaction between the gut microbiome and stress resilience. In this interview, Church describes the research and future implications.
About the Expert
Arpana Church, PhD (née Gupta), is a leading figure in medical research on brain-gut-microbiome interactions and stress-related diseases like obesity. With a PhD in psychology and a clinical internship from Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical Center, her research aims to integrate brain and gut systems to understand obesity mechanisms and related behaviors. Funded by NIH, including recent grants from NIMHD and NIA, Church has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and is featured in the Netflix documentary "Hack Your Health: Secrets of the Gut." Her work explores novel pathways in the brain-gut-microbiome system, socio-cultural stress impacts, and interventions for obesity.
Angela D. Mazza, DO, ABAARM, FAAMFM, ECNU is triple board-certified and a renowned thyroid specialist. She is founder of the Metabolic Center for Wellness in Oviedo, FL, the only center in Central Florida offering radiofrequency ablation procedures. Highly regarded for her individualized approach to patient care, Mazza empowers each person to achieve their unique goals through targeted interventions and lifestyle management. Mazza believes that hormonal changes that happen in women and men as they age play a huge part in their overall health, longevity, and quality of life. Her passion is helping her patients achieve metabolic as well as hormonal balance. Mazza is the author of Thyroid Talk: An Integrative Guide to Thyroid Health and hosts the podcast “Thyroid Talk with Dr. Angela Mazza.”
About the Sponsor
An NIH study from last year found that new cases of chronic pain in the United States occur more often than new cases of many other common serious conditions like diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure. What’s more, among people with chronic pain, nearly two-thirds are still suffering a year later. Naturopathic clinician Timothy Schwaiger, ND, utilizes a comprehensive, integrative approach to treat and heal chronic pain. In this interview, he discusses diet, lifestyle, dietary supplements, and other integrative interventions he has found to be successful that are also backed by evidence-informed research. Dr. Schwaiger is currently the Chief Medical Director and Executive Director of Clinical Operations at Bastyr University.
About the Expert
Timothy Schwaiger, ND, MA, received his naturopathic degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona, and completed a two-year residency there in Family Medicine. He has a master of arts degree from Webster University in Health Care Management. Schwaiger currently serves as chief medical director, executive director of clinical operations, and professor of naturopathic medicine at Bastyr University. There, he provides vision and direction and is responsible for developing a strategic plan that fosters excellent student learning opportunities, an enriching practice environment for private practitioners, compassionate patient scheduling approaches, and effective and efficient retail operations.
What’s new with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)? Karolyn talks with integrative women’s health expert Tori Hudson, ND, about the efficacy and safety of hormone therapy for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. They also discuss new hormone-free drugs that are now available, as well as natural measures to manage symptoms. Dr. Hudson is a pioneering women’s health expert and an accomplished author, professor, and clinician.
About the Expert
Tori Hudson, ND, graduated from the National University of Naturopathic Medicine (NUNM) in 1984 and has served the college in several capacities. She is currently a clinical professor at NUNM, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, and Bastyr University. Hudson is the medical director of A Woman’s Time in Portland, Oregon, and director of product research and education for VITANICA. She is the founder and codirector of Naturopathic Education and Research Consortium (NERC), a nonprofit organization for accredited naturopathic residencies. Hudson is a faculty member of the Fellowship in Integrative Health & Medicine, Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine. Dr. Hudson is a nationally recognized author and her latest book is The Menopause Companion (2023).
About the Expert
Daemon Jones, ND, “Dr Dae,” graduated from Northwestern University and earned her naturopathic medicine degree from Bridgeport’s College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is an expert in using lifestyle as medicine to reduce chronic disease. Her Replenish. Restore. Reclaim. framework proves that diminished health and energy can be reversed with proactive choices, at any age. Dr. Dae works with individuals who are struggling with health issues such as weight gain, diabetes, thyroid problems, and issues around menopause. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor in Washington, DC, and treats patients from across the DC Metropolitan area, as well as through virtual appointments all over the world.
About the Expert
Ronald Hoffman, MD, is a physician in private practice of integrative medicine in New York City. He is a graduate of Columbia College and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Since 1984, he has served as Medical Director of the Hoffman Center in Manhattan. Hoffman is past president of the American College for the Advancement of Medicine (ACAM).
Hoffman is the host of Intelligent Medicine, a nationally syndicated radio program, and he produces the daily Intelligent Medicine podcast. He is a certified nutrition specialist (CNS) and the author of several books, including How to Talk with Your Doctor (About Complementary and Alternative Medicine).
Integrative medicine can help enhance recovery and improve surgical outcomes. Karolyn talks with cardiac anesthesiologist and integrative medicine expert Rosanne Sheinberg, MD, about how integrative practitioners can help their patients create a more successful surgical experience and optimize recovery.
Treating mold illness can be challenging. That’s why an integrative approach to diagnosis and treatment is often needed. In this interview, Eric Dorninger, ND, LAc, describes his integrative mold illness protocol. At his practice in Louisville, CO, Dorninger is well-versed in finding and treating underlying causes of chronic illness, which includes mold illness.
Eric Dorninger, ND, LAc, began his healthcare journey with a pre-med degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he immersed himself in diverse medical experiences, from volunteering at Porter Care Hospice to training as an EMT under herbalist Brigette Mars. His passion for holistic healing led him to pursue a doctor of naturopathic medicine and master of science in acupuncture at Bastyr University, culminating in a residency in naturopathic primary care. In 2005, he founded Roots and Branches Integrative Health Care, focusing on uncovering the root causes of chronic illness. Dorninger is not concerned with “what you have” as much as he is with “why you have it.” He uses reproducible, validated labs and imaging to find hidden, underlying causes of mystery illnesses and brings a relentlessly thorough diagnostic approach to solving the riddles of chronic illness. Dorninger's commitment to innovative diagnosis and treatment extends to his role as a certified Shoemaker practitioner, educator, researcher, and podcast host, enriching the field with his holistic approach to health and wellness.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is dominating headlines and dinner table conversations, and many of us are interested in understanding the impacts it may have on our lives and our practices. Emerging research points to the many ways we can expect AI to play in healthcare in the coming months and years, and it would be a good idea for healthcare providers to take heed.
This roundtable discussion features three experts: Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO, who is a medical editor and naturopathic oncologist; Marina Sirota, PhD, who is a researcher and biomedical informatics expert and associate professor with University of California, San Francisco (UCSF); and Charlotta Lindvall, MD, PhD, who is a researcher, assistant professor at Harvard, and the Director of Clinical Informatics at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
They discuss current research on AI in healthcare, and explore the concerns that need to be addressed before employing AI fully in the healthcare system.
About the Experts
Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO, is editor in-chief of Natural Medicine Journal and the creator of Round Table Cancer Care. Kaczor is a naturopathic physician board certified in naturopathic oncology. She received her naturopathic doctorate from the National University of Natural Medicine and completed her residency at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. She is also the editor of the Textbook of Naturopathic Oncology and cofounder of The Cancer Pod, a podcast for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and everyone in between.
Marina Sirota, PhD, is an associate professor and the acting director at the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute at UCSF. Prior to that, she worked as a senior research scientist at Pfizer, where she focused on developing precision medicine strategies in drug discovery. She completed her PhD in biomedical informatics at Stanford University. Sirota’s research experience in translational bioinformatics spans nearly 20 years, during which she has coauthored over 170 scientific publications. Her research interests lie in developing computational integrative methods and applying these approaches in the context of disease diagnostics and therapeutics with a special focus on women’s health. The Sirota laboratory is funded by the National Institute on Aging, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Pfizer, March of Dimes, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Dr Sirota also is the director of the AI4ALL program at UCSF, with the goal of introducing high school girls to applications of AI and machine learning in biomedicine, and she leads the outreach and advocacy efforts at the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute.
Charlotta Lindvall, MD, PhD, is a practicing palliative care physician, assistant professor, and director of Clinical Informatics at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. She leads a cross-disciplinary research team of physicians, nurses, and computer scientists to develop AI to extract patient-centered outcomes from clinical narratives and conversations. ClinicalRegex, a software developed by her lab, is used to identify text-based primary outcomes in multiple clinical trials involving tens of thousands of patients in the United States. She leads the Clinical Informatics AI strategy at Dana-Farber and is a technical expert on AI for the National Quality Forum. Dr Lindvall has received multiple awards and prizes, including a NPCRC Junior Investigator Award, a Sojourns Scholar Award, and an Innovation Award from the National Quality Forum. Funding for her research includes grants from the Cambia Health Foundation, the Veteran Affairs, and the National Institutes of Health.
In this interview, Karolyn talks with Lilian Cheung, DSc, RD, who is the Director of Health Promotion & Communications and Director of Mindfulness Research and Practice at Harvard. Cheung discusses the recent release of the 2023/2024 Healthy Living Guide and her work with the new Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health at Harvard.
About the Expert
Lilian Cheung, DSc, RD, is lecturer, director of Health Promotion & Communication, and director of Mindfulness Research and Practice at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition. She is the editorial director of The Nutrition Source, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s nutrition website and co-editorial director of Asian Diabetes Prevention Initiative and Obesity Prevention Source. Her work focuses on translating science-based recommendations into public health communications and programs. Her insight into healthy living and mindfulness practice led to Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life, coauthored with Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh (2010).
On this podcast episode, you will get a “state-of-the-union” of naturopathic medicine. Karolyn is joined by 3 naturopathic medicine experts: Natural Medicine Journal Editor-in-Chief, Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO; Executive Director of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), Laura Farr; and the President and CEO of the Institute for Natural Medicine (INM), Michelle Simon, PhD, ND. All 3 experts provide different perspectives on naturopathic medicine, specifically regarding consumer education, research, legislation, and future goals.
About the Experts
Laura Culberson Farr has served as Executive Director of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians since 2017 and has worked with the naturopathic profession since 2005. A political organizer by training, her advocacy work as a grassroots organizer and consultant spans over 28 years. She has a deep knowledge of the complexities of healthcare reform, and has become an expert on how naturopathic doctors, conventional clinics and insurers can work together to improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs. She is married to a naturopathic physician and is passionately committed to integrating naturopathic medicine into primary care systems across the country.
Michelle Simon, PhD, ND, is President and CEO of the Institute for Natural Medicine (INM), a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to educating consumers about natural medicine. INM focuses on increasing awareness of natural medicine, demonstrating its efficacy in helping to transform healthcare systems, and connecting patients to naturopathic doctors. She earned her naturopathic doctorate from Bastyr University and her PhD in Biomedical Engineering is from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has been awarded Physician of the Year by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and Champion of Naturopathic Medicine by the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO, is editor in-chief of Natural Medicine Journal and the creator of Round Table Cancer Care. Kaczor is a naturopathic physician board certified in naturopathic oncology. She received her naturopathic doctorate from the National University of Natural Medicine and completed her residency at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. She is also the editor of the Textbook of Naturopathic Oncology and cofounder of The Cancer Pod, a podcast for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and everyone in between.
The CDC recently announced that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is more common than previously thought. To address this condition from an integrative approach, Karolyn talks with leading CFS expert Jacob Teitelbaum, MD. Teitelbaum discusses his most recent research, as well as the integrative approach he pioneered to help patients regain their energy levels. Teitelbaum is the lead author of 8 studies looking at effective integrative treatments for fibromyalgia and CFS.
About the Expert
Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, is a board-certified internist and nationally known expert in the fields of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, sleep and pain. He has authored numerous books including the best-selling From Fatigued to Fantastic! (now in its 4th edition). He is the lead author of numerous studies on effective treatment for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, and one study on effective treatment of autism using NAET. He also developed the popular free smartphone app “Cures A-Z.” Teitelbaum lives in Kona, Hawaii.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autoimmune diseases are the third most common category of diseases in the United States after heart disease and cancer. There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune diseases, making this area of medicine complex and in need of attention from an integrative standpoint. Rheumatology expert Anastasia Stocker, ND, LAc, has expertise in working with patients who are on autoimmune medications. She describes the benefits and risks of medications while exploring integrative approaches that can help with medication tapering or discontinuation when appropriate.
Anastasia Stocker, ND, LAc, received her doctorate in naturopathic medicine and master of science in acupuncture and Oriental medicine at Bastyr University in Seattle, and her bachelor of science in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. This multidisciplinary academic career forged her health philosophy: Healing should be an integration of evidence-based science and traditional natural medicine.
Stocker practices at Aria Integrative Medicine in Seattle, with a focus on autoimmune diseases, digestive wellness, environmental medicine, and women's health. She is also the vice president of the Gastroenterology Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Stocker is interested in autoimmune diseases and using her clinical experience in managing complex cases while utilizing integrative approaches. She is passionate about intersecting naturopathic medicine with acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, visceral, and craniosacral therapies to facilitate lasting improvements in patients with acute and chronic disease.
Post-acute sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC), also called long-Covid, has been the subject of increasing research. PASC describes the ongoing, relapsing, or new symptoms or conditions present 30 or more days after infection, and it has become a major clinical and public health concern. This roundtable discussion focuses on cognitive, cardiovascular, and autoimmune effects of long-Covid. Roundtable experts include naturopathic oncologist and Editor-in-Chief of the Natural Medicine Journal, Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO; cardiovascular expert and clinician, Daniel Chong, ND; and immunologist and professor Heather Zwickey, PhD.
About the Experts
Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO, is editor in-chief of Natural Medicine Journal and the creator of Round Table Cancer Care. Kaczor is a naturopathic physician board certified in naturopathic oncology. She received her naturopathic doctorate from the National University of Natural Medicine and completed her residency at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. She is also the editor of the Textbook of Naturopathic Oncology and cofounder of The Cancer Pod, a podcast for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and everyone in between.
Daniel Chong, ND, is a licensed naturopathic physician who has been practicing in Portland, OR, since 2000. He earned his naturopathic doctorate from National University of Natural Medicine. Chong’s focus is on risk assessment, prevention, and drug-free treatment strategies for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In addition to his degree in naturopathic medicine, Chong has completed certificate training in cardiometabolic medicine at The Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, a BaleDoneen Method Preceptorship, and served for 4 years as a clinical consultant for Boston Heart Diagnostics. He currently maintains a telehealth-based practice. You can learn more about him at cardiowellnessconsults.com.
Heather Zwickey, PhD, is a professor of immunology and chair of the Department of Health Sciences at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She launched the Helfgott Research Institute, which advances the science of natural medicine. Zwickey founded the school of graduate studies and developed masters programs in research, nutrition, and global health. Zwickey has received the Champion of Naturopathic Medicine Award from the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. She currently leads a National Institutes of Health–funded clinical research training program focused on integrative medicine research and studies the gut-brain axis in neuroinflammation.
While ovarian cancer is not nearly as common as breast cancer, it is 3 times as deadly. Early diagnosis remains key to survival. In this interview, University of Southern California researcher and professor Bodour Salhia, PhD, describes why ovarian cancer is so lethal. She also discusses a recent paper that she and her colleagues published regarding the potential of early detection of the deadliest form of ovarian cancer.
Bodour Salhia, PhD, is the interim chair of the Department of Translational Genomics at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, and a member of the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is coleader of the Epigenetic Regulation in Cancer Program and director of the Inaugural Preclinical Models Shared Resource at USC Norris. She is an elected member of the Keck School of Medicine Faculty Council and is the Co-Chair of the University Research Committee. Salhia earned her bachelor of science, master of health science, and doctorate degrees at the University of Toronto.
As a translational scientist with extensive knowledge and expertise in mechanisms that underlie tumorigenesis and tumor biology, Salhia merges cutting-edge genomics/epigenomics analyses with cell biological and functional studies toward the investigation of clinically relevant problems in human cancer and other disease processes.
Erica Joseph, ND, FABNO, is a board-certified naturopathic oncologist and acupuncturist practicing at Seattle Integrative Oncology (SIO), where she completed a 2-year oncology-based naturopathic residency. She received her doctorate in naturopathic medicine, as well as a master’s degree in acupuncture, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology from Bastyr University. Joseph currently sees patients in both private practice and at the Providence Regional Cancer Partnership in Everett, WA, where she helps lead the integrative cancer care program. The private practice of Joseph and her colleagues at Seattle Integrative Oncology proudly provides one of the few naturopathic residencies in the Pacific Northwest. Outside her practice, Joseph has served as president of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP) since 2021. She is also a peer reviewer for the Journal of Integrative and Complimentary Medicine (JICM) and a contributor to the Natural Medicine Journal.
Interest and research regarding psilocybin has grown considerably over the past several years. In this interview, Emily Whinkin, ND, discusses the latest research and provides clinical guidance on the use of psilocybin. Whinkin is a naturopathic physician with the Advanced Integrative Medical Science Institute in Seattle, where she also conducts research and explores altered states of consciousness.
About the Expert
Emily Whinkin, ND (she/they), is an integrative mental health practitioner, researcher, and psychonaut currently practicing at the Advanced Integrative Medical Science Institute in Seattle. She holds Washington and Oregon licenses in naturopathic medicine and graduated with a master of science degree in integrative mental health from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR. Clinically, Whinkin works to provide person-centered, relationally informed care at the confluence of entheogenic spiritual medicine, mental health, and reproductive/generative health. As an undergraduate, she studied both biology and religious studies, formally launching her work to explore and affirm the interdependence of mind, body, and spirit with a focus on cycles, transitions, and environment. Community connection, belonging, and collective transformation are central to Whinkin's vision of being well in the world. She works to reflect this framework in caring for each patient’s foundational vitality, resilience, and health contexts as 'root cause' approaches to healing. She is certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C) by Postpartum Support International and Holistic Pelvic Care™ with Tami Kent, and she often weaves mindful somatic therapy and botanical medicine within psycho-spiritual work with all genders across the lifespan.
Testing and test results are critical to any integrative practice because they help form effective treatment protocols. In this interview, we profile 3 functional wellness tests with integrative clinician, professor, and researcher Dr. Oscar Coatzee. Metabolic status, gastrointestinal health, and genomics are discussed. Dr. Coatzee provides advice on how to best utilize these tests in clinical practice.
Russell Jaffe, MD, PhD, CCN, CEO and Chairman of PERQUE Integrative Health, is one of the pioneers of integrative and regenerative medicine. Since inventing the world’s first single-step amplified (ELISA) procedure in 1984, a process for measuring and monitoring all delayed allergies, Jaffe has continually sought new ways to help speed the transition from our current healthcare system’s symptom-reactive model to a more functionally integrated, effective and compassionate system. PIH is the outcome of years of Jaffe’s scientific research. It brings to market three decades of rethinking safer, more effective, novel and proprietary dietary supplements, supplement delivery systems, diagnostic testing, and validation studies.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 1 in 5 Americans experience mental illness each year. In this interview, integrative mental health expert Tara Peyman, ND, discusses how mental health issues are treated from a naturopathic perspective. She also shares information about the Psychiatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians, of which she is the vice president. Peyman is the medical director of the Integrative Mental Health Center in Scottsdale, AZ.
The June 2, 2023, issue of JAMA featured an interesting article by Danielle Chammas, MD, about “the stories we tell ourselves.” In this interview, Chammas shares more details on how clinicians are influencing the stories of their patients' lives and how they can use the power of language to help patients alter their narratives so they can heal. She believes clinicians can simultaneously honor their patients’ narratives while also helping the patient process, integrate, and accept their circumstances.