Schedule
Well Women: A Holistic Approach to Health
Conference Schedule
Friday, November 11
4:00 PM Registration Opens
4:30 PM Opening remarks - Renee Awad, ND, President of the PANP
4:45 PM "Replace or Restore? Menopause, Vis Medicatrix Naturae and Beyond!"
Holly Lucille, ND, RN
6:15 PM Break - Wine and Cheese
6:30 PM Keynote Speaker:
"Cross-Cultural Ethnomedicine: A Deeper Understanding of Health and Healing"
David Winston, RH (AHG)
Saturday, November 12
7:00 AM Registration Opens; View Exhibits
Continental Breakfast
7:25 AM Opening remarks - Renee Awad, ND, President of the PANP
7:30 AM "Epigenetics and Preconception: The Ultimate Preventive Medicine"
Jaclyn Chasse, ND
9:15 AM "Depression in Pregnancy and Post-Partum: Naturopathic Treatments"
Peter Bongiorno, ND, LAc & Pina LoGiudice, ND, LAc
10:15 AM Exhibit Break
10:45 AM "Well Women After Breast Cancer"
Barbara McDonald, ND
12:00 PM Lunch & Exhibit break
Sponsored by Vital Nutrients
1:00 PM "PCOS"
Alison McAllister, ND
2:00 PM Exhibit Break
2:30 PM "Explore the Pelvic Floor and More: The Foundation on Health in the Body"
Bill Gallagher, MSPT, CYT, CMT & Richard Sabel, MA, MPH, OTR, GCFP
4:00 PM Exhibit Break
4:30 PM "An Overview of Ovarian Cancer"
Michelle Niesley, ND, FABNO & Sheba Roy, ND
6:00PM Closing Remarks
Renee Awad, ND, President of the PANP
Presentation Descriptions
- "Cross-Cultural Ethnomedicine: A Deeper Understanding of Health and Healing"
In today's dominant culture, we have advanced technology, huge financial resources, the rigors of the scientific method and research,linear-critical thinking and a vast literature documenting the gradual and steady progress of scientific medicine over the last 100 years. In spite of these advantages, western medicine, especially in the US has serious problems. We lag behind most first world and some third world
countries in important measure of health including life expectancy and infant mortality. Yet at the same time we spend more money on health care than any other nation.
Americans seem to have higher rates of depression, anxiety, heart disease, obesity, autoimmune diseases and cancer than most other countries in spite of our endless attempts at education, prevention and early detection. What is wrong? Is the cause poor diet, a lack of exercise, nutritional deficiencies, environmental toxins, iatrogenic disease, factory farming or environmental degradation? All of these issues are very real and play a significant role, but David would argue, that there are also deeper causes of illness and poor health.
In many cultures the practice of traditional medicine has a bigger and very different picture of human health and the causes of disease. David Winston will discuss how indigenous systems of medicine look at health and illness and how we can learn some important lessons that can help us to have a greater understanding of the environmental, social/familial, psychological and spiritual causes of poor health and ways we can help our patients to become well.
- "Replace or Restore? Menopause, Vis Medicatrix Naturae and Beyond!"
Normal hormonal transitions including menopause, for today's woman, means a variety of things, both perceived and real. The physical, mental, emotional and psychological aspects of these transitions are widely individual for each person and have etiologies and effects in various realms. Dr. Lucille will explore this diverse experience and how practitioners can comprehensively care for a woman during menopause and other normal, yet symptomatic transitions, by applying the principles of Naturopathic Medicine.
- "Epigenetics and Preconception: The Ultimate Preventive Medicine"
Genetic and epigenetic influences on health begin long before birth, and even before pregnancy! Dr. Chasse will provide an evidence-based review of how parental behaviors affect pregnancy outcomes, neonatal health, and adult health and will discuss how to prepare a woman for pregnancy in order to provide preventative medicine through epigenetics. New and provocative research continues to surprise us as we learn how intimately the environment during preconception and prenatal periods influences the health not only of the newborn, but of that individual as they grow into an adult. Influences including pollutants, stress, and nutritional status of the mother provide information to the DNA in growing and dividing cells of a fetus and can impact the health of that individual, increasing the risk of heart disease, ADHD, and much more. This epigenetic “data” may have even earlier effects by influencing the health of egg and sperm prior to conception!
Dr. Chasse will discuss the key peri-natal influences known to affect the health of the individual from infancy through adulthood. Attendees will be able to identify key risks for patients and to confidently design a preconception plan to address concerns for both partners. Treatment plan components discussed will include nutritional considerations, environmental exposures, and supplementation that can positively influence genetic expression and cell differentiation. This evidence-based presentation will introduce an underutilized and extremely important aspect of preventive medicine.
- "Depression in Pregnancy and Post-Partum: Naturopathic Treatments"
Depression affects 15% and 22% of pregnant and post-partum women, respectively. Dr. Bongiorno and LoGiudice will explain the basic tenets and latest research of using naturopathic therapies to safely and effectively treat these populations without drugs.
- "Well Women After Breast Cancer"
Dr. MacDonald shares how she combines naturopathic and Chinese medicine to help patients find wellness after breast cancer treatment. She reviews prevention of recurrence data, case-taking to identify cause, functional laboratory tests, genomics, constitutional imbalances, exposures and responses to trauma with a goal of inspiring health and increased survivorship.
Dr. McAllister will provide a review of polycystic ovarian syndrome including the biochemistry, physiology, epidemiology, treatment goals, and therapeutic options. An in depth understanding of the endocrinology of PCOS and how it relates to other women’s health issues will be provided. In addition, Dr. McAllister will review all medications commonly used along with their mechanisms of action.
- "Explore the Pelvic Floor and More: The Foundation of Health in the Body"
The pelvic floor is comprised of muscles that are often elusive and seem beyond our conscious control. Yet, the perineum and the pelvic girdle are an integral driving force behind most human function. By bringing awareness, strength and suppleness to these muscles, people can address incontinence, alleviate pain (especially in the pelvis, hips, knees, and back), breathe more efficiently, increase sexual fulfillment, assist childbirth and facilitate many functional activities like lifting heavy objects, rising from chairs and walking up stairs. Bill Galagher and Richard Sabel will educate participants about low-tech, non-invasive techniques that draw from Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, Feldenkrais and conventional rehab therapies, to guide people (clients, patients, students) toward improved health and function.
- "An Overview of Ovarian Cancer: Risk, Clinical Manifestations, Diagnostic Evaluation, Staging, and Naturopathic Adjunct to Conventional Management"
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s Eastern Regional Medical Center, Drs. Michelle Niesley and Sheba Roy are naturopathic oncology consultants who specialize in cancer care and adjunct to conventional treatment. This two-part discussion would offer naturopathic primary care providers a comprehensive foundation in a clinical approach to ovarian cancer and leading edge developments in diagnosis and conventional treatment. In addition, naturopathic adjuncts to conventional treatment for ovarian cancer will be explored. Studies show that up to 60% patients undergoing chemo and radiation consider herbs and supplements. It is our belief that for naturopathic doctors, these numbers describe a clear mandate to be well educated in poly prescription, drug-herb and drug-drug interaction as fundamental to naturopathic standard of care. The discussion would target new and experienced clinicians; advanced students and those with an interest in reproductive cancer.
