Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine

Speakers

• 

  Lise
  Alschuler, ND, FABNO

  Close

  Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO

  Lise Alschuler, ND, eMBA, FABNO is the President & CEO of Sonoran University of Health. She is Professor at Sonoran University and retains her rank as a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Arizona where she was previously the Associate Director of the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree from Brown University. Dr. Alschuler completed her naturopathic medical training at Bastyr University where she also completed her residency in general naturopathic medicine. She is board certified in naturopathic oncology. She completed an executive Masters of Business in 2023. She is co-author of Definitive Guide to Cancer, now in its 3rd edition, and Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer. Outside of her professional commitments, she enjoys early morning walks with her two dogs, relaxing outdoor evenings with her spouse, honing her golf game, and cultivating a deeper sense of purpose and authenticity.

• 

  Vivian
  Asamoah, MD, FACG, IFMCP

  Close

  Vivian Asamoah, MD, FACG, IFMCP

  Dr. Vivian Asamoah, MD, FACG, IFMCP Board-Certified in Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition | Certified in Functional & Integrative Medicine Dr. Vivian Asamoah is a board-certified gastroenterologist and certified functional medicine physician, known for merging cutting-edge conventional GI care with personalized, root-cause integrative approaches. She completed her fellowship at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, earned certification through The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), and pursued advanced training with The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). As Founder and CEO of the Houston Gastro Institute located in Houston, Texas, she leads one of the few practices in the U.S. that truly blends a traditional evidence based model with integrative and functional medicine principles. Her clinical focus includes autoimmune and malabsorption conditions such as celiac disease, SIBO/SIFO, fatty liver disease (MASLD), gut dysbiosis, bile acid diarrhea, malabsorption and maldigestion syndromes, and MCAS/POTS. Dr. Asamoah focus on community based clinical research trials includes H. pylori-related gastritis, Clostridioides difficile infection, MASLD-related cirrhosis, ulcerative colitis, food sensitivities and SIBO reflecting her dedication to advancing root-cause gastroenterology. A respected educator and speaker, she teaches the Gastrointestinal Advanced Practice Module for the Institute for Functional Medicine and lectures for national organizations including the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), and the Gastroenterology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (GastroANP). Through her active social media platforms she provides weekly education on the microbiome, food as medicine, and gut-brain healing—empowering thousands to take control of their digestive health. Her vision is to lead a global transformation in digestive health— empowering individuals to prevent and reverse chronic disease using the restorative tools of nature: the resources of the earth, and the wisdom of the soul.

• 

  Anna
  Barbieri, MD

  Close

  Anna Barbieri, MD

  Dr. Barbieri is a board-certified gynecologist and a certified menopause practitioner with advanced training in integrative medicine, dedicated to delivering truly personalized, patient-centered care. She specializes in perimenopause and menopause management, tailoring nutrition, lifestyle strategies, and hormonal and non-hormonal treatments to each patient's unique needs. As the founder of an integrative women's health practice in New York City, Dr. Barbieri provides expert care in gynecology and women's hormonal health. Her practice also offers specialized support in the areas of sexual medicine, nutrition, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, and integrative primary care, as well as dedicated care for women at high risk for or recovering from cancer. Dr. Barbieri completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, where she now serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor and Clinical Strategy Leader for the upcoming Rowan Center for Women's Health and Wellness. She is a certified menopause practitioner through the Menopause Society and a fellow of the University of Arizona's Integrative Medicine fellowship. Additionally, she is the founding physician of Elektra Health, a digital menopause healthcare company.  

• 

  Chodo
  Campbell

  Close

  Chodo Campbell,

  Sensei Chodo Robert Campbell, GC-C NYZC Co-Founder, Vice President, & Guiding Teacher Zen teacher and co-founder, with Koshin Paley Ellison, of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, an educational non-profit dedicated to integrating contemplative approaches to care and contemporary medicine. Through Chodo’s leadership and vision, NYZC has developed transformational, collaborative training experiences: the Foundations in Contemplative Care and the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship. Today, New York Zen Center’s teachings and practices are internationally recognized — and have touched the lives of tens of thousands of individuals. Chodo is a dynamic, grounded, and visionary leader and teacher: he has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. teaching and presenting at various institutions. He has worked with those living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. as well as Zimbabwe and South Africa. Chodo's public programs have introduced thousands to the practices of mindful and compassionate care of the living and dying. Sixty-thousand people listen to his podcasts each year. His passion lies in bereavement counseling for those suffering with the complexities of death & dying and aging. His work is focused on advocating for change in the way our healthcare institutions work with end of life support and care. Chodo is widely recognized as a trailblazer and authority on contemplative care. He and Koshin Paley Ellison are featured in Into the Night: Portraits of Life and Death, a documentary about how we face our mortality and are also the focus of a forthcoming documentary about Buddhism in America for Dutch television. Chodo’s work has been featured in the New York Times, PBS, Tricycle, Parabola and other media outlets. He is a recognized Soto Zen Teacher with the American Zen Teachers Association, White Plum Asanga, and Soto Zen Buddhist Association. Academic Appointments Chodo is part of the core faculty for the Buddhist Track in the Masters in Pastoral Care and Counseling with NYZC’s educational partner, University of the West. He is also on the faculty of the University of Arizona Medical School’s Center for Integrative Medicine’s Integrative Medicine Fellowship and the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine in San Diego.

• 

  Ann Marie
  Chiasson, MD MPH ABOIM

  Close

  Ann Marie Chiasson, MD MPH ABOIM

  Fellowship 2004

  Oncology Working Group

  Phoenix Local Group

  Ann Marie Chiasson, MD, MPH , is the Director of Education and the Fellowship at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine and an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the University of Arizona.  She is board certified in Integrative Medicine, Family Medicine, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine.  Dr. Chiasson currently serves as the President of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) and is a past chair of the American Board of Integrative Medicine.  Dr. Chiasson graduated with honors from Dalhousie School of Medicine in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and completed a residency in Family Medicine at the University of British Columbia.  She completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona and a master's in public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  She has practiced Integrative Family Medicine, hospice and palliative care, and addiction Medicine in the United States and Canada.  Stimulated by a life-long interest in chronic pain management, mind body medicine and meditation, Dr. Chiasson has studied extensively with indigenous healers in Mexico.  She has authored Energy Healing- The Essentials of Self Care (Sounds True, 2013) and co-authored Self-Healing with Energy Medicine with Dr. Andrew Weil (Sounds True, 2009). Dr. Chiasson teaches internationally on topics in Integrative Medicine, Pain Management, Mind-body Medicine and Energy Medicine.

• 

  Nicole
  Dahl

  Close

  Nicole Dahl,

  Nicole “Nic” Dahl is the Director of Communications, Marketing, and Events for the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. She leads the Center's brand strategy, social media presence, content development, press relations, and signature events—shaping how integrative medicine connects with audiences worldwide.

  Nic brings more than 15 years of experience in brand storytelling, digital marketing, and social media strategy, with a focus on growing engaged communities and amplifying thought leadership. Her background spans government, nonprofit, hospitality, and healthcare, where she has helped brands and leaders build authentic voices online and off.

  Before joining AWCIM, Nic designed and directed communications programs across mission-driven organizations, specializing in translating complex, clinical topics into accessible, shareable content that resonates with diverse audiences. A University of Arizona graduate, she has deep expertise in positioning brands and thought leaders at the intersection of healthcare, education, and social impact—especially through strategic, integrity-driven social media.

• 

  Stephen
  Dahmer, MD

  Close

  Stephen Dahmer, MD

  Fellowship 2006

  Wellness & Lifestyle Series - Unit 2 (2025)

  Stephen Dahmer, MD is our new director at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine and the chief of Integrative Medicine at University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson. He is a recognized expert in Integrative Medicine, seamlessly integrating clinical expertise, research initiatives, and entrepreneurial leadership. He comes to the Center from a distinguished career reinventing healthcare approaches and shaping holistic healthcare paradigms, including as Lead Physician at Iora Health, Chief Medical Officer at Goodness Growth, and his most recent position as founding Primary Care Physician at Sana Care.

  Dr. Dahmer's exploration of medicinal plant uses in diverse cultures has led him from Brazil's favelas to Maori clinics in New Zealand and to serving as a hospitalist for the Navajo Tribe in Arizona. His academic pursuits include active roles at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His research, encompassing clinical trials on medical plants, emphasizes a compassionate and integrative approach to clinical care.

  Dr. Dahmer completed his medical school training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He chose a family medicine residency at Beth Israel Hospital in New York because of his dedication to comprehensive patient care, particularly in underserved communities. He completed his fellowship in Integrative Family Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. He then practiced integrative primary care at the Beth Israel Continuum Center for Health and Healing.  Dr. Dahmer's volunteer work and advisory roles for healthcare ventures also reflect his commitment to community welfare.

  Dr Dahmer's professional journey epitomizes a nuanced approach to Integrative Medicine, emphasizing the blending of tradition and innovation, compassionate patient care, and a global perspective.

• 

  Andrew
  Ecker, DCF

  Close

  Andrew Ecker, DCF

  Andrew Ecker is an Indigenous Certified Recovery Coach white White Bison, Peer Support Specialist, and author of The Sacred 7. He is the founder of Drumming Sounds, an evidence-based wellness modality that uses recreational drumming and sound medicine to support mental health and trauma recovery. With over 20 years of experience, Andrew has facilitated more than 5,000 events and trained over 350 practitioners in his approach. He has served as a keynote and general session presenter for leading organizations in Health Care including the North American Primary Care Research Group, the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, Integrative Medicine 4 US and the National Association of Children's and Families Mental Health. He has Worked with 6 Native American Tribes, Federal, State and County health care organization and is currently a Cultural Services provider at Native American Connection in Phoenix Arizona.

• 

  Joseph
  Feuerstein, MD

  Close

  Joseph Feuerstein, MD

  Fellowship 2007

  Founder and chief medical officer of Emma health, using AI technology for microbiology modulation and IBS. Was Director of Integrative Medicine at Stamford Hospital, one of the latest integrative medicine centers in country for 15 years. Certified in clinical hypnosis, acupuncture and have homeopathic physician license from state of CT. Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine - Columbia University, Quinnipiac University School of Medicine. Treated 45,000 patients - no medications.

  Authored and presented over 30 peer review articles and conference presentations in world of integrative medicine. 

  CT state Medical society health care leader and innovator award 2018, Virginia Apgar award for excellence in medical research and education, Fairfield County Medical Association 2020, 2021, 2022, 20323, 2024, 2025, New York magazine and Connecticut Magazine Top Doctor 2020 , 2021 , 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, Castle Connolly National Top Doctor.

  Regular guest weekly on the @ Zoe today show on the wood networks the largest faith based African-American TV network in the world, Co-host Successful Internet show “condition kitchen“ on every day (site gets 80 million views monthly) with international celebrity chef Daniel Green.

  Books: Dr. Joe's man diet- Page Street publishing/McMillan 2015; The cannabinoid cookbook- Co-authored with celebrity chef Daniel Green 2022 Mango Publishers - Number one - best seller on Amazon and category of herbs and spices.

• 

  Ken
  Hempstead, MD

  Close

  Ken Hempstead, MD

  Dr. Ken Hempstead is a general pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente in the Sacramento area. In addition to his clinical duties seeing patients, he spends a significant amount of his time as a Communication Consultant to other KP physicians. He performs training and coaching in a variety of different communication techniques. He is also considered an expert in vaccine communication and travels nationally to train audiences in how to have more effective and more pleasant conversations about vaccines.  

• 

  Scotty
  Johnson

  Close

  Scotty Johnson,

  Scotty Johnson, a native Arizonan, is a systems thinker, writer, ecologist, personal coach, composer, presenter, and workshop leader. The son of a country doctor in rural Arizona, he left a budding career in music forty years ago when a startling event caused him to shift course. Adopting his father's love for healing, he has since been driven by two passions?studying, practicing, and teaching ways to heal ourselves, and our planet.

   

  Understanding early the importance of the mind-body connection, he has since pursued a suite of modern and ancient healing modalities?all devised to restore physical and psychological equilibrium, within and without. He's worked as a professional conservationist and mindfulness yoga teacher, ecological lobbyist and breathwork facilitator, community organizer and shamanic practitioner, laughter yoga therapist, music therapist, and land restorationist.

   

  Blessed with renowned teachers, he studied or worked with luminaries like Dr. Stanislav Grof and Vice-President Al Gore, Dr. Andrew Weil and Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach and Sandra Ingerman, Dr. Madan Kataria, Dr. Richard Tarnas, and more. He is certified as a Holotropic Breathwork facilitator, Permaculture Design Specialist, and Laughter Yoga Teacher and Trainer. He has served on various governmental teams to protect species and on congressional advisory panels, like Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords Solar Advisory panel and Congressman Raul Grijalva's Climate Change Action committee.

   

  For the last few years he has focused on capturing in writing his ideas about personal and planetary healing. During that time, he has continued to broaden his studies. He's completed a novel, is working on recording of new musical compositions, and is currently sketching ideas and gathering information for a memoir. He also founded and now directs a 501 (c3) non-profit called Taproot Collaborative. Taproot's mission is integrative in focus, seeking to unite diverse perspectives to foster resilient ecosystems. Taproot's first project brings together cutting edge science with traditional Indigenous ecological wisdom. He also works part time as an ecological consultant, a personal coach, shamanic astrologer, and Holotropic Breathwork facilitator.

   

  Married for forty years, he currently lives in Tucson with his wife. Hiking and gardening are his favorite down-time pursuits.        

   

• 

  Anne
  Kennard, DO, FACOG

  Close

  Anne Kennard, DO, FACOG

  Fellowship 2017 Fall

  Anne Kennard is triple Board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Integrative Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine. She completed a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the highest honor of the College. She is a Clinical Herbalist, and registered yoga teacher, and holds a B.S. in Nutrition Science. She currently serves as the Program Director for the OB/Gyn residency at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA, and works clinically as an OB hospitalist.  

• 

  Ashley
  Koff, RD

  Close

  Ashley Koff, RD

  Ashley Koff, RD  is the founder of The Better Nutrition Program (BNP), nutrition course director for UC Irvine's Susan Samueli Integrative and Functional Medicine Fellowship, and author of the upcoming book, Your Best Shot (Harper One, January 6, 2026). A practitioner for over 25 years, Koff is leading a transformative movement in personalized nutrition, turning “better, not perfect” choices into practical, sustainable strategies that deliver real health outcomes. Through patient stories and personal experience, she shows that optimal health is not just possible—it's essential to living your fullest life. Koff has been recognized as one of CNN's Top 100 Health Makers, featured in InStyle as “Hollywood's Leading Dietitian,” and as Westin's Global Nutrition Ambassador. 

• 

  Wendy
  Kohatsu, MD, ABOIM, Dip.ABLM

  Close

  Wendy Kohatsu, MD, ABOIM, Dip.ABLM

  Fellowship Residential

  Residential Class of 1999

  Wendy Kohatsu, MD, ABOIM,  Dip.ABLM -- is an Associate Clinical Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. She graduated as one of the four inaugural Fellows in the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in 1999. She currently is the Director of the Integrative Medicine Fellowship, and Director of Culinary Medicine at the Sutter Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency program in Sonoma Co., CA. She is also board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine. She is the co-author of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet chapter in Rakel's Integrative Medicine textbook, and is also a CHEF ! -- she received her professional culinary degree from the Oregon Culinary Institute in 2008. She now teaches culinary medicine to her residents and students and will soon offer this to learners across the country. Dr. Kohatsu loves to scour farmers' markets for field-fresh ingredients, create tasty, healthy whole food recipes, and go wild in her kitchen-laboratory.    
• 

  Gondy
  Leroy, PhD

  Close

  Gondy Leroy, PhD

  Gondy Leroy, Ph.D., is Professor of MIS and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management. Her research focuses on natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) and has been funded by NIH, AHRQ, NSF, Microsoft Research, and several foundations. She earned a combined BS-MS (1996) in cognitive, experimental psychology from the Catholic University of Leuven (1996) in Belgium and a MS (1999) and PhD (2003) in management information systems from the University of Arizona. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Healthcare Informatics Research, Journal of Database Management, International Journal of Social and Organizational Dynamics in IT, Health Systems, Journal of Business Analytics, and co-chairs special issues, sessions, tracks, workshops, and conferences. She is the author of the book “Designing User Studies in Informatics (Springer, 2011). Finally, she mentors students from high school and through graduate school.  

• 

  Victoria
  Maizes, MD

  Close

  Victoria Maizes, MD

  Fellowship Residential

  Residential Class of 2000

  Dr. Victoria Maizes is an internationally recognized leader, change agent, and innovator in the field of integrative medicine. As the Founding Executive Director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona—where she also serves as a Professor of Medicine and Public Health—she has dedicated her professional life to transforming health care by educating physicians and empowering individuals to live healthier lives.

  Dr. Maizes stewarded the growth of the Program in Integrative Medicine from a small organization that trained four doctors each year into a world-renowned Center of Excellence. Under her leadership, the Center developed premier national and international educational programs that now train more than 1,000 doctors, nurses, medical students, residents and other health professionals annually. These integratively trained clinicians provide care to millions of people worldwide.

  Named one of the world’s "25 Intelligent Optimists" by ODE Magazine, Dr. Maizes is a highly sought-after speaker and the co-host of the acclaimed podcast Body of Wonder with Dr. Andrew Weil. Dr Maizes has received many honors and awards including the Inaugural Andrew Weil Endowed Chair in Integrative Medicine, the Bravewell Distinguished Service Award, and the Integrative Healthcare Symposium Leadership Award.

  Dr. Maizes wrote Heal Faster: Unlock Your Body's Rapid Recovery Reflex, to provide the tools for people to reclaim their health. She is also the editor of the Oxford University Press textbook Integrative Women’s Health and the author of Be Fruitful: The Essential Guide to Maximizing Fertility and Giving Birth to a Healthy Child.

  A summa cum laude graduate of Barnard College, Dr. Maizes received her medical degree from the University of California San Francisco Medical School, completed her Family Medicine residency at the University of Missouri, and her Integrative Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona. You can learn more about her on her website: DrVictoriaMaizes.com.

• 

  Geeta
  Maker-Clark, MD, ABOIM

  Close

  Geeta Maker-Clark, MD, ABOIM

  Fellowship 2010

  Dr. Geeta Maker-Clark MD, ABOIM is a nationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in the field of Integrative Medicine. She is the Director of Integrative Nutrition and Advocacy at Endeavor Health, Clinical Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Culinary Medicine program at the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. Geeta has spent two decades studying integrative medicine, nutritional science, botanical medicine, mind-body medicine, and natural childbirth in health clinics all over the world. She started the Food is Power program on the South Side of Chicago in Chicago Public Schools to empower youth with health literacy, through a curriculum that focuses on decolonized food education, food justice and sovereignty. Geeta was recognized as a national leader in food justice activism with a Castanea Fellowship from 2019-2022 and the Michael Pollan Fellowship in Food Journalism in 2021. She has been awarded by the American Nutrition Association, Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, and Integrative Health Symposium as a leader in health justice. She is passionate about sharing knowledge and experience to help communities thrive. Dr. Maker-Clark works with the South Asian domestic violence organization Apna Ghar to teach classes that feature culturally favored foods, and is in partnership with Urban Growers Collective- a Black- and women-led non-profit that cultivates eight urban farms on Chicago’s South Side, having created several food as medicine programs that reach thousands. Dr. Maker-Clark believes in transforming the way we think about medicine and looks to ancient wisdom and modern struggles as opportunities to heal with the medicines that are all around us. As a woman of color, a community organizer, and integrative physician and thought leader in the food as medicine movement, her work aims to help communities be well nourished- the heart of healing in our society and country.  

• 

  Elizabeth
  Markle, PhD, MA

  Close

  Elizabeth Markle, PhD, MA

  Dr. Elizabeth Markle is a licensed psychologist, speaker, writer, researcher, and Professor of Community Mental Health at California Institute of Integral Studies. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Open Source Wellness, a national nonprofit offering experiential behavioral health and wellness via a "Community As Medicine" approach in collaboration with healthcare providers, payors, and community based organizations. Dr. Markle earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Northeastern University and her M.A. in Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard University, and her postdoctoral training in Primary Care-Mental Health Integration at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. Dr. Markle is a thought leader in the field of health and wellness and has been sought-after as a consultant for her unique insights and expertise in clinic-community integration, innovative approaches to mental health, and group facilitation.

• 

  Sunita
  Mohanty, MBA, MA Ed.

  Close

  Sunita Mohanty, MBA, MA Ed.

  Sunita Mohanty is the CEO and co-founder of Vibrant Practice, with a mission build the operating system for modern medical practices. She sits at a unique intersection in perspective as an expert in AI product development and the business of functional / personalized health. She is a top AI product leader, advisor and investor who has built her career in Silicon Valley, most recently leading AI Experiences for Smart Glasses @ Meta. She previously was a founder within Meta's incubator and has led product teams for Oculus, Facebook Growth and Lumosity. Sunita is a trusted product advisor, helping startups and big tech companies alike build products that solve real problems and navigate AI Strategy for Leaders. She holds an MBA / MA Ed. from Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford Graduate School Of Education, and a BBA from The University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Sunita currently resides in Mill Valley, CA with her family and sits on the board of the Homeless Prenatal Program in San Francisco.  

• 

  Koshin
  Paley Ellison, MFA, LMSW, DMIN

  Close

  Koshin Paley Ellison, MFA, LMSW, DMIN

  Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison, MFA, LMSW, DMIN NYZC Co-Founder, President, & Guiding Teacher Author, Zen teacher, and Jungian psychotherapist Koshin Paley Ellison is recognized as one of today’s most thoughtful and trusted leaders in the contemplative medicine movement. With his husband, Chodo Campbell he co-founded the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, an educational non-profit dedicated to integrating contemplative approaches to care with contemporary medicine. Through Koshin’s leadership and vision, NYZC has developed transformational, collaborative training experiences: the Foundations in Contemplative Care and the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship. Today, New York Zen Center’s teachings and practices are internationally recognized — and have touched the lives of tens of thousands of individuals. As a renowned thought leader in contemplative care, Koshin’s work has been featured in the New York Times, PBS, CBS Sunday Morning and other media outlets. Koshin and Chodo were featured in Into the Night: Portraits of Life and Death, a documentary about facing our mortality and are also the focus of a forthcoming documentary about Buddhism in America for Dutch television. Koshin is the author of Untangled: Walking the Eightfold Path to Clarity, Courage, and Compassion (Balance/Hachette, 2022); Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up (Wisdom Publications, 2019), and the co-editor of Awake at Bedside: Contemplative Teachings on Palliative and End of Life Care (Wisdom Publications, 2016). Koshin began his formal Zen training in 1987, and he is a recognized Soto Zen Teacher by the American Zen Teachers Association, White Plum Asanga, and Soto Zen Buddhist Association. He serves on the Board of Directors at the Soto Zen Buddhist Association, New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care and Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. He has completed six years of training at the Jungian Psychoanalytic Association as well as clinical contemplative training at both Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center and New York Presbyterian Medical Center. Koshin has served as the co-director of Contemplative Care Services of the Department of Integrative Medicine and as the chaplaincy supervisor for the Pain and Palliative Care Department at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center, where he also served on the Medical Ethics Committee for eighteen years. Koshin is currently on the faculty of the University of Arizona Medical School’s Center for Integrative Medicine’s Integrative Medicine Fellowship, on Faculty of the Integrative Medicine Fellowship of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, and he is the visiting professor at the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics, of the University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston Medical School. Koshin is part of the core faculty for the Master of Arts in Buddhist Spiritual Care (MABSC), a collaboration between NYZC and University of the West (UWest).

• 

  Monica
  Patton, DCF

  Close

  Monica Patton, DCF

  Drumming Sounds is a community focused, highly active drum circle facilitation company; owned, operated and devoted to by loving partners  Andrew Ecker DCF  and  Monica Patton DCF , both trained in an evidence-based healing protocol called  HealthRHYTHMS . For us, drum circle is about more than just drumming; it is about the collective experience, building community, enhancing quality of life through experience and holding space for the individual to explore self through the whole, the community.

• 

  Julie
  Reardon, MD, ABOIM

  Close

  Julie Reardon, MD, ABOIM

  Fellowship 2011 Summer

  Dr. Julie Reardon believes in a completely integrative model of medicine.She recognizes the complexity of health and addresses the underlying cause of her patient's symptoms, taking into account the physical, spiritual, and lifestyle aspects of each patient's unique situation. After receiving a Magna Cum Laude degree in Psychology from Harvard University, she completed her medical training at The University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She is a Fellow of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, has extensive functional medicine training and experience and was in the first cohort to be board certified by ABOIM. In addition to including the latest evidence-based treatments in her practice, Dr. Reardon has turned to traditional medicine while integrating ancient wisdom to offer her patients a completely holistic and personalized approach. Dr Reardon lives with her family in Austin, Texas where she works to challenge herself and her patients to think outside the box to rewrite their health stories. Many of her patients benefit from vagus nerve support and she has explored many approaches in her practice and has some favorite tools she will share in this panel.  

• 

  Mari
  Ricker, MD FAAFP Dipl. ABOIM

  Close

  Mari Ricker, MD FAAFP Dipl. ABOIM

  Fellowship 2005

  Dr. Ricker graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in Biology and from the University of Arizona with her degree in Medicine. She completed her Family Medicine Residency at Oregon Health and Science University, in Portland Oregon. After residency, Dr. Ricker served as Chief Resident and Faculty Development Fellow. During this fellowship year Dr. Ricker also completed the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine though the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine and is certified as a diplomate of the ABOIM. 

  
  Dr. Ricker is a Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She practices outpatient Family Medicine. She is the Director for the Integrative Medicine in Residency Program at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.

• 

  Jennifer
  Roelands, MD

  Close

  Jennifer Roelands, MD

  Fellowship 2023 Spring

  Dr. Jennifer Roelands is redefining women’s healthcare through Precision Health MD, a personalized medicine practice treating the root causes of illness—not just the symptoms. With an elite academic foundation (UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, Duke University) and board certifications in both Integrative and Functional Medicine, she combines scientific expertise with holistic care to help women over 35 thrive through perimenopause and beyond. In 2024, she launched her YouTube channel to empower women with tools to reclaim their energy, balance their hormones, and promote longevity. Outside the clinic, she’s an avid hiker, a foodie, and the proud mother of four.

• 

  Marisa
  Soski, ND, MS, FABNO

  Close

  Marisa Soski, ND, MS, FABNO

  Dr. Marisa Soski, ND, MS, FABNO is a Naturopathic Doctor practicing in Boulder, CO. Her passion for nutrition started at an early age, kindled by her family's commitment to growing their own food and offering healthy options at the dinner table. This zeal continued to blossom and inspired her to pursue a Masters of Science in Nutrition along with her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR. Along the way she developed a strong interest in oncology after becoming disheartened by the lack of treatment options offered to cancer patients beyond chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, and has since dedicated her career to supporting this population. In 2022 she became a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO) and is honored to serve the Boulder community and beyond. She became certified in Food Story Coaching® when she noticed the essential need to engage her patients not only in nutrition education, but in meaningful conversation about their relationship with food.

• 

  Myles
  Spar, MD, MPH

  Close

  Myles Spar, MD, MPH

  Fellowship 2008

  Dr. Spar worked as a humanitarian for Doctors without Borders, which triggered his appreciation for the role of lifestyle and community as well as personal engagement in each person's ability to achieve their goals in health and life in general. Having practiced Integrative Men’s Health for many years, he now leads AndHealth’s clinical practice which delivers whole-person specialty care to patients with chronic diseases with a focus on accessibility and personalization. His passion is Medicine 3.0, personalized, preventive and participatory, with an added focus of a clearly defined sense of purpose, in order to extend healthspan and joy. Besides his Internal Medicine training. he completed formal training in Public Health and health services research at UCLA and in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine while establishing and running a free integrative medicine program at an FQHC in the L.A. area. For this work, he is the recipient of the prestigious Bravewell Leadership Award. He is board certified in Internal and Integrative Medicine. Dr. Spar was named Physician of the Year by the American Board of Integrative Medicine in 2023 and has pursued his passion for root-caused medicine through training in functional medicine and serving as chair of the American Board of Integrative Medicine. As a clinician, researcher, author, teacher, speaker for multiple media outlets and on the TedX stage, Dr. Spar went on to specialize in personalized medicine for patients focused on optimal performance and chronic illness. He wrote the book Optimal Men’s Health, published in 2020 with Oxford University Press. As a specialist in Integrative Men’s Health, he has advised NBA players, celebrities and executives on maximizing performance through optimizing health. He is on clinical faculty of the University of Arizona AWCIM Fellowship, the Academy for Integrative Health and Medicine Integrative Medicine Fellowship, and A4M, the American Academy for Anti-Aging Medicine. As an Ironman Athlete and Dad, Dr. Spar continues to push his own boundaries in fitness and connectedness.  

• 

  Paul
  Stamets

  Close

  Paul Stamets,

  Speaker, author, mycologist, medical researcher and entrepreneur, is considered an intellectual and industry leader in fungi: habitat, medicinal use, and production. He lectures extensively to deepen the understanding and respect for the organisms that literally exist under every footstep taken on this path of life. His presentations cover a range of mushroom species and research showing how mushrooms can help the health of people and planet. His central premise is that habitats have immune systems, just like people, and mushrooms are cellular bridges between the two. Our close evolutionary relationship to fungi can be the basis for novel pairings in the microbiome that lead to greater sustainability and immune enhancement.

   

  Paul's philosophy is that “MycoDiversity is BioSecurity.” He sees the ancient Old Growth forests of the Pacific Northwest as a resource of incalculable value, especially in terms of its fungal genome. A dedicated hiker and explorer, his passion is to preserve and protect as many ancestral strains of mushrooms as possible from these pristine woodlands. His research is considered breakthrough by thought leaders for creating a paradigm shift for helping ecosystems worldwide.

   

  Paul is the author of six books (including Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World, Growing Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms, and Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World), he has discovered and named several new species of psilocybin mushrooms.

   

  He has received numerous awards, including: Invention Ambassador (2014-2015) for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the National Mycologist Award (2014) from the North American Mycological Association (NAMA), and the Gordon & Tina Wasson Award (2015) from the Mycological Society of America (MSA). Paul's extensive work in the field of mycology has earned him an official induction into The Explorers Club (2020) and awarded the 2022 Eco Hero Award. His work has entered into the mainstream of popular culture. In the new Star Trek: Discovery series on CBS, the Science Officer is portrayed by an Astromycologist.... a Lt. Commander Paul Stamets. Paul's work with mycelium is a central theme of this series.

   

  Paul funds research to save rare strains of mushrooms that dwell within the old growth forests. He is a collaborator with numerous scientific organizations and research institutes. Currently he has tested extracts of these rare strains at the NIH (National Institutes of Health/Virology) and with Washington State University/United States Department of Agriculture against a wide panel of viruses pathogenic to humans, animals and bees.

   

  “We are now fully engaged in the sixth Major Extinction (“6 X”) on planet Earth. Our biosphere is quickly changing, eroding the life support systems that have allowed humans to ascend. Unless we put into action policies and technologies that can cause a course correction in the very near future, species diversity will continue to plummet, with humans not only being the primary cause, but one of the victims. What can we do? Fungi, particularly mushrooms, offer some powerful, practical solutions, which can be put into practice now.”

• 

  Sally
  St. John, MA, NBC-HWC

  Close

  Sally St. John, MA, NBC-HWC

  Sally St. John, MA, NBC-HWC is a well-being executive and a pragmatic idealist with seasoned entrepreneurial and planning instincts in both large to small organizations with a deep desire to inspire a world that values the strength of the whole. Her work lies at the intersection of community care and health care. She brings practical application to theoretical ideas to generate change and close gaps of care while strengthening the whole health delivery ecosystem. She is currently serving as the Director of Implementation Partnerships at Open Sources Wellness, an Oakland based health equity non-profit aiming to create solutions for accessing lifestyle medicine through a “behavioral health pharmacy” –prescriptions for clinicals to refer patients to lifestyle medicine support with group health coaching models like Community as Medicine® (CAM). In her role, she works across the US with community-based organizations, such as the YMCAs, and clinical partners, such as FQHCs to implement the CAM model. Prior to this role, Sally served at YMCA of the North as the VP of Well-being Integration. In partnership with Penny and Bill George and The George Family Foundation she led strategy and vision to evolve the legacy “swim and gym” model to a whole-person, community well-being model–spirit, mind and body. To do this, she led the integration of existing programming with new health and healing services requested by the community, such as acupuncture, bodywork, teaching kitchens and gardens, and health and wellness coaching. She believes by practicing integrative and holistic thinking, collaborative and transparent sharing, imaginative ideation, and human centered decision making—together we make the world a healthier place.  

• 

  Katie
  Takayasu, MD

  Close

  Katie Takayasu, MD

  Fellowship 2014 Summer

  Dr. Katie Takayasu is an Integrative Medicine physician, author of Plants First: A Physician's Guide to Wellness Through a Plant-Forward Diet, and speaker in the holistic health space, bridging the gap between traditional Western medicine and the evidenced-based complementary health tools of nutrition, acupuncture, meditation, botanicals and lifestyle optimization. Dr. Katie received her B.B.A. from the University of Michigan, her M.D. and M.B.A. from Wright State University, her Family Medicine Residency from Columbia University/New York Presbyterian where she served as Chief Resident, and her fellowship training from the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. She loves being with other people who bring her joy, especially her husband and two sons. Discover Dr. Katie and her collaborative healing center www.drkatie.com in Darien, CT, or on Instagram @DoctorKatie.  

• 

  Pamela
  Uschuk

  Close

  Pamela Uschuk,

  Pamela Uschuk's eight books of poem include Crazy Love, winner of an American Book Award and Refugee, Red Hen Press, 2022 (Named by Orion as one of their top 14 books of poems 2022 and by Kirkus Review as one of their ten top books of 2023). Red Hen released the 2nd Edition of Blood Flower in May 2025. Translated into more than a dozen languages, her work appears worldwide, including Poetry, Ploughshares, Agni Review, terrain.org etc. Her awards include Best of the Web, 2024 Pearl S. Buck Writer -In-Residence, Randolph College, the Struga International Poetry Prize (for a theme poem), Dorothy Daniels Writing Award from the National League of American PEN Women, and prizes from Ascent and Amnesty International. Editor-In-Chief of CUTTHROAT, A JOURNAL OF THE ARTS, Uschuk edited the anthologies, Truth To Power: Writers Respond To The Rhetoric Of Hate And Fear, 2017, Puro Chicanx Writers of the 21st Century, 2020, and Through the Ash, New Leaves, 2022, The Nature of Nature and Human Nature, 2023 and Taking Liberties, 2025. Pamela is a Senior Fellow and a Board member for the Black Earth Institute. She's finishing work on a multi-genre medical memoir titled Hope's Crazed Angels: An Odyssey Through The Whispering Disease. For further information, go to: http://www.cutthroatmag.com//  or http://www.pamelauschuk.com//  

• 

  Andrew
  Weil, MD

  Close

  Andrew Weil, MD

  Andrew Weil was born in Philadelphia in 1942, received an A.B. degree in biology (botany) from Harvard in 1964 and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1968. After completing a medical internship at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco, he worked a year with the National Institute of Mental Health, then wrote his first book, The Natural Mind.  From 1971-75, as a Fellow of the Institute of Current World Affairs, Dr. Weil traveled widely in North and South America and Africa collecting information on drug use in other cultures, medicinal plants, and alternative methods of treating disease. From 1971-84 he was on the research staff of the Harvard Botanical Museum and conducted investigations of medicinal and psychoactive plants.

  Dr. Weil is the founder of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, where he also holds the Lovell-Jones Endowed Chair in Integrative Medicine and is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Professor of Public Health. The Center is the leading effort in the world to develop a comprehensive curriculum in integrative medicine. Graduates serve as directors of integrative medicine programs throughout the United States. Through its Fellowship and Integrative Medicine in Residency curricula, the Center is now training doctors and nurse practitioners around the world.

  Dr. Weil is the editorial director of the popular website, Dr. Weil.com (www.drweil.com), and appears in video programs featured on PBS. He can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DrWeil and Twitter @drweil. Dr. Weil is the founder and Chairman of the Weil Foundation, and the founder and co-Chairman of Healthy Lifestyle Brands. He is also a founder and partner of the growing group of True Food Kitchen restaurants. In 2017, he joined Seabourn and The Onboard Spa by Steiner in their “Spa and Wellness With Dr. Andrew Weil” mindful-living program, offered on all of its cruise ships. Dr. Weil writes a monthly column for Prevention magazine and the popular Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing monthly newsletter. A frequent lecturer and guest on talk shows, Dr. Weil is an internationally recognized expert on medicinal plants, alternative medicine, and the reform of medical education. He lives in Tucson, Arizona, USA.

  Andrew Weil is the author of many scientific and popular articles and of 15 books: The Natural Mind; The Marriage of the Sun and Moon; From Chocolate to Morphine (with Winifred Rosen);  Health and Healing;  Natural Health, Natural Medicine; Spontaneous Healing; 8 Weeks to Optimum Health; Eating Well for Optimum Health:  The Essential Guide to Food, Diet, and Nutrition; The Healthy Kitchen: Recipes for a Better Body, Life, and Spirit (with Rosie Daley); Healthy Aging:  A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-Being; Why Our Health Matters: A Vision of Medicine That Can Transform Our Future (issued in paperback (with new content) as You Can't Afford to Get Sick); Spontaneous Happiness; True Food: Seasonal, Sustainable, Simple, Pure (with Sam Fox and Michael Stebner); Fast Food, Good Food; and the recent Mind Over Meds: When Drugs Are Necessary, When Alternatives Are Better – and When to Let Your Body Heal on Its Own. Oxford University Press is currently producing the Weil Integrative Medicine Library, a series of volumes for clinicians in various medical specialties with Dr. Weil as the series editor: Integrative Oncology (co-edited with Dr. Donald Abrams) (2009, rev. 2014); Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Pediatrics (2010) and Integrative Women's Health (2010, rev. 2015); Integrative Rheumatology and Integrative Cardiology (2011), and Integrative Gastroenterology (2011, rev. 2019), Integrative Men's Health and Integrative Dermatology (2014), and Integrative Nursing (2014, rev. 2018), Integrative Pain Management (2016), Integrative Environmental Medicine and Integrative Geriatric Medicine (2017), Integrative Preventive Medicine, Integrative Psychiatry and Brain Health, Integrative Sexual Health, and Integrative Addiction and Recovery (2018) have been published, with more volumes planned.