ANNALISA BEHLING

ANNALISA BEHLING, ND received her Bachelors in Psychology at Duke University in Durham, NC and Doctorate degree from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, OR. NCNM is the premier institution of the five accredited Naturopathic medical schools in the country. With her doctorate she practices general family medicine with emphasis on natural and complementary therapeutics. Dr. Behling is clinically trained and experienced in nutritional medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, oriental medicine, naturopathic manipulation, Low Level Laser Therapy, physical medicine, botanical medicine, as well as psychological and lifestyle counseling. Dr. Behling also trained in Leuven, Belgium for Homeopathy and in Stockholm, Sweden for Medical Laser Therapy and has experience working with musculoskeletal pain management and women’s health concerns including PCOS, Endometriosis, Fertility, and Fibroids. She also has clinical experience with cancer, HIV/AIDS, anxiety and depression, ADHD, dermatitis, back pain, and other conditions. Dr. Behling is also the Vice-President of the Michigan Association of Naturopathic Physicians (MANP); Practitioner member of American Holistic Health Association (AHHA) and American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), and NAET.

MARY COYLE

MARY COYLE, D.I. Hom Both a homeopath and the director of the Real Child Center in New York City, Mary offers consultation services to parents of children with ASD wishing to utilize homotoxicology and German Biological Medicine. Mary’s own child, now college age, was one of the first to successfully implement the program back in 1996. The Real Child Center current employs three freelance practitioners who have either recovered or greatly improved their own ASD child’s health using this methodology. The Center works in conjunction with a host of other healthcare practitioners and facilities, and functions collectively in order to gain the best results for each child.

Devra Davis

DEVRA DAVIS

DEVRA DAVIS, PhD founded the non-profit Environmental Health Trust in 2007 to provide basic research and education about environmental health hazards and promote constructive policies locally, nationally and internationally. Visiting Professor of the Hebrew University Medical Center, and Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine of Samsun, Turkey, Daviswas Founding Director, Center for Environmental Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and Professor of Epidemiology at the Graduate School of Public Health (2004-2010) and Founding Director, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology of the U.S. National Research Council (1983-1993). She has served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Visiting Professor at Mt.Sinai School of Medicine, Oberlin College and Carnegie Mellon University. An award-winning scientist and writer, Davis’ work has appeared in more than a dozen languages. She was designated a National Book Award Finalist for When Smoke Ran Like Water (2002, Basic Books). Her most recent book, Disconnect, selected by TIME magazine as a top pick in 2010, received the Silver Medal from Nautilus Books for courageous investigation for the paperback edition in 2013, was identified by Project Censored as “the news that didn’t make the news,” and is the subject of multi-media international policy-making attention–including a special edition released in India, 2014. Davis is the author of more than 200 scientific publications, 10 edited monographs, and three popular books. The Secret History of the War on Cancer was a top pick by Newsweek that influenced national cancer policy by the Cancer Association of South Africa, and is being used at major schools of public health, including Harvard, Emory, and Tulane University. Among the NAS reports she directed were those advising that tobacco smoke be removed from airplanes and the environments of young children.

KELLY DORFMAN

KELLY DORFMAN, MS, LND Certified Integrative Nutritionist, Washington DC, is one of the world’s foremost experts on using nutrition therapeutically to improve brain function, energy and mood. She works collaboratively with other medical professionals to help people develop creative strategies to address complex ailments and symptoms. After identifying core issues she employs tried-and-true strategies grounded in research to attain the best results over time. Kelly’s special talent for integrating information from many sources and finding practical solutions has made her a popular speaker and workshop leader. She lectures extensively and is a member of Platform (formerly the National Speakers Association) and has been featured on numerous television programs including CNN’s American Morning and Fox News. One of Kelly’s special interests is children. Her award winning book, Cure Your Child With Food: The Hidden Connection Between Nutrition and Childhood Ailments, was reissued by Workman Press in June 2013. Publishers Weekly’s rave review claimed the book was full of “fascinating and potentially life-changing advice.” Marguerite Kelly wrote in the Washington Post, “her insights are excellent, and her advice is just what you need.” Kelly has a master’s degree in nutrition/biology and is a licensed nutrition dietitian. She resides in Maryland with her husband and has three children.

VICKI KOBLINER

VICKI KOBLINER, MS RD, CD-N, is a Registered Dietitian and owner of Holcare Nutrition (www.holcarenutrition.com). She practices using a functional nutrition approach to help the body heal itself has extensive experience using various diet modalities to help children with autism and related disorders. Vicki works with infants through adults with chronic illnesses, digestive disorders, food allergies, ADHD and autism and provides fertility and prenatal nutrition counseling. She is a contributing author to A Compromised Generation: The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in Americas Children. She can be reached at [email protected].

AUBREY LANDE

AUBREY LANDE, MS, OTR is a Boulder-based occupational therapist with over 25 years experience specializing in Sensory Processing Disorder. Since 1998, she has run successful programs in therapeutic horseback riding and aquatic therapy. Her multimedia ‘treatment tools’ include musical and rhythmic recordings, available from Sensory World, help children attain and maintain therapeutic change. The audio products are widely used in homes and schools internationally, and are considered early and effective examples of listening therapy. Aubrey has taught at Arapahoe Community College and Naropa University in Colorado, and consulted in Nicaragua, India, South Africa, Scotland and Kuwait. She is an award-winning singer for the independent jazz label, Synergy, and performs frequently with her husband, Art Lande.

SARAH MAVRINAC PHD

Dr. Sarah Mavrinac is a Harvard-trained academic, an award-winning social entrepreneur, and an impassioned advocate of wellness lifestyles. Dr. Mavrinac launched her professional career as aprofessor of international accounting and finance, holding faculty positions in Canada and later at INSEAD, one of the world’s leading international business schools. In 2006, Sarah left INSEAD to launch aidha, her first social enterprise, providing business and financial education to impoverished migrant women in Singapore. aidha is now one of Singapore’s most prominent NGOs, enriching the lives of thousands of migrant women and their family members each year. Sarah was recognized for her leadership of aidha and for her innovative curriculum design first as Singapore’s International Woman of the Year and, in 2009, as a Schwab Fellow of the World Economic Forum (WEF). In 2012, following her family’s move to Abu Dhabi, Sarah’s interests turned from finance and economics to child development and wellness. To support her son in his recovery from autism, Sarah retrained as a health and wellness coach and in the culinary sciences. She also invested heavily in building the Charisma Kidz, Ask Alec, and Al Kheir initiatives, all of which offer wellness and/or social learning activities to children and teens. Most recently, Dr. Mavrinac has committed to the development of Azoki, a regenerative health initiative, serving the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Nancy O'Hara MD

NANCY O’HARA

NANCY O’HARA MD MPH FAAP is a board-certified pediatrician who specializes in treating PANS, PANDAS and BGE and other neurodevelopmental disorders. She is a leading trainer and mentor of clinicians in the U.S. and globally, educating medical professionals to recognize, diagnose and treat PANS, PANDAS and BGE. Dr. O’Hara graduated with highest honors from Bryn Mawr College, as part of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She earned her Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh, and completed her residency, chief residency and general pediatric fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. Before she began her medical career, Dr. O’Hara taught children with autism. From 1993 to 1998 Dr. O’Hara was a practicing general pediatrician and partner in a group practice. In 1999, she began her consultative, integrative practice for children with special needs, dedicating her practice to treating children with neurodevelopmental disorders, ADHD, PANS/PANDAS and BGE, OCD, Lyme, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

RANDY SCHULMAN

RANDY SCHULMAN OD FCOVD is a behavioral optometrist. The behavioral optometrist recognizes that vision is a dynamic process that is learned and directly effects how we think, how we solve problems, and how we feel. The behavioral practitioner is concerned not with just what you see but, how you see, and how efficiently you use your eyes. We treat the whole person, looking at how the visual system functions and emphasize prevention, education, and remediation. Dr. Schulman graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania where she received her degree in psychology. She then went on to the State University of New York College of Optometry where she graduated with both her Doctor degree and Masters degree in vision science. Her internships included pathology and vision therapy with emphasis on pediatrics, infant vision, and learning disabilities. Dr. Schulman is a Clinical Associate of the Optometric Extension Program and a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.

Risa Sloves

RISA MICHELE SLOVES

RISA MICHELE SLOVES, DC, DICCP, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from The State University of New York at Binghamton with a B.S. in Biology. She received her Doctorate in Chiropractic in 1990 graduating Valedictorian, Summa Cum Laude from the National College of Chiropractic and then received her Diplomate from the International Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics graduating valedictorian from the New York College of Chiropractic. For the past 25 years, she has been in private practice in Norwalk, Connecticut with her husband, Dr. Mark Joachim who also specializes in BioSET Allergy Elimination, Science Based Nutrition and Functional Medicine. Dr. Sloves is currently one of nine Chiropractic Physicians in Connecticut to have a three-year post-doctorate degree and Board Certification in Maternity and Pediatric Care. Dr. Sloves focuses on providing exceptional chiropractic treatment for all aspects of pre- and post-natal care, and she is certified in both the Webster and Bagnell Techniques as well as acupuncture. In addition, she provides pediatric chiropractic care including cranial sacral treatment for children of all ages and abilities and she has several certifications in scoliosis management and treatment. Dr. Sloves is very involved in her community as she has been the Fairfield County Leader of the Holistic Moms Network since 2004 and in 2009 she founded Women of Wellness, an educational and support network for pre- and post-natal and early family care in Fairfield County.

Sonia Story

SONIA STORY

SONIA STORY developed the Brain and Sensory Foundations neuro-movement online curriculum to meet the enormous need for effective sensory-motor integration tools that can be applied to help overcome a wide variety of learning, behavioral, emotional, social, physical and mental health challenges. Sonia Story is certified as an instructor of Rhythmic Movement Training and was taught directly by Harald Blomberg, MD, and Moira Dempsey, authors of the book, ‘Movements That Heal’. Sonia draws from a wide variety of Neurodelopmental and Integrative Movement methods, including, MNRI, QRI, Bal-A-Vis-X, Brain Gym, Developmental Movement, Hannah Somatics, and Touch for Health. She teaches these profound movements to parents, OTs, PTs, SLPs, educators, mental health therapists, and caregivers, and her company, Move Play Thrive is an approved provider through the American Occupational Therapy Association. Learn more at www.moveplaythrive.com

SHELLEY STRAVITZ

SHELLEY STRAVITZ, Ed.D Over the last 25 years, Dr. Shelley has developed a nationwide consulting practice that offered autism education, collaboration, and support for parents, clinicians, and educators toward autism optimal outcomes. She received her doctorate in Educational Leadership for Change: Autism Optimal Outcomes. As a scholar-practitioner, and a researcher, Dr. Shelley completed an evaluation study of the relationship-based, multi-disciplinary intervention program that she developed. She published the extensive quantitative and qualitative evidence that resulted. The responses of parents, clinicians, educators, family, and community stakeholders demonstrated the effectiveness of this parent-led intervention program. They had developed their own customized interventions that focused on the child’s unique autism profile to achieve optimal outcomes. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Parents as Partners: The Autism Education and Change Network, which is a non-profit, web-based parent educational platform focused on parent empowerment through developmental, relationship-based “understandable” education, which addresses the underlying causes of a child’s autism toward remediation of the reasons for the presentation of his/her outward symptoms of autism. Prior to her own family’s journey through severe autism, Dr. Shelley graduated with her BA and MS Ed., magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She is an experienced educator pre-K-12 and a Master’s-level teacher trainer. Dr. Shelley has helped families across the United States to co-create parent-led interventions (and appropriate parent-professional partnerships) to meet their children’s individual, multi-disciplinary intervention needs to move toward optimal outcomes. Dr. Shelley’s training and certifications include, but are not limited to, the Son-Rise Program® and Option Process ™ Dialogue, the DIR/Floortime Model, Tomatis Center-based training, Therapeutic Listening, Sensory Defensiveness, The Alert Program, Sensory Integration and Processing, The M.O.R.E. Program for Oral-Motor Development, Developmental Vision, Hippotherapy, Animal-assisted Therapies, Communicating Partners, appropriate biomedical interventions and C.A.M. interventions, and group leadership. Dr. Shelley’s additional areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, anthropology, communication, ethology, leadership theory and practice, motivational theory, psychiatry, physiology of the brain, genetics, neurology, environmental sciences, epigenetics, developmental psychology, neuro-linguistic-programming, government and federal agency policies, federal and by state special education mandates, APA policies, AAP policies, and stakeholder disparities. She presents at conferences and in large, small, and individual group settings. Dr. Shelley was an original Advisory Board Member of Developmental Delay Resources, on the Advisory Board of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders, a founding member of The Floortime Foundation, and is currently a member of the Professional Advisory Board of Epidemic Answers.

GAIL SZAKACS

GAIL SZAKACS, MD is board certified in Internal Medicine. She graduated from Hamilton College in 1995 with honors. After three years of working in the healthcare field and doing medical research, she attended St. George’s University School of Medicine where she was a member of the Iota Epsilon Alpha International Medical Honor Society. After completing her Internal Medicine residency at St. Michael’s Medical Center (a Seton Hall University program) in Newark, NJ, Dr. Szakacs worked as a Hospitalist in CT. Through personal involvement with Autism, she met Dr. O’Hara and in September 2006, Dr. Szakacs began a mentor program with Dr. O’Hara and subsequently joined her practice in January 2007. In July 2008, Dr. Szakacs and Dr. O’Hara became partners and opened Optimal Health Initiatives, LLC.