Meet our 2024 Conference Speakers
Sharon de Kadt, ND, PA-C
Pragmatic Approaches to Back Pain
This session is intended for Naturopaths who have, as part of their practice, the treatment of back pain. During this session, you will learn a number of tools that can be used to make the treatment of back pain more effective. These tools include ways to improve discernment of back pain and a myriad of options for pain relief, including both alternative and allopathic approaches, along with a hierarchy on how to use different approaches sequentially or in combination in order to be most effective. The session will also include demonstrations of unique techniques using manual traction to relieve pain for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.
About Dr. de Kadt
Sharon de Kadt, N.D., PA-C is licensed as a naturopathic physician by the State of Connecticut. She has been practicing in the New Haven, Connecticut area since 1987. Additionally, she has a Physician's Associate degree received from the Yale University School of Medicine in 1994.
Dr. de Kadt has a full-time private practice where she sees a variety of patients, with a focus on musculoskeletal issues. She has also worked as a Physician's Assistant in pediatrics and emergency medicine at Saint Raphael’s Hospital in New Haven.
Julie Greenberg, ND RH(AHG) MBA
Addressing the Root Cause of Eczema: The Gut Microbiome
While eczema is a complicated disease with multiple underlying pathologies, there is abundant evidence that a large part of the underlying root cause of eczema stems from gut microbiome dysfunction. This presentation will present the latest published research on the gut/skin connection as well as an overview on how to use functional medicine tests like stool tests and organic acid tests to determine and treat the root cause of eczema. In addition, new advances in pharmaceuticals, supplements, and botanicals for treating eczema will be covered. Eczema doesn’t just affect infants and kids; many people suffer with eczema well into adulthood. Dr. Greenberg will present an eczema case study with before and after photos and lab results. Attendees will leave this talk with an arsenal of new evidence-based clinical tools to confidently treat their patients’ toughest eczema problems using naturopathic medicine.
About Dr. Greenberg
Dr. Julie Greenberg is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and Registered Herbalist RH(AHG) who specializes in functional dermatology. She is the founder of The Center for Integrative & Naturopathic Dermatology Inc, a holistic clinic that approaches skin and hair problems by finding and treating the root cause. She is also the founder of RootCauseDermatology.com, a medical education website that trains functional medicine practitioners on how to treat dermatological conditions using her cutting-edge approach. Dr. Greenberg holds degrees from Northwestern University (BA), Stanford University (MBA) and Bastyr University (ND). Her research on the gut microbiome of acne patients has been published and presented at multiple conferences. She teaches dermatology classes at several naturopathic medical schools and is a highly sought after keynote speaker at conferences across the U.S. and internationally.
Maria Noël Groves, RH(AHG), Clinical Herbalist
Botanical Support for Menopause
Peri and post-menopausal clients are one of the groups most likely to seek naturopathic and herbal care for their wellbeing. Hot flashes, cardiometabolic shifts, insomnia, brain fog, mood changes, decreased stress resilience, thyroid imbalance, genital/urinary symptoms, and other reproductive complaints can surface or worsen during these hormonal fluctuations. Alongside a comprehensive naturopathic approach, botanicals are a powerful ally to nudge hormones and overall wellbeing into a better place. In this webinar we will discuss the benefits, nuance, energetics, safety, and differentials of several key herbals for clients in perimenopause, post-menopause, and surgical menopause as well as strategies to see the greatest impact from the herbs. Our herbs will include shatavari, peony, cannabis, hops, black cohosh, motherwort, damiana, fenugreek, maca, and vitex.
About Maria Noël Groves
Maria Noël Groves, RH (AHG), clinical herbalist, runs Wintergreen Botanicals, nestled in the pine forests of central New Hampshire. With more than 25 years of experience, her business is devoted to education via classes, consultations, and writing. Maria is the author of the award-winning, best-selling Body into Balance: An Herbal Guide to Holistic Self Care (available in several languages and a core textbook in herb schools worldwide), as well as Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies and the new Herbal Remedies for Sleep. She writes for various national publications and is a guest educator at the Herbal Academy, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, International Herb Symposium, and the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She is a registered professional herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild, trained as a western clinical herbalist by the Southwest School of Botanicals Medicine (Michael Moore) and Sage Mountain (Rosemary Gladstar). Learn more at WintergreenBotanicals.com.
Heather Hydzik ND
Managing Menopause While Minimizing Risks – New Data to Inform Hormone Prescribing
Since the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trials in 2002 and 2004 originally found increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke (with the use of oral conjugated equine estrogens with or without medroxyprogesterone acetate), there has been a longstanding fear of hormone therapy both among patients and prescribers causing many women to go through the menopausal transition without any medical treatment for their symptoms. Reanalyses of the WHI between 2008 and 2019 found that hormone therapy in the early postmenopausal years actually decreased coronary disease and all-cause mortality, and that estrogen monotherapy decreased breast cancer risk, however this new perspective failed to reach mainstream media. The question of hormone safety in women beyond 65 years remained unexplored until the recent publishing of a large-scale observational study involving 10 million women. The illuminating findings on the risks versus benefits of different hormone formulations and modes of delivery will help you and your older female patients make informed decisions about their care. Testing urinary hormones and metabolites can help identify patterns of metabolism and hormone detoxification associated with higher risk of hormone-driven cancers. Synthesize the most current research and the most up-to-date testing methods to individualize therapy for menopausal patients to elevate their quality of life and longevity.
About Dr. Hydzik
Dr. Hydzik is a naturopathic physician who provides functional solutions for patients with concerns involving hormone and neurotransmitter balance, digestive health, metabolic syndrome, fatigue/stress, insomnia, and more. In addition to seeing patients at her private practice, Dr. Hydzik is a staff doctor in the Clinical Education department at Doctor’s Data.
Her bachelor’s degree is in psychology from University of Southern California, and she earned her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine and certificate of midwifery at National College of Natural Medicine. She completed a residency in naturopathic primary care near Seattle.
Dr. Hydzik’s past work includes delivering babies in Bali and outreach work at a Chicago non-profit that served houseless individuals struggling with mental illness. She has presented lectures at numerous conferences, online seminars and to clinical associations and groups around the world.
Kelly Jennings, ND, LAc, MSOM and François Demange, MA
Psychedelic Renaissance, What You Need to Know as a Healthcare Practitioner.
Many of our patients and clients are seeking out psychedelic assisted therapies and entheogenic experiences to address chronic health issues and the dis-eases of disconnection, depression, loneliness, and a lack of meaning and purpose. It is important that we have an understanding of current therapies available, what their historical and practical uses are, and the context in which indigenous and native medicine traditions have used these substances for centuries, if not millennia. We’ll review addictive potential, contraindications and indications. We’ll cover pharmaceutical understanding of how we think these compounds work as well as leaving space for the mystery of healing that may be beyond our current understanding.
About Dr. Jennings and François Demange
Dr. Kelly Jennings is a naturopathic physician, Chinese medicine practitioner, and Qi Gong lineage holder of 15 years with a private practice in the Hudson Valley of NY. She’s informed by two decades of ritual practice and training with indigenous healers from the Shipibo, Mayan, Moshica, Daoist and Quechua traditions. She's mother to a mixed family of 5, daughter to a Chilean mamá and Aruban raised father and wife to a French/Peruvian. Her work is inspired by this question: How are we becoming the elders our children are yearning for?
François Demange is an internationally known healer who trained and studied in the Peruvian Amazon for eighteen years under the guidance of the Quechua-Lamistas, Aguarunas, and the Shipibo indigenous peoples of South America. He has since been in practice leading and teaching about traditional healing practices across the US, Europe, and Canada for 30 years. He comes as one of the most highly recommended practitioners and experts by many accredited scholars in the field of psychedelic study and by leaders in organizations dedicated to research in these fields. François is a Reiki master healer, a Sun Dancer with the Dakota Tipi nation of Canada and an initiate in the Bwiti tradition of Gabon. He brings these lineages and practices together in his teaching transmissions.
Penny Kendall-Reed, BSc Neurobiology, ND
A new approach to understanding and treating addictive behavior; naturopathic and genetic perspective
In this lecture you will learn why elevating dopamine levels in some individuals has an adverse effect and poor outcome. I will explain how understanding individual gene SNPs affecting the production, transportation, elimination, and the number of receptors for numerous neurotransmitters, not just dopamine, is key to understanding addictive behaviour and designing effecting treatment protocols. You will learn which are the key SNPs involved in addictive behaviour and how their expression changes not only the type and severity of addiction, but the treatment parameters required. You will also learn the significant impact that stress, inflammation and diet have upon both gene expression and neurotransmitter, medication or supplement receptor binding. Understand the complex interactions that result in addictive behaviour and how our genetic predisposition affects these interactions is essential to achieving effective and successful individualized management.
About Dr. Kendall-Reed
Dr. Penny Kendall-Reed, N.D., is a naturopathic doctor in Toronto. After graduating from McGill University in Neurobiology, she earned a degree in Naturopathic Medicine from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, where she received the Dr. Allen Tyler Award for Most Outstanding Clinician. Dr. Kendall-Reed is the author of six national best-selling books, including the recently released book, “Fix Your Genes to Fit Your Jeans,” which she co-authored with her husband, Dr. Stephen Reed. She was voted Naturopath of the Year in 2013, and in 2018 received the “Top Naturopathic Doctor” award in Canada. Dr. Kendall-Reed is the creator of the integrated genetic platform GeneRx.ca. She analyzes and interprets genetic profiles to design personalized health programs for patients worldwide. She is a medical consultant for Pure Encapsulations® and Douglas Laboratories® and the director of Natural Therapies at The Urban Wellness Clinic.
Corrie Marinaro, ND
Re-thinking the DSM diagnosis: Psychiatric Manifestations of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
Psychiatric conditions have traditionally been diagnosed and treated as neurotransmitter imbalance as a result of circumstantial stress, past trauma and/or family history. In this lecture we will review the literature connecting mast cell disorders and psychiatric diagnosis and the challenges particular to this patient population. We will then extrapolate these fundamental premises to integrative clinical approaches to understanding, managing and resolving the neuroinflammatory contributions to common psychiatric disorders.
About Dr. Abbott
Dr. Corrie Marinaro is the owner of New England Naturopathic Health, founded in 2012 in Waterville, Maine. She practices an Integrative Concierge Care model of medicine, specializing in Mast Cell Activation Syndromes, Auto-Immune Disease, Chronic Tick-Borne Illnesses, Mycotoxin Illness, Long-COVID Syndromes and Endocrine Dysfunction associated with these conditions. In her practice, she prioritizes patient education to empower patients to take control of their own health journeys. She is the past president of the Maine Association of NDs and the current conference chair.
Jaclyn Smeaton, ND
Autoimmune Infertility and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Immune balance is critically important for women to get and stay pregnant, and the understanding of the role of the immune system and inflammation in fertility and pregnancy has been growing. In this presentation, we will dive deep into how autoimmunity and immune dysregulation affect couples trying to conceive. We will cover lab testing and clinical approaches to identify women who would be appropriate for screening and discuss how to rebalance immune system function and achieve pregnancy.
About Dr. Smeaton
Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton, N.D. is a naturopathic physician and founder of Hello Fertility. For over 15 years, she has been the nation’s leading expert on integrative approaches to infertility, reproductive, and genitourinary health. She has helped hundreds of couples conceive when they thought there was no hope and has taught thousands of doctors her successful methods.
In addition to reproductive medicine, Dr. Smeaton has a diverse career spanning clinical laboratory work, dietary supplements, health technology and innovation, and strategic leadership and commercial strategy in the integrative medicine industry. She currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Precision Analytical, creators of the DUTCH Test.
She has served as adjunct faculty for Bastyr University, as President for both the New Hampshire Association of Naturopathic Doctors and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Dickson Thom, DDS, ND
Lecture 1: Clinical Pearls to Enhance Patient Outcomes in the Age of AI
Lecture 2: Case studies with practical applications of the tools reviewed in Lecture 1
We spend many efforts to be recognized by the conventional model of medicine. This presentation will allow you to stand out in your community and not be replaced by Chat GPT and Dr. Google. We will discuss present common functional testing such as saliva, urine, food allergy testing etc and what the results “really” tell you. What are the true underlying causes of chronic disease? And are there methods to be able to quickly assess the physiology of chronic illness?
Take much of the guess work out of our present diagnostics using modern technology as a key to support your patient's healing journey. A brief overview will include bio-impedance analysis, heart rate variability, digital pulse analysis of the cardiovascular system and contact regulation thermography. The results of these in-office tests will allow you to quickly make critical relevant decisions that will adapt your treatment plans to address chronic physiologic imbalances. Your patients will leave motivated, empowered, and inspired that these tools you have will bring a newfound approach to their health.
About Dr. Thom
Dr Thom has over 50 years of medical experience as a clinician and teacher to doctors, students, and the lay public in proven medical principles and business skills. A graduate from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry in 1974, his first Naturopathic degree from the Ontario College of Naturopathic Medicine in Canada in 1986 and in 1989, a second degree from NUNM in Portland, Oregon where he was the dean and a full-time professor for over 25 years. He has lectured extensively for over 40 years throughout the world and has written and collaborated on many articles dealing with energy medicines and nutrition, and is the author of 5 books, the most recent is Begin Again: Trauma, Disease, and Healing with The Brain Protocol & Bioregulatory Medicine. He is still practicing biological medicine in Scottsdale, AZ with a primary focus on chronic disease, endocrine disorders, neurological conditions, and cancer.
Heather Zwickey, PhD
Unveiling the Health Benefits of Life Purpose
The indisputable link between psychological well-being and physical health suggests that clinical practice must address sense of life purpose with patients to improve health outcomes. Life purpose and meaning significantly influence clinical health outcomes through multiple pathways, including stress reduction, healthier lifestyle choices, and enhanced social support. Individuals with a strong sense of purpose are less likely to develop chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, these individuals exhibit lower mortality rates and better overall health status. Integrating interventions that promote these psychological constructs into clinical practice could lead to improved health outcomes and overall well-being. This seminar will examine current research on interventions and strategies targeted to enhance life purpose and meaning in diverse populations and clinical settings.
About Dr. Zwickey
Heather Zwickey is recognized internationally as an expert and educator in the fields of integrative medicine, natural therapies and the immune system. Dr. Zwickey has been leading natural medicine research for 20 years. She has a Ph.D. in immunology and microbiology from the University of Colorado and completed her postdoc at Yale School of Medicine. Heather has two NIH-funded research grants and more than 100 publications. Heather speaks at conferences world-wide, sharing her enthusiasm for integrative medicine and science. She’s won many awards for teaching and currently teaches at the National University of Natural Medicine. Dr. Zwickey’s research focuses on Parkinson’s disease, nutrition, neuroinflammation, the microbiome, and the gut-brain axis.