2019 Integrative Dermatology Symposium Lectures

Dr. Lawrence Eichenfield is chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, as well as vice chair of the Department of Dermatology and a professor of dermatology and pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

Dr. Eichenfield earned his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, was a pediatric resident and chief resident at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and completed dermatology training at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is board certified in pediatrics, dermatology and pediatric dermatology.

Dr. Michael Traub's father was a dermatologist, and this inspired him to become the leading expert in skin in the naturopathic profession. He has taught dermatology at five of the seven accredited naturopathic medical schools in North America and is the author of “Essentials of Dermatologic Diagnosis and Integrative Therapeutics.” He has been medical director of Lokahi Health Center in Kailua Kona, Hawaii for the past 32 years. He has been actively engaged in clinical research throughout most of his career. His most recent investigation is “Efficacy and Safety of Kamedis Eczema Treatment in Children and Adults with Atopic Dermatitis.”

Dr. Neal Bhatia is a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego, California. He serves as Director of Clinical Dermatology at Therapeutics Clinical Research. He is as chief medical editor for Practical Dermatology.He has a background in immunology and has interests in mechanisms of therapy, skin cancer, and medical dermatology. Aside from teaching at medical conferences, he sits on several editorial boards and is an active teacher for dermatologists, industry, and patients.

Mazin Al-Khafaji is the founder and director of Avicenna Centre for Chinese Medicine, Avicenna Skin Clinic and Dermatology-M.

He is recognized as the leading expert in the field of dermatology and Chinese medicine in the West, and over the past three decades has taught thousands of students worldwide.

Mazin started his studies in Chinese medicine and the Chinese language in 1979. He graduated as an acupuncturist in the UK in 1983 and thereafter continued his studies in China for four years as one of the first Western students to do so. He was awarded the first Sino-British scholarship to study alongside Chinese students at a TCM school and graduated from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shanghai in 1987 as Doctor of Chinese Medicine.

Since his return from China in 1987, he has taught Chinese medicine to new generations of herbal practitioners worldwide and is respected as one of the most inspirational teachers and clinicians in the TCM world today.

Dr. Peter Lio is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, completed his internship in Pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital, and his Dermatology training at Harvard where he served as Chief Resident in Dermatology. Dr. Lio is the founding director of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center and has spoken nationally and internationally about atopic dermatitis, as well as alternative medicine.

Dr. Vivian Shi, MD is an Associate Professor of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where she directs the Eczema Clinic and Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinic.

Dr. Shi received her undergraduate degree in physiological sciences from UCLA, and
subsequently spent a year performing research on gene regulation in pathogenic bacteria in the department of microbiology at UCLA. She learned her medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. During that time, she also completed a fellowship in the Skin Immunology Laboratory. She was an integral part of the team characterizing the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis. She then completed her internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago – NorthShore Health System, followed by a dermatology residency at the University of California, Davis, where she also served as chief resident.

Dr. Shi’s research and clinical interests are in complex inflammatory skin conditions (such atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and psoriasis), skin barrier repair, transepidermal drug delivery, and integrative dermatology. She has served as the principal investigator for numerous industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated clinical and translational studies. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and is the editor for two reference dermatology textbooks on atopic dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa. She is on the Board of Directors for the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation, advisory board of the National Eczema Association, and is a member of the International Eczema Council.

After finishing Medical School and Dermatology Residency at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Bodemer completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. She was the first Dermatologist to be board certified in both Dermatology and Integrative Medicine and currently is the only Dermatologist to serve on the Integrative Medicine Board. She has authored academic texts and curriculum and has spoken widely on a variety of topics related to Integrative Dermatology. She has always been drawn to exploring how lifestyle choices impact skin health and disease and feels that the most powerful role a physician can play is as an educator and guide, empowering people to get healthy and stay healthy.

Dr. Raja Sivamani is a board-certified dermatologist and practices as an integrative dermatologist at Pacific Skin Institute. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the University of California, Davis and Director of Clinical Research and the Clinical Trials Unit.He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the California State University, Sacramento and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at California Northstate University, College of Medicine.He engages in clinical practice as well as both clinical and translational research that integrates bioengineering, nutrition, cosmetics, and skin biology. With training in both Allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine, he takes an integrative approach to his patients and in his research.He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research manuscripts, 10 textbook chapters, and a textbook entitled Cosmeceuticals and Active Cosmetics, 3rd Edition with a passion for expanding the evidence and boundaries of integrative medicine for skin care.

Anupama (Anu) is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, licensed acupuncturist and certified yoga teacher. She graduated in Ayurvedic Medicine from Mangalore University in India, received a Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) and her Ph.D. from Walden University. She is currently the Program Director and professor for Ayurvedic Medicine and provides clinical services for SCU Health System. In her clinical practice she integrates diet, yoga, lifestyle counseling, herbs and various body work therapies individualized to the patient’s condition. Her main interests are managing musculoskeletal condition, mental health, women’s health and preventative care.

Amy currently has a consultation practice www.lasyawellness.com, based on herbalism, Ayurveda and functional health, and also is the director and teacher at her herbal school, The Northern California School of Botanical Studies, www.schoolofbotanicalstudies.com in Sacramento, CA.

Dr. Rajani Katta is a board-certified dermatologist, the author of nine books, and a member of the clinical faculty of both the Baylor College of Medicine and the McGovern Medical School. She is the author of numerous medical journal articles on the link between skin and diet and allergic reactions of the skin. 

Her latest book, Glow: The Dermatologist's Guide to a Whole Foods Younger Skin Diet, provides an evidence-based and practical approach to eating for younger skin. She maintains a blog at www.KattaMD.com.

Dr. Michelle Jeffries is an Integrative Dermatologist in private practice in Phoenix, AZ. She is a triple board-certified osteopathic physician in Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Integrative Medicine. Dr. Jeffries also has a Masters degree in Psychology and is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. Her training and background has led her to a unique individualized holistic approach to skin health that blends mind, body and spirit with skincare. To learn more about Dr. Jeffries and Integrative Dermatology visit www.drmichellejeffries.com.

Dr. Anna Nichols is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Her clinical and research interests are focused on preventing nonmelanoma skin cancer, developing novel, cost-effective ways to treat tumors non-invasively, complicated medical dermatology and integrative dermatology. She spearheads a High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic dedicated to serving patients at risk for multiple or aggressive nonmelanoma skin cancers, such as solid organ transplant recipients.

Board-certified in cardiovascular disease, internal medicine and Integrative Holistic Medicine, Dr. Mimi Guarneri is President of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) and the Past President of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM) and served as Senior Advisor to the Atlantic Health System for the Chambers Center for Well Being, among other healthcare systems. Dr. Guarneri currently serves on the Founding Board of the American Board Physician Specialties in Integrative Medicine (ABOIM), and is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She is co-founder and medical director of Guarneri Integrative Health, Inc. at Pacific Pearl La Jolla in La Jolla, California, U.S.A. since 2014, where she leads a team of experts in Conventional, Integrative and Natural Medicine.

Dr. Paul J. Mills is Professor and Chief at the UC San Diego Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Director of the UC San Diego Center of Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health, and Director of Research for The Chopra Foundation. He has expertise in clinical trials and Integrative Medicine.

Dr. Aric Prather is an associate professor in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and the director of the UCSF Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program. His research focuses on the inter-relationship between psychological stress and sleep as dynamic predictors of physical and mental health. His research utilizes epidemiologic, naturalistic, and laboratory based studies to understand the extent to which sleep disturbance serves as a critical behavioral pathway to poor health. With specialized training in psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), he primarily focuses on immune outcomes implicated in infectious disease, inflammatory conditions, and accelerated immunosenescence. He is also a licensed clinical-health psychologist who specializes in treating Insomnia Disorder using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Glen Stein is a partner of Integrative Dermatology, the countrys largest independent dermatology practice. He is a founding partner and board member of Duvera Financial, a consumer finance company. Glen Stein began his career in New York City, first as a transactional lawyer at Pillsbury Winthrop, then as an investment banker in the securitization group of Prudential Securities. He is an expert at capital markets strategies. Previously served as Chief Financial Officer for First Capital, the largest independent asset-based lender and factoring company in the U.S., through its sale in 2015 to Ares Management, Sterling National Bank and Seacoast Bank. Earlier in his career Glen served in management positions in several commercial lending and technology businesses. He is an expert at specialty finance, including commercial, consumer and real estate lending.

Glen Stein attended Amherst College and Columbia Law School. He is the Chair of Constituency Board for Florida Atlantic University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Glen is also a board Member for the Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program at Florida Atlantic University and a member of the Young Presidents Organization.

Dr. Payal Bhandari is a leading practitioner of integrative and functional medicine and the founder of SF Advanced Health. She combines traditional Western and Eastern medicine with a strong background in nutrition, Ayurveda, stress, and sleep management. Dr. Bhandari specializes in the digestive, immune, and endocrine systems. She incorporates the best scientifically proven strategies to understand the root cause of illness. Typically her patients have worked with many subspecialists and are at their wits’ end going from doctor to doctor without any significant reversal of their disease. Dr. Bhandari delivers personalized medicine and helps restores patients’ health effectively.

Dr. Olivia Hsu Friedman holds a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, completed an additional diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology and is a NCCAOM board licensed Illinois acupuncturist. She is the owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions and treats dermatology patients in office and via video conference using only herbal medicine. Outside of the office, Olivia serves as a Board Member for the American Society of Acupuncturists and as faculty for the Chicago Eczema Support Center.

Dr. Judith Hong is a board-certified dermatologist at a private practice in Santa Rosa, California. After completing medical school and residency training at UCSF, she moved to Sonoma County and developed an interest in meditation, qigong, and reiki practices. She is a certified reiki-teacher master and enjoys doing reiki for friends, colleagues, and patients.

Dr. Katlein França is Assistant Professor at the Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Faculty at Institute for Bioethics & Health Policy, University of Miami School of Medicine. She is the President of the World Health Academy of Integrative Dermatology. She is author or editor of 7 dermatology textbooks including Advances in Integrative Dermatology, Stress and Skin Disorders and Trichotillomania: Clinical Characteristics, Psychological Interventions and Emotional Effects.

Trevor Erikson is a Registered Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the province of British Columbia, Canada, where he has been practicing for the past 14 years (2005). He has focused the majority of his post-graduate training on dermatology, allergy and inflammatory disease, which includes observing in the busy dermatology department in Hunan’s #1 TCM Hospital in Chengsha, China (2005), as well as completing Mazin Al-Khafaji’s prestigious Chinese medicine dermatology diploma program in London, England (2007). For more than a decade, Trevor has been using herbal medicines to help patients overcome a wide range of complicated skin diseases, allergic rhinitis and asthma, as well as other inflammatory disorders such as Colitis. Trevor currently practices out of his own private clinic in South Surrey, BC.

Ms. Goldstein has been featured on ABC Good Morning America, NBC Telemundo, MARTHA, Bravo.com and Sirius radio. She is the author of her book Your Best Face Now: Look Younger in 20 Days With The Do-It-Yourself Acupressure Facelift and the Touch+Glow®: Beauty-Enhancing Acupressure Facelift Kit. She is an instructor at Tri State College of Acupuncture (TSCA) in Manhattan, NY teaching advanced cosmetic acupuncture and writes distance learning courses in cosmetic acupuncture for acupuncturists around the country.

Dr. Leslie Baumann is internationally known for her contributions to the field of cosmetic dermatology. She founded the University of Miami Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute in 1997- the first academic institute in the US dedicated to cosmetic dermatology. She served as Professor of Dermatology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine until 2006 when the Institute became independent from the University and the name changed to the Baumann Cosmetic and Research Institute.

Dr. Tacita Robertson is passionate about helping patients have a high quality of life. She is board certified in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine and is training with the Aesthetic and Anti-Aging World Congress in Europe. Dr. Tacita’s core specialties include: hormone optimization, regenerative aesthetics, hair restoration, sexual wellness, and dermatology. She believes that sacrificing ones internal health to look good is never worth it. This has led her to innovate new products and protocols to get meaningful results without toxic side effects. Dr. Tacita leads a busy private practice in Kirkland, WA.

Dr. Mamta Jhaveri is a board-certified dermatologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She specializes in atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and chronic urticaria. She conducts research focused on integrative medicine in dermatology, including the role of meditation and herbal therapies.

Dr. DeJarra K. Sims, known by her patients as Dr. DJ,  is a Naturopathic Doctor, published author, and prolific speaker. She received her Bachelor's in Biology from Prairie View A&M University, in Texas, and she completed her doctorate at Sonoran University of Health Sciences in Phoenix (formerly SCNM). She has served as an Assistant Professor and Core Faculty at Bastyr University California teaching Dermatology and Business Practices and as a former Adjunct Clinical Professor at Sonoran University. 

Dr. DJ established her virtual clinic Superhero SkinCare to remind women of their identity and bring out the adventurous, gorgeous superhero that exists within them. To do this, she provides personalized treatment plans to improve the skin, reset the liver, balance hormones, and support digestion.

Dr. DJ is a well-known keynote speaker, who has given talks at medical conferences and even Comic-Con! Her training in improvisational comedy at The Finest City Improv in San Diego and The Second City in Hollywood has helped her create lively and energetic presentations that keep audiences engaged as they learn. 

Dr. Jennifer Hsiao is an Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Southern California (USC). She is dedicated to improving the medical care and quality of life for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa through direct patient interaction as well as research. She is also interested in management of skin conditions in pregnant and breastfeeding patients. In addition to her clinical work, she is also passionate about medical education, and enjoys teaching medical students and residents.

Heather Zwickey, PhD, earned a Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbiology from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Dr. Zwickey went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship and teach medical school at Yale University. At the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, Dr. Zwickey is the founder the Helfgott Research Institute and established the School of Graduate Studies, developing programs in research, nutrition, and global health among others. She currently leads an NIH funded clinical research training program. She teaches at many universities and speaks at conferences world-wide. At Helfgott Research Institute, Dr. Zwickey applies her immunology expertise to natural medicine,with specific interest in the gut-brain axis in neuroinflammation.

Natalie Gustafson, PharmD, specializes in a holistic approach to medicine, with a focus on how compounded medications can help accomplish this goal. She’s been published in NDNR where she discussed optimal thyroid management and is an invited speaker for the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), the Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OANP), Central Oregon Health Council, Hawaii Doc Talks, the British Columbia Naturopathic Association (BCNA) and Institute of Women’s Health & Integrative Medicine (IWHIM) to name a few. During the day, she can be found practicing as a compounding pharmacist and ensuring compliance and quality, where she is the owner and Director of Pharmacy at Lloyd Central Compounding Pharmacy.