2023 Integrative Dermatology Symposium Lectures

Ammar M Ahmed is an associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Dermatology, at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr Ahmed has served as program director of the dermatology residency program since 2017 and practices general dermatology with an interest in complex medical dermatology, disorders of pigmentation, and integrative treatment approaches. He serves on the Association of Professors of Dermatology Program Director Steering Committee. He has served on the board of directors for the national Skin of Color Society as well as multiple American Academy of Dermatology committees related to education. Dr. Ahmed’s research interests center around vitiligo and dermatologic education.

Dr. Anna Cabeca is triple board certified in Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrative Medicine, and Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, as well as an expert in Functional Medicine, menopause, and women’s sexual health. She specializes in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and natural alternatives, successful menopause, and age management medicine. Dr. Cabeca earned her medical degree from Nova-Southeastern University of the Health Sciences in Florida. Since completing her residency at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, she has maintained a private practice in Southeast Georgia.

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. Asmi Berry, a board-certified dermatologist, is on a transformative mission to redefine skincare. With a focus on uncovering underlying imbalances that impact skin health, she delved into the principles of Ayurveda—an ancient healing system emphasizing balance and natural remedies. Dr. Berry's unique approach incorporates the power of diet and nutrition, complementing medical and cosmetic treatments. Through personalized care, she addresses both visible signs of skin issues and their root causes, empowering patients to achieve healthy, radiant skin that reflects their unique beauty.

Dr. Berry's credentials include an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, a Medical Degree from LECOM, Dermatology Residency Training at Orlando Dermatology, a fellowship in Integrative Dermatology, a certification in Ayurvedic Philosophy of Medicine and Nutrition at the BHAGAVAT Culinary School, and an aesthetics and laser fellowship in NYC. As a Clinical Instructor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, she actively contributes to the field of dermatology. Dr. Berry's expertise has been recognized through publications in esteemed journals and textbooks, along with features in podcasts, magazines, and online articles. Through her innovative approach and passion for holistic care, Dr. Berry invites everyone on a transformative journey towards healthy, radiant skin that reflects their unique beauty, both inside and out.

After completing my Acupuncture Studies in 1989, I specialized in palpation based acupuncture influenced by Japanese styles, mainly Master Nagano and Kiiko Matsumoto, as well as Master Kawai. Blending the Japanese styles of acupuncture with European micro-systems and Low Level Laser therapies became a gentle, yet a very powerful treatment modality.

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. Norton is associate dean of clinical education as well as an assistant professor at Bastyr University California in San Diego. She is a faculty supervisor at Bastyr University Clinic and also teaches several courses including aspects of cardiovascular medicine and dermatology. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of New Hampshire and her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine for the University of Bridgeport. Past experience includes private practice in the northeast as well as 10 years working in various roles for the College of Naturopathic Medicine at the University of Bridgeport.

Dr. Norton is certified in "First Line Therapy," a proven program that incorporates personal lifestyle medicine and supports changes such as healthy nutrition, nutritional protocols, exercise and stress management. She is currently working on her certification in functional medicine, through the Institute of Functional Medicine. Other more specific interests include endocrine disorders (including thyroid disease, diabetes), cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, mental health issues (including depression and anxiety), autoimmune disease, allergies, skin disorders, intestinal disorders and women’s health. Her philosophy revolves around the fact that health is a state of homeostasis, where all systems of the body function optimally and waste is eliminated efficiently. She works with her student clinicians and their patients to uncover the cause of imbalance, enhance elimination of toxins and facilitate restoration of health. Together with the patient they work together to formulate a plan that is realistic and attainable and includes lifestyle recommendations, nutritional supplements, herbs, hydrotherapy and other remedies such as homeopathy.

Dr. Hadar Lev-Tov is a board-certified dermatologist with extensive research experience. Throughout his training and in daily practice, he has always believed that the key to achieving health for his patients is grounded in his ability to truly connect to their experiences and perceptions of health and well-being. Maimonides, one of the greatest philosophers of all time realized that human knowledge, often represented as "science," is limited. As a physician, he feels he would be a fool to believe all is known. Maimonides said, "The physician should not treat the disease but the patient who is suffering from it." LearnSkin is his journey to a better understanding of his patients.

Dr. Song is the director of clinical research at Frontier Dermatology Partners. He is also a clinical instructor at the University of Washington and Silver Falls Dermatology. He specializes in inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. Dr. Song is a regular contributor to the dermatology literature and speaks across the country as a key opinion leader.

Dr. Hawkes is a board-certified dermatologist and Investigator at the Oregon Medical Research Center in Portland, Oregon. He completed his medical school and residency at the University of Utah. During medical school, he completed a fellowship in translational immunology in the NIH-HHMI Research Scholars Program. He also received a Master’s Degree in Clinical Investigation from Rockefeller University, where he was Chief Clinical Scholar and Principal and sub-Investigator on multiple human research protocols in the Laboratory for Investigative Dermatology. He has held academic appointments in the Departments of Dermatology at the University of Utah, University of California-Davis, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Hawkes is a current Councilor in the International Psoriasis Council and serves on the NPF Medical Board and Scientific Advisory Committee. He also serves as the official delegate of the AAD as a member of the international guidelines and workgroup committee for urticaria. His research has been funded by the NIH, NSF, NPF, and Dermatology Foundation, and he is the recipient of several teaching awards including NPF Outstanding Educator in Psoriatic Disease and Exceptional Teacher of the Year in the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai. His primary clinical and research interests include novel immune therapies for inflammatory conditions like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, HS, alopecia areata, vitiligo, and urticaria.

Jonette Keri, MD PhD is an Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the University of Miami and Chief of the Dermatology Service at the VA Hospital. Over the years, Dr. Keri continued to expand her expertise in the field of acne. She is motivated by her patients with acne and has remained involved in various activities to promote the care and study of the condition. 

Dr. Keri is an author on the most recent Acne Guidelines, published by the American Academy of Dermatology, and an invited member for the recently initiated guidelines. In addition, she is involved in the Acne Core Outcomes Research Network (ACORN), where they strive to identify and clarify outcome measures in acne, and is a member of the International Dermatology Outcome Measure group (IDEOM).

Being involved in national and international activities that support and expand acne research is an integral part of Dr. Keri's long-term goal to help as many people as possible with this condition. She understands that the expansion of integrative dermatology is essential for providers to access all treatment options associated with the common condition of acne.

Dr. Joseph Alban is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Board Certified Herbalist. He has run a private practice in New York City for seventeen years.

Dr. Alban graduated from Touro College’s Graduate Program in Oriental Medicine, obtaining a Masters of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and completed a Doctor of Acupuncture at Five Branches Univerisity. He completed a Chinese Medicine hospital residency in Hunan, China where he trained in acupuncture, Chinese medicine dermatology, and Tui Na medical massage.

He has received the Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology Diploma from world-renowned expert Mazin Al-Khafaji. Dr. Alban sits on the board of the International Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology Association (ITCMDA). He is also the Traditional Chinese Medicine editor for Learn Skin and on the board for the Integrative Dermatology Symposium. He is the head editor and a contributing author of the ebook An Introduction to Chinese Medicine Dermatology which resulted from a collaboration of the ITCMDA and Learn Skin.

Katherine Varman, MD is a dermatologist who works in private practice in Northern California. She graduated from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, during which she completed an additional year as a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellow at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. After an intern year in Chattanooga, TN, she returned to UNC-CH for dermatology residency. Dr. Varman specializes in treating inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis with a unique blend of conventional and functional medicine practices. She also has a passion for photo-immunology and seeks to revitalize phototherapy as an indispensable tool in dermatology. She is also a homesteader and enjoys an active farm life with her husband and children.

Chef Kimber graduated from Le Cordon Bleu San Francisco in 2008, Shaw Academy with a Personal Nutrition Certification in 2015, and Yax Yoga Concepts 200 hour YTT in 2013. Kimber has been a Doterra Consultant since 2013. Kimber is the Owner and Chef of Happy Food Catering. Kimber is the Author of Happy Food Cookbook and Happy Baking & Desserts. Kimber is the ℅ of Happiness Drinks. Kimber is the C/F of Nourish Cafe & Market. Kimber is a 200 E-RYT with Yoga Alliance and is a yoga instructor at Sumits Hot Yoga and Lotus Columbia. Kimber is the Health and Food expert of Inside Columbia Magazine. Kimber is the cooking show host of nourished. on youtube. Host of the Holistic kitchen Podcast on Spotify. Kimber writes personalized recipes for people with different symptoms, diseases, cancers and food allergies. Kimber has also written meal plans with Dr. Raja Sivamani for Dermatology and Ayurvedic Meal Plans, and Dr. Jennifer Roelands for PCOS and Hashimoto Lifestyle Guides. Chef Kimber’s recipes are plant-based, organic, locally sourced, and free of gluten, soy, dairy, corn, peanuts, hydrogenated oil, preservatives and sugar.

Ms. Lakshi Aldredge is a nurse practitioner who has practiced at the Portland VA Medical Center for the past 22 years, the last eight years in the medical Dermatology Service. She received her Bachelor’s of Science and Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon and is board certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner. She is the Past President of the national Dermatology Nurses’ Association and is the current Chair of the Nurse Practitioner Society of the DNA. She is a member of the medical Advisory Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) and is a member of the NPF’s Community Outreach Taskforce. She is on the Advisory board of Dermatology World, is an Associate Editor of Psoriasis Forum, the peer-reviewed journal of the National Psoriasis Foundation, as well as a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association. She received the Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing in 2008 from the Portland VA Medical Center.

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. 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.

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.

Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Dr. Barnard has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, hormonal symptoms, and chronic pain, including a groundbreaking study of dietary interventions in type 2 diabetes, funded by the National Institutes of Health, that paved the way for viewing type 2 diabetes as a potentially reversible condition for many patients. Dr. Barnard has authored more than 100 scientific publications and 20 books for medical and lay readers, and is the editor in chief of the Nutrition Guide for Clinicians, a textbook made available to all U.S. medical students.

As president of the Physicians Committee, Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research. His research contributed to the acceptance of plant-based diets in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In 2015, he was named a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. In 2016, he founded the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, DC, as a model for making nutrition a routine part of all medical care.

Working with the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and the American Medical Association, Dr. Barnard has authored key resolutions, now part of AMA policy, calling for a new focus on prevention and nutrition in federal policies and in medical practice. In 2018, he received the Medical Society of the District of Columbia’s Distinguished Service Award. He has hosted four PBS television programs on nutrition and health.

Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Dr. Barnard received his M.D. degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the same institution. He practiced at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York before returning to Washington to found the Physicians Committee.

OLENA (LIENNA) MAY, MS, CNS, LDN

Lienna May is a Certified Nutrition Specialist who is board certified by the American Nutrition Association and licensed by the State of Florida as a Dietitian/Nutritionist. Along with a master’s degree in nutrition from one of the most advanced scientific and evidence-based nutrition programs in the country, she is certified in the Science of Well Being by Yale University. She specializes in digestive health, acne and blood sugar optimization.

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.

Dr Shasa Hu is an Associate Professor at the Dr. Philip Frost Dept of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, U of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is the director of the Skin of Color Cosmetic Division.

Dr. Stacy McClure is a board-certified dermatologist and sees patients at Dermatology Associates of La Grange. She is member of the Chicago Dermatological Society, the Chicago Medical Society, and the American Medical Association.

Dr. McClure earned her undergraduate degree in sociology at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1990. She earned her medical degree in 2000 at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She completed her internship in 2001 at Rush University Medical Center, and her residency in dermatology in 2006 at Northwestern University.

Dr. McClure went on to complete a two year research fellowship at Northwestern University focusing on clinical trials in dermatology. She also completed the LearnSkin Integrative Dermatology Certificate Program in 2022 and has a passion for integrative dermatology.

Dr. McClure was born and raised in Texas, and currently resides in La Grange with her husband and two children.

Dr. Daveluy is a professor and program director at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a bachelor's in science from Michigan State University. He completed medical school and his dermatology residency at Wayne State University.

He holds special interests in teledermatology, noninvasive skin imaging, skin of color, integrative dermatology, and complex medical dermatology, including hidradenitis suppurativa. He is active on AAD committees, including Performance Measure and DataDerm Oversight. He is the past president of the Wayne County Medical Society and Michigan Dermatological Society. He serves on the board of directors of the HS Foundation and editorial board for the JAAD and JAAD Case Reports and is building a growing body of publications of his own. He lives across the border in Windsor, Ontario, Canada with his husband and two very spoiled dogs