IDCP 2022

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.

Dr. Julie Greenberg is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and Registered Herbalist RH(AHG) who specializes in integrative dermatology. She is the founder of the Center for Integrative Dermatology, a holistic clinic that approaches skin and hair problems by finding and treating the root cause. 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 in a leading peer-reviewed clinical dermatology journal. While at naturopathic medical school, Dr. Greenberg received training with leading experts in dermatology at the University of Washington Medical School Dermatology Clinic and Seattle Children’s Hospital Pediatric Dermatology Clinic. She lectures at naturopathic medical schools and speaks at conferences across the U.S. on the topics of hair, skin and nails.

Dr Neal Jain is an Arizona native. He obtained his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and subsequently trained in Pediatrics at Phoenix Children’s Hospital where he served as a chief resident during 2001-2002. Both he and Dr. Shimamoto trained in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at National Jewish Health Center and University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Jain was appointed Chief Fellow at National Jewish Health Center and was a member of the Medical Staff between 2003-2004. Prior to joining San Tan Allergy & Asthma in January 2010 , he practiced as an Allergist/Immunologist at Dean Health System in Madison, Wisconsin. Dr. Jain was also on faculty as a Professor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin in the division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, where he supervised fellows in training. He has been an active member of the community serving as Medical Director for the Food Allergy Association of Wisconsin, Chair of The Wisconsin Asthma Coalition and on the Board of Directors for the National Eczema Association. Dr. Jain is President of the Arizona Allergy Society, a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology and of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is board certified by the American Board of Allergy & Immunology and Pediatrics. Dr. Jain is currently a regular contributing writer of the “House Call” segment for the magazine Living Without (http://www.livingwithout.com/) and has also been featured on a nationally syndicated television program to discuss new asthma technologies. He has authored or co-authored a number of studies published in peer-reviewed journals and continues to pursue clinical research. Dr. Jain is currently accepting new pediatric and adult patients. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Dr. Jain enjoys spending time with his family, playing doubles sand volleyball, and cooking.

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.

David Damaske is the owner and president of Beaker Pharmacy in Mckinney, Texas. Beaker Pharmacy is an independent retail and compounding pharmacy licensed in 40+ states currently and working towards all 50. Areas of compounding specialty include Dermatology, ENT, GI and BHRT, among others. He has a Doctor of Pharmacy from Midwestern University and a Master of Business Administration for the University of Memphis. Prior to opening Beaker Pharmacy, David had a long career as a Director of Pharmacy for several large health systems in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Dr. Sheila Farhang is a board-certified dermatologist and double-fellowship trained cosmetic surgeon as well as a reconstructive Mohs micrographic (skin cancer) surgeon. “Dr. Sheila” as many know her as fills the space in media as a relatable, millennial skincare expert with expertise in both integrative skincare and cutting-edge procedures. Dr. Sheila is unique that she is also a popular influencer who gives her followers an inside look at her life. To add, she is also highly regarded in the female empowerment space being a founder, CEO, and multi-business owner.

Dr. Sheila attended the University of Texas for her undergraduate and medical degrees. Dr. Sheila then completed her dermatology residency at the University of South Florida Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. Upon completion, she was selected for a position for dual fellowship at the Skin Institute of South Florida and Hollywood Dermatology in the Miami, FL area. During this time, she also completed a year-long entrepreneur and leadership program through the Advancing Innovation in Dermatology led by Harvard faculty and industry leaders.

Dr. Sheila has numerous publications in top dermatology journals, has written textbook chapters and her research has been presented worldwide.

Dr. Sheila is considered a media expert by the American Academy of Dermatology and has been selected as a Key Opinion Leader for large industry skin and beauty companies. Dr. Sheila has a large social media presence (@Dr.Sheila_Derm) where she known for her entrepreneurship, skin and beauty tips, health/wellness, and her integrative medical approach. Dr. Sheila she is considered a celebrity media expert with several magazine features including Women’s Health Magazine and Allure. She is also a guest expert on national shows including Dr. Oz, The Doctors, and The Mel Robins Show. She is founder and medical director of Avant Dermatology & Aesthetics, Co-Founder of Vispera Health, and guest faculty instructor for the Integrative Dermatology Program.

SUSAN WEIS-BOHLEN is a full-time Ayurvedic consultant, cooking teacher, meditation teacher, and leader of sacred site tours. Susan’s personal journey into the Ayurvedic lifestyle began when she came across the Ayurvedic cleansing technique of panchakarma. What began as the release of damaging toxins and personal difficulties eventually grew into an impassioned vocation. She has since studied with the best teachers of Ayurveda, both in the US and in India. Susan knows exactly how challenging it can be to come to Ayurveda as a beginner and has dedicated her life to sharing the fruits of her studies with students all over the world.

In 2004 Susan opened Breathe Books, a metaphysical bookstore, in Baltimore, and in 2012 she added an Ayurvedic/vegetarian café.

In 2008 Susan received her first certification in Ayurveda from the Chopra Center in California. In subsequent years she studied with Dr. Vasant Lad in New Mexico and India. In addition, Susan is certified in Ayurvedic cooking from Amadea Morningstar, the author of the world renowned Ayurvedic Cookbook, and Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners. After 10 years of running the business, Susan decided in 2014 to close the shop and café and concentrate fully on her Ayurvedic practice. She is now a full-time Ayurvedic consultant, meditation teacher, Ayurvedic cooking teacher, and speaker.

Susan also leads meditation, yoga and Ayurveda tours to sacred sites in India. In February 2018, Susan published her first book, which became an instant Amazon best-seller, Ayurveda Beginner’s Guide: Essential Ayurvedic Principles & Practices to Balance and Heal Naturally.

Susan lives with her husband Larry and their three dogs, Ella, Shadow and Joonie (a rescue from Pune, India), in the woods in Reisterstown, Maryland just outside of Baltimore City.

Tedd Neenan retired from the NY dance scene in 1984. He then embarked on his present journey creating fragrances, opening Aroma Workshop in 1993, embracing Aromatherapy, inaugurating and teaching a course in Olfactory Art at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

And now assisting health professionals compound novel skin and hair products.

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.

Anne Kennard is an obstetrician/gynecologist, integrative medicine physician, nutrition expert, herbalist and mom to a toddler. She is passionate about women's health in the body, mind, and spirit. She works as an OB/GYN and is the Director of Integrative Medicine and Physician Wellness Officer for Dignity Central Coast. She enjoys speaking and teaching on women's Integrative Medicine, Food as Medicine, and herbal medicine topics around the country, and her first book is expected in July 2019. Find her online at www.drannekennard.com and @dr_anne_kennard (IG) and @drannekennard (FB).

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.

Kitty is a veteran risk manager/insurance advisor, working in transfer of risk for businesses since 1985, the last 20 of those years dedicated to “all things” Healthcare. Dr. Vasant Lad and the Ayurvedic Institute, a renowned U.S. School of Ayurveda located in Kitty’s home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico, became her client shortly after the new Millennium. The interesting blend of “traditional” western and age-old eastern medicine has been a significant part of her client book since, with institutes, ayurvedic resorts, national and state association representation (NAMA, CAAM, The Maharishi Institute…), authors, med spa & traditional medicine integrative care clinics, as well as numerous practitioners. Vimergy, Kerala and Dr. Sivamani’s research group and his imminent product launch with Jivome.com supplementals are examples of her work.

Susan is an attorney with over 25 years of experience. She is the founding member of the Alternative Health Law Firm. Susan’s legal practice is focused in the areas of healthcare law, business transactions, consumer products, and regulatory and advertising law. Susan represents various alternative healthcare practitioners and providers, medical associations, and natural product manufacturers and distributers. Susan regularly serves in a leadership role on projects involving access to plant medicine. In addition to practicing law, Susan is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and an Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist.

Paul is a corporate attorney with almost 30 years of experience. While his practice is broad, he has focused principally in the financial, technology and healthcare sectors. He began practicing as a public M&A and securities lawyer, primarily representing public companies, boards, special committees and executive officers. He currently represents founders, investors and other equity holders, as well as start-up and other closely held companies, in a wide range of strategic planning and legal analysis and implementation from formation, investment, financing, operation through, if applicable, ultimate sale. Paul is barred in New York, Florida, and California.

Matthew has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and natural product industries, where he has led preclinical, clinical, and overall product development teams for some of the world’s largest R&D-based healthcare companies. He has extensive experience in the design and conduct of both qualitative and quantitative human efficacy/safety studies and has strategically recruited and managed teams of world-class scientists, including a team with two Nobel laureates, for business and product development initiatives. Matthew has considerable experience with both US and Canadian government regulators and has been instrumental in the government approval of important medicines and botanical-based products that are marketed in both countries.

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.

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.

Melinda Malecki is a Health Law attorney with 25 years of corporate, regulatory, and risk management experience. As a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM), she provides legal counsel, corporate compliance, and risk management services to physicians, safety net hospitals and healthcare organizations, including federally qualified health centers.
​
Ms. Malecki began her career as a risk manager at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago. She became the Director of Risk Management and Legal Services at West Suburban Medical Center, Oak Park, and later became the Medical Center’s General Counsel. While working for West Suburban, Ms. Malecki managed all legal services for the Medical Center’s administration and staff. She directed all insurance purchasing and significantly reduced the Medical Center’s financial exposure due to insurance expenses. She began the private practice of law in 2000 and continues to consult in all of the foregoing areas.
​
Ms. Malecki has extensive experience in the area of physician representation, including sales and purchases of practices, contract negotiations and corporate disputes. Her work as a hospital attorney benefits her physician clients in dealing with such matters as medical staff issues and contractual negotiations.
​
One of Ms. Malecki’s greatest skills is handling risk management issues for healthcare organizations. She is frequently retained to create or redesign a risk management function / program for facilities that need to pass an accreditation or are at risk of losing insurance coverage.
​
Ms. Malecki serves on the board of PCC Community Wellness Center, a federally qualified healthcare center based in Oak Park, Illinois and on the board of Anderson Animal Shelter in Elgin, Illinois.

Dr. Rachel Day is a New York City native who was raised in Northern New Jersey where her family still resides. She attended Lehigh University and graduated with a Bachler's degree in Behavioral Neuroscience and minor in Psychology, with honors. After graduation Dr. Day matriculated into Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York City, where she was actively involved in the Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program (HPREP), a high-school science enrichment program aimed at increasing exposure to health-related careers to those from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds. Dr. Day received her medical degree in 2013 and went on to complete her Transitional Year Internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

After internship, she completed her dermatology residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital- Cornell. Following her nine years of training in New York City she and her family moved to Chambersburg where she has practiced as a board-certified dermatologist for the past three years. She is a practicing Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Day is the founder and CEO of OneSkin Dermatology, a direct care dermatology skin-health and wellness practice.

In addition to her practice she own's and operates the good life by oneskin in downtown Chambersburg, a socially-conscious retail experience. Dr. Day is active within her community serving as a board member of the United Way of Franklin County and a community board member of Franklin Hospice among other roles. Some of her favorite activities include spending time with her husband and three children exploring South Central PA, community-building, cooking and design

Keira Barr, MD is an innovator in transformative wellness, combining her work in integrative dermatology, mind-body medicine and embodied education with body-based trauma healing approaches to skin health. As a speaker,author, and host of “The Skinny Dipping Rx” podcast, Dr. Keira teaches people around the world how to relieve stress and rejuvenate from within. She created the Somatic Skincare™ method to support her mission of revolutionizing skincare as an act of radical self-care, blending science with soul to help women around the world amplify their resilience, confidence and comfort in their skin. Her expertise, bridging the gap between skin health and mental health, has earned recognition in top media outlets like MindBodyGreen, Glamour, SELF and Oprah magazines as well as prestigious medical journals. 

Dr. Brian Ginsberg is a general and cosmetic dermatologist at Chelsea Skin & Laser and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY. He received his medical degree from NYU where he was elected in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and was awarded the Marion B. Sulzberger Award for excellence in Dermatology. During this time he did research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in melanoma immunotherapy. He completed a pediatrics internship and dermatology residency also at NYU, the latter for which he was chief resident.

Dr. Ginsberg's area of academic expertise is in the care of sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ) patients, in particular transgender individuals. He published the first major survey study on the dermatologic attitudes and practices of transgender persons. He regularly contributes to a number of medical journals, textbooks and commercial publications, and speaks both nationally and internationally on such topics.

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. 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

Laurie Marbas, MD, MBA is a double board certified family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician, who has been utilizing food as medicine since 2012. She is the co-founder and chief medical officer of Mora Medical (Mora.com) which offers physician led medical groups that employ the power of lifestyle medicine to help patients achieve health. She is currently holds 50 state medical licenses (plus DC) across the United States. She is the former co-founder of Plant Based TeleHealth and was the first Managing Editor for the Plantrician Project’s International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention. She is also the host of the Health and Mora podcast, whose mission is to provide resources that will empower individuals with the knowledge, mindset, and inspiration to successfully adopt lifestyle interventions and achieve health and wellbeing. 

Laurie received her dual degrees from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and TTU School of Business. She was awarded the TTU School of Medicine Gold Headed Cane Award, a symbol for excellence in the art of medicine and the care of patients. She wrote seven books while in medical school, six of which were in a series called “Visual Mnemonics.” These books used cartoons to help people memorize vast amounts of information—a system that helped her personally when she was a mom attending medical school. As a USAF veteran, she served in the Middle East and South America. She is also a wife, mom of three grown children, author, speaker, and avid runner.

Dr. Lisa Lombard is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Chicago, USA. She has over 30 years of direct service, teaching, and supervisory experience. She integrates mind-body skills in her therapeutic work with children, families, and adults as they cope with anxiety, stress-mediated health concerns, and pain. She also treats children and adults experiencing unexpected grief and loss. She regularly trains health care providers on stress and pain management. Dr. Lombard is a psychological advisor to a start-up tech company that supports food allergy care and co-founded a non-profit, Comfort Kits for Children®.  

For over 10 years she delivered services within a preschool and elementary school, in addition to her private practice. She provided parent guidance, clinical supervision to psychology graduate students, and consultation to educators on topics such as risk behaviors, trauma, SEL, and screen-time.

She was a Research Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research, where she applied her knowledge of stress management skills (like mindfulness, hypnosis, and guided imagery) to better understand and meet the psycho-emotional needs of those with food allergies, eczema, and atopic disease. She was a team member on several research projects that resulted in a dozen peer-reviewed publications. While on faculty she led behavioral health initiatives within the Center and the launch of a free digital behavioral health tool for parents during the pandemic.

In March 2022 she co-founded the nonprofit Comfort Kits for Children, an outgrowth of collaboration with the National Pediatric Hypnosis Training Institute (NPHTI) and HealthFrontiers.org. They have provided over 1500 Comfort Kits of mind-body toys and practices globally, to children impacted by war (Ukraine, Poland, Israel, and potentially Gaza), earthquakes (Turkey), wildfires (Maui, Hawaii USA), and community violence (Chicago). This organization maintains a website of curated behavioral health resources to support children experiencing traumatic events and is available in 6 languages. They also provide webinars and virtual Q & A sessions to caregivers in schools, shelters, and clinics who use Comfort Kits with children. 

Dr. Lombard earned her BA in Behavioral Sciences and PhD in Psychology/Human Development from the University of Chicago, where she trained and worked with Erika Fromm, PhD. She completed an APA-approved internship at the Illinois State Psychiatric Institute. She is an ASCH Approved Consultant. She is an active teacher and leader in NPHTI (Faculty and President of the Board of Directors). She represents Division 30 (Society for Psychological Hypnosis) in the Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association and is past president of the Chicago Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Throughout the pandemic she provided free weekly virtual mindfulness sessions for her community and colleagues.

Natalie Ficek is an Associate Attorney at Malecki Brooks Law Group, LLC. She graduated from DePaul University College of Law and obtained a health law certificate through DePaul’s health law program. She is a licensed attorney in Illinois and is Certified in Healthcare Compliance.  She has worked in community hospitals where she received extensive experience with corporate transactions and compliance. She works on several transactions at the firm and helps physicians who are in the process of opening their own practice. She has also been advising clients on several telemedicine issues particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

President and CEO of X Factor, Thomas La Vecchia, MBA began the company as X Factor Digital Marketing almost a decade ago to give business owners access to the best sales and digital marketing talent. In 2012 he developed a 4-step sales process called “The X Factor Selling System,” which became an Amazon best-selling title. Tom specializes in attracting, converting and retaining customers. Tom’s goal is to provide your business with the tools for success including sales training, SEO, public relations and more through an omnipresent approach. Tom is a best-selling (2X) for both editions of The X Factor Selling System. He also authored the first ever textbook covering Male Aesthetic Surgery edited by Dr, Douglas S. Steinbrech. He is also host of the New Theory Podcast.