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Here's our Speaker Lineup
Dan Rossignol, MD, FAAFP
Dr. Dan Rossignol received his Doctorate of Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Virginia. Coming from an academic background, Dr. Rossignol searched the medical literature looking for a solution after both of his children were diagnosed with autism. He has made it his mission to research and publish in autism. Since 2006, he has 53 papers, abstracts, editorials, and book chapters concerning autism and related conditions. Dr. Rossignol is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP) and a Fellow of the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (FMAPS).
Dan Rossignol, MD, FAAFP
Dane Fliedner, MD, MPH
Dane Fliedner, MD, MPH is an Integrative and Functional Medicine Pediatrician. He is Board- Certified and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. He is a member of the Institute for Functional Medicine and will be an IFMCP in 2017. He is also finishing up his fellowship with the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS) in 2017. A Southern California native, he earned his Doctorate of Medicine while also earning his Master’s of Public Health from New York Medical College. He completed his Pediatric Residency Training at University of California, Irvine. He has had a diverse career having worked from Community Clinics in underserved areas in California to working in the emergency room as a faculty member of the Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical School/ Children’s Hospital of Dallas. His journey into integrative medicine began as his two daughters began to suffer with chronic health conditions that were not getting answers despite seeing multiple specialists. After seeing an integrative medicine specialist and experiencing positive results in his children’s health, he was humbled and began his journey into the world of integrative medicine and health. He began his journey into biomedical autism when he began having more patients consulting with him regarding issues related to ASD and has been excited to see many positive results from applying functional and biomedical principles to complex chronic medical conditions.
Dane Fliedner, MD, MPH
Jared Skowron, ND
Dr. Jared Skowron is the Amazon best-selling author of 100 Natural Remedies for Your Child, founder of the autism supplement company: Spectrum Awakening, and autism biomedical clinician of 15 years. He has lectured for Autism One, Generation Rescue, and TACA, focusing on helping children by balancing brain chemistry, in uencing epigenetics, and supporting mitochondrial function. A father and physician, he is a clinician rst, building one of the largest autism biomedical centers in New England to help all families who want to help their children achieve their full potential. Learn more at SpectrumAwakening.com.
Jared Skowron, ND
Julie Buckley, MD, IFMCP
A graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine, the Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Pediatric Residency Program, and the IFM Certified Practitioner program, Dr. Buckley implemented an integrative/functional medicine approach into her pediatric practice after her daughter regressed into the world of autism at four years of age. A 2009 Breast Cancer Survivor as well, she is an international speaker on these topics. Author of Healing Our Autistic Children ,Breast Cancer: Start Here and Youth Sports: Start Here, she is founder and President of the HealthyUNow Foundation, co-founder of the online learning platform Healing Autism Academy, and loves spending time with her family and adult children.
Julie Buckley, MD, IFMCP
Lisa Ackerman
A native of California, Lisa has worked in the retail and real estate site selection for almost 20 years. Lisa was a co-founder of Integration Technologies and AnySite Software which was sold to MapInfo Corporation in 2003. Working with customers like Wal-Mart, Burger King and Shell Oil, Lisa has consulted and sold large solutions for planning and managing the site selection process.
In 1999, Lisa and her husband Glen received the news that their 2 ½ year old son had been diagnosed with autism. At the time it was the recommendation from multiple physicians that the family find “institutional placement” for their son. Refusing to even consider this, they began their research to find answers for their son. One year later they launched a parent support group in their home with 10 families who were living with autism. As a result of this dedicated group, TACA was founded.
In March 2004, Lisa retired from her real estate career to assume a full-time volunteer role as Executive Director for TACA. She transitioned from volunteer to a full time professional capacity in July 2008 managing a national non-profit organization headquartered in Irvine, Calif. From a grass roots beginning in Southern California, under Lisa’s leadership approximately $16MM has been raised to help fund TACA’s mission and over 55,000 families across the nation have been served.
Lisa Ackerman
Jerry Kartzinel, MD, FAA
Dr. Jerry Kartzinel, M.D., F.A.A, is an internationally known author, lecturer, and clinician who has been featured on TV and radio and has helped numerous children recover from chronic debilitating diseases. He is board certified in pediatrics and is impassioned to help children and families regain health by some of the most natural means possible.
Both national and local media have featured Dr. Kartzinel’s approach to health and nutrition, including Larry King Live!, 20/20, and The Today Show.
Dr. Kartzinel received his Doctorate of Medicine at St. Louis University School of Medicine and completed his pediatric training at Keesler Air Force Base. Following Desert Storm, Dr. Kartzinel practiced traditional pediatric medicine until his fourth boy was diagnosed with Autism and all its related chronic diseases (immune system dysfunction, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, chronic constipation, etc.).
Dr. Kartzinel quickly realized that the traditional approach to medicine was limited to treating a disease state with a medication, but with little thought about why the disease state occurred in the first place. Many times in medicine, this approach works well. The problem lies with chronically reoccurring diseases, or conditions of the human being that just will not improve with traditional approach. Realizing most disease states share in common toxin exposure (and the body’s inability to detoxify these exposures), inflammation (as commonly seen in most chronic illnesses), oxidative stress, and the particular genetics the individual has (this determines “how” the disease process will manifest), Dr. Kartzinel turned to the field of nutritional and preventative medicine for answers. This new approach has demonstrated marked clinical improvements in his patients — way beyond what he had initially hoped for!
His clinical approach is to treat the whole patient by carefully obtaining a full and complete history and based on this history, obtaining very detailed laboratory evaluations. Individualized plans are implemented integrating the very latest medical interventions that include both traditional and complimentary medicine approaches.
Jerry Kartzinel, MD, FAA
Darin Ingles, ND, FMAPS
Dr. Ingels is a respected leader in natural medicine with numerous publications, international lectures and more than 25 years experience in the healthcare eld. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology from Purdue University and his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington.
Dr. Ingels is a licensed naturopathic physician in the State of Connecticut and a licensed Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine in the State of California, where he maintains practices in both states. He is Board certi ed in Integrated Pediatrics and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Dr. Ingels has been published extensively and is the author of two books, The Natural Pharmacist: Lowering Cholesterol (Prima, 1999) and Natural Treatments for High Cholesterol (Prima, 2000). He has written a chapter on allergy desensitization for autistic children in “Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism” and is the author of the upcoming book “The Lyme Solution: A 5-Part Immune Boosting Plan to Fight In ammation and Beat Lyme Disease Permanently” (Avery, 2018), a comprehensive natural approach to treating Lyme disease.
Dr. Ingels’ specializes in Lyme disease, autism and chronic immune dysfunction, including allergies, asthma, recurrent or persistent infections and other genetic or acquired immune problems. He uses diet, nutrients, herbs, homeopathy and immunotherapy to help his patients achieve better health.
Darin Ingles, ND, FMAPS
James Adams, PhD
James B. Adams, PhD, is the Director of the Autism/Asperger's Research Program at Arizona State University. His research focuses on the medical causes of autism and how to treat and prevent it including the areas of nutrition (vitamins/minerals, essential fatty acids, carnitine, digestive enzymes, special diets), oxidative stress, gut problems, gut bacteria, toxic metals, and seizures. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific articles, including over 40 related to autism. He is also the President of the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix, the President of the Autism Nutrition Research Center, the co-leader of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Autism Research Institute, and chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Neurological Health Foundation. He has an adult daughter with autism.
James Adams, PhD
Janice Guice, CCC-SLP
Janice Guice is a nationally certified Speech Language Pathologist, licensed as the same in Georgia and holds multiple teaching certificates in Georgia. Mrs. Guice has completed extensive training in Lindamood-Bell’s Learning Processes, Relationship Development Intervention (RDI™), SCERTS®, Social Thinking™, and Story Grammar Marker™. She is the founder of Essential Communication, Inc. in Alpharetta, Georgia. Her expertise and passion for social communication development provides her clients and their families the most up-to-date, effective and family-centered treatments.
Janice Guice, CCC-SLP
Arthur Krigsman, MD
Dr. Krigsman is a pediatrician and board certified pediatric gastroenterologist with internationally recognized expertise in the evaluation and treatment of autism associated gastrointestinal problems. His interest in this unique patient population began in 2001 and during the ensuing 18 years he has treated over 1900 children from across the globe suffering from autism and a variety of gastrointestinal problems. His research interest lies in the characterization and treatment of the unique cellular, molecular, and clinical features of ASD-associated inflammatory bowel disease and his original findings appear in numerous peer-reviewed journals. In addition to serving as an invited reviewer for peer-reviewed medical journal author submissions in his area of expertise, Dr. Krigsman has served as a guest lecturer on the topic of gastrointestinal disease and autism at national and international scientific meetings, hospital Grand Rounds both here and abroad, Nurse Association meetings, philanthropic organizations, and at numerous lay medical conferences. He has also presented his findings before the U.S. Congress. His greatest satisfaction though derives from the clinical care he provides his patients and in the improved quality of life that results from diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal disease in this vulnerable population. He maintains offices in both New York City and Austin, Texas.
Arthur Krigsman, MD
Janice Kern
Janice Kern left her dental hygiene career to provide advocacy and therapy needs for her son with autism. Starting in 2008, she volunteered with The Autism Community in Action. In 2011, she was added to the staff part-time for 2 years. As full-time staff, Janice held positions of National Conference Coordinator, Mentor Program Manager, National Chapters Manager and Interim Program Manager. Today she is working in her family business Kern Family Dentistry and has started The Charlie Bravo Company to help her son with autism gain job skills with help from his parents and three brothers.
Janice Kern
Sara Weirich, MS, OTR/L
Sara, is the co-founder of High Hopes Children’s Therapy, provides occupational therapy to children in both the Cumming and Alpharetta locations. Sara completed her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, from Brenau University and earned her Bachelor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Sara founded High Hopes Children’s Therapy with her mother, who handles the business operations and also shares the same passion and values for serving children within our community. Sara is a passionate and dedicated occupational therapist who impacts the lives of children she serves by providing efficient research-based and practical treatment combined with love and patience. She implements intervention techniques that support achieving measurable successful results. Sara has extensive experience in implementing the Astronaut Program, a sound activated vestibular-visual protocol. She also has extensive experience in implementing the Integrated Listening System, an auditory stimulation program which is a progressive auditory training that helps the brain processing sensory, cognitive and emotional information more effectively. In addition, Sara has extensive experience in the integration of primitive reflexes and sensory integration. Sara enjoys working with children of all ages and various diagnoses, including Autism, Down syndrome, Apert syndrome, Cerebral palsy, Sensory processing disorder, and other developmental disabilities and neurological disorders. She has a strong passion for the pediatric population and loves working with children and their families. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her husband, Thomas. Sara and her husband are expecting their first child June 1st 2019 and are very excited for this new addition. Sara also enjoys the outdoors, reading, spending time with her family, and continuing to expand her knowledge in pediatric occupational therapy.
Sara Weirich, MS, OTR/L
Ty Vincent, MD
Dr. Ty Vincent, MD is an integrative physician who began practice in 2005 in Wasilla, Alaska where he had a large multidisciplinary integrative clinic until December 2016. He completed medical school through the University of Washington, and a residency in family medicine in Anchorage, Alaska. Dr. Vincent has gained additional training in acupuncture, Chinese medicine, environmental medicine, allergy and immunology, bio-identical hormone therapy, chelation therapy, hyperbaric medicine, integrative cancer therapy, Reiki and nutritional medicine.
Dr. Vincent has lectured nationally many times on the subjects of bio-identical hormone therapies, vitamin D, and Low Dose Immunotherapy. In 2014, Dr. Vincent developed immune therapy techniques for treating chronic Lyme disease, autism, and a large number of autoimmune diseases with a high degree of success and safety.
Dr. Vincent is married with eight children, and currently resides in Kona, Hawaii. He works from home, helping chronically ill people around the world via telemedicine consultation, and sending Low Dose Immunotherapy to their homes.
Ty Vincent, MD
James Williams
James Williams is an adult with autism. He was diagnosed at the age of 3, in 1991. He graduated from Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois, in 2010. Today, he travels the United States lecturing on autism, and is the author of three books, OUT TO GET JACK, THE H.A.L. EXPERIMENT, and WHEN GARY COMES TO PLAY. He is also a musician that has performed at anime conventions such as DaishoCon,MetroCon, andKitsuneKon, and other venues such as National Hobo Convention, and has been the beneficiary of many biomedical interventions throughout his life.
James Williams
Nancy H. O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP
Dr. Nancy O’Hara is a board certified Pediatrician. Prior to her medical career, Dr. O’Hara taught children with autism. She graduated with highest honors from Bryn Mawr College and as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She earned a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh. After residency, chief residency and general pediatric fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. O’ Hara entered general private practice in 1993, and in 1998 began her consultative, integrative practice solely for children with special needs. Since 1999 she has dedicated her functional medicine practice to the integrative and holistic care of children with chronic illness and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, PANDAS/PANS, OCD, Lyme and ASD. She is also a leader in the training of clinicians, both in the United States and abroad.
Nancy H. O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP
Brian Cornblatt, PhD
Dr. Brian Cornblatt is Medical Director and Director of Product Support for Nutramax Laboratories Consumer Care, Inc. where he develops nutraceuticals, oversees supporting clinical studies, and summarizes research for healthcare workers and consumers. A Johns Hopkins School of Medicine graduate with a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences and a postdoctoral fellowship in Toxicology from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Dr. Cornblatt has been involved in medical research since 1990. His main research interests are minimizing chronic inflammation and combating environmental toxicants. He helped develop a novel line of products, Avmacol®, delivering the essential ingredients supporting production of sulforaphane, a phytochemical with many emerging health-promoting indications. Dr. Cornblatt is the father of two incredible daughters. His father is a now 22 year survivor of metastatic colorectal cancer and his mother a survivor of uterine cancer. Both have had profound influences on his career.
Brian Cornblatt, PhD
Catherine Whitcher, M.Ed
Catherine Whitcher, M.Ed, founder of the Master IEP Coach® Mentorship + Network, experienced the struggles of the Special Education system both as a certified teacher and special needs sibling. For the past 24 years she has been creating impact nationwide developing what we now know as the Master IEP Coach® Methods. Catherine currently leads the largest independent organization nationwide of parents and teachers working together to build better special education outcomes for the real world. She holds nothing back as she shows you how she has changed IEPs for decades with a focus on preparing every child for further education, employment, and independent living.
Catherine Whitcher, M.Ed
Maia Walton, MD
Maia Walton, MD is a Board-Certified Pediatrician and a member of the Institute for Functional Medicine. Dr. Walton completed her internship and residency at the prestigious Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) and has been practicing for over 15 years. She remained on staff at CHLA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills until moving to Georgia where she is now also on staff at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Walton is Board Certified by The American Board of Pediatrics and is an active member of the Institute for Functional Medicine and the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS).
Dr. Walton co-founded The M Center for Integrative Wellness with Dr. Monica Scales. After walking through the experience of healing their own children with a Functional Medicine approach, they discovered their children were a catalyst to realize their own life missions…to share their expertise, insight, and healing gifts with other families like their own. They have personally experienced Autism, ADHD, anxiety, Sensory Processing Disorder, and learning differences. As mothers of unique children, they understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges that exceptionalities place on the entire family. They have made it their mission to offer a medical home for all families to feel heard and cared for. By combining their skills, expertise, and experiences, the concept of healing from the heart was born. Their experiences from both sides of the exam table as patients, parents, and healthcare professionals has provided them with priceless insight to help others along their journey to healing.
Maia Walton, MD
Monica Scales, PhD, FMCH
Monica Scales is a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach (through the Institute of Functional Medicine) and specializes in functional and genetic nutrition consultation. She holds a doctorate degree in Health Communication, providing expertise in behavior change, and conducting and interpreting health related research to all audiences. She co-founded The M Center for Integrative Wellness with Dr. Maia Walton. After walking through the experience of healing their own children and families with a Functional Medicine approach, they discovered their children were a catalyst to realize their own life missions…to share their expertise, insight, and healing gifts with other families like their own.
The M Center for Integrative Wellness is a patient-centered, holistic medicine practice with providers who heal from the heart. They focus on healing exceptional children and their families utilizing a Functional Medicine approach…mind, body, and soul. The M Center for Integrative Wellness helps families separate signal from noise. When a child has differences or challenges, parents are often bombarded with confusing information. The M Center parses this information, creating a meaningful and unified plan for how a child can get on the same wavelength as their peers, while maintaining their uniqueness.
Monica Scales, PhD, FMCH
Christy Calbos, Esq
Christy Calbos is a licensed attorney and the founder of The Calbos Law Firm, a special education law firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Christy is an Atlanta native and graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. After working for California and Georgia school districts as a special education lawyer, she founded The Calbos Law Firm in 2011 so she could exclusively focus on representing families of special needs students. A 17-year veteran of special education law and a presenter of over 75 trainings to professional, educator, and parent groups, she is committed to guiding Georgia’s special needs professionals and families through the complexities of special education in the public school arena. Her collaborative, creative, and sustainable legal solutions help families ensure that their students receive appropriate IEPs and 504 Plans that meet their needs.
Christy Calbos, Esq
Anju Usman Singh, MD, FAAFP, ABIHM, FMAPS
Dr. Anju UsmanSinghis director and owner of True Health Medical Center and Pure Compounding Pharmacy in Naperville, Illinois. She specializes in biomedical interventions forchildren with ADD, Autism, Down Syndromeand related disorders. She has been involved in research regarding copper/zinc imbalances, metallothionein dysfunction, biofilm related infections andhyperbaric oxygen therapy. Dr. Usman Singh is a member of the PANS/PANDAS advisory committee to the State of Illinois. She also serves on the medical advisory boards for TACA (Talk About Curing Autism), Autism Hope Alliance and Generation Rescue. She is a fellow for MAPs (Medical Academy for Pediatric Special Needs). Dr. Usman Singh received her medical degree from Indiana University and completed a residency in Family Practiceat Cook County Hospital, in Chicago, Illinois. She is board certified in Family Practice and Integrative and Holistic Medicine (ABIHM).
Anju Usman Singh, MD, FAAFP, ABIHM, FMAPS
David Dornfeld, DO
Dr David Dornfeld has been preventing and reversing illness at Family Wellness Center in Red Bank, NJ, for 34 + years, while focusing towards "environmental medicine concerns" and how to repair those exposure related insults. Throughout this time, he has developed a special interest in working with children with austim spectrum disorders, and encompasses many aspects of Family Medicine, Nutrition, Osteopathic spinal manipulation, Chelation therapy, IV infusions therapy, and Hyperbaric therapies to synegristically help many improve. He received his medical degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine and completed his residencies in Ohio and Colorado in 1986. He is board certified in Family Medicine (ACOFP) and board certified in anti-aging medicine by the International Society of Anti-Aging medicine in 2000. Dr. Dornfeld has been a member of ACAM, the American College for the Advancement in Medicine since 1994 and became double certified in chelation therapy through his training. He completed his Fellowship from MAPS (Medical Academy of Pediatric Special needs) in 2013, and helps train many professionals and parents in safe hyperbaric therapies, chelation therapies, Lyme related disorders (ILADS trained) and preventive medicine, both nationally and internationally. Recently, Dr. Dornfeld was the only US physician asked to partcipate in an autism summit in Cairo, Egypt, expanding his guidance to help physicians in the Middle East combat the issues associated with recovering children and adults with autism spectrum disorders.
David Dornfeld, DO
Leigh Wilson
Leigh Wilson has a Master’s in Special Education: Modified and Comprehensive, and have over 15 years experience professionally and personally supporting individuals with autism. She has taught public school Special Education at both the elementary and high school level. She also volunteers as the TACA Tennessee Coordinator. Leigh is the mother of two children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, whom she now homeschools.
Leigh Wilson
Meredith Ivy White, MEd CCC-SLP
Meredith White is a speech-language pathologist as well as special needs mother to children with autism and other learning challenges. She is recognized by "Apraxia Kids" for Advanced Training and Expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech and is certified in Orofacial Myology (COM) by the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM). Meredith serves as Coordinator for the Atlanta Walk for Apraxia of Speech, she regularly guest lectures for Georgia State University graduate students on the topic of pediatric motor speech disorders, and she presents at the Georgia Speech-Language Hearing Association’s annual convention on topics such as Childhood Apraxia of Speech and Tongue-Tie. Meredith also provides in-services to educate fellow SLPs in Atlanta area school districts on the topic of childhood apraxia of speech.
Meredith Ivy White, MEd CCC-SLP
Lindsey Wells, ND
Dr. Lindsey Wells is a naturopathic physician in Wilton, CT. She has focused her practice on pediatric consultative care for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), PANS/PANDAS, other neurodevelopmental disorders, and various chronic illnesses. Dr. Wells is an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University where she teaches anatomy and physiology undergraduate nursing students. Also, Dr. Wells is the President of the Connecticut Naturopathic Physicians Association (CNPA). In 2016, Dr. Wells was recognized as “Young Influencer in Naturopathic Medicine” by the AANMC.
Lindsey Wells, ND
Kelly Steffens
Kelly Steffens has a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the State University of Geneseo in NY but her real experience came with her kids. She is a mother to 3 kids, ages 15, 12 and 8, all with varying degrees of special needs. All three of her kids are on special diets. Kelly’s oldest daughter has autism and was once severe, non-verbal and detached. She is now 15 years old, completely mainstreamed in high school and has been in the school play for the past 2 years. Kelly has been an admin for the Recovering Kids Facebook group for over 5 years and she now runs the national TACA Facebook group.
Kelly Steffens
Alison Hamilton, LCSW-C
Alison Hamilton is a social worker, recovering journalist and parent of a 19-year-old daughter with autism and her younger sisters, neurotypical twins. She writes about life as an autism parent on her blog, Real World Autism.
She holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and worked at newspapers in Texas and Florida before leaving journalism to pursue a master’s degree in social work at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. She got early experience providing individual and group therapy at an outpatient addiction facility and a social service agency before moving to Maryland.
Within a year, with newborn twins and an autism diagnosis for her older daughter, she embarked on a journey that she considers her bonus, uncredited clinical training. By the time the twins started kindergarten, she had taken crash courses in advocacy, juggling professionals, understanding medical and educational jargon, and behavior management. She also managed to squeeze in some work as a school social worker, primarily in inner-city schools in Washington, DC, before transitioning to a private practice. She has been a co-coordinator of TACA Maryland since 2009.
Alison Hamilton, LCSW-C
Devin Houston, PhD
Devin Houston, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Houston Enzymes, a division of Houston Nutraceuticals, Inc. Dr. Houston obtained his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. His graduate work focused on enzyme discovery. Subsequent research at University of Virginia and Saint Louis University focused on enzyme mechanisms involved in cellular communication. Dr. Houston followed his academic career with research and development in enzyme manufacturing and invented the first digestive enzyme targeted to the unique digestive issues of autism. His company, Houston Enzymes, provides a variety of enzyme products for digestive support.
Devin Houston, PhD
David Berger, MD, FAAP
Dr. David Berger (“Dr. David”), a Board Certified Pediatrician with over 20 years of experience as a clinician, has developed a national reputation in wholistic pediatric primary care; nutritional and detoxification therapies for autism, ADHD, and related disorders; and immune dysregulation such as allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disorders; and also treats adults with these medical conditions. Dr. David also works with women and men who wish to do preconception and prenatal counseling, testing, and treatments to try to optimize the health of the pregnancy and the baby. Additionally, he oversees nurse practitioners who provide both adult and pediatric wholistic care. Dr. David genuinely cares about his patients and goes above and beyond to make sure each one of them knows this.
Born and raised in South Florida, Dr. David decided to become a pediatrician at age four! He proudly announced this to his pediatrician, Dr. Arnold Tanis, Co-Founder of Pediatric Associates, whose warm and friendly style inspired Dr. David to be the kind of pediatrician he is today. In high school, David focused on taking the classes he would need to get into medical school, and before graduating high school was accepted to an early admission medical school program.
Dr. David graduated from The Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1994 and did his Pediatric Residency at the University of South Florida/Tampa General Hospital where he started using wholistic therapies. He served as the team doctor for Tampa Catholic High School, as well as the Medical Director for a summer camp run by the Tampa AIDS Network, and was also the Medical Liaison for the Palm Beach County Breastfeeding Task Force.
Dr. David has been in private practice since 1997 and an advanced practitioner of biomedical therapies, advocating for the Autism Research Institute philosophy since 1999. In 2005, Dr. David opened Wholistic Pediatrics & Family Care (formerly Wholistic Pediatrics), his medical practice in Tampa, Florida. In 2010, Dr. David was appointed Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida College of Nursing. In 2012, he helped develop and lead the Preconception to Infancy Portland Think Tank, from which the national P2i initiative was developed. In 2016, he launched the Wholistic ReLeaf (formerly named Family Medical Cannabis Clinic) to help qualified patients use medical cannabis as a treatment option.
David Berger, MD, FAAP
Lori Knowles-Jimenez
Lori Knowles-Jimenez is a mother of a recovered child (Daniel, age 20) and General Manager of New Beginnings Nutritionals. She has a B.A. Degree from Frostburg State University and became involved with autism after her youngest son was diagnosed in 2000. Lori is very knowledgeable regarding the role that different biomedical treatments played in rescuing her son Daniel from autism. In 2003, in conjunction with Dr. William Shaw and other medical professionals, she helped create and launch New Beginnings Nutritionals, a cutting-edge nutritional supplement company that supports the unique needs of children with autism. She is a frequent speaker on biomedical interventions to parents and professionals at autism conferences around the world. She collaborates with physicians, naturopaths, scientists, autism researchers and parents in order to create a diverse product line that parents and physicians can trust. Lori enjoys drawing from both her extensive research, professional and personal experience in recovering her own child to support parents and practitioners seeking answers to improve the lives of children affected with autism.
Lori Knowles-Jimenez
Daniel Amen, MD
Daniel Amen is dedicated to optimizing and healing the brain. He is a physician, double board certified psychiatrist and nine-time NY Times bestselling author. He is the Founder of Amen Clinics in Costa Mesa and San Francisco, CA, Bellevue, WA, Reston, VA, Atlanta, GA and New York, NY. The clinics have the world’s largest psychiatric database of functional brain scans, totaling nearly 100,000 scans on patients from 111 countries. Dr. Amen is the lead researcher on the largest brain imaging and rehabilitation study on NFL players and he is the co-creator of The Daniel Plan with Rick Warren and Mark Hyman, a program to get the world healthy through religious organizations.
Daniel Amen, MD
Robert Naviaux, PhD
Dr. Naviaux is the founder and co-director of the Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center (MMDC), and Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics, Pathology, and Genetics at UCSD. He directs a core laboratory for metabolomics at UCSD. He is the co-founder and a former president of the Mitochondrial Medicine Society (MMS), and a founding associate editor of the journal Mitochondrion. He is an internationally known expert in human genetics, inborn errors of metabolism, metabolomics, and mitochondrial medicine. He is the discoverer of the cause of Alpers syndrome—the oldest Mendelian form of mitochondrial disease—and the developer of the first DNA test to diagnose it. His lab also discovered the first mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations that cause genetic forms of autism. Dr. Naviaux's lab has developed a number of advanced technologies like biocavity laser spectroscopy and mtDNA mutation detection by mass spectrometry. He is a Salk-trained virologist, and molecular and cell biologist, the inventor of the popular pCL retroviral gene transfer vectors, and was trained at NIH in tumor immunology and natural killer cell biology. In 2011, he received a Trailblazer Award from Autism Speaks. His 2013 paper reporting preclinical studies on the role of purinergic signaling and the cell danger response in autism was ranked the #1 most-viewed report of 2013 on the Simons Foundation autism web site. He is currently the director of the first FDA-approved clinical trial to study the safety and efficacy of antipurinergic drug therapy using suramin as a new treatment for autism.
Bob Naviaux, PhD
Richard Boles, MD
Dr. Boles is a Medical Geneticist with expertise in mitochondrial and other metabolic disorders. He completed medical school at UCLA, a pediatric residency at Harbor-UCLA, and a genetics fellowship at Yale. He received board certifications in Pediatrics, Clinical Genetics and Clinical Biochemical Genetics. For over two decades, Dr. Boles’ clinical and research focus has been on sequence changes in genes involved in energy metabolism, and more recently ion channels, and their effects on the development of common functional disorders. Examples include autism, pain syndromes, cyclic vomiting, bowel dysmotility, dysautonomia, depression, and SIDS. Dr. Boles practices the “bedside to bench to bedside” model of a physician-scientist, combining an active clinical practice with basic research into the underlying genetic predispositions leading to the same conditions. He has over 70 published papers, mostly in mitochondrial medicine.
Richard Boles, MD
Elizabeth Mumper, MD, FAAP
Dr. Mumper is President and CEO of The RIMLAND Center, Advocates for Children and Advocates for Families. In addition to practicing general pediatrics, she cares for children with neurodevelopmental problems.
Dr. Mumper attended the Medical College of Virginia, did residency training at the University of Massachusetts and the University of Virginia, where she served as Chief Resident of Pediatrics.
Her clinical experience has included five years in pediatric practice, over a decade as Director of Pediatric Education in a Family Practice Residency Program, 16 years as clinical faculty at the University of Virginia, and five years as Medical Director of the Autism Research Institute. She is currently on the faculty of MAPS (Medical Academy for Pediatric Special Needs), and obtained certification from the Institute of Functional Medicine in 2016. She spearheaded the first Pediatrics Advanced Clinical Training for IFM in December 2017.
Dr. Mumper has been named a Miracle Maker in Central Virginia, Woman of the Year in Health and Sciences by the YWCA and Best Integrative Physician in Central Virginia. Dr. Mumper has written book chapters about allergy, immunology and behavioral and developmental pediatrics. Her clinical research has been published in peer reviewed journals. She lectures nationally and internationally and mentors physicians around the world, including Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
Elizabeth Mumper, MD
Kristin Shay, DC, MS
Dr. Kristin Shay, DC, MS Functional Medicine, is an experienced healthcare professional and educator who carries a deeply personal passion for functional medicine and the latest developments in the science behind “nutraceuticals” – dietary supplements demonstrated to have physiological benefits. Dr. Shay holds a Doctor of Chiropractic from Southern California University of Health Sciences; a Masters of Science in Clinical Physiology, and a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology. As an educator, she has instructed college aged students on a wide array of subjects, including nutrition, anatomy, embryology, and overall health/fitness. Dr. Shay is a licensed Clinical Exercise Specialist with the American College of Sports Medicine. Over the course of her career, she earned professional licensure with the American Heart Association and memberships with a number of esteemed professional organizations, including the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association and the American Pregnancy Association. Dr. Shay’s interest in identifying nutrient deficits and dietary supplementation began with her own personal wellness, inevitably extending outward to friends, family, and clients.
Due to her background she became passionate about Simple Spectrum Supplement and getting better products on the market and what she wanted to see available, based on the latest scientific research and free from the extraneous additives packed into so many similar products on the market. At Simple Spectrum they are trying to change the supplement world and standards by doing things such as third party test, get insurance involved and understand the importance of nutrition and possible nutrient deficits, use only high quality vitamins and minerals in methylated active forms and that are truly amino acid chelated from reputable country of origins and all done so in the United States! She wanted to be involved in creating high-grade nutraceuticals you were typically find in doctors offices and make them more affordable and accessible to all family! Simple Spectrum was designed with our kids with sensory needs in mind and is an unflavored dissolvable powder without gluten, casein, added sugar, soy, binding agents, artificial colors, preservatives, GMOs and dairy. She is passionate about nutrition and getting our kiddos the best possible nutrition!
Kristin Shay, DC, MS
Chris D’Adamo, PhD
Dr. Chris D’Adamo is a medical research scientist with expertise in the synergistic effects of healthy lifestyle, environmental exposures, and genetics on human health and wellness. His research, clinical, and educational network includes leaders in the fields of integrative medicine, functional medicine, and lifestyle medicine. Dr. D’Adamo received his Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is currently an Assistant Professor with dual appointments in the Departments of Family & Community Medicine and Epidemiology & Public Health.
Chris D’Adamo, PhD
Jackie moore
Jackie Moore received a Bachelors degree in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Central Missouri. She is the National Program Director for The Autism Community in Action and a volunteer Coordinator for the TACA Georgia Chapter. Less than two years ago she launched Jordyn's Summer Shirt Project to teach her daughter with autism job skills. To date, they have sold over 40,000 shirts and the business continues to grow. Jackie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband Ben and their two children; Jordyn 19 years old and diagnosed with autism and Hudson 6 years old.
Jackie Moore
Kristine Rodriguez, BCBA
As Vice President of Clinical Development and Outcomes for Autism Learning Partners, Kristine leads the training, research, and clinical protocol development initiatives for the organization. She has worked in the field of ABA since 2006, with experience focusing on development of clinical staff training, research protocols, school district consultation, and caregiver coaching. She holds a master’s degree in exceptional student education from the University of West Florida and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Kristine is passionate about making evidence-based, compassion-focused practices available to underserved populations, as well as mentoring clinicians in the design of programs that foster improved independence and quality of life. Her focus at ALP has included: clinical training and competencies, outcomes research, and values-driven interventions. She recently published a tutorial in Behavior Analysis in Practice (Maintaining Treatment Integrity in the Face of Crisis: A Treatment Selection Model for Transitioning Direct ABA Services to Telehealth); she co-authored a second manuscript proposing a model for Cultural Responsiveness Training for Behavior Analysts (currently under editorial review).
Kristine Rodriguez, BCBA
Suzanne Goh, MD
Suzanne Goh, MD, is a board-certified pediatric behavioral neurologist, neuroscience researcher, author and founder of Cortica™. Cortica provides advanced therapies for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions at its California locations in San Diego, Irvine, Torrance and Marin.
A leading researcher and clinical practice expert, Dr. Goh has worked alongside Cortica’s other clinical leaders in pediatric neurology, speech therapy, ABA, music therapy and more to develop the Cortica Care Model. This innovative approach combines optimal neurological treatment with effective strategies for advancing cognition, communication and behavior to restore opportunities for independent living, higher education, career development and social relationships for all individuals with developmental differences.
Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Goh received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history and science, summa cum laude, from Harvard University. She went on to attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. In 2004, she graduated from Harvard Medical School, cum laude. Dr. Goh completed her pediatrics internship at Massachusetts General Hospital and her pediatric neurology residency at University of California San Francisco.
Dr. Goh completed a postdoctoral autism research fellowship in the Pediatric Brain Imaging Laboratory at Columbia University in New York. Her ongoing research has led to publications in leading neuroscience journals.
In 2013, Dr. Goh co-authored the book “Spectacular Bond: Reaching the Child with Autism.” The book provides a powerful home-based program for children with autism that parents can follow. Dr. Goh is also co-author of the ASD Language curriculum that includes a series of educational programs that teach cognition and language skills to children with autism.
Dr. Goh has held joint faculty appointments in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology at Columbia University. In addition, she served as co-director of the Developmental Neuropsychiatry Clinic for Autism and Related Disorders at Columbia University, leading a multidisciplinary team of physicians and psychologists who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of autism. She has taught undergraduate and graduate students at Harvard University and University of California in San Francisco.
Dr. Goh currently serves as a faculty member of the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs instructing medical professionals in best practices for the neurological care of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Suzanne Goh, MD
Elizabeth Vosseller, MA
Elizabeth Vosseller has worked with individuals with complex communication and sensory-motor differences since 1995. She began her career as an SLP at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC where she began to specialize in autism. From there, Elizabeth spent twelve years as an Assistant Professor at The George Washington University teaching more than twenty different courses to undergraduate and graduate students in both Speech and Hearing Sciences and the Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Elizabeth developed a passion for clinical training through her work with field supervision and training to teachers and SLPs during their graduate studies.
Elizabeth’s greatest joy is working with clients and families she opened Growing Kids Therapy Center (GKTC) in Herndon, Virginia. In 2013 she began using Assistive Technology to educate and teach students the purposeful motor skills to Spell to Communicate (S2C). Elizabeth enjoys teaching parents, educators, caregivers, and other professionals to support nonspeaking individuals through S2C.
Elizabeth Vosseller, MA
Theoharis C. Theoharides, BA, MS, MPhil, PhD, MD, FAAAAI
Dr. Theoharides is Professor of Pharmacology and Internal Medicine, as well as Director of Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery, in the Department of Immunology at Tufts University School of Medicine. .He first showed that mast cells, known for causing allergic reactions, are critical for inflammation, especially in the brain, and are involved in a number of inflammatory conditions that worsen with stress such as allergies, asthma, autism spectrum disorder, eczema, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome, migraines, multiple sclerosis, myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome and psoriasis. Dr. Theoharides is also the Scientific Director of Algonot, LLC.
Theoharis C. Theoharides, BA, MS, MPhil, PhD, MD, FAAAAI
David Millett, MD
Dr. Millett is a board-certified neurologist specializing in seizures, epilepsy and electroencephalography (EEG). He received his BA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and obtained both his MD and PhD in 2001 from the University of Chicago. Dr. Millett returned to his native Southern California for his medical internship, neurology residency and 2-year subspecialty training fellowship in Epilepsy and EEG at UCLA. Dr. Millett relocated to the Hoag Neurosciences Institute in 2014 where he is the director of the epilepsy program, and maintains an active role in research and education through his position as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology in the Keck School of Medicine at USC.
David Millett, MD
Tyler Lewis, HHP
Before entering into the autism community, Tyler was an autism mom looking for answers and healing for her son. She became a certified Holistic Health Practitioner and a Board Certified Drugless Practitioner and opened her own autism treatment practice. She owned Pathways Integrative Wellness in Arvada, Colorado where she and her team of physicians and practitioners specialized in comprehensive detoxification, genetics, and virology. Her son Donovan is now in managed recovery and Tyler is committed to helping as many autism parents as possible achieve the same outcome. Tyler is currently focusing her efforts on training other practitioners on detoxification and working on her non-profit organization, Rogue Recovery.
Moira Giammatteo
Lois Kalmick
David and Lois Kalmick founded the tech giant CompuLaw, the leader in software for law firms, in 1979. The Kalmicks are proud parents of triplet daughters, including twins that were diagnosed, at three years old, with ASD, Apraxia and more. The Kalmicks found that personalized social stories and visual learning therapies were incredibly effective for their children. After CompuLaw’s acquisition in 2011, the Kalmicks focused on using their technical expertise and experience to help autistic children. They assembled a team of top professionals and technical experts to create Speech Kingdom, bringing personalized social communication therapies, using those same proven methods, to other children on the spectrum.
Lois Kalmick
David Kalmick
David and Lois Kalmick founded the tech giant CompuLaw, the leader in software for law firms, in 1979. The Kalmicks are proud parents of triplet daughters, including twins that were diagnosed, at three years old, with ASD, Apraxia and more. The Kalmicks found that personalized social stories and visual learning therapies were incredibly effective for their children. After CompuLaw’s acquisition in 2011, the Kalmicks focused on using their technical expertise and experience to help autistic children. They assembled a team of top professionals and technical experts to create Speech Kingdom, bringing personalized social communication therapies, using those same proven methods, to other children on the spectrum.
David Kalmick
Stephanie Ray, BCN, CNHP
Stephanie Ray, BCN, CNHP, is President and CEO of BIORAY®. Early in her career, Stephanie partnered with Dr. Timothy Ray, OMD, on several biological medical clinics. Together they created the foundation of the herbal tinctures that would evolve into BIORAY®. Stephanie has led several intervention studies and has been published in peer-reviewed journals. She is the formulator of BIORAY Kids® and BIORAY® Daily herbal products which are sold by natural retail stores and practitioners, both nationally and internationally. Stephanie has studied Reams Testing, Mayr Cure, Biological Terrain Analysis, Chinese herbalism, Tonic herbalism, Nutrition, and Bach Essences. She is board certified in naturopathy and a certified natural health practitioner.
Stephanie has a deep respect for ancient Chinese herbalism and science. She believes they marry many of the best attributes for you and your family's health. BIORAY's liquid dietary supplements use sustainably harvested, organic herbs and ingredients which gives our herbal extracts uncompromised quality. Our formulas are manufactured in the United States.
BIORAY has been certified by the WBEC (Woman's Business Enterprise Council) to be a woman owned, controlled, and operated company. For 30 years we have been honored to be part of helping families find their unique path to healing. We look forward to continuing on with you.
Stephanie Ray, BCN, CNHP
DJ Jeyaram, Esq
DJ Jeyaram is the principal attorney and founder of Jeyaram & Associates, P.C., a firm dedicated to helping special needs families get clear, accurate and practical estate planning and guardianship advice. DJ provides advice not only as an attorney but as a parent of his wonderful kids Kai (ASD, Williams Syndrome) and Emmy. With 23 years of experience DJ’s experience includes formerly serving as a Georgia Administrative Law Judge with the Office of State Administrative Hearings which presides over Medicaid Waiver appeals.
DJ Jeyaram, Esq
Stephanie Burns, MS, OTR/L
Stephanie Burns, M.S., OTR/L graduated from Brenau University with a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy. Stephanie has over 10 years of experience working with children on the autism spectrum, ADHD, sensory processing, dyslexia, and other developmental disorders. Stephanie received her bachelors of science from Brenau University with an emphasis on psychology and family counseling. Stephanie is a trained and educated feeding therapist using the S.O.S approach to feeding (Sequential, Oral, Sensory). Stephanie is certified with Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), in order to provide treatment to those with disabilities ages 21+. Stephanie uses a sensorimotor approach to intervention in order to foster and develop job skills for young adults on the autism spectrum. Stephanie has a deep-rooted passion in neurological function and understanding how the nervous system affects behaviors, sensory processing, and how it relates to development and functional participation in activities of daily living. Stephanie provides a unique perspective to home interventions as her 3-year –old-son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 2. Stephanie believes family training/involvement in therapeutic interventions is the key to success. Stephanie works closely with her families by providing education and training on home methods and techniques to optimize independence and function across all environments of the individual’s lives.
Stephanie Burns, MS, OTR/L
West Green, MSOT, OTR/L
West Green is a nationally certified and registered Occupational Therapist licensed in the state of Georgia (OTR/L). He is also a credentialed Early Intervention Specialist and provider with the state of Georgia’s Babies Can’t Wait early intervention program. He has over 12 years of experience working with children, adolescence, and young adults with a variety of diverse and specialized needs. West has worked with specialized hospitals for children, special-needs athletics, and collegiate integration for young adults with functional impairments. He has provided professional services to children clinically in both inpatient and outpatient pediatric settings, orthopedics, as well as home and school based settings. West earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science from Clemson University with a concentration in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavioral Analysis. West earned his Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from Brenau University, where he completed advanced studies in efficient, evidence-based and client-centered therapeutic intervention with a clinical focus on pediatric evaluation and skilled intervention. West practices a practical sensory-motor/integration approach to behavioral modification in order to change how children perform their daily tasks. He also focuses on environmental modifications in order to maximize each clients success across contexts. West is extremely dedicated to improving the quality of life and functional abilities for children as they grow into young adults. His passion for providing pragmatic and realistic solutions for clients with ASD and sensory processing disorders and their families is ever-growing during his daily practice of OT. West is fulfilled by helping his clients to overcome a multitude of obstacles in order to achieve a healthy quality of life, to prosper socially, and to functionally thrive during their meaningful daily activities.
West Green, MSOT, OTR/L
Stephanie Belseth, APRN, CPNP, BCIP
Stephanie Belseth is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with 30 years experience in working with complex chronic pediatric patients and neurodevelopmental disorders and has a special interest in both treating and preventing health and developmental issues in children. She focuses on assessing/diagnosing the underlying medical issues that contribute to symptoms, reducing inflammation, balancing the microbiome, treating underlying infections, helping support detoxification, assessing environmental contributors and recommends cutting edge treatments in order to help children reverse symptoms/diagnoses, and function optimally at the highest level possible. She uses principles of nutrition, holistic/integrative medicine, functional medicine, biomedical medicine, mind-body-spirit medicine, nutritional/functional IV therapies, ozone therapy, energy medicine, ART, approaches to address trauma and limbic system dysregulation, and nutrigenomics in her work. Stephanie is a skilled coach in helping children and families succeed with lifestyle changes and treatments that support optimal health and healing. She has a special interest in Gastrointestinal disorders, Autism, ADHD, Asthma, mental health disorders, PANS/PANDAS, Autoimmune disease, Pediatric Lyme and conditions that mimic it, mold Biotoxin illness, electromagnetic hypersensitivity, environmentally acquired illness, and other complex chronic pediatric conditions.
