Saturday

9:00 - 10:30 AM	"Psychedelic Ketamine Experiences in the Clinical Setting: Case Studies and Discussion"	Lindsay Wilkinson, ND, LAc
10:30 - 11:00 AM	BREAK
11:00 - 12:30 PM	"What is the Mi(gh)ter Hype of Kratom? Pharmacology, Potential Benefits and Harms of Mitragyna speciosa"	Oliver Grundmann, PhD
12:30 - 1:30 PM	LUNCH
1:30 - 3:00 PM	"Magic Mushrooms: Including the Efficacy & Safety of Oregon Psilocybin Services"	Georgiana Cullen-Kerney, ND, MAc
3:00 - 3:30 PM	BREAK
3:30 - 5:00 PM	"38 Million Moments Shaping Your Epigenome: Exploring Psychedelic Healing"	Candace Lewis, PhD

Sunday

9:00 - 10:30 AM	"Microdosing Psilocybin & LSD: What We Know So Far"	Erica Zelfand, ND
10:30 - 11:00 AM	BREAK
11:00 - 12:30 PM	"Bringing Ayahuasca to North America: Technical and Ethical Challenges"	Leanna Standish, NMD
12:30 - 1:30 PM	LUNCH
1:30 - 3:00 PM	"Psychedelics: Effectors of Neuroinflammatory Programming"	Austin Perlmutter, MD
3:00 - 3:30 PM	BREAK
3:30 - 5:00 PM	"Clinical Ketamine Use: Considerations in Special Populations"	Alicia Bigelow, ND

Lindsay Wilkinson, ND, LAc

"Psychedelic Ketamine Experiences in the Clinical Setting: Case Studies and Discussion"

At the upcoming symposium on psychedelic medicine, I am thrilled to deliver a presentation centered on the transformative power of patient experiences and compelling case studies. Through an engaging narrative, I will illuminate the profound impact of psychedelic therapies on mental health treatment, drawing from real-world scenarios and clinical insights. By sharing diverse patient journeys and outcomes, I aim to showcase the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine in addressing a spectrum of mental health challenges. Attendees can expect to gain invaluable insights into the nuanced complexities of patient care, as well as the evolving landscape of psychedelic-assisted therapies. Together, we will explore the profound intersection of science, compassion, and hope, paving the way for a deeper understanding and appreciation of this groundbreaking field.

Bio: Dr. Lindsay Wilkinson is a highly trained and experienced healthcare professional specializing in mental health, gynecology, and digestive health. With a dedicated focus on non-ordinary states of consciousness, Dr. Wilkinson has undergone extensive clinical training to provide exceptional care in therapeutic ketamine treatment. She employs evidence-informed practices, utilizing a blend of traditional and modern diagnostic techniques to offer comprehensive patient care.

Having completed a rigorous CNME-approved residency at Kwan Yin Healing Arts Center in 2016, Dr. Wilkinson has since been at the forefront of delivering integrated healthcare services. Her approach emphasizes a holistic perspective, where she combines somatic techniques, bodywork, and acupuncture to foster body awareness, relieve pain, and optimize the mind-body connection.

Dr. Wilkinson's commitment to holistic healing extends to her incorporation of various bodywork modalities into her practice. These include Classical 5 Element Acupuncture, Tami Kent's Holistic Pelvic Care, the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang visceral abdominal massage, and Cranial Sacral Therapy. By integrating these modalities, Dr. Wilkinson provides personalized and effective treatments tailored to each patient's unique needs, ensuring comprehensive wellness and healing.

 

Oliver Grundmann, PhD

"What is the Mi(gh)ter Hype of Kratom? Pharmacology, Potential Benefits and Harms of Mitragyna speciosa"

Kratom, a tree native to Southeast Asia also known by its Latin name Mitragyna speciosa, has gained substantial public interest in the US as a botanical product. Its alkaloids act on a number of receptor systems, including opioid, adrenergic, and serotonergic receptors leading to a complex pharmacology. The traditional use in Southeast Asia has not been reported to result in a use disorder although kratom extracts and concentrates sold in the US may lead to tolerance and dependence with frequent and high-dose consumption. This presentation focuses on the pharmacology, reported self-treatment of disorders, and detrimental or toxic effects of kratom.

Bio: Oliver Grundmann is a clinical professor at the College of Pharmacy and holds a courtesy appointment with the College of Nursing, University of Florida. He received his BPharm from the University of Münster, Germany before receiving his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Florida. His research focuses on natural products and complementary and alternative medicines. He serves as section editor of the journal Current Addiction Reports, is the incoming president-elect of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology, and is working with various academic collaborators on the use and clinical impact of dietary supplements with a particular emphasis on kratom.

 

Georgiana Cullen-Kerney, ND, MAc

"Magic Mushrooms: Including the Efficacy & Safety of Oregon Psilocybin Services"

In this presentation you will explore magical mushrooms and their potential for healing. Prepare to be inspired as we delve into the therapeutic applications of psilocybin, revolutionizing approaches to treating depression and anxiety as well as other breakthrough research. You will learn to navigate the framework in Oregon, where psilocybin has gained legal recognition for therapeutic use, empowering you to safely guide patients through this groundbreaking terrain with confidence and compassion. Gain invaluable skills in harm reduction and safety through a trauma-informed lens, ensuring the well-being and empowerment of individuals undergoing psilocybin-assisted therapy. Enjoy the journey into the evolving landscape of psychedelic medicine!

Bio: Known as Dr. G by her clients, Georgiana Cullen-Kerney (ND MAc) specializes in integrative health, plant medicines, and the psycho/spiritual and mental/emotional components that are often missing in standard practices of care. Dr. G works domestically and internationally with clients of women-led nonprofit Right to Heal, supporting their health and healing with an educational and harm-reduction approach. She also offers consultation through her micro practice Mindset Natural Medicine.

As an Oregon state-licensed psilocybin facilitator, Dr. G provides facilitation services as Mushy Healing. She serves as a council member, community builder, and safety liaison at psilocybin service center Project Circle, and is a valued facilitation partner at Chariot Space—known as the "sweetheart" of state licensed psilocybin service centers.

Driven to safely bring plant and psychedelic medicine to her communities, Dr. G has led the first psilocybin retreat dedicated to physicians in the country, and co-created the first mother-centered psilocybin retreat in the country as well.

Dr. G's initiation into plant medicine began decades ago and was the catalyst of her life's work. She has studied with various teachers, elders, and luminaries of the Naturopathic community, and continues to explore sacred plant medicine through the wisdom of our community and her own ancestral foundations.

 

Leanna Standish, NMD

"Bringing Ayahuasca to North America: Technical and Ethical Challenges"

Dr. Standish will discuss the cultural history of Ayahuasca and recent scientific work towards clinical application of group Ayahuasca-assisted therapy for the treatment of major depression, PTSD and addiction. She will summarize the technical and ethical challenges associated with bringing Ayahuasca to North America and western science.

Bio: Dr. Standish is a neuroscientist and naturopathic physician living and working in Seattle WA. She holds faculty appointments at the University of Washington School of Medicine in the Radiology Department as well as at Bastyr University. She specializes in integrative oncology and neurology. She leads cancer research teams and holds an FDA IND for a phase I clinical trial of ayahuasca, a psychoactive Amazonian tea.

Dr. Standish is board certified in naturopathic oncology. Her research is focused on the Asian medicinal mushroom Trametes versicolor in the treatment of breast and prostate cancer; functional brain imaging in the treatment of brain cancer; and the development of integrative oncology outcomes studies. New projects using IV Resveratrol and IV Curcumin to treat cancer are being developed.

She has provided adjunctive naturopathic medical care to hundreds of cancer patients, and has worked collaboratively with Seattle area oncologists to provide integrated conventional/CAM care. A founding board member of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Dr. Standish was board certified in naturopathic oncology in 2006. Her recognition by the oncology community as an expert in naturopathic medicine is evidenced by her being voted one of Seattle’s Best Physicians in the Seattle Metropolitan Magazine in 2002, 2004 and 2008. She has been a member of both the NIH and the Department of Defense study sections for scientific review of CAM research in cancer. Dr. Standish has served as a CAM oncology advisor to MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Erica Zelfand, ND

"Microdosing Psilocybin & LSD: What We Know So Far"

Dr. Erica Zelfand takes a deep-dive into the latest research on microdosing to summarize what we know - and what we don’t - about the effects of taking sub-perceptual doses of LSD and psilocybin. Featuring real cases from her practice, Dr. Zelfand explains various dosage protocols, reviews the literature available, and summarizes general trends. The proposed mechanisms of action of microdosing are explained, along with safety considerations and drug-drug interactions.

Bio: Dr. Erica Zelfand is the CEO of Right to Heal, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering people around psychedelic healing and other life-saving techniques that conventional medicine has ignored.

Dr. Zelfand’s training and skill set span the spectrum of both conventional and natural approaches. She treats people of all ages and stages of life, from newborns to those approaching the end of life. Areas of focus within her family practice include: autoimmunity, endocrinology, and integrative mental health. She is deeply committed to patient-centered, root-cause-oriented, nature-honoring approaches to healing.

Dr. Zelfand is also a facilitator of therapeutic psycho-spiritual experiences, and regularly lectures on psychedelic science at medical institutions worldwide. She also trains practitioners in person and online, and is listed in the Portland Business Journal as a psilocybin trailblazer.

Dr. Zelfand loves sharing her knowledge, her reverence for nature, and her zesty sense of humor with her colleagues, her patients and clients, and audiences of all sizes worldwide. She is also a fan of dark chocolate and group hugs. To learn more and connect, please visit www.DrZelfand.com.

 

Candace Lewis, PhD

"38 Million Moments Shaping Your Epigenome: Exploring Psychedelic Healing"

This presentation explores the association between early life stress-induced epigenetic alterations and the development of mental health disorders, alongside the innovative potential of psychedelic therapies. We will discuss results from my lab exploring the integration of neuroimaging data with peripheral epigenetic information, highlighting a crucial approach for deepening our understanding of the peripheral epigenome. We also discuss results from my lab suggesting that the targeted use of psychedelic interventions may decrease symptoms through epigenetic mechanisms. Lastly, we will review future directions of these exciting fields.

Bio: Dr. Lewis grew up in rural Alaska where she was exposed to high rates of poverty, mental illness, violence, and addictions. These personal experiences drove her commitment to revolutionize mental health understanding, treatment, and policy change. To this end, she earned a Masters in Counseling, a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience, studied genomic science at a leading institution, and studied psychedelic science at the University of Zurich. Currently, Dr. Lewis lead the BEAR Lab (Brain, Epigenetics, & Altered states Research) at Arizona State University. Her lab’s research focuses on 1) the impact of early life social experiences on epigenetic regulation of gene systems involved in mental health; 2) the relationships between peripheral epigenetics and brain structure, function, microbiome composition, and behavior; and 3) the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy to reduce symptoms through psychological healing and epigenetic alterations. Through her research, she aims to acknowledge the harm caused by psychology and genetic sciences on minority groups, increase diversity in training and study cohorts, and change policy to improve mental health for all. When not working, Dr. Lewis enjoys family time with her three sons and wife, going to music festivals, hiking, running, reading, creative writing, and talking about all things spirituality, social justice, and science.

 

Austin Perlmutter, MD

"Psychedelics: Effectors of Neuroinflammatory Programming"

Brain-related diseases and disorders are among the most debilitating and deadly conditions on Earth. Yet by and large, conventional pharmaceutical management targeting individual neurotransmitters or proteins (e.g., serotonin in depression, amyloid beta in Alzheimer’s dementia) have fallen short of expectations. This has led to a growing interest in identifying additional disease-related pathways and interventions to help ameliorate physical, emotional and economic costs. In this conversation, neuroinflammation and psychedelics have each emerged as areas of intense academic research and potential sources of solutions. Neuroinflammation is now believed to underlie or significantly contribute to mental health, cognitive, neurodevelopmental and behavior disorders and diseases. Psychedelics represent promising compounds for ameliorating a host of brain-related conditions. In this presentation, we’ll explore the known overlap between the two domains while looking ahead towards the promise this may hold for the future of brain health.

Bio: Dr. Austin Perlmutter is a board-certified internal medicine physician, New York Times bestselling author, published researcher and international educator. His mission is to help people improve their health by targeting the biological basis of “stuckness” in our brains and bodies. His writing, presentations, podcasts, and online educational programs explore how environmental factors influence our cognitive and mental state and have reached millions. Dr. Perlmutter has been featured on PBS, Rolling Stone, MedPage today, Newsweek, Medical News Today, NPR and a wide range of other media outlets. He is a co-producer of the Alzheimer’s, the Science of Prevention series, and host of the Better Brain Blueprint series. Dr. Perlmutter currently serves as the managing director at Big Bold Health, a food-as-medicine company focused on helping people rejuvenate health through better immune function, where he is running a first-of-its kind study exploring the effects of plant nutrients on human aging through epigenetics.

 

Alicia Bigelow, ND

"Clinical Ketamine Use: Considerations in Special Populations"

In this lecture, Dr Bigelow will delve into the therapeutic application of IV ketamine in populations where its use requires special consideration, such as in women with postpartum depression, and individuals with alcohol use disorder.  Attendees will gain insights into the unique factors to consider when treating members of these populations and how IV ketamine therapy can be tailored to address their specific needs. Through a blend of clinical case studies, empirical evidence, and practical considerations, this session will provide a comprehensive overview of IV ketamine's efficacy, safety, and role in optimizing mental health outcomes across several special populations.

Speaker Bio: In 2004, Dr. Bigelow earned her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM). Following her academic training, she completed a two-year residency at NUNM and continued on as a clinical and academic faculty member for 15 years with a specific focus on IV therapy and Environmental Medicine. During that time, she worked with patients with complex chronic disease and cancer. Her experiences working with patients facing serious illnesses underscored the importance of an integrative approach to health, incorporating mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. This prompted her to deepen her training in mental health from a holistic perspective. Subsequently, she sought specialized training at Polaris Insight Center for Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, began a mentorship at Cascade Psychedelic Medicine and pursued training in psilocybin facilitation with InnerTrek and Right to Heal.

She offers consultations and facilitates psilocybin retreats in Mexico through the non-profit organization, Right to Heal, and is an Oregon-licensed psilocybin facilitator. She also provides IV Ketamine with accompanying sound baths to patients with depression and other psychiatric ailments at Cascade Psychedelic Medicine in Portland, OR.