Saturday

Sunday

Julia Malkowski, ND, DC

"You Are What You Eat; The Gut Microbiome from a Dietary Perspective"

What is the best diet? Is it vegan, ketogenic, carnivore, Mediterranean, low FODMAP or standard American diet? Although this topic has been explored for decades, not much evidence has been discussed via a gut microbiome perspective. With the advent of technology, we may evaluate the effects of specific diets from a gut microbiome viewpoint. By evaluating evidence-based markers, such as Microbiome Abundance and Diversity, Dysbiosis, short chain fatty acids, inflammatory markers and immunology markers, we can objectively assess the effects of diet. Additionally, by studying epidemiological data, we can elucidate commonalities amongst varied diets to delineate aspects of health that contribute to a healthy gut microbiome. Let’s dive into some cases and explore the concept of diet from a microbiome perspective. Attendees will walk away with a greater understanding of how to best serve our patients regarding this foundational aspect of health.

Bio: Dr. Julia Malkowski enjoys empowering individuals via "docere"; to teach, to delight and to move. Upon experiencing the excellent results of restoring the health of her infant son, Dr. Malkowski began her career in Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Malkowski graduated with a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine in December 2017, and a doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine in April 2016 from National University of Health Sciences. Dr. Malkowski has presented at International College of Integrative Medicine (ICIM), the Institute of Women’s Health and Integrative Medicine (IWHIM) and The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). Dr. Malkowski has been published in The American College for the Advancement in Medicine and The Townsend Letter. She remains committed to optimal health on a personal level and professional level as a Staff Doctor in the Clinical Education Department at Doctor’s Data, Inc.

Lylen Ferris, ND

"Functional Testing Considerations for the Peri-menopausal Female"

Peri-menopause is a time of great transition, and can begin as early as the mid 30s. Patients can begin to struggle with health in ways they have not before, with the appearance of symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, cognitive concerns, weight gain, insomnia, deep fatigue, lack of libido, and mood concerns. Successful patient outcomes are built from a blueprint of accurate intake and reliable laboratory assessment; these tools position the practitioner to offer patients sustained wellness. Although simple lifestyle interventions and basic hormone balancing may prove effective in a majority of cases, many patients will present with symptoms and underlying conditions that involve multiple layers of physiologic dysregulation and these cases can be more complex and challenging.  Add to this the idea of optimizing disease prevention, and peri-menopausal patients can be among the most complex. Attendees will benefit from case review of peri-menopausal patients and obtain advanced testing and management strategies, including GI microbiome assessment, HPA Axis assessment (including melatonin, cortisol, CAR, and neurotransmitter testing), salivary and urine sex hormone testing, lifestyle plans, past trauma discussion, and more.

Bio: Lylen Ferris, ND attended Davidson College in North Carolina where she obtained a BA in Cultural Anthropology and a minor in art history. After travelling extensively and witnessing different cultures and ways of thinking, Dr. Ferris realized naturopathic medicine was her calling. She completed her pre-medical training in Australia and returned to the United States to attend medical school at the National College of Natural Medicine (now NUNM) in Portland, Oregon, where she trained as a general practitioner and tailored her studies to focus on women’s health. Her love of teaching began during her advanced women’s health residency, where she taught clinical education and gynecology classes while mentoring students. Dr. Ferris has continued to teach other medical professionals in the US and around the globe at numerous functional medicine conferences, online webinars, and seminars. Dr. Ferris offers a deep knowledge and enthusiasm for teaching hormone and neurotransmitter biochemistry, including research, testing, and optimization. Dr. Ferris is Director of Clinical Education at Doctor’s Data, where she leads a team of physicians focusing on educating practitioners worldwide on hormone and neurotransmitter testing and optimization. She also maintains a clinical practice in Portland, Oregon and her focus has grown to include males and females of all ages.

Heather Hydzik, ND

"Neuroendocrine Workup for Andropause and Menopause"

Around age 50 people are at the peak of their lives in a lot of ways, but as our patients they may require a new kind of support at this time. Females reaching menopause need a provider who is well-versed and up to date on how to provide the safest and most effective strategies to address symptoms of hormonal change. Males also experience hormone changes around this time that can contribute to mental/emotional and physical complaints. This shift is referred to as andropause and involves decline in testosterone and other neuroendocrine changes. Neurotransmitters and hormones can both be involved in the same symptom pictures as they affect one another’s secretion and effects, as evidenced by the efficacy of SSRIs prescribed for hot flashes and insomnia as well as the impact of testosterone on symptoms of depression in males. Proper neuroendocrine assessment can help practitioners offer individualized treatment options that are most appropriate based on the patient’s specific imbalances in neurotransmitter levels and hormone metabolism. Therapeutic strategies may include lifestyle changes, amino acid therapy, nutritional interventions, hormone supplementation, and certain pharmaceuticals. Follow up testing of urinary hormones and metabolites can allow providers to enhance the effectiveness, tolerability, and safe detoxification of endogenous hormones. Understand the multifactorial underlying causes of the symptoms of middle age and start treating the whole person so that they can get the most out of the potentially most rewarding time in their lives.

Bio: Dr. Hydzik is a naturopathic physician with a focus in hormone balance, mental health, digestion, and metabolic health. In addition to private practice, Dr. Hydzik is a staff doctor at Doctor’s Data. After earning a bachelor’s in psychology from University of Southern California, she completed a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine and certificate of midwifery from National College of Natural Medicine (now NUNM). She completed a residency in naturopathic primary care near Seattle. Dr. Hydzik’s past work includes volunteering at a vaccine clinic, midwifery in Bali, and outreach work at a Chicago non-profit that served houseless individuals with mental illness. She has lectured at numerous conferences including AANP, A4M, IWHIM, WANP’s CONNECT, AzNMA, NHAND, and the Food as Medicine Symposium at NUNM.

Tammy Ashney, ND

"Environmental Toxicant Testing"

In the talk, Environmental Toxicant Testing, Dr. Tammy Ashney, ND, will explore the critical topic of environmental toxicant testing and its significance in modern healthcare. As environmental pollutants become increasingly pervasive, understanding their impact on human health is paramount. This presentation will delve into the types of environmental toxicants commonly encountered, their potential health effects, and the methodologies used for their detection and assessment. Attendees will gain insights into the clinical implications of toxicant exposure, practical strategies for integrating environmental health assessments into patient care, and updated information on effective treatment ideas.

Bio: Tammy Ashney, ND is an esteemed associate professor at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM). A dedicated alumna, Dr. Ashney graduated from NUNM in 2009 and went on to complete a rigorous three-year residency. Her first year focused on general practice, followed by two years under the mentorship of Tori Hudson, ND at A Woman's Time, where she honed her skills in integrative women's health. In addition to her expertise in women’s health, Dr. Ashney had the great privilege to study under the late Walter Crinnion, ND. It was here that she continued to build upon her deep passion for environmental medicine and has been a leader in the field ever since her mentorship. Since 2014, Dr. Ashney has been a vital part of NUNM's full-time faculty, contributing significantly to both the academic and clinical aspects of the Naturopathic Program. Her multifaceted roles at NUNM reflect her commitment to advancing naturopathic medicine and her passion for educating the next generation of naturopathic doctors.

Dale Bredesen, MD

"The Laboratory Tests Making Alzheimer's Optional"

With the recent introduction of new blood tests that correlate very well with more invasive tests (such as spinal fluid analysis) and more expensive tests (such as PET scans) in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, it is now straightforward to determine whether one has Alzheimer’s; and more importantly, the high-sensitivity versions of these tests allow early diagnosis, prior to symptom onset. Coupling these early diagnostics with personalized, precision medicine protocols makes it possible for the first time to avoid Alzheimer’s-related dementia in the vast majority of patients. The combination of tests includes those that indicate if Alzheimer’s-related pathophysiology is ongoing (p-tau 217, GFAP, NfL, and Abeta 42:40 ratio) and those that disclose the relevant risk factors (genetic, metabolic, toxic, microbiologic). Recent success in clinical trials indicates that early diagnosis allows effective prevention and treatment.

Bio: Dr. Bredesen graduated from Caltech and received his MD from Duke. He trained with Nobel laureate Prof. Stanley Prusiner, and was the Founding President of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. His research led to over 230 published papers, and the first reversal of cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, using a precision medicine protocol. He is the author of two New York Times best sellers, and is Senior Director of the world’s first precision medicine program for neurodegenerative diseases, at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute.

David Zava, PhD

"Sex Hormone Testing in Different Body Fluids – Pros and Cons"

Steroid hormone imbalances and the adverse symptoms and diminished quality of life associated with these conditions are one of the primary reasons men and women seek medical help and test their hormone levels to evaluate the extent of imbalances that can be corrected by hormone therapy. Hormone testing is commonly performed using venipuncture serum or plasma, but other body fluids (urine-liquid and dried, saliva, fingertip capillary dried blood spots-DBS) are becoming more commonplace due to convenience of collection and more accurate assessment of bioavailable hormone levels. In this lecture I will discuss the pros and cons of using different body fluids and methods (EIA vs LC-MS/MS) for testing hormones, produced endogenously, or taken exogenously by different routes of administration (oral, topical, troche, sc- pellets, etc.), and how the hormone levels tested in different body fluids correlate with clinical response and symptoms.

Bio: Dr. Zava has devoted his professional career to breast cancer research and the development of simple and convenient tests to detect hormonal imbalances that are associated not only with diminished quality of life, but also with risks for developing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. After completing his PhD in biochemistry, Dr. Zava spent nearly 20 years conducting basic research on hormones and breast cancer in Texas, Switzerland, and California. In 1998, he moved to Oregon and established ZRT Laboratory, a CLIA-approved research and testing facility that commercially tests hormones, neurotransmitters, essential elements and heavy metals in saliva, dried blood spot, dried urine and serum. Along with performing high complexity clinical testing on thousands of patient samples each day, ZRT partners with many academic and government institutions to research and publish work related to imbalances in hormones, neurotransmitters, essential elements and heavy metals. In addition to his innovations in clinical laboratory testing and development, and numerous scientific publications over the past 30 years, he coauthored a landmark book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer: How Hormone Balance Can Help Save Your Life.

Kurt Woeller, DO

"Advanced Laboratory Concepts of Organic Acids and Mycotoxin Testing: Correlations with Mold in Various Chronic Illnesses"

The Organic Acids Test (OAT) is considered a foundational profile for the assessment of metabolic imbalances, and the existence of pathogenic microorganisms colonizing the digestive system. Certain molds such as aspergillus can inhabit the digestive system producing unique compounds detectable via the OAT. These and other molds also produce mycotoxins which interfere with gut function and are linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. The combination of the OAT and mycotoxin testing is considered an advanced laboratory assessment for many individuals with complex health disorders. This lecture by Kurt N. Woeller, DO of Integrative Medicine Academy (https://integrativemedicineacademy.com) will outline the relationship between certain OAT markers and mycotoxins.

Bio: Kurt N. Woeller, DO, FMAPS, is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, integrative and functional medicine physician, and biomedical autism treatment specialist in clinical practice for over 25 years. Dr. Woeller is the education director and main course developer for his Integrative Medicine Academy (https://integrativemedicineacademy.com), an online academy for health professionals. He is also the Organic Acids Test (OAT) seminar creator and presenter for Mosaic Diagnostics Laboratory’s (formally Great Plains Laboratory’s GPL Academy) Mosaic Edge seminars and has been involved in monthly educational webinars for GPL, Mosaic, and other organizations for over a decade. His private practice, Sunrise Functional Medicine (https://mysunrisecenter.com), focuses on specialized diagnostic testing and treatments for individuals with complex medical conditions like autism, autoimmune, gastrointestinal, certain neurological disorders, and other chronic health conditions. Dr. Woeller is a Fellow of the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS). He has served as a clinical consultant for various laboratory companies (Great Plains Laboratory, BioHealth Laboratory), providing health practitioner education regarding functional and integrative medicine. You can follow Dr. Woeller for ongoing education articles and videos through his Substack at https://drwoeller.substack.com/ and his You Tube channel for Integrative Medicine Academy - https://www.youtube.com/@integrativemedicineacademy. Finally, listen to Dr. Woeller’s latest health professional interviews through his Functional Medicine Doc Talk podcast – https://functionalmedicinedoctalk.com.

Ashley Chauvin, ND, MSCP

"Evidence Based Lab Testing in Breast Cancer Survivorship Care"

This presentation will explore the critical role of lab tests in enhancing outcomes for breast cancer survivors. Through an evidence-based approach, the session will cover the utilization of diagnostic, treatment, and survivorship lab tests. Attendees will learn how early detection tests like genetic screening and biomarkers can identify cancer risk before it starts, understand the role of chemosensitivity and tumor marker testing in treatment, and discover how to integrate oncology blood work into naturopathic practice. Additionally, the presentation will address the importance of ongoing health screening in survivorship, providing a comprehensive overview of lab tests that support long-term health and cancer prevention.

Bio: Dr. Ashley Chauvin N.D found her calling in Naturopathic Medicine while working with cancer survivors as a Radiation Therapy intern. Listening to the question’s patients had about diet and supplements led Ashley to become interested in the impact of naturopathic medicine on conventional cancer care. She decided to make a career change and graduated from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. Afterwards, she completed a residency program where there was a focus on intravenous therapy and integrative cancer care. As a menopause society certified practitioner (MSCP), Ashley also supports patients experiencing medically-induced menopause to embrace a vibrant life post cancer treatment. She has been a podcast guest discussing breast cancer survivorship, and has given lectures for The Confident Clinician, McMaster University, EndoANP and Helixor. Currently, she works at a women’s health focused practice in Ontario, Canada. When she is not in the office, Ashley can be found at a Farmer’s market, listening to Taylor Swift or exploring the outdoors with her two dogs.