Meet Your Host
Kara Wada, MD
A board-certified adult and pediatric allergy/immunology and lifestyle medicine physician, autoimmune patient, health coach, and medical educator.
Dr. Wada’s sees her work as a bridge builder. She focuses on the unique challenges pertaining to those struggling with misbehaving immune systems including allergic, autoimmune, and immune deficiency-related conditions.
She works tirelessly with her patients and coaching clients using her naturally-minded and scientifically-grounded approach to health and healing.
DAY 1
DeMystifying the Science
Discovering the Science of Inflammation
Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP
Jim G. Hendrick MD Professor, Director of the Division of Environmental Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU School of Medicine
Demystifying Environmental Exposures, Inflammation, and Immune Disruption
He is the Jim G. Hendrick MD Professor, Director of the Division of Environmental Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU School of Medicine. He also serves on the faculty of the NYU Wagner School of Public Service.
Dr. Trasande is an internationally renowned leader in environmental health. His research focuses on the impacts of chemicals on hormones in our bodies. He also has led the way in documenting the economic costs for policy makers of failing to prevent diseases of environmental origin proactively.
Brittany Panico, DO, FACR
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Demystifying Autoimmune Labs
A board-certified rheumatologist in Arizona. Her mission is to bring awareness to conditions that rheumatologists treat, medications we use, and common questions that patients have regarding their diagnosis or treatment plan. Her hope is that ALL patients with a chronic medical condition have knowledge and participate in shared decision making so they become empowered to live life confident in their medical treatment plan. She offers patients treatment options that fit their lifestyle goals to help them thrive.
Matthew J Zirwas, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
The New Understanding of Eczema &
Is Nickel in Your Diet Driving Inflammation
Dr. Zirwas passion is understanding immune reactions in the skin driven by environmental and dietary exposures. He has published over 200 peer reviewed articles, written a text book and lectures nationally.
Jasmin Chahal, PhD
Dr. World 2023, University Professor of Microbiology & Immunology and Virology
Immune System DeMystified
Dr. Jasmin Chahal holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology & Immunology with a focus on virology, earned from McGill University in 2020. She actively contributed to undergraduate education as a Teaching Assistant for MIMM 212 and MIMM 214, garnering recognition with the 2020 SALTISE Student Award for her commitment to academic excellence and innovative teaching methods. Dr. Chahal's passion for education extended to volunteering and coordinating McGill's Let’s Talk Science Outreach program, where she developed captivating science activities for various audiences. Additionally, she holds the title of Dr. World 2023 and is a dedicated university professor..
Andrea Salcedo, DO, MPH, FACOG
The Conscious Gynecologist, Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Gynecologic Diseases of Womanhood: Insulin Resistance and Endothelial Inflammation in Action
Andrea Salcedo, DO, MPH, FACOG is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist, wife, and mother of three young boys. She practices full scope obstetrics and gynecology at a large, tertiary, academic medical center in southern California. Her clinical practice is diverse, ranging from low risk women’s health care to complex gynecologic and obstetric problems. A large part of her practice involves root-cause investigation into the development of gynecologic disease. Particularly, she focuses on metabolic health, as it relates to the development of uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps, and endometriosis. She has a special interest in using non-surgical strategies to treat endometriosis. Dr. Salcedo is a clinical researcher and published author in peer-reviewed academic journals. She has presented at several conferences, including at the prestigious, Symposia for Metabolic Health, in San Diego, CA, is an instructor for the Nutrition Network, and has been a featured clinician on various YouTube channels.
Kara Wada, MD
Board-Certified Pediatric And Adult Allergy Immunology & Lifestyle Medicine Physician
Seasonal Allergies, Sinuses and Inflammation
Quadruple board-certified pediatric and adult allergy immunology & lifestyle medicine physician, Sjogren’s patient and life coach shares her recipe for success combining anti-inflammatory lifestyle, trusting therapeutic relationships, modern medicine & our minds to harness our body’s ability to heal.
Arinola Dada, MD
Demystifying Rheumatologic Medication Classes (Biologics Vs Dmards)
Dr. Dada was born in Cincinnati Ohio and grew up in Lagos Nigeria, where she received her undergraduate degree and MD degree at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. She returned to the United States and completed her Internal Medicine residency at the Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, (now University of Pittsburgh), soon followed by a Fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Washington, Seattle. Dr. Arinola Dada is board certified in Internal Medicine, Rheumatology and Clinical Densitometry. As a practicing rheumatologist since 2001, Dr. Dada wears many hats as a mother, teacher, mentor, and speaker. She was previously a science researcher and later became affiliated with the University of Washington as a clinical instructor in Rheumatology. Her clinical interests include Rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Gout, Psoriatic arthritis, Uveitis, Vasculitis, Myositis, Antiphospholipid Antibodies, Systemic Lupus and Osteoporosis. Dr. Dada is a fellow of the American college of Rheumatology and active in multiple professional organizations including American College of Rheumatology, Washington Rheumatology Alliance, Arthritis Foundation and many others. She has been the recipient of many awards including Top Doc for multiple years in Arthritis today, the National Arthritis foundation ‘my doc rocs’ programs as well as multiple years in the Seattle Met magazine.
Jenna Hua, RD, MPH, PhD
Founder and CEO of Million Marker
Seasonal Allergies, Sinuses and Inflammation
Jenna’s extensive experience as an academic and health advocate led to her founding Million Marker in 2019, shortly after completing a Postdoctoral Fellowship with Stanford University’s School of Medicine. Throughout her career in academia, Jenna has researched and published numerous studies that largely focused on citizens science, general health, and the impact of food consumption on a person’s well-being. In one of her most recent publications, Jenna used machine learning to identify people based on food consumed in order to offer healthier food options. She also published another report that studied the arsenic exposure and risks of eating rice within adolescents in Kunming, China.
Meagan W. Shepherd, MD
Board Certified Allergist/Immunologist
Demystifying Aeroallergen Immunotherapy
Dr. Meagan Shepherd is a Diplomat of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology who has over 10 years of experience in treating allergies, asthma, and immunodeficiency. Dr. Shepherd is known for her expertise in advanced immunotherapy options and providing personalized care for her patients. She also has an interest in primary immunodeficiency and additionally focuses on environmental and skin allergies, including eczema, contact dermatitis, and hive and swelling disorders, as well as food allergy, eosinophilic esophagitis, insect and drug allergy, and asthma. She is particularly interested in providing a practical approach to treatment as well as new and state of the art immunotherapy to patients, improving their ability to tolerate or overcome their allergies and to focus on improving their lifestyles and lives.
Alissa Zingman, MD, MPH
Orthopaedic Preventive Medicine Doctor
Strategic Approach to the Doctor-Patient Relationship
Dr. Alissa Zingman, MD is a Musculoskeletal Preventive Medicine Physician with training in both Orthopaedic Surgery and Injury Prevention. After receiving her BA at Barnard College of Columbia University, Dr. Zingman earned her medical degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine where she took time to do a Fogarty Research Fellowship through the National Institutes of Health at Erasmus University in the Netherlands. She went on to Orthopaedic Surgery residency at the University of Rochester where she conducted and assisted research at the Center for Musculoskeletal Research, the number one NIH-funded Orthopaedic research center at the time.
Having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – Hypermobility Type, she has had five orthopaedic surgeries, several herniated discs in her spine, and had to leave her orthopaedic surgery residency to pursue intensive rehabilitation for her spine and pelvis. She resumed medical training in Occupational, Environmental, and Preventive Medicine at Johns Hopkins where she focused on musculoskeletal injury prevention. She founded P.R.I.S.M. Spine & Joint: Prevention, Rehabilitation and Integrative Sports Medicine where she specializes in the multidisciplinary treatment of patients with hypermobility and related disorders.
DAY 2
DeMystifying Lifestyle as Medicine
Harnessing Healing from Our Habits
Basil Kahwash, MD
Board Certified Allergist/Immunologist
Controlling Allergic Inflammation through Exercise
Basil Kahwash, MD is a board-certified allergist/immunologist and assistant professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Kahwash is a “generalist within the sub-specialty”, treating pediatric and adult patients who present with a wide variety of allergic and immunologic conditions. His academic interests include exercise-induced asthma, contact dermatitis, public health communication, and quality improvement. He is an active member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, where he currently serves as the chair of the Sports, Exercise, and Fitness Committee. Dr. Kahwash was selected as a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly and Nashville Lifestyles magazine in 2022 and 2023. His expertise has been sought by numerous national media outlets, including The New York Times, Elle, and Medscape, and he is a frequent guest on Nashville’s local television networks.
Saimun Singla, MD
Pediatric Rheumatologist & Integrative Medicine Physician
Demystifying the Role of Integrative Approaches in Inflammation
Dr. Singla is pediatric rheumatologist and integrative medicine physician who treats autoimmune and other chronic illnesses. She is the founder and CEO of Rheum to Grow, medical practice in Houston that blends the best of Western and Eastern medicine.
Kim Shapira MS, RD
Registered Dietitian
This Is What You're Really Hungry For
Kim Shapira M.S., R.D. is a celebrity dietitian, nutritional therapist, author of This Is What You're Really Hungry For and founder of the Kim Shapira Method. Kim has a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Tulane University and a Master’s degree in Human Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition from Boston University. Kim has spent over 25 years helping people lose weight and keep it off (with a giant emphasis on keeping it off), both in her private Los Angeles practice, in hospitals, sports clinics, addiction centers, and universities. When she's not helping her clients take back their relationship with food, she is a wife and mother of three children and three pups. Kim often appears as a guest expert for Yahoo!, Just Jenny, Sky News, Vanity Fair, Pop Sugar, Podcasts, and more.
Sarah Merritt, MD
Board Certified in Pain Medicine, Anesthesiology, and Addiction Medicine
Low Dose Naltrexone for Systemic Inflammation
Sarah Merritt MD is board certified in anesthesiology, pain medicine, and addiction medicine. She is a clinician in private practice in Bowie, Maryland. She is an advocate for patients and empowers them to get the most from their relationship with their pain physicians as well as other doctors, and healthcare providers. She works with patients to find small, practical changes in their daily lives that empower them to help better manage pain and improve their overall health. She has extensive experience in the management of acute and chronic pain, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of opioid use disorder. She is a mom of 2 boys, a German shepherd and a private practice owner.
Dana Gibbs MD
Integrative Thyroid and Hormone Expert Board Certified Otolaryngologist
This is your body on stress!
Dr. Dana Gibbs is a speaker, educator, hormone expert, board-certified ENT, and allergist. She practiced otolaryngology and allergy in Arlington TX for 23 years. Dr. Gibbs maintains an online presence, presenting workshops and free content that introduce physicians and patients to integrative Hormone Management and Allergy treatment methods. In 2023, she opened Consultants in Metabolism, a direct care practice for thyroid, metabolic and hormone management. The practice is located in North Texas and offers live and virtual visits.
Maureen Michele Petersen, MD
Physician Life Coach; Board Certified Allergist/Immunologist; CEO of Maureen Michele MD Coaching
Food for Thought: Exploring IgE Food Allergies and Beyond
Maureen Michele Petersen, MD is an award-winning leader, life coach, and physician. As a general pediatrician and allergist/immunologist, she has spent her career caring for patients with a variety of acute and chronic health problems. She is a military veteran and has enjoyed using her story-telling talent to teach young physicians the art of medicine. She is an accomplished life coach who helps parents of chronically ill children regain control of their lives and thrive at fulfillment. Dr. Maureen is the mother of three amazing children and has first-hand experience with being a parent of a child with long-term health issues.
Ann Huntington, MD
Board Certified Internist/Hospitalist
Evidence-based Essential Oils for Your Health, From a Physician
Ann Huntington, MD, FACP, is an Internal Medicine-trained Hospital Medicine physician. She has expertise in quality, patient safety, peer review, privileging, and credentials. During the pandemic, she led a group of over 50 hospitalist physicians as medical director. In the field of integrative medicine, she has special expertise in essential oils. As CEO of Give More Naturally, she created two courses on the science, safety, and therapeutic benefits of essential oils: one for physicians with CME and one for everyone interested in natural wellness. A few things to keep in mind: Essential oils are not FDA approved to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent disease. What Dr. Huntington shares should not be taken as medical advice and does not constitute a physician-patient relationship.
Kara Wada, MD
Board-Certified Pediatric And Adult Allergy Immunology & Lifestyle Medicine Physician
How to Harness Healing from our Habits: Using Lifestyle as Medicine
Quadruple board-certified pediatric and adult allergy immunology & lifestyle medicine physician, Sjogren’s patient and life coach shares her recipe for success combining anti-inflammatory lifestyle, trusting therapeutic relationships, modern medicine & our minds to harness our body’s ability to heal.
Jenifer Tharani, MS RD
What Is Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition?
Registered dietitian and the daughter of a chronic illness warrior. She believes that eating healthy does not have to be boring, time-consuming, or expensive. She is extremely passionate about helping women with chronic illnesses adopt an anti-inflammatory, gut-healing eating pattern without unwarranted food eliminations.
Grace Chung
Demystifying Cardiovascular Health
Dr. Grace Chung is a Board Certified Cardiologist located in Long Island, NY.
DAY 3
DeMystifying our Minds
Cultivating a Resilient Mindset
Nissa Keyashian, MD
Psychiatrist, Author, Meditation & Yoga Instructor and Life Coach
Mindfulness and Self Compassion
Nissa Keyashian, M.D. is a board certified psychiatrist and has a private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is also the author of the book Practicing Stillness, which is a beautiful introduction to meditation and yoga with psychotherapeutic principles weaved throughout. She teaches yoga and meditation and blogs about physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health at AMindfulMD.com. As a life coach, she helps people to work on all areas of their health and to create the beautiful lives that burn brightly in their hearts. She lives with her partner and two sons in San Jose.
Kara Wada, MD
Board-Certified Pediatric And Adult Allergy Immunology & Lifestyle Medicine Physician
Seasonal Allergies, Sinuses and Inflammation
Quadruple board-certified pediatric and adult allergy immunology & lifestyle medicine physician, Sjogren’s patient and life coach shares her recipe for success combining anti-inflammatory lifestyle, trusting therapeutic relationships, modern medicine & our minds to harness our body’s ability to heal.
Kate Mangona, MD
Double Board Certified Diagnostic & Pediatric Radiologist
Finding the calm and gratitude amidst the chaos
Dr. Kate Mangona is a board-certified pediatric radiologist, certified life & relationship coach, girl & poodle mom, real estate investor, and the host of the Medicine, Marriage, & Money podcast, YouTube channel, and coaching program. She empowers women to stop stewing in anger, defensiveness, and resentment so they can create more time for love, vacations, & investing! After working with Kate, high-achieving women have the tools necessary to minimize arguments even during conflict and design the life and relationships they crave. When she is not reading pediatric imaging studies or helping humans argue less and reignite the magic in their relationships, she is most likely dancing and singing with her three little girls and physician hubby:)
Jillian Rigert, DMD, MD
Oral Medicine Specialist/Research Fellow in Radiation Oncology
Sustainable Well-being for Introverts and Highly Sensitive Persons
Oral Medicine Specialist, Head and Neck Cancer Research Fellow in Radiation Oncology, Certified Life and Professional Leadership Coach, Dog Mom, Air Force Veteran, Writer, Host of “A Life True to You” YouTube Community, Introvert and Highly Sensitive Human (Not Robot).
My mission is to help people to discover or rediscover what it means to live a life true to themselves - free from societal pressures that lead them astray.
Natalie Kiwi
Spiritual Life Coach
Tools to Stress Less for Moms a conversation with peaceful parenting coach
Natalie Kiwi is a dedicated advocate for choosing love over fear and embracing joy, overcame her own struggles with anxiety and fear a decade ago. Balancing a successful career and motherhood, along with a tragic loss, prompted her to explore stress-reduction techniques like meditation, mindfulness, and energy work. Her journey led her to certifications in Mindful Self-Compassion, Reiki Healing, and Emotional Coherence practices, and she now shares her expertise to guide parents towards peace, joy, and fulfillment through personalized tools and insights.
Suzi B, BHE, CPT
Habits Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, B.S. Health Education
1-2-3 Habits: Health, happiness, and success are as simple as 123.
Suzi B is a personal trainer, speaker, podcaster (Habits and Humor), and the author of “Life Conscious.” She is the creator of HabitiZe Health: helping busy moms create more free time and have more energy and health to enjoy that free time by simplifying health and prioritizing themselves with 3 simple, healthy habits. She has combined her work as a personal trainer, her education as a Health Educator, and her experience with Postpartum Depression with her research of habits and now helps people to Consciously find happiness in the present while their habits Subconsciously create their healthy and happy future. She emphasizes that simplicity and personalization is the key to long term health, happiness, and success. Suzi has 4 kids, loves to travel, and is obsessed with happiness. She's on a mission to help women be healthy AND happy.
Amanda Chay, MA
Lupus Warrior & Author of "The Girlfriend's Guide to Lupus"
How to Be Your Own Bestie Advocate
Amanda Chay is an author, entrepreneur, and lifelong health nut who has helped countless businesses and individuals put their health first. Amanda's own battle with lupus, which often drives her bonkers, has fueled her passion for helping women with lupus. With a master's degree in counseling and as the owner of a stress reduction and mindfulness training company, Amanda brings a wealth of expertise to her work. When she’s not planning her next travel adventure, she’s drinking Jasmine tea, walking her sweet dog, and giving book suggestions to anyone willing to listen.
Rebecca Tapia, MD
Board Certified, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
How to acknowledge the "Zero Sum" game in life
As a rehabilitation physician I have stood at the intersection of families and unexpected life events for over a decade. With those lessons in hand, I help people manage their own mindset and preparation for life with aging parents through recognizing the "zero sum game", examining cultural norms/pressures, and practical steps to ease the stress and chaos that can ensue when life throws a curve ball.
Laura Suttin, MD
Board Certified Family Physician
Setting and Maintaining Boundaries
Dr. Suttin is a family physician and medical director in San Antonio, TX. She is a certified coach and founded the Purposeful MD in 2021 to coach physicians to create the lives they love without guilt. In her spare time, she loves reading, traveling, running, and glamping with her husband and children and family dog in their travel trailer.
Isabelle Amigues, MD, MS, RhMSUS
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Demystifying the Role of Mind Body Connection in Rheumatologic Conditions
Isabelle Amigues, MD, is a physician scientist with a speciality in rheumatology. She has trained both in Paris, France as well as Columbia University, in New York City and was an Associated Professor at National Jewish Health. She is based in Denver, CO where she sees her patients. She is the author of multiple book chapters and scientific articles in rheumatology. She was on the path to becoming a full time researcher when she was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer. A timely meeting with a non-traditionally trained practitioner taught her a different approach to disease. She experienced the power of meditation, visualization, energy healing and love. Her journey through cancer inspired her to learn more about these alternative approaches, and now that she has studied many of them she has integrated them into her own practice of medicine. She is the co-creator of a community meeting called coExist where inspiring speakers share their wisdom to improve people’s lives. She has her own podcast called UnabridgedMD and a youtube channel called Rheumatology 101.
Sarah Cohen Solomon, MD FAAP
Board Certified General Pediatrician
Navigating School Accommodations
Sarah Cohen Solomon, MD, is a general pediatrician with special interact in hypermobile Ehlers Danlos and related disorders. This interest stems from her own lifelong experience with hEDS. After graduating from Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, she trained at Nemours Hospital for Children, where she was exposed to both the rehabilitation/orthopedics side of management, and the chronic pain management. Combined with her own personal history, Dr. Cohen Solomon seeks to bring high quality, nuanced, and sensitive care to children, adolescents, and young adults suffering with this condition. She is thrilled to now care for these patients at PRISM Spine and Joint, both remotely and in person. Advocating for patients with these conditions is a labor of love, especially when it comes to helping them achieve their educational goals.
Kortney West, MD, FAAP
Board Certified Pediatrician
Is it Bad Behavior? Or... Neuroinflammation?
Dr. Kortney West is an esteemed pediatrician with a passion for enhancing the lives of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and behavioral health disorders. Recognizing the significant gaps in youth mental health care, she founded Precise Pediatrics, an innovative practice that integrates precision medicine, nutrition and lifestyle changes to address the root cause of illness. After witnessing the power of these modalities resulting in the true healing of her children, she aims to help other families also heal their bodies and minds rather than mask symptoms.
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Visit their websites & click on the social media links.
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