"Relationship: Integrating the Science and Spirit of Healing"

Click on the links below or scroll down to read speaker biographies.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Patrick Hanaway, MD
Mark Houston, MD
Allie Knowlton, MSW, LCSW, DCSW And Evelyn Rysdyk
Gary Malkin
Susan Chernak McElroy
Gladys McGarey, MD, MD (H)
Joseph E. Pizzorno, Jr., ND
Scott Shannon, MD
Martha Stark, MD      

OTHER FACULTY
Cynthia Atkinson, CEMP/S/I, CHTP
Christopher T. Bartlett, MD
Allan K. Drew, LMT, NCBTMB
Frank Gentile, PT
Bethany Hays, MD, FACOG
Meredith Jordan, RN, MA, LCPC
Judith G. Kimball, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Peter Knight, ND
Kathryn Landon-Malone, RN, CPNP
Kristen Lombard, MSN, APRN, BC
Robert Myers, LCPC
Joseph Semmes, MD

Jump to the Keynote Presentation section and Breakout Sessions section to learn about their presentation topics.

---

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

PATRICK HANAWAY, M.D. is a board-certified holistic physician and the Chief Medical Officer of Genova Diagnostics. Dr. Hanaway has lectured extensively on the clinical application of nutrition and genomics; particularly in the areas of digestion, oxidative stress, inflammation, hormone metabolism, and achieving long-term wellness.

MARK HOUSTON, MD specializes in hypertension, lipid disorders, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, nutrition, clinical age management and general internal medicine. He is presently Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and maintains an active clinical and research practice. Dr. Houston has completed over 80 clinical research studies in hypertension, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease and has authored four best selling books including What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypertension. 

ALLIE KNOWLTON, MSW, LCSW, DCSW and EVELYN RYSDYK are shamanic practitioners who work together as Spirit Passages. Since 1991, Allie and Evelyn have taught workshops across the United States and Canada and have helped hundreds of people referred to them by doctors, psychotherapists, and other health care professionals. Allie is a psychotherapist, and Evelyn is a Sacred Artist and the author of Modern Shamanic Living.

GARY MALKIN, co-creator of the award-winning CD/book, Graceful Passages: A Companion for Living and Dying, is a presenter, educator, Emmy-Award winning composer and performer dedicated to the healing power of music. Gary is co-author, along with Michael Stillwater, of the innovative caregiver audio resource, Care For the Journey: Sustaining the Heart of Healthcare, and offers programs and keynotes nationwide.

SUSAN CHERNAK MCELROY is a teacher, master storyteller, and author of the classic New York Times Bestseller, Animals as Teachers and Healers: True Stories and Reflections. Susan Chernak McElroy’s writings are published in more than twenty languages worldwide. She is a nationally recognized, passionate, and original voice on the subject of our emotional, biological, and sacred relationships with animals and wild nature.

GLADYS MCGAREY, MD, MD (H) has been a family physician for more than fifty years.  She is board certified in Holistic and Integrated Medicine and is internationally known for her pioneering work in holistic medicine, natural birthing and the physician-patient partnership. Her work through her foundation, The Gladys Taylor McGarey Medical Foundation has helped expand the knowledge and application of holistic principles through scientific research and education.  She is author of three books, The Physician Within You, Born To Live, and Living Medicine.

JOSEPH E. PIZZORNO, JR., ND, is founding president of Bastyr University in Seattle, WA and the founding editor of Integrative Medicine: A Clinicians Journal. Dr. Pizzorno is a physician, educator, researcher, expert spokesperson, and best-selling author. He is one of the world’s leading authorities on science-based natural medicine.

SCOTT SHANNON, MD has been instrumental in the creation of a holistic and integrative perspective in psychiatry for many years. He wrote the first textbook in his field, the Handbook of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Mental Health in 2002 and authored Please Don’t Label My Child in 2007. Recently, Scott started the country’s first academically based Integrative Clinic in Child Psychiatry at the University of Colorado-Children’s Hospital in Denver where he works as Assistant Clinical Professor. He also maintains a private practice in Fort Collins. Dr. Shannon writes and teaches extensively.

MARTHA STARK, MD is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and the Boston Psychoanalytic Institute. She is an adult and child psychiatrist/psychoanalyst in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Stark is the author of three award-winning books on psychoanalytic theory and technique, allof which are used at psychoanalytic training institutes around the country.

> to top

OTHER FACULTY

CYNTHIA ATKINSON, CEMP/S/I, CHTP is a Certified Energy Medicine Practitioner, Specialist, and Instructor. She was the first Certified Healing Touch Practitioner in Maine and practices Energy Medicine and Healing Touch at True North.

CHRISTOPHER T. BARTLETT, MD is a board-certified family physician with a Medical Degree from Ohio State University. He served in the Army for eleven years and has been in private practice in Maine since 1993. He is an avid writer and thinker about the problems of health care in America.

THOMAS H. DAHLBORG, MSM received his masters degree from Lesley College in health services management and is a graduate of Stonehill College’s Health Care Administration Program. Tom has 20 years experience creating competitive advantages, analyzing customer expectations, and developing and implementing focused and aligned strategic deployment plans. He is True North’s Executive Director.

ALLAN K. DREW, LMT, NCBTMB studied at the Downeast School of Massage in Waldoboro, Maine and Sarasota School of Massage Therapy in Sarasota, Florida. He has taught his approach to healing low back injuries in seminars to massage therapists.

FRANK GENTILE, PT is a physical therapist trained in Integrative Manual Therapy. He is the owner of Integrative Manual Therapy Associates in Falmouth, Maine and serves on the faculty and Board of Directors of the Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy.

BETHANY HAYS, MD, FACOG practices gynecology and Functional Medicine at True North where she is also the Medical Director. Dr. Hays is the Co-Director of the Mercy Hospital Division of Integrative Care, is on the Board of the Institute for Functional Medicine and is a proud contributor to the Textbook of Functional Medicine.

MEREDITH JORDAN, RN, MA, LCPC is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in private practice working primarily with adults and children in the area of illness and loss. She is also co-founder and present director of Rogers McKay, a multi-faith spiritual-educational organization based in Maine, offering retreats and programs throughout the country.

JUDITH G. KIMBALL, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA is Founding Director and Professor in the Occupational Therapy program at the University of New England. Her research, writing and clinical work centers on sensory processing disorders and craniosacral therapy. 

PETER KNIGHT, ND earned his degree in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University and has additional training in Functional Medicine and the DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) approach to children on the autistic spectrum. Dr. Knight practices and teaches at True North.

KATHRYN LANDON-MALONE, RN, CPNP is a pediatric nurse practitioner with nearly 30 years of experience caring for children. Additional training through the Certificate Program in Holistic Nursing provided a foundational understanding of botanical, homeopathic, energetic and movement therapies. Kathryn’s training in Pediatric Hypnotherapy is through the Society for Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics.She is currently enrolled in a PhD program in Pre and Perinatal Psychology, a new field of study examining the beginnings of health or disease in children. 

KRISTEN LOMBARD, MSN, APRN, BC, a co-founder of True North, has 10 years of experience as a Circle facilitator and member.  She has spoken nationally about Circle and is focusing her PhD research on the application of Circle in nursing and health care.  As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kristen has significant experience in living relationship-centered care through inpatient and outpatient program development, administration, education and consultation.  Her formal and informal education in mindfulness has added dimension to her work.

ROBERT MYERS, LCPC is a licensed clinical professional counselor who works with teens and adults. Robert brings 30 years of experience in a variety of clinical, artistic, and spiritual settings to his private practice at True North.He uses a solution-focused approach and depth orientation to his work along with a rich creative tradition as a composer, poet, and performing artist.

JOSEPH SEMMES, MD is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Critical Care. On the Mercy Hospital staff since 1998, he has been a medical community advocate for integrative medicine, improved end-of-life-care and evidence-based medicine. Dr. Semmes sees patients and directs the Research and Outcomes Assessment programs at True North.