Chronic Inflammation and Autoimmune Disease Rehabilitation

Michelle Slater, PhD, is a scholar of comparative literature and president of the educational nonprofit Mayapple Center for the Arts and Humanities in Connecticut. She holds a PhD in French literature from Johns Hopkins University.

Her long battle with and recovery from late-stage neurological Lyme disease served as the genesis for this book. Debilitated by the disease to the extent that she was no longer able to teach at her university or perform simple tasks like driving and reading, Slater spent several years pursing every known treatment, from aggressive allopathic methods to holistic remedies. When all failed to deliver recovery, she discovered Dr. Sergey Filonov’s dry fasting program and spent two months in Siberia under his care. She recovered completely from Lyme disease, regaining her memory and returning to researching, writing, hiking and running.

Since 2017, she has not experienced a single symptom.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Michelle Slater has employment relationships with Mayapple Center for the Arts and Humanities and Fairfield University. She receives royalties as a published author. Michelle Slater receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Michelle Slater has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Karen Pryor, PhD, PT, DPT, CH, CFPS, has a doctorate in physical therapy and has practiced for 40 years in the field. Dr. Pryor is the owner of Health Sphere Wellness Center, an integrative therapy clinic in Nashville, Tennessee. Involved with early intervention in the birth-three population for over 30 years, she has developed neuroplasticity techniques that are used in a wide variety of settings, including homes, childcare centers, and school systems, to advanced pediatric therapy programs.

Dr. Pryor serves on several boards, including the Leadership Interagency Council for Early Intervention (2014-2019), a position to which she was appointed by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. In 2010, she received the President's Volunteer Service Award for her contributions to the advanced treatment of children from President Barack Obama. In addition to her work with children, Dr. Pryor has served as an adjunct professor at the Tennessee State University Occupational Therapy Assistant program. She is a clinical instructor for several universities and colleges. With her years of experience and passion for complete wellness, Dr. Pryor advances a more expansive view of how to integrate therapy throughout the lifespan by using neuroplasticity techniques.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Karen Pryor is the owner of Health Sphere Wellness Center, LLC and is a field examiner for PDMS-3. She has employment relationships with Tennessee State University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Physical Therapy School, the Daymar Physical Therapy Assistant School and the Volunteer State Community College. She is a paid consultant for Evergreen Certifications. Karen Pryor receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Karen Pryor is a reviewer with Tennessee Physical Therapy Association and American Physical Therapy Association. She is an Ambassador for National Down Syndrome Society. She serves on the editorial board for APTA Journal.

Mica Foster, DC, graduated from University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic in 2005. She is also a licensed Craniosacral therapist, Reiki Master, HeartMath practitioner and Artist. She has a private practice in Hood River, Oregon. She treats a wide array of musculoskeletal disorders with a focus on finding ease and promoting stress reduction. She enjoys teaching "The art of meditation: drawing mandalas" to all ages. She has created "community coloring collaboration" walls to invite community involvement and communication. She has created "custom color pages for the classroom" to decrease stress and increase focus. Her art therapy has been distributed nationwide. Her illustrations have been featured in the book Ten Fingers Ten Toes Twenty Things Everyone Needs to Know in 2019.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Mica Foster maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Mica Foster has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Shelly Denes, PT, C/NDT, CFPS, CGCP, is an expert in fall prevention and neuro-rehab with more than 30 years of experience treating patients with hemiplegia, neurological diseases, neuromuscular disorders, TBI, and SCI. She has a special interest in Long COVID, autoimmunity and the impact of chronic inflammation and sleep deprivation in rehab. She has been involved extensively with neuroprosthetic devices, lower extremity orthotics, and exoskeleton devices at the Rehab Institute of Michigan. Mrs. Denes travels nationally to present seminars on fall prevention, Long COVID and geriatric rehabilitation. Additionally, her expertise has been presented through expert witness work and consulting both nationally and locally. She also sits on the State of Michigan Fall Prevention Coalition committee. Shelly Denes is a graduate of University of Michigan’s PT program, and she earned her certification in Neurodevelopmental Treatment for Adult Hemiplegia (NDT) at the Rehab Institute of Chicago. She helped create the certifications for ‘Fall Prevention Specialist’ and ‘Geriatric Care Professional’ with Evergreen Certifications, holds these two certifications and sits on their advisory board.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Michel Janet (Shelly) Denes is the owner of Denes Physical Therapy Consulting LLC. She is a consultant with Experts in Therapy LLC and previously with NewGait™. She receives a speaking honorarium from Motivations, Inc. Michel Janet (Shelly) Denes receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Michel Janet (Shelly) Denes is an advisory board member for Evergreen Certifications. She serves on the Fall Prevention Coalition Committee at Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Jyothi Rao, MD, has been practicing medicine for over 20 years. She received her Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed her internship and residency at the prestigious New England Medical Center (Tufts) in Boston. Before opening Shakthi Health & Wellness Center, Dr. Rao practiced medicine in New York and Maryland.

A strong proponent of holistic medicine, Dr. Rao is certified in Medical Acupuncture from UCLA. She is also certified in Cardiopulmonary Stress Testing, which is a personalized assessment of cardiac and pulmonary disease.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Jyothi Rao-Mahadevia has an employment relationship with Shakthi Health & Wellness Center. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Jyothi Rao-Mahadevia is a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the American Academy of Anti-Aging, Regenerative and Functional Medicine Med Chi. She serves on the Columbia Association Medical Advisory Board.

Cindi Lockhart, RDN, LD, IFNCP, is board-certified as an integrative and functional nutrition practitioner with over 30 years in professional practice. She has trained nutrition, fitness, and medical practitioners throughout most of her career, yet maintains a personal practice with clients as she believes that the only way she can effectively educate and inspire other practitioners is through her own practical experience with clients. In addition to educating on how Food is Medicine, Cindi also specializes in coaching clients and practitioners on the importance of managing stress, optimizing sleep, proper exercise and movement, and reducing exposure to environmental toxins. Cindi has extensive expertise in women’s health issues including perimenopause/menopause and thyroid dysfunction as well as autoimmunity, gut health, weight management, cardiometabolic health (insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease), fasting, histamine intolerance, mold detox, and long COVID.
 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Cindi Lockhart is the owner and founder of Lockhart Wellness Solutions, LLC. and is a contributing author for Experience Life Magazine. She receives compensation from Fullscript. Cindi Lockhart receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. All relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations have been mitigated.
Non-financial: Cindi Lockhart is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians in Integrative & Functional Medicine, the Institute for Functional Medicine, and the Integrative & Functional Nutrition Academy.

Kristin Becker, ND, is a naturopathic doctor and founder of The Natural Path to Health Clinic in St. Paul, MN. Her desire to guide patients with disabilities and debilitating joint pain to exercise and improve joint movement led her to the development of Flow – The Natural Path to Healthy Joints, which she teaches at the Fitness in the Parks programs. She earned her doctorate at Bastyr University of Naturopathic medicine, graduated magna cum laude from Hamline University and is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kristin Becker maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Kristin Becker has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Sacha McBain, PhD is a clinical psychologist and associate professor at Rush University System for Health in Chicago, IL. A national leader in medical traumatic stress, Dr. McBain has published peer-reviewed research on the conceptualization and treatment of medical trauma, led national clinical trainings, and helped shape best practices for mental health screening and intervention after traumatic injury. She has worked alongside interdisciplinary partners to develop trauma-informed care approaches and is passionate about bringing psychological intervention to critical care and surgical settings. Through her research, education, and clinical practice, she pushes for better care systems for patients and families impacted by medical trauma. Dr. McBain contributed to the American College of Surgeons Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Best Practice Guidelines Work Group and is an active member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Sacha McBain has an employment relationship with Rush University Medical Center.. She receives a grant from NIH/NIDA. Dr. McBain receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Sacha McBain is a member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Betsy Shandalov, OTR/L, C-IAYT, End of Life Doula, is a holistic occupational therapist and has worked as a clinician, educator and supervisor in rehabilitation, community re-entry and the school setting. Her extensive knowledge of disease and disability with adults and children in a variety of settings combines with her complementary holistic treatments to provide a new level of understanding of how the brain and the immune system work together for natural and therapeutic healing. Betsy teaches clients to empower themselves to prevent injury, heal an existing injury and help with pain management and trauma throughout the lifespan. She works with individuals and families helping to find balance in their minds and bodies by using Ayurveda, Yoga therapy, Meditation and Mindfulness for healing.

Betsy is a certified yoga therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists and is certified as a yoga kids' teacher and trainer by Yoga Kids International. She has advanced training in trauma through The Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C. and is a Level I Reiki practitioner. She recently completed her Ayurvedic Medicine Training for wellness coaching and this past year authored a chapter on Meditation in an Integrative Medicine Textbook for Rehab Professionals.  

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Betsy Shandalov has employment relationships with Yogaot.com and Breath and Grace.Com. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Betsy Shandalov has no relevant non-financial relationships.

CLYDE BOISTON, PT, OCS, CMF, TCHI, is a licensed Physical Therapist with over 25 years of clinical experience who has worked in multiple therapy settings including acute care, outpatient orthopedics, and home health. In addition to his continuing clinical work as a PT, he and his wife own and operate Bel Wellness, a mind-body wellness studio in Riverside, CA which offers classes in Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, Mindfulness and meditation. Mr. Boiston is a mindfulness teacher and meditation instructor who presents retreats, workshops, and mindful living classes to both corporate and healthcare employers as well as the general community. His clients include Kaiser Permanente, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, UC Riverside, and the Riverside County Office on Aging. He received his certification as a Mindfulness Facilitator (CMF) from UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) in 2017 after completing their yearlong teacher training program. MARC is part of the UCLA Medical School’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Mr. Boiston graduated with a BS in PT from California State University Long Beach in 1997 and has been Board Certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) since 2004. He is also a certified Tai Chi for Rehabilitation instructor through the Tai Chi for Health Institute.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Clyde Boiston maintains a private practice. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Clyde Boiston has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Elisa DiFalco, MS, OT, CMLDT, LMT, began working as a Lymphedema Specialist & Clinic Day Educator for Robert Lerner, M.D., “The Pioneer of Lymphedema Treatment.” Soon after receiving a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, she became Clinic Director/Owner of LTS Clinic where she opened a new MLD market with Florida’s leading Plastic Surgeons. From her success, she was inspired to create new MLD courses for therapists to learn from and model after.

For 23 years, Ms. DiFalco has been public and practitioner educator through monthly radio broadcasts and column for Boomer Times, support group facilitator, physician in-services, consultant to major insurance companies, public speaker at American Cancer Society and serving on several university advisory boards. She was also appointed Educational Standards Chair for FSMTA of Florida and has won the NLN Lymphedema Day Award. The in-demand educator enjoys combining education and entertainment as presenter for: FOTA, FSMTA, AMTA, ISSE, World Massage Festival, Premier Day Spa Show, CSFA and Elite conventions. Today, Elisa is moving MLD forward through technology to reach the masses and offers a weekly show featuring expects in the field.
 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Elisa DiFalco is the president of MLD Institute International. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Elisa Difalco is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Florida Occupational Therapy Association, and the American Massage Therapy Association.