Presenters
Meet the various presenters who present the NIWH Whole Health Health Thyself courses.
Diana Schwarzbein, MD, is a board certified Endocrinologist, who has written extensively on the subject of insulin resistance, obesity and type II diabetes. Her book, The Schwarzbein Principle, has brought public awareness to the epidemic of hyperinsulemia and its devastating effects on human health.Dr. Schwarzbein retired from clinical practice in 2006 to continue writing books on this topic to educate the consumer and began teaching other health care professionals about her program. Dr. Schwarzbein is currently working on two health focused projects; establishing a Women’s Wellness Center at a Greenwich, CT hospital, and developing a national project to combat the pandemic conditions of obesity, insulin resistance and Type II diabetes.
James S. Gordon, MD, is the Founder and Director of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, DC and a Clinical Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Gordon recently served as Chairman of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. He also served as the first Chair of the Program Advisory Council of the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Alternative Medicine and is a former member of the Cancer Advisory Panel on Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the NIH. A Harvard Medical School graduate, he was for ten years a research psychiatrist at the National Institute of Mental Health.
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is a visionary health pioneer, weight loss expert and award-winning author of 25 books. Ann Louise was named one of the top ten nutritionists in the country by Self magazine. She has been featured on 20/20, Dr. Phil, The View, Good Morning America, Extra, CNN, PBS, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CBN, Fox News, Good Day New York and the BBC. Ann Louise is a savvy and dynamic speaker.
David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, is a leader in the field of nutrition and its effect on neurological disorders. He is a board-certified neurologist and fellow of the American College of Nutrition. Dr. Perlmutter has contributed extensively to current medical literature.He is the author of The Better Brain Book and Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten.
Mona Dorsinville, MD, MPH, MPA, is the past Executive Director of the Massachusetts Institute for Health Careers (MIHC). In addition to her outstanding work in promoting educational programs in home health care with MIHC, Dr. Dorsinville has devoted much of her time educating medical and health care professionals on how cultural differences impact the delivery and experience of health care. Dr. Dorsinville is the recipient of numerous awards for community service and humanitarian efforts on behalf of women and children living in impoverished communities.
Walter Willett, MD, DrPH, is a Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. Physician, author and lecturer, Dr. Willett is the Principal Investigator of the Nurses’ Health Study II and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, a similar research project of 52,000 men. He has published over 800 articles on lifestyle risk factors for heart disease and cancer, and is also the author of Nutritional Epidemiology, and Eat, Drink and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating.
Joseph Libonati, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Nursing at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Dr. Libonati earned his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from Temple University in 1993, and performed a post-doctoral fellowship at Boston University School of Medicine from 1993 to 1996. He has held faculty positions at Boston University School of Medicine, Northeastern University and Temple University.
Barry Sears, PhD, is a leading authority in dietary control of hormonal response. A former research scientist, Dr. Sears is the world-renowned author of Entering the Zone. Dr. Sears holds 12 U.S. patents in the areas of intravenous drug delivery systems and hormonal regulation for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Mark Hyman, MD, is the former medical director of Canyon Ranch, Lenox, an internationally acclaimed health resort. He is the editor in chief of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine and also is the coauthor of The New York Times best-selling book UltraPrevention, the 6-week plan that will make you healthy for life.
Reggie Odom, LICSW, CPCC, is an NIWH faculty member who provides “hands on instruction, both in-person and via phone confer- encing for our Whole Health Coaching program. She is the founder of Inspired Works Coaching, in addition to being a faculty lecturer at Simmons College of Social Work and a certified Life Coach professional. Reggie has spent over 25 years educating and coaching health care professionals and individual clients to rediscover inner sources of energy and inspiration that form decisions, provide meaning to our life and work, and sustain us through both the challanges and rewards of human service work.
Bernie Siegel, MD, is one of the world’s foremost physicians, authors, motivational speakers and advocates for individuals facing the challenges of all chronic illnesses. In 1978, he founded the non-profit organization Exceptional Cancer Patients (ECaP) to serve those living with chronic diseases. His many articles, best-selling books, tapes and videos serve as a testimony to his loving commitment to those who wish to take an active role in their own healing process. Motivational, inspirational and down-to-earth.
Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo, is a naturopathic physician, educator and researcher with a wide international following. His first book, Eat Right 4 Your Type is a New York Times bestseller that has been translated into over fifty languages. Eat Right 4 Your Type was recently voted one of the ten most influential health books of all time by a respected industry publication. He is the author of thirteen other books in the “Blood Type Diet” series, including Cook Right 4 Your Type and Live Right 4 Your Type. Dr. D’Adamo was selected Physician of the Year by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. He is the cofounder and Academic Dean of IfHI, the Institute for Human Individuality, and he maintains a private practice in Wilton, CT.
Rebecca Shafir, MA, CCC, teaches communication workshops nationwide and has coached media personalities and political candidates since 1980. Formerly the Chief Speech Pathologist at the renowned Lahey Clinic, and author of The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction, Rebecca’s advice has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Washington Post and other major national publications. She is a sought after guest on radio and TV.
Susan Piver is a Buddhist teacher and the New York Times bestselling author of The Hard Questions series, books that help explore life transitions. She is the founder and creative director of Padma Media, a publishing company that creates special book packages for bestselling authors. She has worked with Andrew Weil, MD, Rodney Yee, Baron Baptiste, Mark Hyman, MD, and others. Susan is frequently featured in the media, including appearances on Oprah, Today, CNN, CBS Early Show, and in USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Time, Money, and others. She contributes articles on spirituality, Buddhism, and relationships to national publications.
Eva Selhub, MD, is a NIWH presenter. She is a trained internist and passionate advocate of mind-body medicine, a clinical instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and a senior physician at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind/Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Until 2007, she served as medical director of Mind/Body Medical Institute founded by the pioneer of mind-body research, Herbert Benson. Eva is the author of the acclaimed book, The Love Response. She is currently in private practice in Newton, Massachusetts.
Marianne Williamson is an internationally acclaimed author and lecturer. She has published nine books, four of which – including the mega bestseller A Return to Love and Everyday Grace – have been #1 New York Times bestsellers. Her titles also include Illuminata, A Woman’s Worth, and Healing the Soul of America. Marianne has been a popular guest on numerous television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, Good Morning America, and Charlie Rose.
A two time Mr. Universe winner, Nordine Zouareg’s personal story is an inspirational one—and the basis for his fitness program. Born a sickly child with little hope of living to adulthood, Nordine used mental exercises to overcome his body’s limitations, ultimately becoming a champion bodybuilder and earning the titles of Mr. France, Mr. Europe, Mr. World, and Mr. Universe, all by the age of 24. Nordine Zouareg has trained thousands of clients including Oprah Winfrey, Barbra Streisand, Charlie Sheen and John Kerry.
Georgianna Donadio, MSc, DC, PhD, an NIWH faculty member, is a health care pioneer who has helped foster the integration of Whole Health and Whole Person Health Care within medical and holistic health organizations. Georgianna is one of only six Nightingale Scholars in the US, an MNA award-winning nurse advocate and widely quoted Integrative Health expert. Named “Best Integrative Healthcare Practitioner” in Boston, for over 20 years she hosted the nationally syndicated women’s TV programming, Woman-to-Woman®.
C. Norman Shealy, MD, PhD, a renowned neurosurgeon, is the founding president of the American Holistic Medical Association, as well as author of 22 books, 300 published articles and holds 9 patents for innovative discoveries.Dr. Shealy co-founded Holos University with Carolyn Myss, PhD. Both Dr. Sealy and Carolyn Myss are well known for their spiritual healing and energy medicine work and writings.
Helen Palmer has been Scholar in Residence at both the Esalen Institute and the Institute for Noetic Sciences. She is an internationally recognized teacher and the best-selling author of five works in the human consciousness sector. Her two books, The Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and the Others in Your Life and The Enneagram in Love and Work: Understanding Your Intimate and Business Relationships are perennial best-sellers, currently in 28 languages. She is the co-founder of Enneagram Worldwide and the Enneagram Professional Training Program offered by Worldwide.
Byron Katie has been bringing her personal transformation workshop she calls “The Work” to millions of people for more than twenty five years. Time magazine calls Katie “a spiritual innovator for the new millennium.” Eckhart Tolle says, “Byron Katie’s Work is a great blessing for our planet.”
Byron Katie’s many books include the best-selling Loving What Is, I Need Your Love – Is That True, A Thousand Names for Joy and Tiger, Tiger, Is It True?
Sheldon Solomon, PhD, is a professor of social psychology at Skidmore College. He earned his B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College and his doctoral degree from the University of Kansas. He is probably best known for developing Terror Management Theory, along with Jeff Greenberg & Tom Pyszczynsk, which is concerned with how humans deal with their own sense of mortality. He is the author or co-author of over a hundred articles and several books, and has been featured in several films and television documentaries as well as countless radio interviews.
Roxanne Black was appointed the 268th Daily Point of Light by former President George H.W. Bush, received a medal from former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, and was honored with both the Sea Breeze Salutes Young America award and the Jefferson Award for Service. At age 15 Roxanne was diagnosed with Lupus, which required her to have a kidney transplant. She wanted to reach out to other young patients but discovered there were no resources, so she founded Friend’s Health Connection. Roxanne has earned a B.A. from Rutgers and several honors for her efforts. In college she was named by USA Today, one of the top 18 college students in the nation.