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Vera Brandes, MSc
Vera is Director of the Research Program for Music-Medicine at Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. She is Vice President of IAMM (International Association for Music and Medicine), New York, USA, board member of I.M.A.R.A.A. (International Music and Arts Research Association Austria), international program director for the Mozart & Science Congress and member of the scientific advisory board of the Fritz Albert Popp Institute.
Vera Brandes was one of the co-founders of the Science Network Man and Music at the University Mozarteum, Salzburg and vice-president of the non profit organization saludArt. Since 1995, she has been committed to the application of music in medical therapy and prevention. Since 1999 she organized advanced trainings for medical doctors and therapists in Neurodevelopmental Auditory Training. From 2001 to 2003, she lectured on culture & media at the University for Applied Sciences in Salzburg, Austria. She co-initiated and co-organized the congress "in:fusion – New Qualities in Healthcare" in 2004 before she assumed her current position at the Paracelsus Medical University. She is also CSO of SANOSON in Vienna, Austria and developed I-MAT© (Individualized Music-focussed Audio Therapies) for the treatment of psychosomatic disorders. She has published numerous articles, and presents at international conferences.
Before she began her career in science, Brandes was an award-winning music producer and record company owner. Between 1974 and 1999 she released more than 350 CDs featuring a broad spectrum of international artists and promoted a multitude of concerts, tours and festivals. 1n 1994, she received the award for the Most Creative and Innovative Company in Music and Media in Germany from the Ministry of Economics.
Recent book publications: "Music that works: Contributions of Biology, Neurophysiology, Psychology, Sociology, Medicine and Musicology", English, Co-Editor: Roland Haas, Springer Vienna, New York, 2009), "Leben im Rhythmus" ("Life in Rhythm"), German, Co-Author Christian Salvesen, O.W. Barth Verlag, Munich, 2006.
Patrick Briggs, MD, FRCS, FRCSI, FRCS - Intercollegiate Board in Plastic Surgery
Dr Briggs qualified from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1977. He is now resident in Western Australia and has previously worked in London and at the University of Pittsburg USA. He has extensive experience in all aspects of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Dr Briggs has a special interest and experience in trauma having spent two years in war-ravaged Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War 1987-1989. He is an accomplished teacher and is the author of numerous surgical publications. Dr Briggs is Emeritus Examiner in Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Emeritus Tutor in Surgery at the University of Western Australia.
Hyla Cass, M.D
Dr. Hyla Cass is a nationally acclaimed physician, board-certified psychiatrist, and one of the USA's foremost authors and experts on the subject of integrative medicine. She combines the best of leading-edge natural medicine with modern science in her clinical practice of 25 years, writings, lectures, and nationwide media appearances.
Quoted widely in newspapers and magazines, including the Los Angeles Times, The Toronto Star, Cosmopolitan, Newsweek, and People Magazine, she appears regularly on radio and television, including The Dr. Oz Show, The View, E!Entertainment, and MSNBC. She is the author of several popular books including User's Guide to Herbal Remedies, St. John's Wort: Nature's Blues Buster, Natural Highs, Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutrition, and 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health,.
Dr Cass also maintains a busy schedule of speaking engagements around the country, with topics ranging from complementary medicine and psychiatry, longevity enhancement, women's health (including natural hormone therapy), and weight management, to stress reduction, and natural treatments for addictions, anxiety disorders, and depression. She also speaks around the US and Canada on behalf of Natural Factors and Preferred Nutrition on their line of women’s supplements.
She consults to the supplement industry in formulating nutritional products, and has formulated some unique products for enhancing mind, mood and energy, available at www.puretango.com. For more information on Dr. Cass, see her website www.cassmd.com
Murray C. Clarke, D.Hom. L.Ac.
Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, Dr. Clarke is now a resident of California. He comes from a close family in which good health and respect for the needs of the children are highly regarded. Dr. Clarke was awarded a doctorate from the College of Homeopathy and is a diplomat of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Emperor’s College in Santa Monica, California, with post-graduate studies in clinical nutrition. After graduating with academic distinction, he served on the faculty of both Samra University and Emperor’s College teaching homeopathy. Since 1988, Dr. Clarke has been practicing in Santa Monica, California where he continues to specialize in pediatrics with an emphasis on homeopathy and nutrition. He developed the ChildLife product line as a natural outgrowth of his experience with and concern for the health and well-being of his many patients.
Noeleen Slattery Lee D.Ac. T.C.M.C.I.
Noeleen has been in healthcare all her working life , beginning with nursing which she did for thirty three years. For the past twenty years she has worked as a Chinese Medical Practitioner as well as a Bereavement Counsellor since 1974. Noeleen has also been a voluntary worker with the Bereavement Counselling Service for ten years. While working with Cairde, a support group for families affected by HIV and AIDS, she founded a project for children infected and affected by HIV and counselled children in hospice care and families with AIDS related syndromes. Noeleen was with Acupuncture Foundation of Ireland for more than fifteen years . In her capacity as a senior Board Member and later as President of this Organisation Noeleen monitored classes and she accompanied and co- ordinated groups of students attending the Nanjing University of TCM for clinical practice . Noeleen was with AFI until the organisation dissolved in 2007. She has been the national representative for T.C.M on a Republic of Ireland Dept of Health working group whose aim is to bring T.C.M into statutory regulation and a founder member and board director of T.C.M.C.I., a registration body for Chinese Medical practitioners. Noeleen is also a founder member of ADVIC, a group advocating the rebalancing of the homicide justice system (see www.advic.ie) and through ADVIC is currently running a training course for accredited counsellors to enhance their skills when dealing with people affected by Homicide.
Merle Morgan-Grainge, MSc, L.Ac, Dipl Ac
Merle Morgan-Grainge is a physician of Oriental Medicine. She received her degree from Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, with Post Graduate studies at the University of Beijing Teaching Hospital Institute of Acupuncture, China. Merle served on the faculty of Emperor's College of TOM for over 10 years. She also served on the faculty of Yosan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She was a founder member of the Mind Body Planning Committee at UCLA's Ashe Centre, where she taught a weekly class as part of the Student Health and Wellness program. In 1990 Merle was chosen as an apprentice to Grand Master Hong Liu, who is recognized as a Living Treasure in both his native China and the State of Hawaii. She has assisted him in both the teaching of Medical Qi Gong and healing work. Merle maintains a clinical practice in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine including Chinese Herbology and Nutrition, where she treats a wide range of internal medical conditions. She is also highly regarded for her unique expertise in Cosmetic Acupuncture and longevity.
Mark Neveu, PhD
Dr. Neveu has a diverse background as a pioneering scientist in both conventional and “alternative” healthcare paradigms. He received his doctoral degree in experimental oncology and toxicology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was an honorary fellow of the Harvard School of Public Health at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. For eight years, Mark supervised a drug discovery laboratory at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals responsible for molecular and cellular biology in both cancer and immunological diseases. He has published articles in the leading scientific journals such as Science and Immunity. Frustrated by the slow progress of conventional oncology, Mark self-funded a nine-month investigation to evaluate an alternative cancer treatment at a clinic in Guatemala. His growing interests in integrated medicine led to a position as President and CEO of the National Foundation of Alternative Medicine. There he focused on creating efficient strategies for the international identification and clinical evaluation of the most promising complementary and alternative therapies for degenerative diseases. Mark has traveled extensively to Europe and throughout The Americas to evaluate integrative and alternative clinics and has created a database and taxonomy to catalog these and a multitude of other diverse health and wellness therapies from around the world. In 2005, Dr. Neveu’s efforts lead to creating the Global Alliance for Health Solutions.
Natalie A. Nevins, D.O., MSHPE
Dr. Nevins is the Founder and CEO of AD+ World Health, a non-profit for humanitarian aid. She is the Director of Medical Education at Downey Regional Medical Center for the Family Medicine Residency Program, the Program Director for the Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Residency Program, and the Medical Director for the Amrit Davaa Wellness Center. She is board-certified in Family Practice, Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. She holds a Masters Degree in Health Professions Education and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Family Practice at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific and Touro University California and Nevada.
Dr. Nevins served in the United States Air Force and is currently a Major in the Ready Reserve. While on active duty she served as the Chief of Field Response, Chairman for Infection Control, Clinical Director of Laboratory Services and Radiology Services for the 61st Medical Squadron. She lectures nationally on issues related to disaster preparedness, bioterrorism, chemical and radiological warfare, emerging infectious diseases, family medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine and health policy.
She was named Physician of the Year by the Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of California in March 2011, received a Service Commendation from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in August 2010 and was given the Spirit of Service Award by the Human Services Association in September 2010.
Felix Nunez MD
Dr. Felix L. Nuñez is the acting Chief Medical Officer of the Family Health Care Centersof Greater Los Angeles, and former VP of Clinical Services for the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County. He is a board certified Family Physician with extensive clinical and administrative experience in both the private and public sector. Prior to joining the Community Clinic Association, he was the Medical Director of The South Central Family Health Center, an Assistant Medical Director with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and an Assistant Clinical Instructor in the Harbor-UCLA Family Medicine Residency Program. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Loyola Marymount University in 1991, his Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard Medical School in 1995, and Master of Public Health degree from the UCLA School of Public Health in 2001. In 1998 he completed a residency in Family Medicine at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and in 2005 was a fellow in the Primary Health Care Policy Fellowship of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Felix is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine for the Keck/USC School of Medicine, member of the Los Angeles County Medical Association, the California Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, and the Massachusetts Medical Society. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the UCLA School of Public Health-Health Services Alumni Association, and the Loyola Marymount Mexican American Alumni Association. He is the past Chairman of the Clinical Advisory Group of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County and is Chairman of the Advocacy Committee of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved. Dr. Nuñez is a native of Los Angeles who was raised in El Sereno, a Latino community in Northeast Los Angeles.
Andreas Otto Reiff MD
Andreas Otto Reiff, MD, is a Professor of Pediatrics at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine and Division Head of the Division of Rheumatology at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. He is also the director of the Pediatric Rheumatology Program at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, California and a Visiting Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Nevada School of Medicine.
Dr. Reiff received his medical degree from University Medical School in Freiburg, Germany. Following an internship in internal medicine and surgery at Kantonsspital Liestal in Switzerland, he returned to Freiburg and completed his residency at the University Children’s Hospital.
He completed a research fellowship in the Division of Rheumatology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles between 1993 and 1994, and a fellowship in pediatric rheumatology at University Children’s Hospital in Freiburg from 1994 -1996.
An avid researcher and investigator, Dr. Reiff’s primary research interests include the treatment, management, and genetics of pediatric autoimmune diseases; studying biologic immune modifiers, development of new immunosuppressive agents, and alternatives to stem cell transplantation. In addition to authoring and co-authoring numerous journal articles, abstracts, reviews, and book chapters, he has lectured on rheumatologic topics nationally and internationally. He is a clinical consultant for several pharmaceutical companies and serves on advisory boards for the Arthritis Foundation, Lupus International, and on the UCMG Business Development and Ambulatory Operations Committee at CHLA. He is a well known national and international speaker on biologic drug development and the treatment of chronic inflammatory eye diseases.
Dr. Reiff is board-certified in pediatrics by the European Community and the American Board of Pediatrics. He is a member of the Southwestern Pediatric Society, the Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group, and the American College of Rheumatology. In addition, he is a founding member of the pediatric rheumatology research network (CARRA). He has received several honors, grants, and awards.
Ardeshir Talieh MD
Ardeshir Talieh started at UCLA pre-med with a degree in biology with a focus on developmental and cell biology. He followed this by five years of medical school at Saint George's University and then three years internal medicine training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He also completed a two-year Geriatrics fellowship training at UCSD. He has worked in the US healthcare industry since 1994.
Dr. Talieh has worked for and created health care solutions for Healthcare Partners, Heritage provider networks, and Altamed’s P.A.C.E program.
From 2003-2007 while at BFMC, a managed care group managing 60,000 patients in Bakersfield California, Dr. Talieh helped to create two clinical programs, Priority Care (disease management clinic) and Choices (a pre-hospice clinic and program). These programs gained attention because they were very effective in reducing unnecessary admissions to Emergency Rooms (ER) and hospitals for the most complicated cases in that community. The Priority Care and Choices Programs used a multi-disciplinary approach to better coordinate and provide outpatient services to reduce readmissions to the ER and hospital for the sickest of the sick. These programs are now part of groups belonging to the Heritage provider networks nationwide and are two of the most effective concepts available in health care today.
Currently Dr. Talieh is working on preventive health, (diagnostics, nutrition and exercise programs), innovative health education concepts, end-of-life concepts, and a tele-medicine solution.
