Our Physicians, Providers, & StaffDuke Integrative Medicine PhysiciansAdam Perlman, M.D., MPH - Executive Director; Integrative Medicine Physician; Associate Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine Annie Nedrow, M.D., M.B.A. - Associate Director, Integrative Medicine Physician Evangeline Lausier, M.D. - Integrative Medicine Physician, Internal Medicine; Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine Sam Moon, M.D., MPH - Integrative Medicine Physician; Associate Professor, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Shelley Wroth, M.D. - Integrative Medicine Physician, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Michelle L. Bailey, M.D. - Director of Medical Education; Pediatric Integrative Medicine Physician Jeffrey Brantley, M.D. - Director of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; Consulting Associate, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Susan P. Blackford, M.D. - Integrative Medicine Physician; Consulting Associate, Department of General Internal Medicine Carolyn E. Keeler, D.O. - Assistant Professor, Division of Neurosurgery Duke Integrative Medicine Providers and StaffMary Matthews Brantley, M.A., L.M.F.T - Teacher, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program Margie Brache, L.M.B.T. - Massage Therapist Myra Blackwell, L.M.B.T. - Massage Therapist Kelly Cross, M.F.A, L.M.B.T - Massage Therapist Linda Duda, M.S.W., P.C.C., C.P.C.C. - Integrative Health Coach Louise Goldstein, R.N., C.N.I.V., O.C.N., C.H.P.N. - Nurse Program Coordinator Jeffrey M. Greeson, Ph.D., M.S. - Clinical Health Psychologist; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Monica Gulisano, R.D., L.D.N. - Integrative Dietitian / Nutritionist Erin Gunter, M.S. - Distance Learning Coordinator Tim Hackett, L.M.B.T. - Massage Therapist Phyllis Hicks, D-Min, NCLPC - Psychotherapist; Teacher, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program Julie Kosey, M.S., P.C.C., R.Y.T. - Integrative Health Coach;Teacher, MIndfulness Based Stress Reduction Carol Krucoff, E-R.Y.T. - Yoga Therapist Rachel Kuliani, M.P.H., C.H.E.S. - Program Coordinator Maya McNeilly, Ph.D. - Teacher, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program Maria Moraca, L.Ac. - Licensed Acupuncturist Cathy Parham, B.S., M.B.A., P.C.C., C.P.C.C. - Integrative Health Coach Mary B. Peterson, P.C.T. - Medical Assistant Beth Reardon, M.S., R.D., L.D.N. - Integrative Nutritionist Janet K. Shaffer, L.Ac. - Licensed Acupuncturist Andrea Shaw, Ph.D., M.C.C. - Integrative Health Coach Leigh Ann Simmons, Ph.D. - Senior Faculty Fellow for Clinical and Translational Research, Associate Professor of Nursing, Senior Research Fellow, Duke Center for Research on Prospective Health Care Linda L. Smith, PA-C, M.S. - Director of Professional and Public Programs Noah St. John, M.S., R.D. - Exercise Specialist Melva Strait, Tami Tuck - Program Coordinator Kim Turk, L.M.B.T. - Lead Massage Therapist Jeanne van Gemert, M.F.A., L.M.B.T., M.A., L.P.C. - Mind/Body Therapist, Teacher, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program Ron Vereen, M.D. - Teacher, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program Jessica P. Wakefield, M.A., L.P.C. - Research Therapist; Psychotherapist; Integrative Health Coach Riitta H Rutanen Whaley, M.S., M.S.P.H. – Teacher, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program Ruth Q. Wolever, Ph.D. - Director of Research; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Clinical Health Psychologist Duke Integrative Medicine Physicians
Dr. Perlman joined the staff of Duke Integrative Medicine in 2011. Prior, he was Executive Director of the Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICAM) and associate professor of medicine within the School of Health Related Professions at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). In 2010, Dr. Perlman became chair for the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, a consortium comprising 50 leading academic medical centers around the country with integrative medical programs. Dr. Perlman was chairperson for the Department of Primary Care within the School of Health Related Professions at UMDNJ, and he held the UMDNJ Hunterdon Endowed Professorship in Complementary and Alternative Medicine since 2004. Dr. Perlman's scholarly activities include numerous grants and publications. He was guest editor for the Complementary and Alternative Medicine volume of Medical Clinics of North America, and is associate editor for the Complementary and Alternative Medicine section of the Physician Information and Education Resource (PIER), developed by the American College of Physicians and American Society for Internal Medicine. His diverse research interests have included a clinical trial evaluating the effect of multivitamin supplementation on school performance in underserved children, a trial assessing the efficacy of massage for osteoarthritis of the knee and a survey exploring the use of CAM in patients with cancer. Most recently, he was the recipient of an R01 Research Grant, funded by the NIH's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, to continue his research on massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee. Dr. Perlman's research has been published in the Archives of Internal Medicine and featured in the New York Times.
Dr. Nedrow recently moved to North Carolina from Portland, Oregon where she has practiced medicine for the past 26 years. For the past eleven years, Dr. Nedrow has served as Medical Director of Women’s Primary Care and Integrative Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland. Board Certified in Internal Medicine and an alumnus of the Bravewell Fellowship program at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, she was also Associate Professor in both Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology at OHSU. Her business background helped her develop new clinical initiatives at OHSU that withstand the test of challenging economic times and the ever-changing healthcare landscape. Dr. Nedrow has a special interest in lifestyle medicine, internal medicine and integrative medicine. She chose a career in Internal Medicine because it provides the continuity of seeing patients over their lifespan. She believes that assisting patients toward healthier lifestyles is the central approach to improving quality of life whether it relates to chronic illness or general health.
Dr. Lausier has been on the faculty at Duke General Internal Medicine since 1993, and transferred to Duke Integrative Medicine in 2006, after completing an associate fellowship at the Program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona, directed by Dr. Andrew Weil. She was named Director of Clinical Services in 2009. Dr. Lausier holds a degree in Medicine from the University of Vermont and completed a medical residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME. She holds a pre-med degree in pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy. Originally from Maine, she has a strong connection to naturalism and botany. Areas of interest include botanical medicine and pharmacognosy, women's health, and complex multi-system illness, with an emphasis on preventative lifestyle and interdisciplinary approaches to complicated medical issues.
Dr. Moon’s primary specialty is Preventive Medicine—Occupational and Environmental (OEM), in which he is board-certified. He served from 1998 to 2005 as OEM Chief in the Department of Community & Family Medicine at Duke. He is certified by the American Board of Pain Medicine, a non-ABMS board. Dr. Moon's clinical background includes 9 years of rural primary care on the Oregon-Washington border, 4 years in a multi-disciplinary pain rehabilitation center in Atlanta, and 18 years in an academic occupational and environmental medicine practice at Duke. He has served a number of roles with Duke Integrative Medicine from its beginning in the late 1990’s to present. Dr. Moon lectures nationally and internationally. He has expertise in ergonomics, musculoskeletal disorders, general prevention, and the mind-body interaction. He provides clinical consultations and performs medical acupuncture.
Dr. Wroth obtained her medical doctorate from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University and completed her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University Medical Center. She provides integrative health care to women through comprehensive consultations, as well as membership and immersion experiences. She was a recipient of the Bravewell Fellowship and completed a two year fellowship in Integrative Medicine through Dr. Andrew Weil’s program at the University of Arizona. Dr. Wroth is a medical acupuncturist, and completed the UCLA/Helms Medical Institute training. She is also a certified yoga instructor. In addition, she teaches first and second year Duke medical students clinical skills in the Practice Course, a 2 year introduction to patient care. Dr. Wroth's special interests include bridging the gap between complementary and alternative practices and conventional medicine to achieve optimal health for women. She enjoys working with women on menopausal health, bio-identical hormones, fertility, painful and irregular periods, improving energy and sleep, cancer survivorship, and approaching health as a foundation for achieving life meaning and purpose.
Dr. Bailey received her M.D. at the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn and completed her residency in Pediatrics at Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina. Dr. Bailey directs educational programs in integrative medicine for medical students, residents, and faculty at Duke. She currently provides primary care in the department of pediatrics and provides integrative medicine consultations for children on a variety of health conditions at Duke Integrative Medicine. Dr. Bailey was a recipient of the Bravewell Fellowship scholarship award and completed the 2 year Associate Fellowship program in Dr. Andrew Weil's Program in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona. Special interests include community education in nutrition and prevention and management of overweight and obesity in children. She is planning to pursue research in pediatric integrative medicine, specifically looking at the effectiveness of mind-body therapies for a variety of conditions affecting children.
Dr. Brantley is one of the founding faculty members of Duke Integrative Medicine, where he started the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program in 1998. He is also a member of the Community of Scholars of the Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health at Duke University. He is a Consulting Associate in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke Medical Center. He teaches intensive courses on mindfulness meditation and conducts extensive experiential programs and group lectures. Dr. Brantley completed his psychiatry residency at the University of California at Irvine Medical Center. He is Board Certified in psychiatry and and was elected as a “Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association” in 2008. He worked for 14 years in community mental health and private practice. Dating back to medical school, meditation has been a focal point of Dr. Brantley's private life, as well as an integral part of his work with people seeking healing in their lives. Dr. Brantley has participated in many intensive meditation retreats, practicing with a variety of teachers, including Joan Halifax, Thich Nhat Hanh, Larry Rosenberg, Christina Feldman, and members of the Amaravati Buddhist monastic community. He has also completed the professional training for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction offered by Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli. Dr. Brantley is the author of Calming Your Anxious Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion can free you from Anxiety, Fear, and Panic and is the co-author, with Wendy Millstine, of the Five Good Minutes series and Daily Meditations for Calming Your Anxious Mind.
Dr. Blackford obtained her medical doctorate at Duke University School of Medicine and completed her residency in General Internal Medicine at University of Virginia Hospital. She is board certified in Internal Medicine. She worked seven years in private practice in Green Bay, Wisconsin where she was one of few female primary care practitioners. Her practice quickly filled with women seeking an alternative approach to menopausal treatment and more open mindedness to alternative and complimentary practices in general. This helped spark her interest in Integrative Medicine. In 2002, she and her family set off for the warmer climate of North Carolina for a more ethnically diverse population and a longer growing season. She joined the faculty at Durham Medical Center, a part of Duke Primary Care. Dr. Blackford was a recipient of the Bravewell Fellowship scholarship award and completed the 2 year Fellowship in Dr. Andrew Weil's Program in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona and Duke Integrative Medicine in 2010. She enjoys working with patients on lifestyle modification and managing complex medical issues. She has a special interest in mind body medicine and medical hypnotherapy.
Dr. Keeler provides integrative medicine consultations for spine and musculoskeletal conditions at Duke Integrative Medicine. She is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neurosurgery, and provides nonsurgical spine care and performs interventional procedures in the Duke Spine Center. Dr. Keeler received her D.O. degree at Touro University in California, completed her residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at NYU Medical Center, and then completed her fellowship training in Medical and Interventional Spine at the Cleveland Clinic. She is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Keeler was a recipient of the Bravewell Fellowship scholarship. She is a medical acupuncturist, and completed the Stanford/Helms Medical Institute training. Her special interests include Dance Medicine, and she provides musculoskeletal care and wellness consultations for dancers. She also enjoys working with women throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period with back and pelvic pain. Duke Integrative Medicine Faculty, Providers, and Staff
Myra is a graduate of the Body Therapy Institute in Siler City in 2004, and comes to Duke Integrative Medicine with a background in Swedish, Deep-Tissue, Reflexology, and Chair Massage modalities to help relieve the impacts of stress, tension, and injuries. She also provides massage services for the UNC football Department, to assist in the prevention of injuries and increase recovery time, and to help athletes to increase flexibility and ROM through various stretching techniques. She has experience in On-Site Chair Massage at festivals, expos, corporate events, and offices. Myra earned a B.A. in Psychology at UNC in 2002, and has used that background to tremendous advantage in her massage career.
Mary Matthews Brantley has been practicing meditation for over 25 years. She has done many intensive retreats and her teachers have included Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein, Larry Rosenberg, Rodney Smith, Ruth Denison, Joan Halifax, and Thich Nhat Hanh. She has been an instructor in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program at Duke Integrative Medicine since 2000. She has a master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University of California. In addition to teaching she has developed and taught a course based on loving-kindness meditation. She is co-author of The Gift of Loving-Kindness: 100 meditations on Compassion, Forgiveness, and Generosity from New Harbinger Publications.
Margie has spent 28 years exploring the complexity of soft tissue holding patterns. She specializes in a method called MyoKinesthetics. Myo means muscle, Kinesthetic means movement. The MyoKinesthetic System has been known to alleviate muscular discomfort and nerve-related pain such as plantar fasciitis, frozen shoulder, headaches, low back pain, and neuropathy and stroke symptoms. This muscle movement technique corrects and balances posture through nerve communication, freeing muscles that have become locked in compensatory holding patterns. Unlike traditional massage, the client remains fully clothed, and most of the sessions run 20-30 minutes. No massage oils are needed. Using your current postural patterns, your symptoms and your history of injuries, an individual plan is determined. All the muscles along a common pathway are gently stimulated while you simultaneously make small stretching movements. This is a deceptively easy, painless and effective way to clear years of accumulated responses to pain. In addition to Margie’s decades of experience in private practice and 6 years of teaching at the Carolina School of Massage Therapy, she practiced at the Community Wholistic Health Center in Carrboro NC for ten years cross referencing with a team of Integrative Health Practitioners to coordinate the best plan for each of her clients care. She is pleased to be back in a similar environment, and is excited to support her clients in taking advantage of everything that the Integrative Model of healthcare has to offer.
Kelly began his private massage practice in 1989, and later added part-time work for eleven years at the UNC Cancer Center providing bodywork for cancer patients and their family members. Over the years he has refined his techniques in deep Swedish massage, incorporating studies such as reflexology and Reiki levels I and II. He also practices Thai Yoga Massage which provides a refreshing change of pace, working on a futon on the floor, client fully clothed in loose comfortable clothing. The practitioner guides the recipient through a series of yoga postures while palming and thumbing along the body's energy lines and pressures points. Together these actions result in a comprehensive full body treatment that relieves muscular tension, improves circulation, boosts the immune system and balances the body energetically. Kelly is a certified Rosen Method Practitioner, a modality which at its core is about the integration of physical and emotional awareness. Rosen Method can be an effective therapeutic component in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Kelly has a BA in Religious Studies from UNC, and received an MFA in Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute. He attended the Carolina Massage School in Carrboro. His Rosen trainings took place in North Carolina, Connecticut, and California. He was also a teaching assistant at subsequent Rosen intensives. He has attended meditation retreats with teachers including Pema Chödrön, Thich Nhat Hanh, Adyashanti and Katagiri Roshi, as well as Men's Rites of Passage with Fr. Richard Rohr at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. At present he maintains a painting studio at Golden Belt and enjoys the interplay of art and bodywork in daily life.
Linda Duda joined the coaching team at Duke Integrative Medicine in 2003, initially providing group coaching experiences to Duke Prospective Health members interested in making significant lifestyle changes. She remains committed to using her skill to aid individuals interested in creating healthy, meaningful lives. In the past 10 years, Linda has worked in a variety of capacities at Duke Integrative Medicine. She has coached individuals who enroll in a year-long membership at Duke IM. At present, she provides individual and group coaching in the Duke IM clinic. In addition to her presence in the clinic, Linda has taught in the Duke Integrative Health Coach Professional Training foundation and certification programs since 2008 as an instructor, coach and supervisor. The final aspect of Linda’s coaching at Duke IM includes her work (since 2004) in a variety of research studies focused on specific health conditions, such as Type II Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Tinnitus. At present, she is coaching in a study and supervising other study coaches. This research arm of Linda’s coaching work is very important also. It supports the growing body of scientific evidence regarding the power of integrative health coaching in making and sustaining positive lifestyle changes. Linda received her foundation and certification coach training from Coach Training Institute (CTI) and has been credentialed as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by the International Coach Federation. In addition, she received her integrative health coach certification from Duke IM. In 1992, Linda completed Reiki training in the Usui Method. Reiki remains a part of her daily life. Prior to her coach training, Linda maintained an active psychotherapy practice as a licensed clinical social worker in Connecticut for 15 years. She counseled adolescents, adults and families. In addition to her clinical work, Linda spent eight years teaching an interview techniques course at Yale Medical School. Throughout her years in Connecticut, she volunteered her time mentoring young teens and supporting a variety of educational projects. Linda continues to develop this interest. Linda’s curiosity, exploration and instruction in complementary and alternative medicine are longstanding. She holds a deep belief in the magnificent healing power that is present when mind and body work together.
Louise is a Registered Nurse that has been in the Nursing Department at Duke University Health Systems for 15 years in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Louise’s professional practice has always been focused on integrative holistic health, patient advocacy, and patient education. Louise believes the essence of nursing practice is based on integrative health care; the fundamental principal being holistic health; bringing together the art of caring with biomedical technology for the purpose of healing the mind, body and spirit. She explains, “As nurses, we are on the front lines of patient care. I value the philosophy that nurses are not only privileged but also obligated to create a comfortable collaboration between traditional Western health care and complementary therapies.” As a member of the opening team of the first free-standing Acute Care Inpatient Hospice facility in the Triangle, Louise provided comfort care and helped to “normalize” the dying process and the grieving process for her patients and their families for 5 ½ years. She maintains specialty certifications in Oncology Nursing and Hospice and Palliative Nursing and continues to co-facilitate Bereavement Support Groups for Duke Community Bereavement Services at the beautiful Unicorn Bereavement Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Dr. Greeson has conducted research in the fields of integrative medicine, mindfulness meditation, and stress physiology since 1998. His current research on mechanisms linking mindfulness, stress, sleep, and cardiovascular disease risk is funded by a Career Development Award from the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His work has been recognized at national and international conferences, and his studies have been published in multiple scientific journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine; Brain, Behavior, and Immunity; and The Journal of Neuroscience. Dr. Greeson is currently collaborating with neuroscientists and “omics” scientists to better understand how mindfulness practice can benefit mental & physical health through changes in the brain and biochemical pathways. Dr. Greeson also has a clinical practice. He specializes in integrating mind-body skills like meditation and hypnosis with cognitive-behavioral therapy to help clients treat and prevent stress-related health problems - from high blood pressure, chronic pain, and obesity, to depression, anxiety and insomnia. He also specializes in helping patients prepare for successful surgery. Dr. Greeson holds a PhD in Clinical Health Psychology (University of Miami, 2006) and a Masters degree in Biomedical Chemistry (Thomas Jefferson University, 2001). He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke, and a Licensed Psychologist and Health Services Provider in the state of North Carolina.
Monica Gulisano received her undergraduate degree in Dietetics and Nutrition and completed a dietetic internship at Florida International University. She holds a Certificate in Adult Weight Management Training, has completed the Food As Medicine professional training through The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, and has extensive clinical training from the Institute for Functional Medicine. Monica blends her expertise in chronic disease management and weight management with her passion for integrating positive eating attitudes and whole foods to achieve mind and body healing. She can rely on her rich clinical background to assess, counsel, and develop personalized nutrition care plans for individuals, educate and empower groups, and solve clinical problems. Monica’s previous work experience includes serving as a clinical dietitian in the hospital setting providing medical nutrition therapy to the acutely and critically ill. She has also worked at an outpatient diabetes center where she taught diabetes self-management training classes (DSMT) and in corporate wellness programs. She is a consultant to clinical research studies in eating disorders and tele-health diabetes education as an interventionist. In addition to her work at Duke Integrative Medicine, Monica maintains a private practice where her emphasis centers around the premise that eating should be joyful and wellness can be achieved within a paradigm of positive and healthy attitudes toward eating and food.
Erin Gunter came to work at Duke Integrative Medicine in 2010 with a background in instructional design and public education. Since beginning her work at Duke Integrative Medicine, Erin has managed the conversion of existing curricula into online courses for a number of professional training programs. Erin is responsible for overseeing the development of media-rich, online course materials as well as planning ways to offer education and training programs through online or blended online/face-to-face formats. Erin liaises with various units and individuals at Duke to ensure that online learning products are culturally and pedagogically appropriate, reliable, supported, and sustainable. In addition, Erin guides faculty, students, and alumni through the utilization of the online learning management system by providing training resources and individualized support. Another important facet of Erin’s role at Duke Integrative Medicine is to serve as the social media manager for the Duke Integrative Medicine programs department. Erin is responsible for the implementation of a social media strategy that helps develop brand awareness, generates inbound traffic, and encourages engagement on social media platforms. Prior to her work at Duke Integrative Medicine, Erin received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After working for a nonprofit organization that provided services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for 2 years, she enrolled in the Master of Science in Instructional Technology program at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Tim Hackett specializes in NeuroMuscular Reprogramming, a comprehensive technique predicated on specific muscle testing. The NMR protocol allows him to identify muscles that are either weak or inhibited by other muscles or groups that cause imbalance, impairment, restricted motion and often chronic pain. Drawing on 6 years of private practice, Tim is able to correct these imbalances through extensive work with Sports Massage, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point and Swedish, all with a primary focus on increasing healthy and pain-free movement in the affected area. He has worked with many local athletes from fun runners to competitive ultra marathoners and tri-athletes. In addition, Tim has worked at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center for nearly 3 years. Tim is also a Certified Personal Trainer, and he focuses on increasing strength, flexibility, a full range of motion, and a life long love of fitness.
Phyllis Hicks is a psychotherapist, meditation teacher and minister. She directs the Pastoral Care and Counseling Institute, a nonprofit in Durham, NC and offers psychotherapy, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and clinical training. For twenty-five years she has melded eastern and western understandings of psychology and contemplative practice, studying with a variety of western Vipassana teachers since 1999. She trained intensively with Gregory Kramer in the practice of Insight Dialogue since 2004 and teaches Insight Dialogue retreats internationally. She is a guiding teacher for Triangle Insight and faculty for the Metta Foundation’s Whole Life Program.
Julie Kosey, MS, PCC, RYT is credentialed as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation. She is also a certified health coach. She has supported people with health behavior change since the 1980’s and specifically in a coaching capacity for the past 10 years. Over the years, Julie has consulted with companies to create nationally award-winning worksite wellness programs. She has offered health coaching to employees both individually and in groups, showing positive outcomes in worksite wellness pilot programs. People have lost weight, quit smoking, become more physically active, managed stress more effectively, and created better work/life balance. While she has provided health coaching in many different settings, she began working with Duke Integrative Medicine as part of a worksite wellness initiative in 2004. Within Duke, Julie has served as Integrative Health Coaching Manager helping to define the role of coaching within a healthcare system. She played a key role in the creation of the Duke Integrative Health Coach Professional training and been a co-leader and core instructor in the foundational and certification programs, supporting new health coaches in developing their skills. Julie has co-presented Duke’s health coaching research at the International Coach Federation (ICF) conference. She has remained current with health coaching developments on a national level by attending ICF events, the National Wellness Conference, the Harvard Coaching Conference, and the Health Coaching Executive Forum. She will be presenting a workshop on the use of coaching skills to support mindfulness practice at the Investigating and Integrating Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society: 9th Annual International Scientific Conference for Clinicians, Researchers and Educators in April 2011. Julie is also a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher for Duke Integrative Medicine. She began teaching MBSR through Rex Healthcare in 1996 and has also taught for the University of North Carolina’s Program on Integrative Medicine, Duke Raleigh Hospital and a number of other organizations. She originally trained with Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and Dr. Saki Santorelli from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and has participated in numerous intensive retreats and trainings with various teachers since then including Sylvia Boorstein, Rodney Smith, and Sharon Salzberg among many other less-known but very experienced teachers. Julie has developed a strong level of competence teaching mindful movement by becoming a Certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher in 1999 and pursuing numerous advanced yoga teacher trainings since that time. She has been registered through the Yoga Alliance (RYT) since its inception. Julie’s academic credentials include an MS in Wellness Management with minors in Business and Counseling, a BA in Psychology, and a Graduate Certificate in Alternative Health and Healing. She blends all of these aspects of her background to continue to forge the frontier of wellness, creating new possibilities for health and well-being for individuals and organizations.
Carol Krucoff is a yoga instructor/therapist who specializes in therapeutic applications of yoga for medical concerns. She creates individualized yoga practices for people with health challenges. A frequent contributor to Yoga Journal magazine and founding editor of The Washington Post’s Health Section, Carol is co-author of Healing Moves: How to Cure, Relieve and Prevent Common Ailments with Exercise. She is co-director of the Yoga Therapy Intensive, Teaching Yoga to Seniors, held annually at Duke Integrative Medicine to train yoga teachers how to work safely and effectively with older adults. A registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance and a certified personal trainer with the American Council on Exercise, Carol is a graduate of Esther Myers’ Yoga Teacher Training and Nischala Joy Devi’s Yoga of the Heart Cardiac and Cancer Certification Training, which focuses on adapting yoga for people with heart disease, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. She has practiced yoga for more than 30 years and is grateful to have taken classes and workshops with a broad array of senior teachers from around the United States and in India. A member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, Carol is on the Peer Review Board for the International Journal of Yoga Therapy. She also teaches yoga at Duke University’s Center for Living and at a senior residential community near her home in Chapel Hill—where her students are in their 70s and 80s. Her passion for sharing the gifts of yoga with older adults began in 2001, when she created and taught a yoga program for seniors enrolled in a Gerontology Rehabilitation program at the Durham, NC, Veterans Administration Medical Center. Carol also spent a decade studying martial arts, earned a second-degree black belt and the honored title of Sensei and taught karate for four years. Before moving to North Carolina in 1988, Carol spent 10 years as a reporter and editor at The Washington Post. An award-winning journalist, she has published hundreds of articles in a wide variety of national media outlets including The New York Times, Reader's Digest, Prevention, Glamour, and Health. Most recently, she has written a new book, Healing Yoga for Neck & Shoulder Pain. She is also creator of the audio home Yoga practice CD, Healing Moves Yoga.
Rachel Kuliani is a program coordinator with a background in public health and health education. Since 2010, Rachel has managed program logistics and administration for a number of programs at Duke Integrative Medicine. Chief among these is the Integrative Health Coach Professional Training (IHCPT) Program’s Certification Course – a 6-month intensive training for integrative health coaches wishing to develop advanced coaching skills and earn a certification in integrative health coaching. Rachel is responsible for supervising and managing the development of course curricula, guiding students through this distance learning course, and providing individual assistance to support students throughout the learning process. Another primary area of focus for Rachel is working directly with organizations to develop customized programs that are tailored to a group’s professional or personal needs on a variety of health related topics. For these programs she works collaboratively with the organization’s leaders to determine the goals for the program and to design a program utilizing the faculty, staff, and amenities at Duke Integrative Medicine. Clients for customized programs have included government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, professional associations, and other Duke entities. Prior to her work at Duke Integrative Medicine, Rachel served as Project Manager for one of the Durham Health Innovations teams formed by the Duke Translational Medicine Institute during their planning period of program development. Other related past positions include serving as a Health Educator for the North Carolina Division of Public Health and an internship at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Rachel received a Master of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a focus on Health Behavior and Health Education. She maintains the professional credential of Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Rachel has displayed her work on various research and community projects with poster presentations at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Duke University School of Nursing, and the University of North Carolina School of Public Health. Prior to her focus on public health, Rachel graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Industrial Design from North Carolina State University.
Maya McNeilly, Ph.D., is a licensed Clinical and Health Psychologist with nearly thirty years of clinical, research, and teaching experience, including full time faculty at Duke University Medical Center Departments of Psychiatry, Medical Psychology, Behavioral Medicine, and the Center for Aging. She currently teaches MBSR Foundation courses and a Graduate course in Interpersonal Mindfulness through Duke Integrative Medicine. Dr. McNeilly has practiced meditation since childhood in Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Judeo-Christian Contemplative traditions. Since 1982, she has formally studied and practiced Mindfulness in the Vipassana, Zen, and Judeo-Christian contemplative traditions with teachers in the United States (Joan Halifax, Larry Rosenberg, Christina Feldman, Andy Olendzki, Mu Soeng, Pat Hawk, Nelson Foster, Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield), India, China, Nepal, Tibet and Israel, and has done a number of intensive long-term retreats. She also completed several Mindfulness Trainings for Professionals with Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli; has integrated mindfulness into her psychotherapy practice since 1982; taught MBSR at Duke and Durham Regional Hospital since 1998; and co-facilitated the Mindfulness Training for Professionals at Duke with Dr. Jeffrey Brantley, Director of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program at Duke. Clinically, Dr. McNeilly practices psychotherapy at Holly Springs Wellness, www.HollySpringsWellness.com, which is a collaborative network of caring practitioners whose mission is to promote Integrative health and well being in the Triangle and surrounding area. At present, the services of this network include psychotherapy; mindful self and wellness education, energetic and spiritual approaches to healing, creative expressive arts, bodywork, physical therapy, nutritional counseling, horticulture therapy, and animal assisted therapy as adjuncts to psychotherapy. Dr. McNeilly has also consulted in the corporate sector, developing and delivering work-site wellness programs for a number of Fortune 500 companies. Academically, Dr. McNeilly has conducted research since 1982, investigating the effects of stress and racism on blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and renal sodium handling, along with developing instruments to measure perceptions of racism among ethnic populations and experiences of death and dying. This research has been presented at national and international conferences, and published in scientific journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Psychophysiology, Health Psychology, Hypertension, Circulation, along with a number of published book chapters. This research has also been cited in national newspapers and magazines such as Oprah, Men's Health, Ms., Jet, Heart and Soul, Essence, and broadcast on national and local radio and television programs. In addition, Dr McNeilly has taught and mentored a number of undergraduate and graduate students at Duke, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina Central University, and Wayne State University. Philanthropically, Dr McNeilly and her husband established a non-profit, charitable 501 (c) 3 foundation, called the Hope James Foundation, www.HopeJamesFoundation.org, whose mission is to support humanitarian, spiritual, and educational causes. Donations are welcome, and 100% of all proceeds go directly to those in need; none are used for administrative or salary purposes, since all staff and services are volunteer-based.
Maria began her career in integrative medicine in 1995 as a licensed massage therapist; she then went on to receive private instruction from a Licensed Acupuncturist, in addition to completing an Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Program at the Academy of Chinese Healing Arts in Sarasota, Florida. She has been licensed as an Acupuncturist since 1999, and is certified by the National Certification Commission in Acupuncture. She has also trained in multiple qi balancing techniques over the years to further her understanding and knowledge of the Chinese medicine system. Maria has been in private practice since 1996 and has worked with clients who exhibit a wide range of health conditions. Maria is very well versed in the mind-body connection and enjoys working with individuals of all ages to assist them in achieving their goals regarding physical health and emotional well-being.
Cathy Parham is a certified professional coach who works with individuals to discover and authentically express their unique purpose, passions, and values. Through encouragement, support and meaningful assessments, she enables clients to implement lasting changes that generate more fulfillment, balance, and well-being in their lives. Cathy is known for her courage and compassion in helping clients to see and act upon the possibilities they have for creating lives filled with enhanced health and wellness, joyful work and effective relationships. She integrates body-centered practices, mindfulness meditation, and creative processes into coaching. Cathy currently shares time between her role as an Integrative Health Coach at Duke Integrative Medicine and her private coaching practice. Prior to joining Duke, Cathy coached over 50 executives and managers at SAS Institute, Inc. to achieve individual, team, and organizational goals. Her past clients consistently reported experiencing increased satisfaction in their personal and professional lives, greater work-life balance, and enhanced effectiveness in their leadership and communication skills. Cathy’s academic credentials include a Masters in Business Administration from Meredith College, and a B.S. in Business Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill. She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) through the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation (ICF). She has training in mindfulness meditation, through Duke Integrative Medicine, somatics training through Strozzi Institute, and a Certification in Teaching from the Body Therapy Institute.
Mary’s love of the pregnancy and birthing processes led her to become a Certified Hypnobabies Childbirth Instructor in May, 2005. The use of hypnosis during the birthing process awoke her desire to learn more about other modalities of health and healing. She earned her Master’s degree in Experiential Health and Healing from the Graduate Institute in Connecticut. This program recognizes the interdependence of body, mind, spirit, and energy, as well as environmental factors, beliefs, and lifestyle choices that have an impact on wellness.
Beth Reardon received her undergraduate training in Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University and her master’s degree in Kinesiology from University of Michigan. She takes a holistic approach to wellness, recognizing that the foundation for optimal health and healing begins with a health promoting diet. Her emphasis is on using medical nutrition interventions to create a foundation for health promotion and healing. In addition to her work at Duke Integrative Medicine, she serves on the Advisory Board for Natural Solutions Magazine and the Council on Nutrition for Contemporary OB/GYN, a peer reviewed journal. She co-authors monthly articles and CME’s for the OB/GYN Alliance, a peer to peer educational network for the OB/GYN community of physicians. Prior to her work at Duke Integrative Medicine, Beth held an adjunct faculty position at Elon University teaching Nutrition and Cooking for Cancer Prevention and Survival. While serving as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Duke, her clinical and research focus centered on the role of diet and exercise in managing outcomes for pre-menopausal breast cancers and prostate cancers. Past positions include Wellness Coordinator for the Johns Hopkins Health Plan in Baltimore, Maryland and Program Consultant for the Fitness Research Center at University of Michigan.
Janet K. Shaffer has been in private practice since 1999 and is certified in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology and Oriental Medicine from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She also brings the tools of counseling, coaching and teaching to her collaborative relationship with patients. Janet graduated from Brown University with a BA in Psychology and was a Division I swimmer. Prior to her work in health care, she counseled young adults with disabilities, taught English as a Second Language in night school, and coached club and high school swimming programs in upstate New York and Nicaragua. She graduated from the comprehensive Chinese Medicine program at the Florida Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1999 and interned in a family and geriatric practice before opening her own practice in Tampa, Florida. Janet has been an instructor in community college and graduate courses, community education panels, and Hospice retreat workshops. She has cared for patients of all ages and levels of health and is dedicated to the implementation of wellness and assisting patients in attaining the healing results they want for themselves.
In 2002, Andrea joined the Health Coaching team at Duke Integrative Medicine, as one the first coaches in the department. Her inaugural work was participation in a randomized, controlled study of participants at moderate risk for coronary heart disease. More recently, she was one of the creators of the Integrative Health Coach Professional Training. She is a Certified Integrative Health Coach, and does health coaching and training. Andrea partners with people who want to develop themselves and maximize their attention in order to live and work in the ways they most desire. She provides expert coaching for health, performance, empowerment, and life balance. Her expertise lies in the areas of eliminating stress, managing anxiety and time issues, pin-pointing and supporting strengths, cultivating personal awareness, creating balance in life and work, emotion and mood self-management, clarifying values, maximizing leadership skills, and pursuing one’s vocation. In her private coaching business, Andrea works with individuals, leads on-going groups and teleclasses, gives workshops, and does public speaking on a variety of skill-building and life-enhancing topics. In addition to a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the California Graduate School of Psychology, Andrea graduated from Coach University and trained at The Coaches Training Institute. She is a Master Certified Coach, which is the highest designation awarded by the International Coach Federation. She has been coaching for fifteen years and has worked as a psychotherapist for twenty-nine. Her work now is primarily as a coach.
Dr. Leigh Ann Simmons is Senior Faculty Fellow for Clinical and Translational Research at Duke Integrative Medicine, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine, and Senior Research Fellow in the Duke Center for Research on Prospective Health Care. A former Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health scholar, she has published and presented nationally and internationally in the areas of personalized health planning, the psychological well-being of women, women’s health care decision-making, and health care policy. Her research focuses on designing and evaluating personalized approaches to health care for women, including personalized health planning, integrative health coaching, and predictive health risk modeling, with a specific focus on pregnant and postpartum women. She is also interested in understanding the role of patient activation and engagement in health behavior change and establishing the effectiveness of group-based models of care. For the last 12 years Dr. Simmons has been an active member of a multi-disciplinary research team known as Rural Families Speak, an epidemiologic study examining the personal and contextual issues influencing the health and well-being of rural women and their families in 17 states. She is principal investigator on a study examining the effectiveness of personalized health planning and integrative health coaching at reducing the incidence of postpartum weight retention in first-time mothers. In response to the large number of women affected by untreated depression either in themselves or a family member, Dr. Simmons co-developed Blue to You, a comprehensive, group-based depression awareness program for community educators. She also serves as co-investigator on an NIH study examining the efficacy of mindfulness meditation and personalized health planning at reducing cardiovascular disease risk in adults. Dr. Simmons’ research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the March of Dimes. Prior to arriving at Duke, Dr. Simmons was an assistant professor of family studies and health services management at the University of Kentucky. She also worked as a Congressional Fellow for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Dr. Simmons earned a Ph.D. in child and family development from the University of Georgia, a master's degree in Couple and Family Therapy from MCP-Hahnemann University in Philadelphia (now Drexel University), and a B.A. in literature/writing from the University of California at San Diego. In addition to her academic training, Leigh Ann is a long-time yoga and mindfulness meditation practitioner and a first degree reiki practitioner in the Usui Shiki Ryoho lineage.
Cate is the Executive Chef at Duke Integrative Medicine’s café, which is a critical link in the services and programs offered by Duke Integrative Medicine. Cate is a Certified Dietary Manager and Food Protection Professional, and brings more than 20 years of culinary and management experience to Duke Integrative Medicine. Cate is responsible for ensuring that the café and food services serve as a touchstone for the nutritional philosophy of Duke Integrative Medicine’s services and programs. Cate has been employed by Meriwether-Godsey, a premier regional food service management company, for more than seven years in a variety of settings.
Ms. Smith is the Director of Professional and Public Programs for Duke Integrative Medicine (Duke IM), a Physician Assistant, and the founder and director of Duke’s Integrative Health Coach Professional Training (IHCPT). She is also a faculty member of Duke’s Practice Course, a 2-year introduction to patient care for first and second year medical students. As one of the founding executive team members of Duke IM, she is a core collaborator in bringing the vision of this new field of medicine to fruition at Duke from conception through operational planning and program development.
Noah St. John brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his work as an integrative exercise specialist. Noah earned his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Penn State University and his master’s degree in Clinical and Sport Nutrition at Florida State University. Noah is also a Registered Dietitian, which makes his contribution to the integrative care team even more valuable. Noah has worked extensively with a variety of populations, from elite athletes to the elderly and disabled. Highlights include extensive strength and conditioning work with Penn State athletes, as well as three years of professional personal training in both Florida and North Carolina, during which he provided teaching, motivation and assistance to clients wishing to lose significant weight and increase fitness. He also spent two years providing personal training support for an academic research project investigating the effects of resistance training on chronic pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. Noah believes that, while exercise and the prescription of exercise is largely mechanical in dealing with the body, understanding the complexities of motivation, emotion and spirit are critical in order to achieve optimal health.
Melva is a Registered Nurse and received her RN Diploma from St. Vincent's School of Nursing, Toledo, Ohio. She has been at Duke since 1983 with extensive clinical experience ranging from neurology, cardiothoracic surgery, interventional cardiology, and outpatient cardiology with an emphasis on cardiovascular prevention through lifestyle therapies as well as medical therapies. Melva also has previous experience in cardiovascular research. She is a member of the American Heart Association (AHA) including AHA Basic Life Support Instructor. She is also a member of the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association. Melva enjoys the opportunity to partner with clients in developing lifestyle skills for a healthier and more fulfilling quality of life.
Tami Tuck, Durham native came on board Duke Integrative Medicine in September 2011 as the Program Coordinator for Public Programs and rentals for outside Duke Organizations. Tami has been at Duke University since 2001 working with positions in Duke School of Medicine in the Office of Student Affairs; with the Department of Pediatrics in the Office of Pediatric Education; and as an Associate in Research at the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative at the Nicholas School of the Environment. In 2011 she was the recipient for the Presidential Duke Award. Tami is a certified Notary Public. She enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and kayaking.
Kim leads the massage therapy team at Duke Integrative Medicine. She has been in practice since 1998. Kim has worked in various hospital settings, in private practice, and currently is also the lead therapist at Duke Health & Fitness Center. She has coordinated massage at Duke Diet and Fitness Center as well. Kim uses a wide range of techniques to get to the heart of the matter in bodywork. She is well versed in several modalities: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Thai, Reflexology and scar tissue management. She specializes in Repetitive Use Injury Therapy ® through Muscle Release Technique. Medical massage for those recovering from surgery or trauma is a particular passion. She is also a second level Reiki practitioner. Kim enjoys co-creating individualized sessions tailored to each client's specific needs. She is also a lifestyle maintenance coach for Duke's Diet & Fitness Center. Kim has a BA in Psychology from Midwestern State University. She received her massage therapy training in 1998 from the Body Therapy Institute (BTI). Kim is a member of AMTA—the American Massage Therapy Association.
Jeanne van Gemert is a Mind/Body Therapist utilizing Body-Centered and Expressive Arts modalities as well as Mindfulness Meditation. Jeanne assists individuals and groups to understand, transform and integrate their emotions, beliefs, thoughts and spirit. Using skilled attention, Jeanne offers collaborative multi-modality interventions that promote the unfolding of individuals' psyches and provide deeply meaningful experiences. Jeanne has been an Instructor in the Duke Integrative Medicine Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program since 1999 and is a graduate of the Community Dharma Leader training program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Jeanne is a co-founder and teacher at Triangle Insight Meditation Community in Durham, NC. Jeanne holds an MFA in Sculpture from Syracuse University and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University with specializations in Holistic Health, the Expressive Therapies of Art, Movement and Sand Tray work, and Group Dynamics. She received Bodywork training at the Baltimore Holistic Health Center and is certified in CranioSacral Therapy, Zero Balancing and Massage. She is a graduate of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing and has trained in other body energy systems and shamanic practices.
Ron Vereen is a board-certified psychiatrist with a private practice in Durham, NC, and serves as a Consulting Associate in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University. A practitioner of mindfulness meditation since 1992, he participated in a professional training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction with Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli, and has been teaching in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program at Duke Integrative Medicine since 1999. In addition, he completed the Community Dharma Leader Program though Spirit Rock Meditation Center in 2007, and has been teaching introductory meditation classes throughout the community, along with leading a weekly sitting group in Durham. His interests are in exploring the interface between contemplative practices and Western psychology.
Jessica received her Master of Arts in health psychology from Appalachian State University in 2001, and completed her clinical internship at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center and the Duke Center for Living that same year. From 2004 to present, Jessica has sought additional training in life coaching through the Coaches Training Institute and has learned coaching techniques to help clients find life fulfillment, balance, and process. For five years, Jessica was a licensed psychological assistant (master's level psychologist) in North Carolina and a Health Service Provider-Psychological Associate. Jessica is currently a licensed professional counselor and a certified QuitSmart smoking cessation instructor. As a part of the Duke Integrative Medicine research team, Jessica has served as a research therapist on three federally funded studies evaluating the use of mindful eating with overweight and obese populations. These studies included an NIH-funded study exploring the utilization of meditation and mindfulness-based treatments for binge-eating disorder and two NCCAM-funded studies investigating the use of meditation and mindfulness-based skills for weight maintenance. Additionally, Jessica has served as a health coach for a CMS-funded grant using a Strategic Health Planning model to reduce 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease, as research coordinator for the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)-funded study looking at diabetics and asthmatics barriers to medication adherence, and as a health coach for a GSK-funded study to improve medication adherence and the lifestyles of individuals with diabetics. Jessica's clinical and coaching practices have focused on helping individuals to obtain optimal health and well-being. She has helped clients reduce binge and compulsive eating, lose weight, stop smoking, reduce stress, become more physically active, better cope with anxiety and phobias, situational depression and life adjustments, and improve overall health and quality of life. In her work with clients, Jessica uses the mind-body approaches of mindfulness meditation, hypnosis, relaxation training (i.e., breath work, progressive muscle relaxation and imagery) and cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, person-centered and interpersonal therapies, motivational interviewing and coaching techniques with clients.
Riitta H. Rutanen Whaley is a health professional with a comprehensive educational background and professional experience in the health sciences and integrative body-mind approaches/therapies, including stress reduction, yoga, Reiki, and meditation. Riitta has studied, worked, and lived for extended periods in Europe, the U.S., South Asia, and the Middle East, serving in various capacities, including as an officer of various governmental and international organizations. She has maintained a regular meditation practice since 1987. Over the past 11 years she has engaged in private teaching practice, guiding individuals from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and with varying degrees of physical health in the practical application of mindfulness-based techniques to cope with bodily limitations and/or to mitigate the stresses of modern life. Riitta holds a Master of Science in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Eastern Finland, and a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. She is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance (USA), having earned her yoga teacher certificate at Yogalife (India), and is a member of the Himalayan Institute Teachers Association (USA), as well as the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Her training in mindfulness includes four professional Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction intensives from University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness (including one led by Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli), Duke Integrative Medicine, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a number of silent meditation retreats. Riitta is the founder of Yoga for Life LLC, where her work is grounded in a range of mindfulness and awareness enhancing approaches, including the application of therapeutic yoga for clients with health challenges. She has personally experienced meditation and yoga to be invaluable tools for dealing with intense pain and the limitations it imposes on everyday life. This approach has been informed by her intensive yoga therapy training at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (India), Himalayan Institute (USA), and Auroville (India). She has produced a mindfulness practice CD, Trusting the Experience I, for home use.
Dr. Wolever is a clinical health psychologist and the Research Director of Duke Integrative Medicine (Duke IM). She specializes in behavior change, treatment of stress-related problems, and mind-body health. Both her research and her clinical practice focus on the application of integrative medicine techniques to affect lifestyle change. She is specifically interested in utilizing the connection between mind and body to improve health. Dr. Wolever consults with companies to help executives identify strategies to better manage their challenging environments. She also serves as the Chief Scientific Officer for eMindful. From a research perspective, Dr. Wolever studies the integration of innovative Mind-Body-Spirit treatments into mainstream medicine. She has studied treatments to improve sleep, exercise, weight management, diabetes control, medication adherence and other health indices; some of this work focuses on the role of integrative health coaching in creating sustainable lifestyle change. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute of Mental Health, Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the Office of Women’s Health), the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, by GlaxoSmithKline and by the Bravewell Philanthropic Collaborative. Dr. Wolever has been working in the field of Health Psychology since 1989 and at the Duke University School of Medicine since 1994. She received her PhD in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of Miami in 1994, and completed her Clinical Internship at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill the same year. She is licensed as a Clinical Psychologist (State of NC), is certified as a Health Services Provider (NC), a PAIRS Facilitator (PAIRS Foundation, Fairfax, VA), a Lifeskills trainer (Williams’ Lifeskills Inc., Durham, NC), and is credentialed in Medical Hypnotherapy as well. Dr. Wolever is also the Director of Health Psychology at Duke Integrative Medicine and the Director of Behavioral Health & Lifestyle Coaching at the Duke Diet & Fitness Center. Prior to entering the field of Health Psychology, Dr. Wolever earned her B.A. in Spanish at the University of Virginia, taught in the Dade County Public High Schools and directed a youth program in South Florida. She and her husband Mark are active in educating the public on Rett Syndrome. Her deepest delight is her daughter Emma. |
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