MyU | One Stop | Directories | Search U of M

Created by the Center for Spirituality & Healing and the Life Science Foundation.

Our Experts

Our experts include experienced complementary therapy providers, as well as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and veterinarians who believe in an integrative approach to health and healing. This site is built on their expertise.

In the topics listed on the right, our experts respond to common questions. There are also interviews with visiting national experts.

Mary Jo Kreitzer, RN, PhD

Director of the Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota

Mary Jo Kreitzer, RN, PhD is the founder and director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing, where she teaches and conducts research on optimal healing environments and mindfulness meditation.

Jane Armstrong, DVM, MS, MBA, Diplomate ACVIM

Professor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota

Jane is currently a professor in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department at the University of Minnesota. She has broad clinical and research interests within small animal internal medicine, and she is certified in veterinary acupuncture.

Linda Armstrong, RD, LD, MBA

Faculty, Normandale Community College, Minnesota

Linda Armstrong is a Registered Dietitian and has experience in acute care, long term care, food service management, and community health. She has a keen interest in integrative medicine and how stress impacts the health of patients.

Marilyn Bach, MS, APRN, BC, CHTP

Healing Touch Practitioner

Marilyn Bach is a certified healing touch practitioner and mentor and has studied a variety of energy healing modalities throughout the past 15 years.

David Berg, MA, MDiv

Cultural Competency Educator, Fairview Health Services

David recently retired after 29 years as a chaplain with the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview. He continues to work as a cultural competency educator/consultant for Fairview's Office of Diversity.

Linda Brady, PhD

Professor, University of Minnesota

Linda Brady currently teaches two courses at the Center for Spirituality & Healing: Principles of Holistic Health and Healing and Cultural Communities and Health. She also teaches courses in Food Sciences and Nutrition.

Judith Buchanan, PhD, DMD

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

Judith Buchanan found her way into dentistry while doing post-doctoral work in biochemistry. She has a long-standing interest in the field of virtual reality and incorporating simulation technology into educational curricula.

Beth Burgan, MA, MFA

Assistant Professor in the School of Massage Therapy at Northwestern Health Sciences University

Beth Burgan followed up a career in art education and therapy with a career in massage therapy. she has practiced full time since 1988 and has advanced certification in NeuroMuscular Therapy.

Miriam Cameron, PhD, MS, MA, RN

Center Associate at the Center for Bioethics and faculty member at the Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota

Miriam Cameron teaches graduate courses about Tibetan Medicine, Ayurveda, Yoga, and India at the University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality & Healing. She collaborates on research, teaching, and writing with colleagues in India, Tibet, China, Nepal, and South Korea.

Pat Culliton, MA, L.Ac.

Director of HCMC's Alternative Medicine Division

Pat Culliton serves as the director of Minneapolis-based Hennepin County Medical Center's Alternative Medicine Division, where she is also the director of Alternative Medicine for the National Institutes of Health Center for Addiction and Alternative Medicine Research.

Kathleen Cummings, BSN, PHN, MA

Director, Fairview Hospice

Carolyn Denton, LN

Licensed Nutritionist, Abbot Northwestern's Institute for Health and Healing

Carolyn Denton is a licensed nutritionist who focuses on nutrition for general health, disease prevention, and as a complementary therapy for existing chronic and degenerative diseases.

Amy Esler, PhD, LP

Licensed Psychologist, University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital

Amy Esler is a psychologist in the Autism Spectrum and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Program at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital and an assistant professor in the Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience department of the University of Minnesota.

Roni Evans, DC, MS

Dean of Research and Director of the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies, Northwestern Health Sciences University

Roni Evans has been involved with several randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews investigating physical treatments for low back, neck, and headache disorders. She is interested in applying research findings to clinical practice by integrating evidence-based healthcare into Northwestern's curricula and clinical settings.

Sharon Franquemont

Sharon Franquemont's life has been dedicated to intuition for more than 30 years. She is a coach, consultant, teacher, reader, and writer in the field.

Archelle Georgiou, MD

Senior Fellow at the Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota

Dr. Archelle Georgiou is a Senior Fellow with the University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality & Healing and works collaboratively with the Center to empower consumers to navigate the healthcare system.

Allison Golnik, MD, MPH

Pediatrician, University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital

Allison Golnik is a pediatrician at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital and assistant professor in the Pediatrics and Adolescent Health department at the University of Minnesota.She specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

James Gordon, MD

Founder and Director of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine

James Gordon has devoted 30 years to the exploration and practice of mind-body medicine. He has created ground-breaking programs of comprehensive mind-body healing for physicians, medical students, and other health professionals; for people with cancer, depression and other chronic illnesses; and for traumatized children and families, and those who serve them, in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Becky Gorman, PA-C

Faculty member of the Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota

Becky Gorman is an instructor in the Health Coaching track, under the graduate-level, post-baccalaureate certificate in Complementary Therapies & Healing Practices. In addition to teaching several courses, she also has a private consulting practice, where she specializes in intuition, relationships, and authentic living.

Sarah Gottfried

Sarah is a faculty member of the School of Massage Therapy at Northwestern Health Sciences University, teaching evidence-informed coursework for massage therapy students. She also works as a massage therapist in hospice.

Lynelle Graham, DVM

Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine

Lynelle Graham is certified in Veterinary Acupuncture and Animal Chiropractic. Her interests include clinical veterinary anesthesiology (specifically pain management) and integrative veterinary medicine (specifically acupuncture, chiropractic, and herbal management of pain and traumatic disease).

Amala Guha, PhD, MPH, MA

Assistant Professor of Medicine and Program Director of Complementary & Alternative Supportive Care, University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Having earned her doctoral degree in immunology and completed training in Ayurveda, Amala Guha now focuses on transplant and cancer immunology. She is the founding president of the International Society for Ayurveda and Health.

Christopher Hafner, L.Ac.

TCM practitioner

Christopher Hafner lectures locally and nationally on the subject of TCM and is currently involved in several research projects investigating the quality of Chinese medicinal herbs and the integration of TCM and conventional medicine.

Linda Halcón, PhD, MPH, RN, RATC

Associate Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

Linda Halcón is an associate professor in the University of Minnesota's School of Nursing, where she is chair of the Integrative, Global & Public Health Co-operative. She is director of Graduate Studies at the Center for Spirituality & Healing and teaches Clinical Aromatherapy as part of the Center’s graduate minor in Complementary Therapies and Healing Practices.

Richard Hammerschlag, PhD

Clinical Researcher

Richard Hammerschlag is Dean of Research at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, where, during the past nine years, he has coordinated collaborative clinical trials of acupuncture and Chinese herbs for TMD, MS-specific fatigue, and endometriosis-related pelvic pain, as well as a study of bioelectrical properties of acupuncture points.

Patricia Hart, MD

Patricia Hart is board certified in Internal Medicine & Nephrology. Her mid-career Bush Medical Fellowship catalyzed a profoundly deeper understanding of complementary healing, with an emphasis on meditation and subtle energy healing.

Dale Healey, DC

Dean of the School of Massage Therapy, Northwestern Health Sciences University

Dale Healey was trained as a chiropractor, but his career has focused on massage therapy education for the past ten years. He is a member of a Massage Therapy Foundation committee working on the development of best practices guidelines for the profession.

Annie Heiderscheit, PhD, MT-BC, FAMI, NMT

Music Therapist

Annie Heiderscheit is a board certified music therapist with 18 years of clinical experience and degrees in music therapy, education, and counseling.

Peng Her

Instructor & Healer of Qigong

Peng Her stems from a long lineage of Hmong Shamans. He has more than 10 years of qigong and martial arts experience that began when he was at the early age of 13.

Sheila Hoover, PhD

Assistant Director, Academic Technology, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota

Sheila Hoover earned her doctorate in Adult Education and a graduate minor in Complementary and Alternative Healing Practices from the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality & Healing.

Don Houge, PhD

Psychologist, Emeritus Professor

Don Houge is a licensed psychologist and a consultant certified in clinical hypnosis by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He has been teaching clinical hypnosis at the University of Minnesota Medical School since 1978. His research area is the use of clinical hypnosis for surgery and medical procedures.

Cari Johnson Pelava, BA, CI, AOBTA, Dipl. ABT, NCCAOM

President of CenterPoint

Cari Johnson Pelava has spent the past 25 years pursuing the art of body-mind-spirit integration. She founded the Minnesota Center for Shiatsu Study in 1992 and served as director until February 2001, when MCSS joined with NLSMT to become CenterPoint; she is now president.

Larry Kuusisto, PhD, DC

Vice President of Education, LifeScience Alley

Larry Kuusisto is the vice president of Education at LifeScience Alley, a major Midwest health industry trade association, and is the executive director of their non-profit research affiliate, Alley Institute, based in Minneapolis, Minn.

Donna L. Morris, DrPH, CNM, NBCR

Associate Professor in the College of Nursing, University of North Dakota

Donna L. Morris, an associate professor in the College of Nursing at the University of North Dakota, is a certified nurse-midwife, a board certified holistic nurse, a nationally certified reflexologist, and a Reiki master.

Jean Larson, PhD, MA, HTR, CTRS

Program manager Center for Therapeutic Horticulture Services

Jean Larson, MA, HTR, CTRS, is the program manager for the Center for Therapeutic Horticulture at the University of Minnesota. She earned her master’s degree in therapeutic recreation and outdoor education, and she is pursuing a doctoral degree in the same area.

Karen Lawson, MD

Program Director for the Health Coaching track, Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota

Karen Lawson leads the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality & Healing's integrative medical education efforts, teaching about Shamanism and directing the Health Coaching track of the Certificate in Complementary Therapies and Healing Practices. She is a published author and researcher, and speaks nationally to diverse audiences on the power and potential of integrated and holistic health care practices.

Kathryn Leggitt, RNC, MS, CNM

Certified Nurse-Midwife, Hennepin County Medical Center

Kathryn Leggitt is a certified nurse-midwife at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn. She has additional experience in childbirth and adolescent sexuality education and is a Reiki practitioner.

Barb Leonard, PhD, RN, PNP

Professor in the School of Nursing, University of Minnesota

Barb Leonard, a professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota, has faculty appointments in the School of Public Health and the Center for Spirituality & Healing and holds a professorship of Long-Term Care of Children in the School of Nursing.

Kate Maher, RN, BSN

Coordinator of Healing Arts Therapy Volunteer Program, Woodwinds Health Campus

Kate Maher is the coordinator of the healing arts therapy volunteer program at Woodwinds Health Campus, which delivers essential oils, energy-based healing, guided imagery, massage, healing music, and acupressure directly to patients, staff, and volunteers.

Timothy McCall, MD

Timothy McCall is a board-certified specialist in internal medicine, the medical editor of Yoga Journal, and the author of two books, Yoga as Medicine and Examining Your Doctor.

Dennis McKenna, PhD

Senior Lecturer at the Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota

Dennis McKenna has worked in the interdisciplinary fields of pharmacognosy, ethnopharmacology, and ethnobotany for more than 20 years. He is a co-author of a recently-published reference work titled Botanical Medicines: the Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements.

Pamela Miles

Reiki master

Pamela Miles is a Reiki master practicing since 1986 who has 30 years of experience in complementary and alternative medicine. Miles is a pioneer in the integration of Reiki into conventional health care, creating Reiki programs in prominent New York City hospitals, publishing in peer-reviewed medical journals and popular media, and participating in research, including an NIH-funded study.

Ryan J. Milley, MAcOM, LAc

Informatics Director, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine Research Department

Ryan J. Milley received his Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAcOM) Degree from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and is certified to teach Qigong and practice acupuncture, Chinese herbalism, and Tui na (Chinese massage).

Catherine Owens Duncan, MAT

Chaplain & Spiritual Director

Catherine Owens Duncan received her master’s degree in theology and spiritual direction certification at The College of St. Catherine’s in St. Paul, Minn. She will soon complete a Master of Divinity equivalency.

Terry Pearson, RPh, MBA

Terry Pearson has more than 30 years of clinical experience in healthcare, including working as a pharmacist. Pearson has completed the practicum professional internship in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) with Jon Kabat-Zinn and facilitates MBSR classes at the University of Minnesota.

Paul Ratté, ND

Naturopathic Doctor

Paul Ratté, a naturopathic doctor at the Natural Care Center at Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury, Minn., is an authority on functional medicine. A passionate proponent of integrated health care, Ratté has worked in several clinical settings, including the Infinite Health Healing Center in Maplewood. Minn., the Grand Forks Naturopathic Clinic in Grand Forks, N.D., and the Center of Natural Healing Arts in Alexandria, Minn.

Joe Reichle, PhD

Professor, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, University of Minnesota

Joe Reichle is a professor in the Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences department at the University of Minnesota. His primary areas of research and his teaching focus on implementing augmentative communication systems and providing positive behavioral support for persons with problem behavior.

Deborah Ringdahl, RN, MS, CNM

Reiki master

Deborah Ringdahl is a Reiki master and has been practicing as a certified nurse-midwife and Reiki practitioner since 1982 and teaching in the Nurse-Midwifery and Women’s Health Program at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing since 1992.

Joel Slaton, MD, MSBS

Associate Professor University of Minnesota Medical School and Department of Urologic Surgery

Joel Slaton is an associate professor, Department of Urologic Surgery and the University of Minnesota Medical School. He is the principal investigator on several NIH grants examining the effectiveness of mushrooms with cancer patients.

Karen Teagarden, BA, ARCB

Reflexologist

Karen Teagarden has more than 14 years of experience as a reflexologist, teacher, and writer. As a nationally certified reflexologist, she assisted both Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Methodist Hospital and Clinics in Minneapolis, Minn. in starting complementary care programs for cancer patients.

Carolyn Torkelson, MD

Medical Director at the Women's Health Center, University of Minnesota

Carolyn Torkelson is medical director at the Women’s Health Center at the University of Minnesota, assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, and faculty at the Center for Spirituality & Healing. Her clinical practice offers integrative care to women with multiple health concerns.

Sue Towey, RN, CNS, MS, LP

Mental Health Practitioner

Sue Towey is an ANCC Board-Certified Advanced Practice RN, a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Psychiatry and Mental Health, (with prescriptive privileges) as well as a Licensed Psychologist. She has been a faculty member with the Center for Spirituality & Healing at the University of Minnesota since its inception in 1995. She created and teaches two classes within the grad minor program.

Wes Vaught, CMT

Wes Vaught has studied bodywork throughout his life, starting with learning hands-on healing and sacred healing presence from his Native American grandmother. He currently teaches this course and practices craniosacral therapy in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Canada, and Hawaii.

Sarah Weaver, MFA, M. Om. L.Ac

Sarah Weaver is an assistant professor in The School of Massage Therapy and a faculty clinician in massage therapy and acupuncture at Northwestern Health Sciences University.

Terri Zborowsky, PhD

Director of Healthcare Reasearch and Education, Ellerbe Becket

Terri Zborowsky is the director of healthcare education and research at Ellerbe Becket and is armed with a very unique set of qualifications. Her background is in both nursing and healthcare design.