2024 Autumn On Demand

Mark Beard DO Related Seminars and Products

Born and raised just outside of Chicago's West side at the end of the Green Line, Mark Beard, just completed sabbatical to train and teach in Michigan State University's Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine Residency, one of the largest and most prestigious programs of its type in the world. 

After Dr. Beard completed his BA in Psychology at Carleton College in 2001, one of the top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges in the Nation, he lived in Madrid teaching English and learning Spanish. He then moved to the Fort Lauderdale area to attend medical school at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine. After completion of medical school in 2007, Dr. Beard completed Internship in the Chicagoland area and has been providing care to the underserved in Michigan since that time as a General Practitioner. He owned and operated his own bilingual clinic in Southwest Detroit until starting Residency at MSU in 2021. 

Mark Beard, DO, is a proud member of the American Academy of Osteopathy, American Osteopathic Association, and Michigan Osteopathic Association. He is Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine Board Certified and American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians Board Eligible with a special interest in fluoroscopic guided Spine Intervention. His work was featured in Hour Magazine’s Top Doc issue and Model D.

• https://www.hourdetroit.com/he...
• https://www.modeldmedia.com/fe...

Dr. Beard's passion is helping patients heal themselves with his manual medicine skills. He often improves the structure and function of the Spine.  He  starts patients down a path of less pain and more physical activity as many Osteopathic Physicians have done before him for over a century.  He loves to talk with his patients about the anatomy that underlies their musculoskeletal dysfunction, how his techniques can effect it, and how they can continue the movement he helps establish in their daily lives.  Currently he treats patients at the Novi and Howell offices.

FUN FACTS

Dr. Beard has lived in Detroit since 2012 and currently resides there with his wife Natalie. During his free time he enjoys running, road biking, reading, hiking, hot yoga, playing guitar and traveling the world. He founded a German wine and beer garden, Stadt Garten, in Midtown Detroit and developed the building that houses it.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Dr. Beard has extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal and nervous system conditions, including:

• Acute and chronic pain
• Pain and impaired function related to spinal conditions such as:
  • Herniated Disc
  • Radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spondylosis (degenerative disc disease)
  • Sciatica 
  • Sacroiliitis
  • F acet syndrome
  • Piriformis syndrome
• Joint pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Muscle and tendon strain
• Ligament sprain
• Bursitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Work and auto accident related injuries
• Sports injuries
• Stroke rehabilitation
• Spinal cord injury rehabilitation
• Traumatic brain injury rehabilitation
• Steroid joint and trigger point injections

David Best DO, MS, ABAM Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Best graduated from the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2002.  He completed Family Medicine Residency in 2005 at Garden City Hospital.  In his final year of residency, he completed a course in office based opioid treatment and this began his work with treating patients with substance use disorder.  He has been providing this standard of care treatment for opioid use disorder patients in Northern Michigan since 2005.

Dr. Best started his post-graduate career at the Bellaire Family Health Center in Bellaire, MI where he worked from 2005-2012.  He has been in private practice since November 2012 and his office is in Traverse City.  He and his wife, Lindsay Best, DO, own Best Medical Services, which was certified as an Opioid Health Home in 2021.  Best Medical Services specializes in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine.  Dr. Best is board certified in both Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine and has spoken on the topic of opioid use disorder on a local, state-wide and national level.

Dr. Best was on the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians (MAOFP) board from 2007-2015.  He served as President of the MAOFP from 2013-2014.  He has been on the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) board since 2014 and was MOA President from May 2021-2022.  He also served as President of the Northern Michigan Osteopathic Association from June 2015-June 2017.  He has been a trustee for the Des Moines University Alumni board since June 2022 and has been a trustee with the Novello Health Provider Organization since December 2022.

Marsha Billes DO Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Marsha Billes is a dedicated and compassionate Family Physician who has been successful at combining traditional and integrative medicine to reduce chronic disease and promote wellness. She is Board Certified in Family Practice, and Integrative Medicine and she is also Certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists. She has been using Yoga Therapy and Measured Yoga Therapy in her practice as an additional modality for assessing the health of her patients-both individually as well as teaching chair yoga therapy in a group for the past 3 and a half years.

Dr. Billes graduated from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1989 and did her Internship and Family Practice Residency at Beaumont-of Farmington Hills in 1990-1992.  She was also Chief of Staff at Beaumont-Farmington Hills (previously known as Botsford Hospital) in 2003. She continues to serve as an Associate Clinical Professor through MSU-COM. She has thoroughly enjoyed teaching medical students and PA medical students, and she has spent 26 years in private practice.  Dr. Billes has also been a National Speaker on Diabetic Neuropathy and treatment with forms of methylated folate. She currently practices at The Beaumont Weight Control Center in Canton as well as supervising the Wellness Program at Envision Health -a program which she actually helped develop.

She is also doing Integrative Medicine consults there in addition to using Yoga Therapy. These techniques that she will share with us today have helped lower blood pressure, stress and hemoglobin A1C levels, as just a few benefits that Yoga as Medicine can provide. 

Dr. Billes also serves as a Director on the Board of Life In Yoga Institute, and she continues to work with Dr. Rajan Nayarayan using the Biowell machine which uses photonic imagery to assess stress, vitality and energy levels and organ system balance using pre and post-readings with Yoga therapy techniques.

She is very excited about sharing these various modalities which have been life-changing for her patients and have enhanced her life personally.

Paul Ciechanowski MD, MPH, CMO Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Paul Ciechanowski is a nationally recognized leader and pioneer of the Collaborative Care Model and now serves as Chief Medical Officer of Janus. Paul is Board Certified in Psychiatry and is a faculty member at the University of Washington. He has conducted foundational NIH and CDC studies and developed national training programs in collaborative care, addressing the needs of individuals with complex medical issues and those with challenging social determinants of health. His extensive clinical research has been published in JAMA and NEJM, among others.

Prior to Janus, Paul founded Samepage, a proprietary clinical workflow management platform for deployment of evidence-based collaborative care, which now serves as the technology backbone for Janus’ service delivery. Since joining Janus, Paul has led additional innovation of Samepage that adheres to the collaborative care model while enhancing the user experience for patients and providers.

Paul earned his M.D. at McGill University Medical School, a Master in Public Health from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science in Physiology from the University of British Columbia.

MarkAlain Dery DO, MPH, FACOI, Tulane University Related Seminars and Products

MarkAlain Déry, DO, MPH, FACOI, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Tulane University, where he also serves as Director of the Tulane AIDS Education and Training Center, Director of the Tulane T-Cell Clinic, and Medical Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program. He earned his master’s degree in public health at Loma Linda University and graduated with his degree in osteopathic medicine from the University of New England before completing his internal medicine training at Case Western Reserve University. After three and a half years on the Navajo Reservation as part of his obligation to the Public Health Service, he relocated to New Orleans and completed an infectious disease fellowship at Tulane University. As an infectious disease expert with a keen interest in antimicrobial resistance, infection control, and multidrug-resistant organisms, Dr Déry works to combat poverty’s negative health effects. He is passionate about HIV prevention and testing.

Peter Gulick DO, FACOI Related Seminars and Products

I am board certified in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, and Infectious Diseases and have taken care of HIV patients for over 30 years. I have also taken care of hepatitis C patients for 20 years. I am a professor at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and I have developed courses in HIV and hepatitis. I teach medicine residents as well as ID fellows on HIV and hepatitis C at my clinical sites.

I am currently the Director of HIV/Hepatitis clinics at three sites:

1. Ingham County Health Department
2. Central Michigan Department of Community Health
3. Great Lakes Community Health Clinics

All three sites are FQHC sponsored clinics, and all are funded by Ryan White for HIV Care. I am currently taking care of over 1000 HIV patients and over 500 Hepatitis C and B patients.

I am the Director of the HIV Registry at Michigan State University. The registry has data on over 600 HIV patients and we are currently doing translational research at MSU, which have been NIH sponsored grants.

Jeffery Johnston DDS, MS, Delta Dental Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Jeffery Johnston earned a Doctorate in Dental Surgery 1982 and Master’s Degree 1986 in Periodontology from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Johnston is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery, a Fellow in both the International and American College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy and International Congress of Oral Implantologists.  He is a Certified Dental Editor and Past-Editor for the Michigan Dental Association.  Dr. Johnston is also a Past-President of the Michigan Dental Association and Michigan Periodontal Association. He maintained a private practice limited to Periodontics for 28 years.

Dr. Johnston is currently Senior Vice-President / Chief Science Officer for Delta Dental Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana and Director of the Research and Data Institute. He is also Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Periodontology and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan. He has authored numerous scientific publications and has lectured extensively on the topics of Periodontology, Oral Medicine, and Implant Dentistry.  

Contact Information:

Jeffery W. Johnston DDS MS
Senior Vice President, Chief Science Officer Delta Dental MI, OH, IN
4100 Okemos Road, Okemos, MI 48864
(517) 381-4730
jjohnston@deltadentalmi.com

Francis Komara DO FACOFP Related Seminars and Products

Francis Komara, D.O., FACOFP, a Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine alumna, has built a distinguished career in educating medical students, residents and fellows, providing patients with outstanding clinical care and furthering the osteopathic profession through research and service. Dr. Komara has served the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine in several capacities for 20 years, including course coordinator for more than a dozen geriatric courses, associate director of Continuing Education and Faculty of the Geriatric Education Center of Michigan, program director for the Family Practice Geriatric Medicine Residency Program and the Osteopathic Geriatric Family Medicine Residency Program, and professor for the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Geriatrics.  Previously he was faculty at Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine, the University of Southern California School of Medicine and Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center.

A member of the American Osteopathic Association, Michigan Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, Dr. Komara is a past president of the Ingham County Osteopathic Association. He has been a member of the American Geriatrics Society, Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians, and the American Medical Directors Association. Frank has lectured on geriatric medicine for professional and community organizations in Florida, California and Michigan.

He retired in July 2019 and was conferred the title of Professor Health Programs Emeritus by Michigan State University.  In retirement, he plans to devote more time to his wife of 45 years, Pam, his daughter Lauren and son Steve, their families, especially granddaughters Miranda, Audrey and Emma and be the best grandpa ever.  Additionally, he plans to read some non-medical books, fish, travel in his trailer, cook and grow some tomatoes.

Edwin Kornoelje DO, FAOASM Related Seminars and Products

J'Aimee Lippert DO Related Seminars and Products

J’Aimee Lippert, D.O., is a 2000 graduate of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a residency in Family Medicine and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine at Metro Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2004.  She was a residency program director at Metro Health (now University of Michigan-West) for several years prior to moving to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she served as an integrated family medicine and neuromusculoskeletal medicine physician with Prevea Health from 2010-2020.  In January 2020, she returned to her home state of Michigan and is now the Interim Chair of the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at MSUCOM.  She enjoys working with the first- and second-year students, precepting students and residents in the clinical setting, and sharing Osteopathic medicine with her community through lectures, workshops, and service.  Dr. Lippert’s passion is sharing Osteopathic medicine with others in the hopes that this approach to health is available to all people.

Mary Louder Related Seminars and Products

Mary Louder, DO is a double-boarded Osteopathic Physician (Integrative Medicine and Family Medicine) who practices medicine by supporting people who join their own quest and journey of health and wellness. “Any physician can find disease, healers find health and support the body’s innate capacity for healing. Pursuing wellness restores health and vitality at all stages of life.”

Mary was trained at Michigan State University and has been a practicing physician since 1993. Her focus now is on teaching, educating and writing about healing and how the journey inward is the way forward. She believes that being first connected with ourselves and then with others brings the best joy and fulfillment in life. Additionally, she believes that we are emotional beings having a physical experience. Emotions are us, we are emotions, the physical body houses the emotions and then mirrors our feelings back to us by what we have come to know as symptoms and signs. She feels by identifying and understanding our emotions, our biology and our backstory we can learn how to connect and reconnect with ourselves and with others. We can be well and live well.

“When we are connected to ourselves, we can go anywhere”

Mary lives in Holland, Michigan with her husband, Andy and their labradoodle, Lucy. She enjoys bike riding, fly fishing, being in nature ~woods ~ water ~ wonder, cooking, reading and deep resting.

Christina Lucas-Vougiouklakis DO, DipALM Related Seminars and Products

Ewa Matuszewski CEO Related Seminars and Products

MedNetOne

Ewa Matuszewski is the CEO and a co-founder of MedNetOne Health Solutions and a champion of innovative primary care and chronic care initiatives, including the Community Care Travel Team, which received the Eagle Award from the Greater Detroit Area Health Council in 2010.  Her areas of expertise include health policy analysis, physician workforce strategies, physician practice environment, primary care team leadership, primary care practice management/governance interface and quality improvement and validation within physician practices.  Ms. Matuszewski is also a practice mentor with the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Practice Enhancement Forum, a guest lecturer at the Doctors’ Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, a member of the Michigan Primary Care Consortium and co-chair of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Physician Group Incentive Program (PGIP) Patient Centered Medical Home Committee. She is also a founding member of the Michigan Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Master Trainers Organization, American Medical Group Association and the Michigan Primary Care Consortium.

David Neff DO Related Seminars and Products

Lance Owens Related Seminars and Products

University of Michigan Health-West

Lance M. Owens, DO, serves as the Chief Medical Information Officer for the U-M Health Regional Network, encompassing both UM Health-West and UM Health-Sparrow. He is a respected physician and dedicated servant-leader with a rich background in both healthcare and military service. As a former Naval Medical Officer and experienced physician, Dr. Owens has cultivated exceptional leadership skills and a commitment to both his colleagues and patients.

Dr. Owens plays a pivotal role at the University of Michigan Health-West, steering the organization toward a technologically advanced future. He has been instrumental in spearheading major innovative advancements, notably the seamless integration of cutting-edge technology in healthcare settings. 
As a strong proponent continuous improvement, Dr. Owens has been actively involved in strategic planning initiatives, focusing on the integration of new technologies like ambient voice recognition to revolutionize patient care and improve operational efficiency.

Dr. Owens has served as a member of the Hospital Board of Directors, the Clinical Integrated Network Board, and the Hospital Foundation Board. His insights as a physician representative have been crucial in initiatives aimed at boosting the patient experience and physician satisfaction.

Currently, Dr. Owens is pursuing a fellowship with the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, underscoring his commitment to lifelong learning and professional development. In addition, he serves as the Medical Director of a local expedition group, where he applies his medical expertise in dynamic and challenging environments.

As the Regional Chief Medical Information Officer, Dr. Owens is poised to bring a wealth of experience, innovative thinking, and a deep commitment to healthcare excellence. His leadership is expected to be a driving force in the continued success and advancement of our healthcare services.

Christopher A. Pohlod DO Related Seminars and Products

 After completing an undergraduate OMM fellowship, Dr Pohlod graduated from Pediatrics Residency in 2006.  He went to work at MSUCOM in general pediatrics for 8 years and then joined the OMM department in late 2014.  He now practices OMM and integrative medicine for children and adolescents and teaches first- and second-year medical students.  With a background in patient safety, and medical leadership, his main interests include childhood adversity and resilience, qualitative interview analysis in the realm of OMM effectiveness and developing and advancing modern Osteopathic principles and practices.

Patricia Ann Ryan DO, PhD Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Ryan graduated from Michigan State University’s Medical Scientist Training Program in 1994 with both her PhD in Microbiology and her Doctorate in Osteopathy.  She then became certified in Family Medicine and practiced in rural Michigan.  During her years of rural Family Practice Dr. Ryan also developed a practice in Complementary Medicine.  After 16 years in rural Michigan, Dr. Ryan returned to East Lansing and MSU.  From 2011 through 2014, she provided primary care at the MSU Student Health Center.  In 2013, Dr. Ryan joined the Physician Peer Education Project on Immunization, a collaborative effort among the CDC, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the MSU Extension Service.  As a presenter for the project, she provides updates on vaccine preventable diseases to medical providers throughout Michigan.  Having recently retired from primary care, Dr. Ryan currently devotes her time to the Peer Education Project and to her Complementary Medicine Practice in Okemos, MI.

James Ryan DO Related Seminars and Products

Dr. James Ryan is a seasoned family physician and researcher with over ten years of clinical experience. He specializes in informatics and family medicine and has a proven track record in developing innovative healthcare software solutions and conducting impactful clinical research. He currently practices at Ryan Family Practice in Ludington, MI

Brian Smith MD Related Seminars and Products

MSU Health Care

David Strobl DO, FNLA Related Seminars and Products

Sparrow Hospital, MSUCOM

David J. Strobl, D.O., is the director of the Heart Disease Prevention Program and Lipid Clinic at the Thoracic Cardiovascular Institute and is among the first physicians in the country to achieve certification as a Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Lipid Management. He also specializes in noninvasive diagnostic cardiology. Dr. Strobl received his medical degree from the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa and performed an internship and Internal Medicine residency at Flint Osteopathic Hospital in Michigan. His training culminated with a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio.

Dr. Strobl is also currently professor of medicine and chairman of the Section of Cardiology in the Department of Internal Medicine at Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has been awarded numerous academic honors including Outstanding Distinguished Lecturer and the Dedication to Teaching Award. Dr. Strobl was also nationally recognized in 2002 with the Northrup Award as the National Osteopathic Educator of the Year. He is frequently invited to lecture at medical seminars throughout the country and has participated in numerous scientific clinical trials that have influenced the present-day management of cholesterol and triglyceride disorders.

Paul Thomas MD Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Paul Thomas is a board-certified family medicine physician practicing in Corktown Detroit. His practice is Plum Health DPC, a Direct Primary Care service that is the first of its kind in Detroit and Wayne County. His mission is to deliver affordable, accessible health care services in Detroit and beyond. He has been featured on PBS, WDIV-TV Channel 4, WXYZ Channel 7, Crain's Detroit Business, and CBS Radio. He has been a speaker at TEDxDetroit. He is a graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine and now a Clinical Assistant Professor. Finally, he is an author of three books, including Direct Primary Care: The Cure for Our Broken Healthcare System and Startup DPC: How to Start and Grow Your Direct Primary Care Practice.

Nya Todd BA, Michigan Health Council Related Seminars and Products

Nya Todd is a Michigan State alum who graduated with a degree in Comparative Cultures and a minor in International Development. Nya’s interests have always been concerned with the uniqueness of every individual, and she has taken that passion for uncovering the way the mind works to her research at Michigan Health Council. This is where she continued her education and became certified in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Nya’s methods of teaching are created with the intention to recognize people’s experiences and give justice to the identities of individuals. You may contact Nya Todd at nya.todd@mhc.org or 517-908-8222

Benjamin Visger DO Related Seminars and Products

Benjamin Visger is a board-certified specialist in neuromusculoskeletal medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine. He earned his doctorate at MSUCOM in 2011 and completed his residency at Mercy Health Muskegon in 2014. He continued as faculty in that residency program for two years before creating a private practice in North Muskegon. He continues to teach medical students and residents at his office as well as practicing physicians across the state at conferences. He spends an increasing amount of his time advancing the field of physical medicine and promoting improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of pain. 

Ramona Wallace DO Related Seminars and Products

Ramona Wallace D.O. IFMCP, is an Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at WMED. Currently in Battle Creek teaching in the Family Medicine Residency Program. She became Certified in Functional Medicine in 2018. Since then she has piloted a Functional Medicine Residency track. Prior to coming to Battle Creek, she worked in Muskegon at a FQHC and developed various programs to address the disparities in care, focusing on nutritional insecurity as well as building community resilience. Her current focus of research is to develop a nutritional deficiency data base.