Speakers

Steven Schepanski is a clinical researcher focused on the interplay between mental health, immunology, and early development. His work explores neuroimmune pathways of risk and resilience, using advanced statistical modeling from RCTs and longitudinal studies to generate key clinical insights.

Isabel Sampedro is a Medical Doctor with a Master's in Acupuncture from Barcelona University. As President of the Spanish Society of Integrative Health (SESMI) and Medical Director of the ENERGIMED Clinic, she is a leading advocate for integrating TCIM into Spain's healthcare system.

Rahele Tavakoly, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Researcher at University Hospital Tübingen, Germany. Her work focuses on the effects of dietary patterns on chronic diseases and mental health. With over 15 years of experience, she has co-authored numerous papers in leading international journals.

Ana Paula Antunes Ferreira is a leading figure in Brazilian osteopathy. As Director at CABSIN and a Visiting Research Fellow at ARCCIM, she focuses on the scientific validation of osteopathic practices. Her work as a professor at IBO advances evidence-based education in the field.

Arman Zargaran, PhD, is a leading Associate Professor at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. An expert in Traditional Pharmacy and medical history, he is ranked among the top 2% of most-cited scientists globally. His research focuses on scientifically validating traditional Persian medicine.

Professor Bhushan Patwardhan is a distinguished academician and a Fellow of India's National Academies of Science and Medical Sciences. A global thought leader in integrative medicine, he co-chaired the WHO's Expert Group for the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine.

Prof. Bettina Monika Ruppelt is a leading pharmacognosy expert at the Federal Fluminense University. She heads a pre-clinical lab investigating Brazilian medicinal plants, aiming to generate scientific evidence to integrate phytotherapy into Brazil's public health system (SUS).

Brenda Leung, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Lethbridge. As an epidemiologist and naturopathic doctor, her research focuses on nutrition, mental health, and evidence-based TCIM for families. She is a co-investigator on the MADDY ADHD micronutrients clinical trial.

Dr. Cecilia Plaza is a distinguished public health physician and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre at the University of Chile. She is a leading voice in the Americas for integrating TCIM into health systems, advising the Chilean Ministry of Health on evidence-based policy and education.

PD Dr. Christian S. Kessler is a senior physician and research coordinator at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. He specializes in creating clinical research strategies that integrate non-pharmacologic interventions for chronic diseases, with a significant focus on traditional medicine systems.