Dr. Lou Ritz is a Neuroscientist and a Medical Educator in the College of Medicine at the University of Florida. Dr. Ritz’s research interests centered on injury to the central nervous system, as he has investigated new techniques that hold promise in alleviating the devastating consequences of injury to the spinal cord. He is the course director for Medical Neuroscience, a first year course for medical students. In addition, Dr. Ritz is Director of the campus-wide Center for Spirituality and Health that offers workshops, academic programs, and interdisciplinary research ventures exploring the impact of spirituality on health.

Kris Rasmusson, RN, BSN, has been a nurse for over 25 years. She’s been a vegetarian during her entire career and has always been interested in alternative healing modalities. She is certified as a Chinese Massage Therapist, Holistic Health Practitioner and is a Master Herbalist. Kris incorporates homeopathy, diet, and herbs into her massage practice. Kris is also certified by the National Association of Detox Acupuncture (N.A.D.A.) In her presentation, learn how you can experience optimal health and wellbeing by using acupressure and herbs. Kris will teach you acupressure techniques that can dissolve tensions, relieve pain, treat common ailments, and resist illness. She will also show you how you can use herbs to help your body to heal and regulate itself. Learn how you can participate actively in your own healing and can feel more alive, healthy, and in harmony with your life.

Author of From Pain to Wellness, Dr. Gruft is director of From Pain to Wellness, LLC in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. In this talk he will illustrate the superiority of the vegetarian diet, from a Functional Medicine perspective. He will give the scientific evidence of its abilty to reduce chronic pain and other illnesses, laying the groundwork for optimal wellness. Nationally recognized by his peers as a Best Doctor for the years 2003-2007, Dr. Gruft is respected as a premier pain specialist. Dr. Gruft is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain medicine and is currently in private practice. Dr. Gruft is an assistant professor at Rush University Medical Center and regularly trains resident physicians in the art and science of pain medicine.

Mental health professionals, psychotherapists and the saints, sages and mystics have all looked for an answer to the problem of unhappiness. At this juncture in history, psychology is re-discovering many of the ancient truths for dealing with stress, depression and anxiety. Dr. Young presents ways of increasing joy and improving mental health in a humorous yet scientific manner. Mark Young is Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Central Florida. For more than 20 years, he worked as a therapist in community mental health, college counseling centers, private practice and corrections. He has been a state and national leader in mental health counseling and is currently President Elect of the Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling, a division of the American Counseling Association. He is the recipient of more than 6 million dollars in funding for marriage strengthening programs. He is the author of four textbooks including the widely used techniques book, Learning the Art of Helping from Prentice Hall. His numerous awards include the 2010 Distinguished Mentor Award from the American Counseling Association.

Dr. Arora has years of experience as a children's lung specialist. He will discuss healthy vegetarian diet and its benefits for healthy lungs. Dr. Arora will talk about our environment and some of the basics of healthy food, body and mind. Dr. Arora is a board certified pediatrician with a specialty certification in pediatric lung diseases and pediatric critical care. He serves as the director of pulmonology at LaRabida Children's Hospital, University of Chicago where he also teaches resident doctors and medical students.