Agenda

Fadel Zeidan

Dr. Fadel Zeidan is a Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology in the Center of Pain Medicine and is Director of the Pain Health and Mindfulness Laboratory. He is also the inaugural Endowed Professor of UC San Diego's Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion and Co-Founder and Director of Neuroscience at the UC San Diego Center for Psychedelic Research. His research is focused on determining the active mechanisms that mediate the relationship between self-regulatory practices and health. In particular, Fadel's research examines the neural mechanisms supporting the modulation of pain and health by mindfulness meditation and placebo. He is also dedicated to understanding how psychedelics like psilocybin, DMT and cannabis impact pain-related behavioral and neural processes. His research program has recently expanded to appreciate how empathy and compassion can be cultivated through self-regulatory practices and psychedelic therapies.

Linda Carlson

Dr. Linda Carlson has held the Enbridge Research Chair in Psychosocial Oncology since 2007, is Full Professor in Psychosocial Oncology in the Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology. She is the Director of the Alberta Complementary Therapy and Integrative Oncology (ACTION) Centre and is Director of Research and continues to work as a Clinical Psychologist at the Department of Psychosocial Resources at Cancer Care Alberta, where she has provided clinical service since 1997. Dr. Carlson has received a long line of prestigious national and international research and teaching awards throughout her career, highlighted by the Kawano New Investigator Award from the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) in 2006, the inaugural Research Excellence award from the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology in 2010, the Bernard Fox Memorial Award from IPOS in 2019, a Distinguished Scientist award from the Society of Behavioral Medicine in 2023, and the Dr. Rogers Prize in Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2023. She was the President of the Society for Integrative Oncology from 2021-2023, and is Co-Editor-in-Chief for the official IPOS journal: The Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice. Dr. Carlson's research in Psychosocial Oncology, Integrative Oncology and Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery has been published in many high-impact journals and book chapters, and she published a patient manual in 2011 with Michael Speca entitled: Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery: A step-by-step MBSR approach to help you cope with treatment and reclaim your life, in addition to a professional training manual in 2009 (3rd Edition 2024) with Shauna Shapiro entitled The Art and Science of Mindfulness: Integrating mindfulness into the helping professions. She has published over 250 peer-reviewed research papers and book chapters, holds several millions of dollars in grant funding and is regularly invited to present her work at international conferences.

Willem Kuyken

Willem Kuyken is the Ritblat Professor of Mindfulness and Psychological Science at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. His work focuses on preventing depression, promoting mental health, and flourishing across the lifespan. He has published more than 150 journal articles and was named by Web of Science as in the top 1% of the most cited scientists in the world in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. His new book, Mindfulness for Life, is due to be published by Guilford Press in September 2024. It is a practical guide to help people improve well-being, enjoy life more fully, handle life's challenges better, and live aligned with personal values. It accompanies his earlier book with Christina Feldman, Mindfulness – Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Psychology, published in 2019. His work has been featured in the New York Times, New Scientist, Nature, Scientific American, Times Educational Supplement, the BBC, CBS, New Statesman, Le Monde, der Zeit, the Telegraph, Oprah Daily and the Guardian. He lives in London.

Mikhail Kogan

Dr. Mikhail Kogan is a leader in the rapidly growing field of Integrative Geriatrics and a prominent advocate for incorporating holistic approaches into mainstream healthcare. He is the chief editor of the definitive textbook Integrative Geriatric Medicine, published by Oxford University Press as part of the Andrew Weil Integrative Medicine Library series. He also authored Medical Marijuana: Dr. Kogan's Evidence-Based Guide to the Health Benefits of Cannabis and has been involved on international level advocating for effective and safe use of medical cannabis especially in geriatrics and palliative care. Dr. Kogan currently serves as the Medical Director of the GW Center for Integrative Medicine, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Care. Dr. Kogan’s leadership extends to numerous organizations. He is the current member of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) CAM PDQ Board, contributing to evidence-based guidelines for integrative oncology. He served on the boards of the American Board of Integrative Medicine, GW Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities, IM4US, AlzLife, and others. He is also the founder and former ED of AIM Health Institute, a nonprofit organization in the Washington, D.C. area that provides integrative medicine services to low-income and terminally ill patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

Frederick Johnson

Fred Johnson is an artist and educator dedicated to the journey of creating space that serves to manifest the restoration of our highest energy of humanity. The fact that he has opened for both Aretha Franklin and Dr. Deepak Chopra points to his versatility as an artist and healer. An acclaimed jazz vocalist, sacred chanter, storyteller, author and arts educator, Fred is a graduate of the National Academy of the Performing Arts as well as the Master Performers School of the National Mime Theater. He has opened for or recorded and toured worldwide with jazz and R& B legends Ramsey Lewis, Chick Corea, Sonny Rollins, Christian McBride, Richard Elliot, George Benson, Boney James, Joe Zawinul, Ottmar Liebert, David Sanborn, B. B. King, Patti LaBelle, Herbie Mann, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat Adderley and Miles Davis. He is recognized globally for his work in the health and wellness community and his extensive work in international Interfaith peace and reconciliation. He served as Deputy Executive Director of Intersections International, a Multi-faith, multi-cultural initiative of The Collegiate Church of New York for nine years and led their international outreach, utilizing the arts, meditation and dialogue that specifically addressed challenges in communities around the issues of bias, exclusion and cultural conflict. Since the mid 1980’s Fred has worked in communities throughout the United States, empowering children and adults in creative ways, to celebrate the richness of who they are, to dream big, lift their voices and come together to work towards making the experience of living in Tampa Bay culturally rich, inclusive and inspiring. Fred presents lectures and seminars re-accentuating the importance of creative expression and the sharing of story as catalysts for personal and communal empowerment, health and healing and giving voice to the voiceless. He is a leading voice in the national conversation regarding Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access and has chaired committees for The International Transformational Leadership Council, the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida and The Stella Adler Center for the Arts in both New York and Los Angeles. Mentored by spiritual masters of the African oral and percussion legacy, Fred has been hailed as one of the true guardians of an oral tradition transplanted and nurtured to create a fusion of cultural heritage that is uniquely American and inherently African. His global presentations of "Jazz, it's Roots and Branches" have served to inform and inspire audiences around the world to recognize and celebrate a creative global tapestry set by the first woven thread sown from the artistic richness of Africa. Fred currently serves as Artist in Residence, Community Engagement/Diversity and Equity Specialist and coordinates the Arts and Health initiative at The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. He also serves as Artist in Residence for The National Academy of Science in Washington D. C.

Susan Magsamen

Susan Magsamen is the founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab), Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, a groundbreaking neuroaesthetics initiative at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Susan’s work focuses on how the arts and aesthetic experiences measurably change the brain, body and behavior and how this knowledge can be translated to inform health, wellbeing and learning programs in medicine, public health and education. She is also the author of Impact Thinking, an interdisciplinary translational research model to enhance human potential through the use of arts and aesthetics. This model is a generative framework that applies a new scientific method to arts and aesthetics research and, at the same time, considers how the research can be scaled, disseminated and evaluated for impact. In addition to her role at IAM Lab, she is the co-director of the NeuroArts Blueprint project in partnership with the Aspen Institute. The Blueprint aims to create the field of Neuroarts where arts and aesthetics are mainstream in medicine and public health. Magsamen is also the co-author of the New York Times Bestseller, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us written for the general public.

Jill Sonke

Jill Sonke, PhD, is Research Professor and Director of Research Initiatives in the Center for Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida (UF), Director of National Research and Impact for the One Nation/One Project initiative, and Co-director of the EpiArts Lab, a National Endowment for the Arts Research Lab in partnership with University College London. She serves as an Affiliated Researcher in the WHO’s Jameel Arts & Health Lab and served during the COVID-19 pandemic as a senior advisor to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She an affiliated faculty member in the UF School of Theatre & Dance, the Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, and the Center for African Studies, as well as an editorial board member for Health Promotion Practice journal. Dr. Sonke is a dancer and an amateur musician, a mixed methods researcher with over 70 publications, and has 30 years of leadership in the field of arts in health. She is the recipient of numerous awards and over 350 grants for her programs and research in the arts and health.

J.D. Talasek

JD Talasek is a curator, researcher, and writer with an interest in exploring the intersection of art and science through collaborative and integrative work. He is the director of Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences (2101 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington DC), a program that is focused on the relationship between science, medicine, technology, and culture (www.cpnas.org) and he is hte editor-in-chief for Leonardo Journal (published by MIT). Talasek is the creator and moderator for a monthly salon called DASER (DC Art Science Evening Rendezvous) held at the NAS - a series that he has hosted for over 13 years. Additionally, Talasek is the art advisor for Issues in Science and Technology Magazine co-published by Arizona State University and The National Academies.

Kenneth Ginsburg

Dr. Ken Ginsburg practices Adolescent Medicine at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He directs Health Services at Covenant House Pennsylvania, where he serves Philadelphia’s youth enduring homelessness. Dr. Ginsburg practices social adolescent medicine -- service with special attention to prevention and the recognition that social context and stressors affect both physical and emotional health. His research over the last 30 years has focused on facilitating youth to develop their own solutions to social problems and to teach adults how to better serve them. He is the Founding Director of The Center for Parent and Teen Communications which works with key influencers to empower parents with the strategies and skill-sets that will strengthen their family connections and position them to guide their teens to become their best selves. It works to shift the cultural narrative about adolescence from being a time to survive to one in which development is to be optimized and celebrated. His books include, "Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings” as well as “Congrats- You’re Having a Teen!: Strengthen Your Family and Raise a Good Person. ” “Lighthouse Parenting: Raising your Child with Loving Guidance for an Enduring Bond” will be released in the Spring of 2025. His multimedia toolkit also published through the American Academy of Pediatrics “Reaching Teens: Strength-Based, Trauma-sensitive, Resilience-building Communication Strategies Rooted in Positive Youth Development” offers youth-serving professionals in multiple settings applied strategies to optimally serve young people.” All of these works are published by The American Academy of Pediatrics. He currently works with Covenant House International’s 35 sites to solidify and magnify their practice model rooted in the healing power of loving and respectful adult connections with youth.