ITP Conference 2008

Speakers

James Bussel, MD
Dr. James Bussel is Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Obstetrics at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City. His training was initiated at Yale and continued at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.  He combined a Pediatric Residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and a Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the combined Cornell/Memorial Sloan Kettering program. The majority of his publications are centered around diagnosis and especially management of patients with ITP including children with ITP, adults with ITP, pregnant women with ITP, HIV infected patients with thrombocytopenia, and fetuses affected by auto and allo immune thrombocytopenia. Dr. Bussel has worked with IVIg, IV anti-D rituximab, and most recently the thrombopoietic agents.

Robert DeMaria, DC
Dr. DeMaria has over 30 years experience as a Natural Health Care Doctor and is a recognized expert in applied nutrition and human structural biomechanics. He graduated with honors from Lorain County Community College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology, as well as his D.C., from the National University of Health Sciences, where he graduated cum laude and valedictorian of his class. He also has an NHD degree from Clayton College. He has his Diplomat Status in Natural Orthopedic Conditions and a Fellowship in Applied Spinal Biomechanical Engineering. Dr. DeMaria is recognized as a National and International Natural Healthcare provider.  He is a national and international speaker; hosts his own TV program; and is the author of “Dr. Bob’s Guide to Stop ADHD
in 18 Days", “Dr. Bob’s Trans Fat Survival Guide”, and  “Dr. Bob’s Guide to Optimal Health".

Amy Geddis, MD, PhD
Dr. Amy Geddis is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) specializing in the genetics of platelet disorders. She received her MD and PhD from Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. She completed her Pediatric Residency at the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA and her Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/oncology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle before moving to UCSD. During her career Dr. Geddis has received numerous academic honors.  Her many publications have added to our understanding of the role of thrombopoietin in platelet production and the nature of inherited thrombocytopenias.

David J. Kuter, MD
Dr. David Kuter is Chief of Hematology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. He earned a research doctorate (DPhil) at Magdalen College of Oxford University and a medical degree at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kuter holds appointments as Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In addition, Dr. Kuter sits on numerous national and international ITP committees and is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology. He has dedicated years of effort to researching coagulopathies, anticoagulation, and platelet disorders. In recent years, Dr. Kuter has conducted groundbreaking research into the development of effective thrombopoietic agents.

Howard Liebman, MD
Dr. Howard Liebman is a Professor of Medicine and Pathology and is Section Head, Hematology, Division of Cancer Medicine and Blood Diseases at the University of Southern California’s (USC) Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA. He serves as Medical Director of the Special Hemostasis Laboratory at USC’s Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. He received his medical degree from USC and did his postgraduate training, including a residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowships in Medical Oncology and Hematology, at Los Angeles County - University of Southern California Medical Center. Dr. Liebman completed a research fellowship at Tufts University - New England Medical Center, Boston, MA and held faculty positions at Tufts University and Boston University before returning to USC. His research interests include clinical management and characterization of haemostatic and thrombotic disorders, management of autoimmune blood disorders and clinical therapy of HIV and AIDS. Dr. Liebman has authored or co-authored 72 peer-reviewed publications and 24 reviews and chapters.

Meredith McCarty, DC, NE
Meredith McCarty has consulted, taught, and spoken to a wide variety of audiences in the US and abroad since 1977. Her many years of experience in the world of food and healing contribute a wealth of knowledge to her presentations. Ms. McCarty was an associate editor of Natural Health magazine and the author of three cookbooks, including the award-winning Sweet & Natural.  She co-directed a holistic health center for 20 years. Ms. McCarty currently resides in Mill Valley, California and may be reached through her website, www.healingcuisine.com.

Chris Smith
Mr. Chris Smith earned a degree in religion from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He completed a Masters of Divinity at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois and later earned a Post Masters Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy at the Family Therapy Training Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Mr. Smith is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist in the state of Wisconsin and has worked as a family therapist for the Ozaukee County Department of Human Services for 16 years. He began as a student and then moved into the instructor role in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at the Center for Mindfulness in the Integrative Medicine Department at the University of Wisconsin ­ Madison. Mr. Smith currently consults, teaches, and presents workshops on MBSR in the Milwaukee area.

Michael Tarantino, MD
Dr. Michael Tarantino is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Peoria. He received a doctoral degree in medicine from the University of Wisconsin in 1987. He completed an Internship and Residency at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center and a Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. Dr. Tarantino first became interested in ITP during his Residency in 1988. Since that time he has designed and/or participated in numerous clinical investigations related to ITP and other platelet disorders. Dr. Tarantino has authored numerous publications relevant to the diagnosis and management of ITP, especially as it occurs in children. He is also active in hemophilia and other bleeding disorders research. Currently Dr. Tarantino is the Medical Director of the Comprehensive Bleeding Disorders Center in Peoria, Illinois.

Joan Young
Joan Young is the Founder of the Platelet Disorder Support Association (PDSA). Prior to her involvement with PDSA she was a teacher and held various information technology positions for several large pharmaceutical companies. She was diagnosed with ITP in 1992 at the age of 46. After seven treatments failed to provide a sustained safe count, she turned to complementary medicine. Her platelets have been over 200,000 for 13 years. She attributes her good health to herbs, diet, energy treatments and many other small and large lifestyle changes.

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