Conference Schedule
Scroll down for the Schedule
THURSDAY SCHEDULE
4:00-4:05pm Donna Kirchoff, MD Opening Remarks and Welcome
4:05-4:35pm Greg Plotnikoff, MD, MTS Mitigating Iatrogenic Psychological Toxicity: Three Secrets for
Optimal Patient Outcomes
4:35-5:00pm Stephanie Grach, MD Changing the Medical Paradigm Around Complex Chronic Illness
5:00-5:10pm Q&A
5:10-6:10pm Larry Afrin, MD Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: Current Concepts
6:10-6:40pm Dinner break
6:40-8:10pm Larry Afrin, MD Mast Cell Activation Disease: Diagnosis
8:10-8:55 pm Larry Afrin, MD Mast Cell Activation Disease: Treatment
8:55-9:15pm Q and A
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
7:00-8:00am Breakfast
8:00-8:05am Anne Hill, ND Introduction for the day
8:05-8:50am Alena Guggenheim, ND Diagnostic and Pain Management Essentials for
Hypermobile Connective Tissue Disorders
8:50-9:20am Dave Saperstein, MD Small Fiber Neuropathy
9:20-9:40am Suzanne Rosenberg RPh Compounding Medications for MCAS: Tried and True Formulas
9:40-9:55am Q&A
9:55-10:10am Break
10:10-10:50am Sanjeev Jain, MD Second Line Therapies for Severe MCAS
10:50-11:15am Claudia Miller, MD, MS TILT/MCAS: Using the QEESI to Identify Initiators and Triggers—
From Implants and Mold to Combustion Products and Pesticides
11:15-12:00am David Kaufman, MD The Hallmarks of Aging and the Management of Chronic Complex Illness
12:00-12:20pm Q&A
12:30-1:30pm Lunch (Shoreline Room), (1:00-1:30) Richard Boles, MD (Gorge room) Treatable Pathways
Common In Functional Disorders as Elucidated by Genetic Testing
1:30-2:00pm Jill Schofield, MD What You Need to Know About Antiphospholipid Antibodies in Patients with
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and MCAS
2:00-2:30pm Eva Nagy, MD Breast Implant Illness and MCAS: Why Cutting Corners is NOT a Good Idea
2:30-3:00pm Alexis Cutchins, MD It's Not Just POTS: The Role of Connective Tissue Disorders, Venous Disease,
and Mast Cells in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
3:00-3:30pm Lenny Weinstock, MD, FACG (pre-recorded talk) SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
and IMO (Intestinal Methanogenic Overgrowth) in MCAS
3:25-3:45pm Q&A
3:45-4:00pm Break
4:00-5:00pm Andrew Maxwell, MD The Complex Path to Intracranial Hypertension and Cerebrospinal Fluid
Leak in those with Hypermobility and Dysautonomia; The Theory of Spiky-
Leaky Syndrome
5:00-5:25pm Edward Hepworth, MD Craniocervical Dysfunction in MCAS and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia
Syndrome
5:25-5:50pm Edward Hepworth, MD Cerebral Spinal Fluid Fistula in MCAS and Postural Orthostatic
Tachycardia Syndrome
5:50-6:10pm Q&A
6:10-7:10pm Dinner
7:15-8:15pm Larry Afrin, MD Proposal for MasterMinds Transformation into a Formal Professional Society
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
7:00-8:00am Breakfast
8:00-8:05am Laurie Menk Otto, ND, MPH Introduction for the day
8:05-8:45am Paolo Bolognese, MD (prerecorded talk) Neurosurgical Implications in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
8:45-9:05am David Saperstein, MD Seeking Additional Means to Diagnose and Manage Craniocervical
Instability: Potential Role of the Multi-cervical Unit (MCU)
9:05-9:35am Danny Shouhed, MD Evaluation and Treatment of Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome and
Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome
9:35-9:55am Q&A
9:55-10:10am Break
10:10-10:30am Jandra Mueller, PT Mast Cell-Mediated Genitopelvic Pain
10:30-10:50am Alyssa Yee, MD Mast Cell-Mediated Genitopelvic Pain - Vestibulodynia
10:50-11:15am Meredith McDermott, MD Clinical Approach to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Venous
Disease
11:15-11:35am Q&A
11:35-12:30am/pm Lunch (Shoreline Room) (12-12:30 in the Trillium room) Craig Shimasaki, PhD (non-CME)
(Trillium room) Understanding the Connection Between Infections, the Immune System and
the Brain: Molecular Mimicry and Its Role in Autoimmune Encephalopathies Secondary to
Infections
12:30-12:55pm David Kaufman, MD Vector Borne Infection: Determining Risk and the Search for Laboratory
Confirmation
12:55-1:35pm Tania Dempsey, MD, ABIHM Advancements in the Treatment of Vector-Borne Infections:
Current Strategies and Future Directions
1:35-2:15pm Bela Chheda, MD Epstein–Barr Virus Reactivation: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome (ME/CFS) and the Role of Antivirals
2:15-2:35pm Stuart Malcolm, MD Vascular Endothelitis in Long Covid
2:35-2:55pm Q&A
2:55-3:15pm Break
3:15-3:40pm Larry Afrin, MD, Tania Dempsey, MD, Diane Nugent, MD, Jacob Tabs Development of a
Comprehensive MCAS Assessment Tool
3:40-4:05pm Diane Nugent, MD "You are a Marvel” (YAAM) Using Biometrics and Patient Reported Data to
Impact Care and Outcomes
4:05-4:15pm Q&A
4:15-4:40pm Claudia Miller, MD (pre-recorded talk) TILT, Autism and ADHD: Using the QEESI to Predict, Prevent,
and Improve Symptoms of Autism and ADHD
4:40-5:00pm Tina D'Amato, DO Gender Affirming Care in the Setting of MCAS and Associated Disorders
5:00-5:25pm Donna Kirchoff, MD MCAS in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
5:25-5:45pm Tania Dempsey, MD, ABIHM Exploring the Impact of Endocrine and Hormone Disruption on
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: From Puberty to Menopause
5:45-6:00pm Q&A
6:00-7:00pm Dinner
7:00-8:00pm Diane Nugent, MD & Larry Afrin, MD Establishing MCAS Centers of Excellence
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
7-7:40am Breakfast
7:40-7:45 Alena Guggenheim, ND Opening Remarks
7:45-8:05am Heather Purdin, MS, PT, CMPT Physical Therapy Modifications for HSD/EDS and Related
Comorbidities
8:05-8:25am Kellie Barnes, PT Cord, Dura, and Vascular Tissue: A Possible Role for Physical Medicine
Management
8:25-8:50am Theresa Dowell, FNP, PT Innovative Approaches: Alternative Treatments for Patients with
Complex Illnesses
8:50-9:20am Luke Liu, MD Stellate Ganglion Block for Interventional Neuroimmunology
9:20-9:40am Jill Crista, ND Nicotine Patch Use for MCAS, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Long
Covid
9:40-10am Q&A
10-10:15am Break
10:15-10:45am Jennifer Gaudini, MD, CEDS-C, FAED MCAS and Eating Disorders: Prevention and Treatment
10:45-11:10am Amy Schleper, MS, RDN, CDCES A Holistic Approach to Nutrition in MCAS - Beyond a Low
Histamine Diet
11:10-11:35am Greg Plotnikoff, MD Nutritional/Metabolic Considerations in MCAS Evaluation and Treatment
11:35-1:30 am Box Lunch available for pick up
11:45-12:15am/pm Jen Curtin, MD Scaling And Streamlining Complex Illness Care Using Technology
12:15-12:40pm Laurie Menk Otto, ND, MPH The Impact of Climate Change on Allergic and Inflammation Driven
Diseases
12:40-1:00pm Q&A
1:00-1:15pm Kellie Barnes, MOMT, MPT, CSCI Closing Remarks