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DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES
Coming Up...
Dr. Abisola Olulade
Prevention is Better Than the Cure
Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 4-5 pm - Virtual Presentation
This will be a comprehensive presentation about preventing chronic illness. It will include information about general health screenings – when to get these screenings and what screenings to get. Some of the questions I’ll answer include: How often should you see your doctor? How can you prevent the most common deadly conditions including stroke heart attack and cancer? How can you prevent dementia and what are the warning signs you should know about? Should you take vitamins and if so what and how much?
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
4:00-5:00 pm - Virtual Presentation
About Dr. Abisola Olulade
Dr. Abisola Olulade is a board-certified family medicine physician with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group. She decided to become a physician so that she can provide compassionate and quality care that is accessible to patients. She has been practicing medicine for over 13 years and received her medical degree from Wake Forest University and did her internship and residency at the Carolinas Medical Center. Dr. Olulade serves as the main media spokesperson for Sharp Rees-Stealy and is a frequent medical contributor on television, radio and in print. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing sports and spending time with family.
Dr. Robert T. Schooley
The Response to COVID-19: What Have We Learned for the Next Time?
Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 10-11 am - Virtual Presentation
Dr. Robert T. Schooley is a UCSD Distinguished Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health. He will provide a perspective on the current state of the pandemic and what we have learned about what will be required for more effective responses to emerging infections in the future.
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
10:00-11:00 am - Virtual Presentation
About Dr. Robert T. Schooley
Dr. Schooley completed medical school and an internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins and infectious disease fellowships at the NIH and Massachusetts General Hospital. He joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School in 1981. His research efforts are directed at the pathogenesis and therapy of RNA virus infections. He has been heavily involved in the development of antiviral chemotherapy directed at HIV, HCV and the herpesgroup viruses as well as in research, teaching and infrastructure building efforts in sub-Saharan Africa. Over the past several years, he has become interested in the use of viruses as therapeutic agents – namely the use of bacteriophages to treat multidrug resistant bacterial infections.
He became Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Colorado in 1990. He led the NIH’s AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) from 1995 until 2002 during which time the ACTG performed many of the seminal studies that defined modern antiretroviral chemotherapy. He then led the ACTG in its expansion from a domestic US research operation into one with a global reach. He was recruited to the University of California San Diego and served as Head of UCSD’s Infectious Diseases Division until 2017. His laboratory is engaged in the discovery of orally bioavailable anti-coronavirus compounds. He is deeply engaged in the University of California’s response to the SARS CoV-2 outbreak.
Missed past presentations? Click below to watch!
Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer
Representing District 3 on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors
Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 6-7pm - Virtual Presentation
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the recording here.
Supervisor Lawson-Remer will be discussing her top priorities including sustainable, equitable and livable communities (including issues such as climate change, climate justice, protecting beaches & coastlines, and more); the justice system (including issues such as access to justice, data-driven approaches to public safety & alternatives to armed law enforcement); impactful and effective county operations (including evidence-based policymaking); and equity and shared prosperity (including issues such as inclusion for diverse families LGBTQIA+ community, single parents and people with disabilities, racial justice, fighting for working facilities with fair wages, decent working conditions and the right to organize and quality, affordable childcare and senior services for all).
Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
6:00-7:00pm - Virtual Presentation
About Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer
Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer is an economist, attorney, and public policy expert who has dedicated her life to working for social, environmental and economic justice.
Terra has served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama Administration, written award-winning research books, taught graduate students as a professor of public policy, and worked with the United Nations, World Bank, Amnesty International, and governments worldwide to advance sustainable development and economic inclusion.
Growing up in San Diego, Terra’s first job in public service was nearly 25 years ago, as a San Diego City Council staffer. After graduating from Yale and earning her law degree and PhD on a full scholarship to NYU, she worked around the world as an economist to create jobs, restart businesses, and generate economic activity after a crisis.
A passionate environmentalist, Terra helped the World Bank create its Climate Finance program, which funds billions of dollars of clean energy projects around
the world, and worked to develop policies to cut pollution from oil drilling and mining as a Senior Advisor in the US Treasury Department under the Obama Administration.
Terra was elected by a wave of grassroots support in November of 2020, and was sworn in to office on January 4, 2021, becoming the only LGBTQ+ member of the Board. As Supervisor, Terra Lawson-Remer is taking bold action and forging strong and effective working relationships with her fellow Supervisorial Board members and community partners.
Terra understands that the issues of transportation and traffic, affordable housing, and environmental sustainability in our County are inextricably interconnected, and must be addressed with a bold plan. That is why she was proud to author and pass a proposal for a Regional Sustainability Plan with the goal of achieving zero carbon by 2035. This made San Diego County the largest region in the Country to commit to the ambitious target. She is also advancing innovative solutions to address our affordable housing crisis.
Dr. Erica Oberg, Integrative and Natural Medicine Physician Build a Better Brain
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022, 10-11am - Virtual Presentation
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the recording here.
A healthy brain and mind are essential tools for living our best lives. Whether your concerns are occasional brain fog or a family history of dementia or Alzheimer’s, you do not have to resign yourself to future cognitive decline. Learn some basic brain science and self-assess ways to improve your mental capacity. Learn self-care techniques to keep your neurons firing for optimal performance.
Tuesday, March 15, 2022.
10:00-11:00am - Virtual Presentation
About Erica Oberg, N.D., M.P.
Dr. Oberg has practiced integrative & natural medicine for nearly 20 years. She has held leadership positions in medical schools, NIH research, public health, and clinical practice. Her approach to health and medicine combines the rigors of science with the wisdom of nature and our bodies. She is passionate about helping people experience health as a state of vibrancy and vitality. As such, her clinical practice focuses on preventing, reversing, and taming chronic disease, neuro-regeneration, and anti-aging. Dr. Oberg specializes in nutrition & lifestyle, IV micronutrient therapy, and identifying the underlying causes of disease using advanced testing. She is the creator of a 28-day Better Brain program that can be followed at home to jump-start a brain healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Joseph Wang, Wearable Sensors on the Body: How these Devices Can Help Manage Disease & Monitor Health Status
Date: Tuesday, February 8, 2022, 10-11am - Virtual Presentation
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the recording here.
Dr. Joseph Wang, the most cited scientist in Engineering in the world since 1991, will present an overview of wearable sensors—devices that can continuously and non-invasively collect vital health information from a person’s body and provide this information in a timely fashion. This presentation will examine the current applications of these devices—how they are being used, how they are applied and what information they are able to provide for both the individual and their providers. For example, advanced wearable devices can be placed on the skin or in the mouth and have electrochemical biosensors designed to collect specific molecular information regarding metabolites, electrolytes and drugs. This biochemical information is currently being used to help manage such diseases as diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. The presentation also will include a discussion about wrist-watch mobility trackers that enable the wearer to track blood pressure, heart rate and other vital information. Join us for this intriguing discussion on the future application and challenges of wearable devices and mobility trackers and their impact on health monitoring and disease management.
Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
10:00-11:00am - Presentation
About Dr. Joseph Wang
Dr. Wang is a Distinguished Professor of Nanoengineering at University of California San Diego. Dr. Wang earned a D.Sc. from the Israel Institute of Technology (Haifa) in 1978. From 1978 to 1980 he served as a research associate at the University of Wisconsin (Madison), and between 1980 and 2004 he was a member of the Chemistry department at New Mexico State University where he held a Regents Professor and a Manasse Chair between 2001 and 2004. Between 2004 and 2008, he served as the Director of the Center for Bioelectronics and Biosensors (Biodesign Institute) and a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Arizona State University (ASU).
He joined UCSD’s Jacobs School of Engineering in 2008, and served as the Chair of the Nanoengineering Department between 2014 to 2019. Wang has been the most cited Scientist in Engineering in the World since 1991 and first on the ISI Chemistry Citations list (1997-2007). He is the author of over 1200 papers, 10 books and 30 book chapters and has given more than 250 invited presentations at international meetings. Wang is the recipient of many international awards, including a 2007 National Science Foundation (NSF) Special Creativity Award, the 2006 American Chemical Society Award for Electrochemistry, the 1999 American Chemical Society Award for Analytical Instrumentation, and the 2019 Outstanding Sensor Award of the Electrochemical Society. Wang’s research interests focus on electrochemical biosensors, wearable devices and microrobots.
Nathan Fletcher Chair, Board of Supervisors, San Diego County
Tuesday, January 18, 5:30-7:00pm - VIRTUAL
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the recording here.
Join us to listen to County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher present his platform and priorities for the county, which include:
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addressing behavioral health and homelessness
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issues around affordable housing
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climate change
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the economy
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childcare
Tuesday, January 18, 2022.
6:00-7:00pm - Presentation + Q&A with County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher
Missed the presentation? Click here to view.
About Nathan Fletcher Chair, Board of Supervisors, San Diego County
Nathan Fletcher serves as Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. As Chair, he is committed to ushering in a new era of bold, progressive policymaking which aims to transform San Diego County for the better. He is focused on transforming our approach to behavioral health, making substantial investment in our mental health and drug treatment programs. A committed environmentalist, Chair Fletcher uses his position on the California Air Resources Board, Board of Supervisors and as Chair of the Metropolitan Transit Agency to ensure we tackle climate change and work to ensure environmental justice.
Starting in 2019, Chair Fletcher was the single voice of progressive policy on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. He joined a Board steeped in conservative values, but his skills as a policymaker generated almost 100 substantive policy changes, in just two years.His policies to build a better behavioral health services system, fight for environmental justice, make racial justice and equity a County priority; and improve the circumstances for children, working families and immigrants are driving the County in a new direction. Now, as Chair of the Board of Supervisors, he has laid out a bold agenda for the future to build upon the progress he’s already made.
Prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors, Nathan Fletcher showed a commitment to public service and leadership in tackling some of our toughest challenges. His life experiences range from leading classified human intelligence missions in combat zones and being decorated for valor under fire, to passing landmark legislation as a member of the California State Legislature, to training Nobel Prize winning human rights activists in the developing world.
As Chair, Fletcher is leading a new group of Supervisors with a Democratic majority and consistent progressive values. This year, he’s created a Framework for the Future of San Diego County, which prioritizes communities and populations in San Diego that have been historically left behind. Through this Framework, Chair Fletcher is continuing his fight for: racial justice, health equity, economic opportunity, environmental protection, & government transparency. Behavioral Health is Chair Fletcher’s highest priority as a policymaker. It is the intersection of mental health and drug treatment services. He is working to fix a system that is fragmented. His vision is to build a patient-centered, care coordination system that ensures those in need get the right care at the right time, and, most importantly, get tailored outcomes to improve their lives.
He is also the Chair of the Board of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System; serves as the Governor’s appointee to the California Air Resources Board; is co-chair of the Child and Family Strengthening Advisory Board; and is a member of the San Diego County Behavioral Health Advisory Board. His commitment to public service runs deep.
Prior to serving as a County Supervisor, Chair Fletcher was a former California State Assemblymember, who was recognized as one of California’s most effective legislators. During his tenure, he passed more than 30 laws to expand healthcare coverage, protect homeowners during the foreclosure crisis, strengthen public safety, and increase support services for veterans and the homeless. Notably, Assemblyman Fletcher authored Chelsea’s Law — landmark public safety legislation which strengthened penalties for violent crimes against children.
Before entering public office, he served as a Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Specialist in the Marine Corps and served two combat tours in Iraq, the Near East, and the Horn of Africa. For his service, he earned the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V” for valor along with other awards. A proud Veteran’s advocate, Chair Fletcher founded the Three Wise Men Veterans Foundation to help eliminate stigma surrounding Post-Traumatic Stress and launched the “Honorably Discharged, Dishonorably Deported” campaign to spotlight the unjust deportation of veterans. He successfully brought home previously deported veterans.
Additionally, Chair Fletcher has worked with international non-governmental organizations to build and improve democracies and protect human rights in countries including: East Timor, Cambodia, Serbia, and Myanmar. He also has served as the Senior Director of Global Strategic Initiatives for Qualcomm Incorporated, working around the world on the intersection of jobs, technology, and education, striving to promote innovation, economic growth, and corporate responsibility. From these experiences, Chair Fletcher has gained considerable knowledge of the way the world works & the value of strong diplomatic relationships.
Currently, Chair Fletcher also spends his time teaching courses on public service, political science, California government, & civil rights, as a Professor of Practice at the University of California, San Diego. He thoroughly enjoys the ability to inspire the next generation of engaged public servants, equipping them to meet the challenges of today & tomorrow.
In his personal time, Chair Fletcher is an Ironman Triathlete and avid outdoorsman who enjoys surfing, alpine mountaineering, and glacier climbing. He and his wife, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, have five children and live in the vibrant City Heights community of San Diego, California within the Fourth Supervisorial District.
Dr. Tyler Stewart, M.D. Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine
The Promise and Dangers of Early Multi-Cancer Screening Tests – Are We Ready?
Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 10-11 AM - Virtual Presentation
Missed the date? No problem! Recording coming soon.
Imagine at your annual check-up, your primary care provider offers to order a test to screen you for cancer. It’s a simple blood and urine test to detect if you have cancer, and if so, what specific type. These tests are beginning to emerge in the community – but are they ready for primetime? This talk will explore the rationale, current technologies, and challenges with early pan-cancer screening tests, highlighting the potential benefit and harm with widespread use.
About Dr. Stewart
Tyler Stewart, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist who treats patients with a variety of genitourinary malignancies, including prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancer. He is part of UC San Diego Health's Precision Immunotherapy Clinic, which offers the most promising investigational immunotherapy treatments for many types of cancer. As an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Dr. Stewart trains medical students and residents at UC San Diego School of Medicine. In addition to designing and running clinical trials with novel therapeutics, his research focuses on personalizing cancer therapy based on biomarkers. Dr. Stewart's work has been published in multiple journals, including Clinical Cancer Research and Lancet Oncology, and he has been invited to present at several national meetings. He also co-authored a chapter for the 11th edition of the reference book Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. Dr. Stewart completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the Yale School of Medicine and the Yale Cancer Center, where he received the Yale Hematology and Oncology Annual Research Award. He completed a residency in internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He earned his medical degree at Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont College, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) medical honor society. Dr. Stewart is board certified in medical oncology and is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research
Dr. Joseph Casciani, psychologist, author & expert on mental health, aging & longevity
9 Must Have Strategies for Living Well While Living Longer
Tuesday, August 10, 2021, 10-11 AM - Virtual Presentation
Missed the date? No problem! Recording coming soon.
We are all living longer, period. Some of us will live well into our 90s, maybe even to 100 and beyond. Will we live well at that point? This presentation encourages the audience to “turn aging on its head,” with an uplifting perspective on aging successfully, overcoming obstacles, and the resilience needed to start new chapters. Dr. Joe Casciani is not only an expert in the mental health and well-being of the elderly, he has a unique and refreshing way of highlighting strategies for living life well while living longer. Whether still running marathons or confined to a wheelchair, modern day centenarians have taught us plenty about living longer. Dr. Casciani has distilled this science so that the audience will leave with a fresh and positive mindset about the future, with solutions that help to lift depression, and commit to moving forward no matter how many bumps are encountered along the way.
About Dr. Joseph Casciani
Dr. Joseph Casciani has a 40-year history in aging as a psychologist and manager of mental health practices. He was awarded the first contracts from the California Department of Aging in 1982 to develop mental health training for the state’s nursing homes. For 16 years, he was the clinical lead for a large mental health practice where he oversaw mental health programs for patients in hundreds of nursing homes. He is the author of two books, Handbook of Health and Behavior and Living Longer IS the New Normal, and other publications. For more than three decades, he has presented to caregiver groups, health care professionals, and senior organizations. His former company, Concept Healthcare was named to emphasize the importance of behavioral health concepts in the care of older adults. In 2018, he launched his new venture, The Living to 100 Club. The website, www.Livingto100.Club, offers a collection of strategies and resources on successful aging, including weekly podcasts on aging and longevity, with guests who share their professional insights and personal stories about overcoming their own obstacles.
Dr. Sumit Chanda, Director and Professor, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Building the Plane While Flying: COVID Research During the Pandemic
Tuesday, July 20, 10-11 AM - Virtual Presentation
Missed the date? No problem! Recording coming soon.
SARS-CoV-2 emerged as a potential pandemic threat in January 2020. Researchers around the world quickly redirected their expertise and resources to help combat an unfolding global health emergency. I will share with you the experiences of the scientists in my lab who were engaged in understanding this new virus and identifying antivirals to treat COVID-19. I will further discuss the likely trajectory of the current pandemic, and highlight strategies to ensure that we are ready for the next.
About Dr. Sumit Chanda
Sumit Chandra earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 2001 and received his post-doctoral training at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF). He subsequently transitioned to a Group Leader position, and established his research group in the Division of Cellular Genomics at GNF. In 2007, he joined the Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute as an Associate Professor. Dr. Chanda also holds an Adjunct Professor appointment at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, as well as a Visiting Scientist position at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation.
Lindsay Tobias
Eating Like the Healthiest People On Earth, The Blue Zones Recipe for Longevity
Tuesday, June 8, 10-11 AM - Virtual Presentation
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the recording here.
The Blue Zone theory is outlined in book titled Blue Zones Kitchen, published in 2020 by National Geographic and written by Dan Buettner. The book includes 100 recipes from five locations around the world where people live the longest. Lindsay Tobias has been studying and applying Blue Zones principles for the past five years, and has seen a dramatic difference in her own health, mentally and physically. She’s witnessed this same transformation with the clients in her practice, which has given even more fuel to the Blue Zones philosophy to live longer and healthier lives. Lindsay will introduce us to the Blue Zone philosophy and tell us how we can apply these principles in our lives and live longer and healthier lives.
About Lindsay Tobias
Lindsay is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Nutritionist, and Founder of the company Keep Your Plants On, where she has helped over 500 clients stop dieting and start nourishing their bodies sustainably. Lindsay graduated from Liberty University and is Certified through Precision Nutrition and The Institute of Integrative Nutrition where she studied Holistic Nutrition and Intuitive Eating with the world's top health and wellness experts. Lindsay believes that food is medicine, with power to balance hormones, restore gut health, and prevent or reverse chronic disease. Rooted in the Power 9 Principles found in the Blue Zones, she works to educate and empower you to build your own version of "healthy", fall in love with food without restriction, and experience the longevity and quality of life you deserve. Lindsay believes the world's healthiest people don't diet, they eat naturally. They don't stress over high intensity workouts, they move enjoyably and often. On their plates you will find real food, wine, coffee, and chocolate, and in their homes you will find purpose, family, and stress management techniques. Health doesn't have to be hard, let's get back to natural. Her goal is to show her clients what optimal feels like, so they will never settle for "normal" again.
Dr. Bernie Sunwoo
What’s a Sleep Doctor? An Introduction to Sleep Medicine
Tuesday, May 11, 10-11 AM
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the recording here.
Dr. Sunwoo will introduce Sleep Medicine and provide an overview of the major classes of sleep disorders and an introduction to current sleep diagnostics and therapeutics.
About Dr. Bernie Sunwoo
Dr. Bernie Sunwoo is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Medical Director of Sleep Medicine at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). Dr. Sunwoo received her M.B.B.S. degree (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery), which is an international medical degree equivalent to an M.D. degree in the U.S, from the University of New South Wales in Australia with first-class honors. She moved to the United States in 2005 where she completed fellowships in both Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Sleep Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Sunwoo has special interests in the evaluation and management of patients with rare and complex lung disorders, hypoventilation disorders, and co-existing pulmonary and sleep disorders. In addition, she is actively involved in medical education and scholarship and is currently the Medical Director of Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, at UCSD.
Dr. Ezra Cohen
Listen and Observe - How to Use Precision Immunotherapy to Treat Cancer
Tuesday, April 13, 2021, 10-11 AM
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the recording here.
Cancer is a genomic disease. Until recently, most cancer therapies were standardized based on trial-and-error experiments that did not take into account its molecular biology. That has changed in the era of targeted therapy with notable progress but, even disrupting a critical pathway in a cancer cell does not lead to cures for patients with advanced disease. However, new understanding, technology, and therapies have launched a new era of precision immunotherapy that promises to treat every cancer based on its biology and the response of the immune system. Dr. Cohen will focus on the latest developments in individualized cancer immunotherapy that are currently being used to treat patients.
About Dr. Ezra Cohen
Ezra Cohen, MD is a Professor of Medicine at UC San Diego Health, Chief, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Co-Director of the San Diego Center for Precision Immunotherapy, Co-Director of the Solid Tumor Therapeutics Program, and Associate Director at Moores Cancer Center overseeing Translational Science. A physician‐scientist, Dr. Cohen also leads a laboratory that studies novel cancer treatments, including immunotherapy, and has made major contributions in understanding how targeted cancer therapies work.
He recently served as editor‐in‐chief of Oral Oncology, has authored more than 170 papers, and currently serves as senior editor for Clinical Cancer Research. He has been the principal investigator on multiple studies of novel agents in head and neck cancer and other solid tumors in all phases of development.
Dr. Cohen completed residencies in Family Medicine at the University of Toronto and in Internal Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed a Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the University of Chicago. Prior to his arrival in San Diego, Dr. Cohen was Co‐Director of the Head and Neck Cancer Program, Associate Director for Education and Program Director for the Hematology and Oncology Fellowship at the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Dr. Mara Karpel
Connecting to Your Passion & Joy in Times of Stress & Isolation
Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 10-11 AM
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the lecture here
It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of an unsteady world and forget that life is meant to be lived fully. However, Dr. Mara Karpel, psychologist and author of The Passionate Life: Creating Joy & Vitality at Any Age, has a remedy. In this presentation, Dr. Mara will offer tips for you to reconnect to the joyfulness of living a purpose-filled and meaningful life. She will guide you to listen to your heart’s whispers and decipher these clues to live your passion, even while the world turns upside down, the new normal has yet to be experienced, and isolation and uncertainty prevail.
About Dr. Mara Karpel
Dr. Mara Karpel has dedicated her life to guiding the way for adults including seniors, caregivers, and veterans to overcome the challenges that prevent them from living a joy-filled and passionate life. Her book, The Passionate Life: Creating Vitality & Joy at Any Age was published in 2018 and interweaves her expertise as a psychologist, her personal experiences, and the wisdom of today’s thought leaders on physical, emotional, and spiritual health into her book. Dr. Karpel is the host of the radio show Dr. Mara Karpel & Your Golden Years and is a contributor to a number of publications including Ariana Huffington’s Thrive Global, Huffington Post, and several others. She has been in private practice 28 years and received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Syracuse University. Learn more at DrMaraKarpel.com.
Dr. Mimi Guarneri
The Heart Speaks. Are You Listening?
Tuesday, February 16, 10-11 AM
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the lecture here
Integrative cardiologist Mimi Guarneri, MD, medical director of the Pacific Pearl La Jolla, and president of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine discusses how and why the heart is so much more than a physical pump. She covers the science behind why purpose, joy, meditation, and other lifestyle choices create positive physical changes in our bodies that lead to long-term heart health. It’s only now that Western medicine has begun applying scientific measurement mechanisms to the holistic and ancient tools that have kept even those with advanced coronary disease living years and even decades past their doctors’ predictions.
Dr. Guarneri is followed by Pedi Mirdamadi, ND, licensed naturopathic doctor, functional medicine doctor, and holistic nutritionist at Pacific Pearl La Jolla. Dr. Mirdamadi is passionate about using food to address chronic disease, optimal wellness, and longevity for seniors and anyone determined to improve energy, fitness, and overall health.
About Dr. Mimi Guarneri
Dr. Mimi Guarneri is Board-certified in Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology, and Integrative Holistic Medicine. Dr. Guarneri is a Founder and President of The Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine. She serves on the Founding Board of the American Board Physician Specialties in Integrative Medicine, and is a Clinical Associate Professor at University of California, San Diego and an award-winning physician and researcher. After graduating from SUNY Medical Center in New York, she began her career at Scripps Clinic as an attending in interventional cardiology, where she placed thousands of coronary stents. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive and holistic approach to cardiovascular disease, she founded the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine and served as Medical Director for 15 years, where state-of-the-art cardiac imaging technology and lifestyle change programs could be used to aggressively diagnose, prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. In 2014, Dr. Guarneri Co-founded and began serving as Medical Director of Guarneri Integrative Health, Inc. She has served as a senior advisor for large healthcare systems to develop integrative medicine and wellness centers.
Dr. Guarneri has been interviewed on many nationally-syndicated television shows including The Dr. Oz Show, PBS Full Focus and documentaries and is a frequent lecturer at medical institutions. She is author of numerous books, including The Heart Speaks: A Cardiologist Reveals the Secret Language of Healing (2007) and 101 Pearls to Awaken Your Healing Potential (2017). She has received numerous awards and has been recognized for her national leadership in Integrative Medicine by Bravewell Collaborative and was awarded the Linus Pauling Functional Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award by the Institute for Functional Medicine, in 2012 and directs numerous national conferences in San Diego on integrative-based medicine.
Mona Hacker, MD
Top Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccines Answered: From Clinical Trials to
Side Effects & More
Tuesday, January 19, 10-11 AM
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the lecture here
Dr. Hacker will address questions regarding the COVID-19 Vaccines, including the questions below. We will allow plenty of time for Q&A from participants.
1. Describe the different vaccines that are both currently available and coming down the pike (Specifically addressing the Merck and Moderna vaccines)
2. Discuss the most common and the more serious side effects of these vaccines
3. Discuss what's involved in clinical trials and when we might expect additional vaccines. What is the clinical trial process?
About Dr. Mona Hacker
Dr. Hacker is a board certified family practice physician also in San Diego, California. She has vast experience in clinical trials and has participated as a principal investigator and sub-investigator on over 100 clinical trials in a wide range of therapeutic areas. Dr. Hacker completed her medical training also at the University of California, Irvine (where she met her husband) and went on to accept a family practice residency in Seattle, Washington. Since returning to San Diego, she has spent over 10 years in the clinical trial space. She also frequently appears on local media to provide a valuable perspective on new developments in the medical field.
Dr. Anna Kulidjian, MD, Scripps Green Hospital
Advances in Hip Replacement & The New ESY Approach
Thursday, November 12, 10-11 AM
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the lecture here
Dr. Anna Kulidjian is an orthopedic surgeon with Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla and is Associate Clinical Professor and the Director of the Musculoskeletal Program at the Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center. She received her MD from University of Toronto and completed fellowships in Joint Reconstruction and Limb Preservation in Mount Sinai Hospital and Princess Margaret hospitals in Toronto. Dr. Kulidjian has been an orthopedic surgeon for the last 15 years and performs primary and revision knee and hip replacements using advanced technologies and minimally invasive techniques. She has extensive experience restoring limb function through complex reconstructions. Dr. Kulidjian will discuss advances in reconstructive procedures specifically focusing on restoration of hip function through modern techniques in arthroplasty. She recently introduced a new technique called ESY direct anterior approach to San Diego. Her research focuses on improvements in joint replacements techniques including efficient knee and hip arthroplasty and robotics. She was involved in 1988 Armenian earthquake recovery effort and decided to become an orthopedic surgeon after seeing her father, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, bring amputee children from Armenia to Toronto to receive life-changing orthopedic procedures.
Dr. William Mobley, Neurologist and Associate Dean of Neuroscience Initiatives at UCSD
Where Do We Stand in the Fight Against Dementia
Tuesday, October 13, 10am
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the lecture here
Covid-19 is not the only epidemic we face. There is also an epidemic of Alzheimer disease (AD). Although we understand the causes AD, we have yet to discover treatments that prevent the onset or effectively treat its progression. Learn about treatment options, lifestyle issues, and how current technology could be used to decrease social isolation and loneliness of those impacted by AD and their caregivers.
Dr. Mobley’s research focuses on the neurobiology of neurotrophic factor actions and signaling and on the hypothesis that dysfunction of such signaling mechanisms contributes to neuronal dysfunction in developmental and age-related disorders of the nervous system. His emphasis on the neurobiology of Down syndrome has brought new insights into the disease, including possible treatments. He has also done pioneering work on the neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) using a mouse model of Down syndrome (DS). These studies were based on the observation that virtually all adults with Down syndrome develop the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease by the age of 50. This knowledge paved the way for Dr. Mobley’s ongoing studies of AD in experimental models.
Dr. Mobley’s laboratory has pursued two major themes. The first is the biology and signaling of neurotrophic factors. The second, propelled by the first, is the pathogenesis of developmental and age-related neurodegeneration in DS and AD. The Mobley Laboratory has made many important contributions to neuroscience investigation, all of which relate to the biology of neurotrophic factors or to the pathogenesis of DS.
To date, Dr. Mobley has published almost 150 research articles and reviews in peer reviewed journals. Publications appear in high quality journals, such J. Neuroscience, Neurobiol Dis., and J. Comp Neurol. In addition, Dr. Mobley is co-editor of one book and has contributed to 13 books or book chapters.
David Swanson
Author/Travel Writer
Tuesday, September 8, 10am
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the lecture here
Travel writer-photographer David Swanson is a third-generation San Diegan. Following a 17-year stint with Landmark Theatres, since 1995 he has traveled through more than 100 countries around the globe. En route, David's stories and photos have been published in more than 50 North American newspapers and dozens of magazines and websites. Among his current outlets are National Geographic Traveler, Los Angeles Times, American Way, Westways, Cruise Critic, TravelAge West, and Corporate & Incentive Travel. David wrote an award-winning column for Caribbean Travel & Life magazine for 14 years, and he is author and co-author of 16 different travel guidebooks.
The Caribbean has been the focus for many stories, and his research has brought him to all of the islands for multiple visits -- in 2007 he was chosen by the Caribbean Tourism Organization as Travel Writer of the Year. David has a volcano fetish, which has taken him to the smoldering summits of Mount St. Helens, Soufrière Hills, Piton de la Fournaise and Mount Etna. He is a frequent traveler to Africa (7 trips to 10 different countries), China (8 trips since 2001), Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, the British Isles, and Italy, with multiple cover stories in major outlets about each. David is also an expert on cruises, and in 2012-2014 he traveled on more than 40 cruises as an anonymous cruise reviewer for USA Today.
Swanson will present the Hidden Spots of Interest in San Diego (& Many in La Jolla). He’ll share these finds—all compiled in his newly published Second Edition Guidebook titled 100 Things to Do in San Diego Before You Die.
Dr. Eric David Adler
Cardiologist and Medical Director of Heart Transplantation, UCSD
Tuesday, August 11, 10am
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the lecture here
Dr. Eric David Adler is Head Attending Physician, Clinical Professor of Medicine and Program Director of Heart Failure Fellowship and of the Heart and Lung Transplantation Program at the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Institute, University of California at San Diego. Dr. Adler treats patients in all stages of heart disease and specializes in advanced transplantation and heart failure. He will discuss the journey from diagnosis to transplantation, including drug treatments and pacemakers, ventricular assist devices, mechanical hearts, transplant procedures, post-operative recovery and life after transplantation.
This presentation will include a case study of LJCC board member, Glen Rasmussen, who received a heart transplant in 2019 after being diagnosed with a rare heart condition, cardiac amyloidosis. Glen was one of a group of 69 heart transplant patients who received a transplant at UCSD last year. More than 50 transplants have occurred so far in 2020, as transplantation is an essential medical procedure. UCSD is ranked as one of the top heart transplant centers in the country today and has the best one-year post transplant survival rate in the country.
Dr. Jacopo Annese, President & CEO
The Brain Observatory
Tuesday, July 14, 10am
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the lecture here
Dr. Jacopo Annese, Ph.D. is the Director of The Brain Observatory and lead scientist for the Human Brain Library (HBL) project, a database of brain images that supports education and worldwide collaboration. The HBL collects valuable information from live scans and donated brains that assist both the public and the scientific community in gaining a greater understanding of the brain and provides valuable insights in the treatment of numerous brain diseases. During his presentation, he will address individual brain variability and the personal factors that can affect brain health and aging.
Dr. Dilip Jeste, UCSD Neuropsychiatrist
Loneliness & the Role of Wisdom
Tuesday, May 12, 10am
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the lecture here
Dr. Dilip Jeste, a geriatric neuropsychiatrist and director of UC San Diego’s Center for Healthy Aging will speak virtually on the topic of loneliness and how we can address this issue during the current situation of social isolation. He will also discuss his San Diego-based research on loneliness in seniors, the role of wisdom and his suggestions on intervention for loneliness.
Elaine LaLanne, Fitness Expert, Author
The Secret to Longevity
Tuesday, June 9, 10am
Missed the date? No problem! Watch the lecture here
Fitness expert, motivational speaker, author (and wife of the fitness icon Jack LaLanne) Elaine LaLanne will help us stay in shape while we’re staying at home with tips on health and fitness. Elaine started in television in San Francisco in 1948, one of the first TV hosts. There, she met her guest, fitness proponent and later her husband, Jack LaLanne. The successful TV series ran for 34 years with Elaine showcasing many of the fitness regimens. Elaine is author of numerous books including her latest, If You Want to Live, Move; Putting the Boom Back into Boomers. Now 94 years-old, Elaine (“LaLa”) will entertain the online audience with her wit, fitness suggestions and tips for longevity.
In the News!
Enjoy Elaine Lalanne as a guest on KUSI's
Good Morning San Diego!
Member Exclusive!
Enjoy Jack Lalanne's Back to Basics!
Back to Basics: Day 1
Back to Basics: Day 2
For questions, please email info@ljcommunitycenter.org
Our 2020 Distinguished Speaker Series was generously underwritten by Judy White.