NIGH International Advisory Board

Larry Dossey, MD: Dr. Dossey is the Executive Editor of EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing, which addresses the scientific principles behind, and applications of, evidence-based healing practices from a wide variety of sources, including conventional, alternative, and cross-cultural medicine. He lectures widely in the United States and abroad and is an eloquent spokesperson to anchor the "holistic health movement" in a model that both scientifically respectable and at the same time, answers to human inner spiritual needs.  He has published numerous articles and is the author of ten books, including  Reinventing Medicine (1999), Healing Beyond the Body (2001), and The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things (2006). [http://www.explorejournal.com]

Doris Grinspun, RN, MSN, PhD, LLD (hon), O.ONT, Executive Director, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO): Doris Grinspun is a native of Chile and also an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto; an adjunct professor at the School of Nursing, York University; an associate member of the Centre for Health Promotion at the University of Toronto; an affiliate member of the Centre for Health Studies at York University; and an Associate Fellow of the Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CERLAC) at York University. She has worked extensively on many international projects in Latin and Central America, China and most recently India. She is a forceful advocate of the Canadian health-care system and of the contribution of registered nurses to its success. In 2003, Grinspun was invested with the Order of Ontario. The award was created by the Government of Ontario to recognize the highest level of individual excellence and achievement in any field. [http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=924&ContentID=682]

Dr. Yinong Chong: As Director of the Traditional Chinese International Institute (TCCII) based in Beijing and in Washington,  Dr. Yinong Chong provides strategic advise to NIGH regarding the establishment of major initiatives in China and Asia. She is co-author of the guided meditation CD Touched by the Tao: Classical Chinese Meditation for Health and Healing, and an author of the book and DVD set: Dancing in the Tao: Connecting to Universal Energy to Transform Your Health and Life. Dr. Chong has more than 10 years of professional experience as a health scientist with the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Chong earned her PhD in Sociology from the Arizona State University and her MA in Journalism from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. She has a BS in English Literature from Beijing University.

Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN: Dr. Watson  is a widely-published author and recipient of several awards and honors, including an international Kellogg Fellowship in Australia and a Fulbright Research Award in Sweden. Throughout the world, clinical and academic nursing programs use her published works on the philosophy and theory of human caring and the art and science of caring in nursing. She is Distinguished Professor of Nursing and holds an endowed Chair in Caring Science at the University of Colorado Denver and Health Sciences Center.[http://www2.uchsc.edu/son/caring/content/ ]

Reverend Professor Stephen G. Wright. RN RCNT RNT DipN DANS RPTT MSc FRCN MBE Faculty of Health and Social Care, St. Martin’s College, Lancaster: Prof Wright is the  Founding Editor: “Spirituality and Health International” and the Chairman of The Sacred Space Foundation. He has a long and distinguished history in British nursing. In the 1980’s,  he emerged as one of the UK’s leaders in a movement which became known as “new nursing.”  He was the first consultant nurse in the NHS in the UK, a prolific author, journalist and conference and course speaker.  He received the highest honours from the RCN and the Queen for his work, which latterly included developing nursing services in eastern and central Europe. Prof Wright currently works as a journalist and editorial adviser to Nursing Standard, the UK’s biggest circulation professional nursing journal. [http://www.sacredspace.org.uk ]

Sharon Weinstein, MS, RN, CRNI, FAAN: Ms. Weinstein specializes in workforce-related issues impacting healthcare delivery, globalization, nurse-physician collaboration, safety and wellness. She is the former Executive Director of The Premier Foundation where she directed Premier’s international efforts for 9 years in over 24 countries. Since 1980, she has led exchange programs to the People’s Republic of China, the former Soviet Union, Hungary, Germany, France, Austria, Japan and Egypt. A recipient of the Dr. Thomas Frist Humanitarian Award, she is the author of 6 textbooks, has also published over 150 manuscripts in peer-review journals and is a well-known national and international speaker. [http://www.corelimited.com ]

Jo Ellen Koerner, PhD, RN, FAAN: Jo Ellen Koerner received the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award from American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) Institute for Patient Care Research & Education. She is the author of 60 articles and Mother, Heal My Self (Crestport Press) a memoir about her daughter’s near-death experience and connecting with a Native American Healer. She is a founder of the Healing Web, a collaborative education-service model that facilitates service learning in the community. Recently, she has been working in the private sector developing health programs for congregate living communities. JoEllen is a Principal of Makoce: Whole Earth Health, an interdisciplinary, transcultural-healing community focused on integration of body, mind, spirit and environment. [http://www.nurseweek.com/5min/JoEllenKoerner.asp]

Janis Bishop Tripodakis, BS Economics: As an opinion-leader, Janis is dedicated to the promotion of social policy for the health, education and welfare for the people of Greece and the world. In her work, she has used her specialization of creating strategic alliances in the scientific, academic and corporate sectors to benefit non-governmental organizations, including coordinating projects and funding for over 40 NGOs with the American Women’s Organization of Greece; as Co-Founder of the “M.D.A.” Muscular Dystrophy Association-Greece; on the Board of Directors for the Athens “Habitat for Humanity;” as a Certified Nurse for the Greek Red Cross; and as Co-Founder and Board Member of the “European Institute of Sustainable Development".  Her Athens-based “Concord Consulting Services” has been recently involved in a “Cultural Educational Exchange Program” with Arizona State University; the “First Hellenic Russian Forum” and the “2nd Heartsong's Summit" to improve the lives of children living with life threatening neuromuscular conditions.

Barbara Sue-Ting-Len: As the former Chief of the United Nations Audio-Visual Promotion and Distribution in the Department of Public Information, Barbara Sue-Ting-Len was responsible for the world wide promotion, marketing and distribution of all the UN's aduio-visual products to television, schools, radio broadcasters, non-governmental organizations, commercial distributors and through UN offices; she represents UN and its agencies at such prestigious international media markets and festivals as the Cannes Television Festival, Cannes, France; National Association of Television Producing Executives and the World Education Market. Born in Guyana, Sue-Ting-Len has worked previously at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures in Toronto, Canada. She is a member of the Board of the New York International Festivals; Member of the Honorary Committee of the World Forum on Children's Television, Barcelona, Spain; Member of the British Academy of Film, Television and Arts; Board Member of the WorldMedia Festivals, Hamburg, Germany.

Heather L. Maurer is a communications and marketing expert with over 17 years experience leading the marketing, communications and business development efforts for non-profit and for-profit companies. Heather developed a passion and great interest in midwifery care, and breastfeeding advocacy after she moved to Eugene, Oregon to work with Midwifery Today. She has spent the last 17 years educating herself about women’s wellness and alternatives to mainstream care. Heather is the past Executive Director and co-founder of Mother Health International and currently works in a boutique law firm as the Director of Marketing. She volunteers as the VP of Communications for her local chapter of National Organization for Women (NOW). Heather holds an MA in Communications from American University and a BA in Communications from Lynchburg College. Heather has two step-children, Mariah and Boman, and a daughter, Daisy Jade, who was born with the assistance of a midwife. She and her husband reside outside of Washington, DC in Virginia.