REAL MEDICINE TEAM WHOLE HEALTH

Many in the US are familiar with the effectiveness of therapeutic bodywork, movement education, acupuncture, yoga and massage in treating pain, relieving stress and addressing other psychological and physical trauma. However, these techniques that are so common here, have not widely reached abroad to countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Indonesia, recently devastated by natural disasters and in need of effective affordable health care options.

While most relief organizations recognize the need for immediate medical care, many have not yet taken advantage of the long term benefits that cost effective holistic protocols can provide to those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress, chronic pain and neuromuscular disorders. Through Team Whole Health, Real Medicine can now provide both clinical support and instruction in progressive, complementary holistic healing techniques to physical therapy networks in these devastated countries.

Unique to these education programs are the benefits that continue after the trainings. Once taught, therapists can train others, including lay caregivers, long after the initial costs are absorbed, and the ongoing enhanced treatments per patient further leverage the initial donation and continue to reduce the cost benefit per patient over time.

• Beth Cole, Director of Team Whole Health and Country Director for Uganda is an Acupuncture Physician and Yoga Instructor with a background in systems engineering. Along with RMF team member, Megan Yarberry, Beth has implemented acupuncture training programs for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in a refugee camp for Kenyan refugees; a school for children affected by war, natural disasters and HIV/AIDS; and a heroin rehabilitation center. In her private practice in St. Pete Beach, Florida, Beth blends together multiple holistic modalities to guide patients back to physical, emotional and spiritual wellness.
   
• Michael Lear is Real Medicine Foundation’s Country Director for Sri Lanka and a member of Real Medicine’s Team Whole Health. For the past four years under the aegis of Bodyworkers Without Borders, Michael has visited Sri Lanka to train physical therapists in progressive alternative treatment protocols for chronic muscle pain, Post Traumatic Stress and neuromuscular disorders. His work in Sri Lanka introducing The Trager® Approach at Navajeevana Rehabilitation Center was featured as the cover story in the American Massage Therapy Association's Massage Therapy Journal 2007 Winter Quarterly.
  For over 20 years Michael has explored mind body medicine, Ashtanga yoga, and Vipassana meditation. He has been a long time Trager® Practitioner, holds a 500 Yoga Alliance Teacher Certification and has taught bodywork extensively throughout Japan. At the core of his personal practice and teachings is whole, living food nutrition as an essential foundation for wellness, vitality and disease prevention. Michael also holds a BS in Finance and International Management and worked in the International Manufacturing Industry for 13 yrs.
  
  
• Jennifer Stickel is a Fashion Model with VNY in New York and a Certified Raw Living Foods Chef. She is also an advanced Ashtanga yoga practitioner and Vipassana meditator. Over the past three years Jennifer has accompanied Michael to Sri Lanka to assist with trainings and initiative direction. She has also conducted drawing classes for children displaced by the tsunami and maintains a well developed understanding of the cultural dynamics of rural Sri Lankan communities.
  
  
• Pari Vokshori is a Doctor of both Oriental Medicine and Homeopathy, holds a Ph.D in Homeopathy, and is a licensed acupuncturist. She has been practicing alternative medicine for more than fifteen years by integrating various healing techniques such as acupuncture, herbs, cranial sacral therapy, homeopathy, and various diet programs in order to provide a comprehensive natural healing system. She possesses the unique ability to factor in physical, mental, social and spiritual planes when diagnosing and treating patients. Originally from Iran, she currently resides in Los Angeles where she maintains two practices. Pari enjoys daily doses of meditation and yoga to improve self-discipline, further spiritual growth, and to relax from a busy daily routine.
   
• Megan Yarberry is Project Coordinator in Africa for RMF’s Team Whole Health, and has been facilitating acupuncture trainings in East Africa since 2005.  She is currently in private practice in Hilo, Hawaii and Academic Dean of the Traditional Chinese Medical College of Hawaii. With degrees in Oriental Medicine and International Affairs, Megan now develops collaborative healthcare projects with educational intent.
   
• Naku Charles Lwanga is the Project Coordinator for Uganda based in Tororo, Uganda. Charles has had vast experience as a counselor, administrator, social worker, and foreign expert overseas in Beijing China in the HIV and AIDS field. He has worked with ADRA International Adventist Organization as an adult literacy teacher, Leonard Cheshire Providence Home International as an administrator, Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development under National Women’s Council as a trainer, AIDS Information Centre-Uganda as a counselor, VSO Beijing China as a foreign expert, and as Eastern Regional coordinator Uganda under the Young Franciscans of Uganda.
   
• Jane Wen is a recent graduate of the Traditional Chinese Medical College of Hawaii who has a strong commitment to sustainable global community service and cultural collaboration. Jane has held a number of service-orientated positions both nationally and abroad including work with Cross Cultural Solutions Brasil, Americorp Generations Incorporated, community building with Capoeira Brasil Boston, and recently travelled to Uganda with the Real Medicine Foundation to assist in an acupuncture training.