Heather Zwickey, PhD
Heather Zwickey earned a Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbiology from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center with a focus on infectious disease and vaccine development. Dr. Zwickey went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship and teach at the Yale University School of Medicine where she worked on immunotherapy for cancer.
She was then recruited to the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, where she launched the Helfgott Research Institute and established the School of Graduate Studies, developing programs in integrative medicine research, nutrition, and global health among others. She currently co-leads an NIH funded clinical research training program focused on training the next generation of integrative medicine researchers. She teaches at many universities and speaks at conferences world-wide. At Helfgott Research Institute, Dr. Zwickey applies her immunology expertise to natural medicine, with specific interest in the gut-brain axis in neuroinflammation.
Carolyn Nygaard, ND
Dr. Carolyn Nygaard earned her bachelor’s of science in biochemistry at University of Dayton. She went on to earn her clinical doctorate in naturopathic medicine at the National University of Natural Medicine. Dr. Nygaard simultaneously completed a certificate in midwifery and conducted research while attaining her education. Dr. Nygaard’s research was focused on micronutrients and herbs that stimulate immunological tolerance. She has practiced naturopathic midwifery and family medicine for more than 10 years. Dr. Nygaard has spoken at many women’s health and fertility conferences. She has co-taught vaccine courses with Dr. Zwickey for many years, bringing a clinical focus and several of her cases to the discussion.
Elizabeth Mumper, MD, FAAP
Dr. Mumper is President and CEO of The RIMLAND Center, established to mentor clinicians interested in children with neurodevelopmental problems. Her general pediatrics practice is Advocates for Children. Advocates for Families is devoted to the care of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental problems.
Dr. Mumper attended the Medical College of Virginia, did residency training at the University of Massachusetts and University of Virginia, where she served as Chief Resident of Pediatrics at UVA.
Her clinical experience has included five years in pediatric practice, over a decade as Director of Pediatric Education in a Family Practice Residency Program, 16 years as clinical faculty at the University of Virginia, and five years as Medical Director of the Autism Research Institute. She is currently on the faculty of MAPS (Medical Academy for Pediatric Special Needs), and is certified by the Institute of Functional Medicine where she developed the first advanced clinical training in pediatrics for the organization.
Dr. Mumper has been being named a Miracle Maker in Central Virginia, Woman of the Year in Health and Sciences by the YWCA and received several Inspiring Change Awards from the MINDD Foundation in Australia. Dr. Mumper has written book chapters about allergy, immunology and behavioral and developmental pediatrics. Her clinical research at the Rimland Center has been published in peer reviewed journals. She lectures nationally and internationally and mentors physicians around the world, including Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
She is currently doing research about vaccination status as it relates to the prevalence of chronic illness in children. She advocates integrative and functional medicine strategies to care for children with complex chronic illness.