Rüdiger Krech

Dr Rüdiger Krech is the Director of the Department of Health Promotion at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva since September 2019. He heads WHO's work on risk factors such as tobacco consumption and harmful use of alcohol; he is responsible for work on health-promoting settings and programs for more physical activity. In addition to the normative work, his team supports Member States with appropriate health promotion instruments, such as health literacy, empowerment and community engagement, public health legislation and fiscal measures to design well-being societies. Prior to this, Dr Krech was Director of Universal Health Coverage and Health Systems and played a key role in placing this issue on the global health agenda. From 2009-2014, Dr Krech was the Director of Social Determinants of Health, Human Rights, Ethics and Equity. Prior to joining WHO, Mr Krech worked at the German Agency for International Cooperation (GiZ), where he developed and implemented the Social Protection agenda for Germany's development cooperation, and at the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen, where he was Head of Unit for Healthy Ageing. Dr Krech studied educational science and human medicine and was one of the first public health (MPH) graduates of a German university in 1991. He was awarded a doctorate in public health (DrPH) at the University of Bielefeld. Mr Krech is married and has three adult daughters.

Alex H Krist

Alex Krist, MD, MPH, is a Professor of Family Medicine and Population Health at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond Virginia and a practicing family physician at the Fairfax Family Practice residency. Dr. Krist is the director of the Virginia Ambulatory Care Outcomes Research Network (ACORN), a collection of over 500 primary care practices, throughout Virginia representing the full spectrum of primary structures and cultures that conducts research that matters to primary care. He is a former member and past Chair of the U.S Preventive Services Task Force and the director of community engaged research for VCU's Wright Regional Center for Clinical and Translational Research. Dr Krist served as the Co-Chair of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s committee on Achieving Whole Health for Veterans and the Nation. His work has resulted in sustained improvements to primary care throughout Virginia that have helped people get recommended preventive services, improved patient-clinician communication, advanced personal health records to better engage people in care, and create clinical-community collaborations to address unhealthy behaviors, mental health, and social needs.

Helene Langevin

Helene M. Langevin, M.D., is director of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Prior to NIH, Dr. Langevin was the director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, jointly based at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, and a professor-in-residence of medicine at Harvard Medical School. She previously served as professor of neurological sciences at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont. Dr. Langevin received an M.D. degree from McGill University in Montreal, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship in neurochemistry at the MRC Neurochemical Pharmacology Unit in Cambridge, England, and a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

Hubert Lim

Hubert Lim is a Professor in the Biomedical Engineering and Otolaryngology Departments at the University of Minnesota and was hired as an Institute for Translational Neuroscience Scholar. He is also the Endowed Lions Professor in Otolaryngology and Co-Director for the Center for Neural Engineering. He completed a B.S.E. in Bioengineering at UC-San Diego, followed by a dual Masters in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science and then a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. At the University of Minnesota, his lab’s research focuses on neural engineering, neuromodulation technologies, sensory neuroscience, neural plasticity, neuro-immune physiology, and integrative health approaches with the aim of developing new stimulation treatments for hearing disorders, pain and inflammatory conditions in collaboration with multiple clinicians and companies. Dr. Lim has been awarded the Peter and Patricia Gruber International Research Award in Neuroscience from the Society for Neuroscience, the Institute for Engineering in Medicine Faculty Career Development Award, and the Institute for Engineering in Medicine Outstanding Service Award. Outside his academic activities, he is currently involved with two start-up companies, serving as the Chief Scientific Officer of Neuromod Devices (developing a tinnitus treatment device) and as the Chief Scientific Officer of SecondWave Systems.

Christina Puchalski

Christina Puchalski, MD, MS, OCDS, FACP, FAAHPM, is a pioneer and international leader in the movement to integrate spiritual health into clinical settings, education, and policy. Dr. Puchalski is Founder and Executive Director of the George Washington University’s Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish) and Professor of Medicine at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. An active clinician, she is board certified in Palliative Medicine and Internal Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Puchalski’s collaborative work has influenced clinical practice on a global scale, most notably the development of a course for clinicians and chaplains to learn how to create systemic change in their own health settings [Interprofessional Spiritual Care Education Curriculum (ISPEC©)]; clinical spiritual care guidelines, recommendations, and standards for healthcare professionals; healthcare renewal retreats; “Reflection Rounds” to offer peer-group support for clinicians; and the widely-disseminated spiritual history tool (FICA) to help assess patients’ spiritual/religious preferences. Currently, Dr. Puchalski is spearheading a large-scale initiative funded by the John Templeton Foundation to elevate spiritual care as an essential element of whole person compassionate care across health systems worldwide. Dr. Puchalski is author of Time for Listening and Caring: Spirituality, Care of the Seriously Ill and Dying, and co-author of Making Health Care Whole and The Oxford Textbook of Spirituality and Health. Dr. Puchalski has received numerous awards including being named in 2018, as one of “30 Visionaries” in the field by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. In 2022 she received the Debra Sivesind Career Award for Outstanding Contributions to Palliative Care.

Nicole Redvers

Dr. Nicole Redvers, ND, MPH, DPhilc, is a member of the Deninu K’ue First Nation (Northwest Territories, Canada) and has worked with Indigenous patients, scholars, and communities around the globe her entire career. She is an Associate Professor, Western Research Chair, and Director of Indigenous Planetary Health at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University. She has been actively involved at regional, national, and international levels promoting the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in both human and planetary health research and practice. Dr. Redvers is the author of the trade paperback book titled, ‘The Science of the Sacred: Bridging Global Indigenous Medicine Systems and Modern Scientific Principles’.

Lama Michel Tulku Rinpoche

Michel Lenz Cesar Calmanowitz, known to the public as Lama Michel, was born in Brazil, in the city of São Paulo, in 1981. At age 5 he met his master, Lama Gangchen Rinpoche, and at age 8 he was recognized by prestigious masters as a tulku – the reincarnation of a Buddhist master. By his own will, at the age of 12 he decided to follow in his guru’s footsteps and go to the monastery to receive the traditional education for Lamas, so he went to live in southern India, at the Monastery of Sera Me, a monastic university for advanced buddhist studies & practice. By this time, he already demonstrated great ability as an orator, devotion to his guru, and a natural familiarity with the foundations and deeper concepts of Buddhist philosophy. Encouraged by his master, he began, as early as 12 years old, to give lectures at public events during his travels and to conduct teachings. At Sera Me, he studied philosophy, dialectics, logic, the Tibetan language, the classic texts that explain the Buddhist path to enlightenment, traditional tantric practices of his lineage, went on meditation retreats, and received empowerments. During this time, under Lama Gangchen Rinpoche's guidance and alongside his parents and disciples around the world, he made pilgrimages to the most important sacred places in India, Nepal and the main monasteries of the Gelugpa tradition in Tibet. In 2004, after 12 years of studies, practices, and retreats, he moved to Italy with Lama Gangchen Rinpoche. Since settling in Italy, Lama Michel Rinpoche has shown great enthusiasm in sharing his knowledge and experiences, teaching in a traditional but at the same time unique, accessible, and innovative way, adapting to the Western mentality and circumstances. Thanks to his great generosity, as well as his interest and curiosity for technology, in 2014 he created a streaming project to offer free teachings on the NgalSo YouTube channel, currently with more than 100 thousand followers and thousands of hours of teaching. He is the author of more than 40 publications, including four books in Portuguese: Uma jovem ideia de paz: conversas com o Lama Michel Rinpoche (in a literal translation: A young idea of peace: conversations with Lama Michel Rinpoche) - Sarasvati Multimedia, 1996; O sutil desequilíbrio do estresse (in a literal translation: The subtle imbalance of stress) - in collaboration with his mother, psychologist Bel Cesar and psychiatrist Sérgio Klepacz, Editora Gaia, 2011; Coragem para seguir em frente (in a literal translation: The courage to move on) - Editora Gaia, 2006; and Grande amor: um objetivo de vida (in a literal translation: Great love: a life goal) - in collaboration with Bel Cesar, Editora Gaia, 2015. Lama Michel currently is the holder of the Ngalso Ganden Nyengyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is also the director and spiritual guide of 20 NgalSo centers worldwide and of the humanitarian aid foundation Help in Action, founded by his master, Lama Gangchen Rinpoche. He is the United Nations representative of the Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation, a non-governmental organization with Ecosoc status. His ability to communicate profound concepts in a simple and accessible way for all audiences is widely recognized. His lectures propose reflections on how to live a meaningful, happy life that benefits oneself, the environment, and society in the times of crisis in which we live. Check out the main companies and institutions where Lama Michel has given lectures: Brazil Telefonica - "A guide to a happier and more fulfilled life" - "How to have a better quality of life" Sesc - "RELATIONSHIPS and EVERYDAY ISSUES" - How to relate with Peace in everyday life” Department of Sports - Non-Formal Education in the Development of a Culture of Peace Câmara dos Deputados de SP (São Paulo House of Representatives) Rio + 20 - Participation in the Peoples’ Summit, in the tent of the Brazil Free Nuclear Power Plants Coalition Abril Group Trip Editora Secretary of Education Instituto Criar CTE - High Goals, Low Expectations and Constant Effort. Citibank - Culture of Peace in the Corporate World – People Management in Times of Crisis Citibank -How to manage your energy by acting calmly and how to manage fears and anxieties Clube Harmonia Sociedade Teosófica - The Courage to Move On United Creators - Impermanence and dissatisfaction. Ciesp/Campinas - Balance in Times of Change Culture of Peace Festival - Trip Transformadores - Parque Villa Lobos EO TALKS - Impermanence Zarvos: Live, coexist, and work in harmony TED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-Vi8PgmSY0 Main interviews in Brazil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJhtNMT8Od0 https://globoplay.globo.com/v/6046416/ https://globoplay.globo.com/v/5954694/ https://revistatrip.uol.com.br/trip-transformadores/2015-lama-michel https://revistatrip.uol.com.br/homenageados/2015/lama-michel https://revistatrip.uol.com.br/trip-tv/lama-michel-paulo-kakinoff-e-paulo-lima-debatem-sobre-o-futuro-das-corporacoes Lama Michel Rinpoche, master of Tibetan Buddhism, and Paulo Kakinoff, Gol Linhas Aéreas CEO, mediated by Trip's publisher, Paulo Lima. Theme: Is a humanized company possible? TV shows: Jô Soares /Globo TV Aparecida documentary/Netflix Brazil TV Encontro/ Globo TV Conversa com Bial/Globo TV Magazines: Bons Fluidos Ciências Folha de São Paulo Gaia Blog Radio: Eldorado Argentina Escuela de Estudos Orientales - Aplicación de la filosofía budista en la vida cotidiana Universidad del Filosofica - Abrazando las 4 nuebles verdades del budismo Netherlands 5th Congress Integrative psychiatry - Keynote on compassion and interconnectedness 6th Congress Integrative psychiatry - Workshop with live EEG during meditation 7th Congress Integrative psychiatry - Keynote on spirituality in healthcare Italy TED Verbania https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iZxl2IRtMk TED Busto Arsizio https://www.ted.com/talks/lama_michel_il_caos_l_armonia_non_compresa Rotary Club Verbania Lions Club Torino Molte Fedi Sotto lo Stesso Cielo Festival Philosophia Omegna Edufest Genova Centro concienza Bergamo

Tyler VanderWeele

Tyler J. VanderWeele, Ph.D., is the John L. Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Professor of Epidemiology in the Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Director of the Human Flourishing Program and Co-Director of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at Harvard University. He holds degrees from the University of Oxford, University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University in mathematics, philosophy, theology, finance, and biostatistics. His methodological research is focused on theory and methods for distinguishing between association and causation in the biomedical and social sciences and, more recently, on psychosocial measurement theory. His empirical research spans psychiatric and social epidemiology; the science of happiness and flourishing; and the study of religion and health. He is the recipient of the 2017 Presidents’ Award from the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies (COPSS). He has published over four hundred papers in peer-reviewed journals; is author of the books Explanation in Causal Inference (2015), Modern Epidemiology (2021), Measuring Well-Being (2021), and the Handbook of Religion and Health (2023); and he also writes a monthly blog posting on topics related to human flourishing for Psychology Today.