CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
THURSDAY SCHEDULE
4:00-4:05pm Donna Kirchoff Opening Remarks and Welcome
4:05-4:35pm Greg Plotnikoff Mitigating Iatrogenic Psychological Toxicity: Three Secrets for
Optimal Patient Outcomes
4:35-5:00pm Stephanie Grach Changing the Medical Paradigm Around Complex Chronic Illness
5:00-5:10pm Q&A
5:10-6:40pm Larry Afrin Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: Current Concepts AKA Mast Cell 101
6:40-7:10pm Dinner break
7:10-8:10pm Larry Afrin Diagnosis of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Treatment of Mast Cell Activation
Syndrome AKA Mast Cell 102
8:10-8:30pm Q&A
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
7:00-8:00am Breakfast
8:00-8:05am Anne Hill Introduction for the day
8:05-8:50am Alena Guggenheim Diagnostic and Pain Management Essentials for
Hypermobile Connective Tissue Disorders
8:50-9:20am Dave Saperstein Small Fiber Neuropathy
9:20:9:40am Suzanne Rosenberg Compounding Medications for MCAS: Tried and True Formulas
9:40-9:55am Q&A
9:55-10:10am Break
10:10-10:50am Sanjeev Jain Second Line Therapies for Severe MCAS
10:50-11:15am Claudia Miller TILT/MCAS: Using the QEESI to Identify Initiators and Triggers—
From Implants and Mold to Combustion Products and Pesticides
11:15-12:00am David Kaufman The Biology of Aging and the Management of Chronic Complex Illness
12:00-12:20pm Q&A
12:30-1:30pm Lunch and Learn with Richard Boles Treatable Pathways Common In Functional Disorders
as Elucidated by Genetic Testing (1:00-1:30)
1:30-2:00pm Jill Schofield What You Need to Know About Antiphospholipid Antibodies in Patients with Postural
Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and MCAS
2:00-2:30pm Eva Nagy Breast Implant Illness and MCAS. Why Cutting Corners is NOT a Good Idea
2:30-3:00pm Alexis Cutchins It's Not Just POTS: The Role of Connective Tissue Disorders, Venous Disease, and Mast Cells
in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
3:00-3:30pm Lenny Weinstock (pre-recorded talk) SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and IMO (Intestinal
Methanogenic Overgrowth) in MCAS
3:25-3:45pm Q&A
3:45-4:00pm Break
4:00-5:00pm Andrew Maxwell The Complex Path to Intracranial Hypertension and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak in
those with Hypermobility and Dysautonomia; The Theory of Spiky-Leaky Syndrome
5:00-5:25pm Edward Hepworth Craniocervical Dysfunction in MCAS and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
5:25-5:50pm Edward Hepworth Cerebral Spinal Fluid Fistula in MCAS and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
5:50-6:10pm Q&A
6:10-7:10pm Dinner
7:15-8:15pm Larry Afrin Proposal for MasterMinds Transformation into a Formal Professional Society
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
7-8am Breakfast
8:00-8:05am Laurie Menk Otto Introduction for the day
8:05-8:45am Paolo Bolognese (prerecorded talk) Neurological Complications in Connective Tissue Disorders
8:45-9:05am David Saperstein Seeking Additional Means to Diagnose and Manage Craniocervical Instability:
Potential Role of the Multi-cervical Unit (MCU)
9:05-9:35am Danny Shouhed Evaluation and Treatment of Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome and Superior
Mesenteric Artery Syndrome
9:35-9:55am Q&A
9:55-10:10am Break
10:10-10:30am Jandra Mueller Mast Cell-Mediated Genitopelvic Pain
10:30-10:50am Alyssa Yee Mast Cell-Mediated Genitopelvic Pain - Vestibulodynia
10:50-11:15am Meredith McDermott Clinical Approach to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Venous Disease
11:15-11:35am Q&A
11:35-12:30am/pm Lunch and Learn with Craig Shimasaki, PhD (non-CME) held in the Trillium room
Understanding the Connection Between Infections, the Immune System and the Brain: Molecular
Micmicky and Its Role in Autoimmune Encephalopathies Secondary to Infections
12:30-12:55pm David Kaufman Vector Borne Infection: Determining Risk and the Search for Laboratory Confirmation
12:55-1:35pm Tania Dempsey Advancements in the Treatment of Vector-Borne Infections: Current Strategies and
Future Directions
1:35-2:15pm Bela Chheda Epstein–Barr Virus Reactivation: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
(ME/CFS) and the Role of Antivirals
2:15-2:35pm Stuart Malcolm Vascular Endothelitis in Long Covid
2:35-2:55pm Q&A
2:55-3:15pm Break
3:15-3:40pm Larry Afrin, Tania Dempsey, Diane Nugent Development of a Comprehensive MCAS Assessment Tool
3:40-4:05pm Diane Nugent "You are a Marvel” (YAAM) Using Biometrics and Patient Reported Data to Impact Care and
Outcomes
4:05-4:15pm Q&A
4:15-4:40pm Claudia Miller (pre-recorded talk) TILT, Autism and ADHD: Using the QEESI to Predict, Prevent, and Improve
Symptoms of Autism and ADHD
4:40-5:00pm Tina D'Amato Gender Affirming Care in the Setting of MCAS and Associated Disorders
5:00-5:25pm Donna Kirchoff MCAS in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
5:25-5:45pm Tania Dempsey Exploring the Impact of Endocrine and Hormone Disruption on Mast Cell Activation
Syndrome: From Puberty to Menopause"
5:45-6:00pm Q&A
6:00-7:00pm Dinner
7:00-8:00pm Diane Nugent & Larry Afrin Establishing MCAS Centers of Excellence
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
7-7:45am Breakfast
7:45-8:05am Heather Purdin Physical Therapy Modifications for HSD/EDS and Related Comorbidities
8:05-8:25am Kellie Barnes Cord, Dura, and Vascular Tissue: A Possible Role for Physical Medicine Management
8:25-8:50am Theresa Dowell Innovative Approaches: Alternative Treatments for Patients with Complex Illnesses
8:50-9:20am Luke Liu Stellate Ganglion Block for Interventional Neuroimmunology
9:20-9:40am Jill Crista Nicotine Patch Use for MCAS, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Long Covid
9:40-10am Q&A
10-10:15am Break
10:15-10:45am Jennifer Gaudini MCAS and Eating Disorders: Prevention and Treatment
10:45-11:10am Amy Schleper A Holistic Approach to Nutrition in MCAS - Beyond a Low Histamine Diet
11:10-11:35am Greg Plotnikoff Nutritional/Metabolic Considerations in MCAS Evaluation and Treatment
11:35-11:45am Box Lunch
11:45-12:15am/pm Jen Curtin Scaling And Streamlining Complex Illness Care Using Technology
12:15-12:40pm Laurie Menk Otto The Impact of Climate Change on Allergic and Inflammation Driven Diseases
12:40-1:00pm Q&A
1:00-1:15pm Donna Kirchoff Closing Remarks