Speakers

Katie Hu, MD, is a physician leader, educator, and researcher board-certified in Family Medicine and Integrative Medicine. She serves as Associate Director of the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine, Co-Program Director of the UCLA East-West Integrative Medicine Fellowship, and Co-Director of the UCLA East-West Pediatric Program. Her work integrates conventional medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and evidence-based therapies with a whole-person approach to health and healing.

Sara Ptasnik, MD, is an integrative health physician, triple-board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Integrative Medicine. She completed her fellowship at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine, where she trained in acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, and myofascial pain treatment. She is Co-Director of the Integrative Pediatrics & Adolescent Program and works with Chinatown Service Center to expand East-West services and training.

Stephen Cowan, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician with over 35 years of clinical experience and a subspecialty in Developmental Pediatrics. A longtime student of Chinese medicine and Taichi, he integrates East Asian medicine into pediatric care. Dr. Cowan lectures internationally, developed Jingshen Pediatrics Certificate Training, and is the author of several books on integrative medicine and children’s health. He currently practices in Westchester, New York.

Valorie Kondos Field, “Miss Val,” led UCLA Gymnastics for 29 years, winning seven NCAA team championships and earning four NCAA Coach of the Year honors. A UCLA Hall of Famer and Pac-12 Coach of the Century, she is also a former ballet dancer, author, TED speaker, and leadership instructor. A breast cancer survivor, she inspires others through lessons on leadership, gratitude, and her motto: Life is Short, Don’t Wait to Dance.

Christopher Willard, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist, author, and consultant based in Massachusetts. He has spoken in forty countries, presented at two TEDx events, and authored twenty-two books, including Alphabreaths, Growing Up Mindful, Feelings Are Like Farts, and The Neuroscience of Negotiation. His thoughts on mental health have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Mindful.org, and CNN.com. He teaches at Harvard Medical School.

Georgie Wisen-Vincent, LMFT, RPT-S, ECMHS, is a nationally recognized play therapy expert and co-author of The Way of Play with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson. She is Founder/Director of The Play Strong Institute, a child and family psychotherapist, graduate professor at Santa Clara University, and researcher in childhood play, attachment science, and mental health. Her work focuses on play therapy, neurodiversity, trauma resilience, and parent-child relationships.

Jessica Bianchi is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Board-Certified Art Therapist, Assistant Professor at Loyola Marymount University, and Clinical Director of the Helen B. Landgarten Art Therapy Clinic. Her work integrates art therapy and education to promote social justice and community activism. She is also co-founder of Recipes for Connection, which provides trauma-informed, art-based strategies to support student mental health and positive school communities.

Sandi Chiu, PhD, LAc, is a licensed acupuncturist and educator who has cared for patients at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine since 2012. Her work integrates Chinese healing practices, acupuncture, pediatric tuina, qigong, and self-care. She specializes in applied channel theory and scalp acupuncture for pain management, post-operative and sports recovery, neurological conditions, and stroke rehabilitation, bringing a playful, accessible approach to mind-body-spirit wellness.

Natalie Duque, MA, MEd, MT-BC, is a board-certified music therapist and Remo HealthRHYTHMS® Certified Facilitator with over 15 years of experience in healthcare, educational, and community settings. She creates engaging, rhythm-based experiences that foster connection, emotional well-being, and resilience. Natalie specializes in making music accessible to everyone and uses body percussion and rhythm to support play, self-regulation, collaboration, and human connection.

Jon Glaser is the founder of The Aerin Project, a national initiative inspired by his daughter Aerin’s legacy that promotes connection, kindness, and joy through handwritten “Open when…” letters. He is also the founder and Chief Investment Officer of JMG Capital Management. Jon serves on the board of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and has served on the boards of Hudson Pacific Properties, the LA84 Foundation, and the UC Berkeley Foundation.

Samantha Levy, PhD, is a clinical psychologist specializing in children, teens, young adults, and families. She completed her clinical child internship and postdoctoral training at UCLA, including with the UCLA Pediatric Pain Program. Dr. Levy helps families understand the connection between physical pain and emotional difficulties and guides parents in supporting their child’s return to functioning. She also leads support groups and writes about parenting youth with chronic pain.

Meena Makhijani, DO, is a physician triple board certified in Geriatric Medicine, Family Medicine, and Integrative Medicine. She practices geriatrics at UCLA and is a Certified Ayurveda Practitioner, trained at the Ayurvedic Institute and Southern California University. Drawing on her osteopathic training, she integrates whole-person care, Western medicine, and Ayurveda to support health and well-being.

Shiv Nadkarni, MD, is a physician, movement practitioner, performer, and creative entrepreneur whose work intersects mental health, education, and the arts. Trained in neuroscience, medicine, and dance anthropology, he integrates movement, meditation, and creative practices to support well-being. He has over 10 years of experience working with children and adolescents, and his work has been supported by the Fulbright Program, UCLA, the Hammer Museum, SONY Music, and the City of Los Angeles.