I am a primary care physician, retired USAF Colonel flight surgeon, agricultural advisor/consultant and author of both health and agricultural books. I am a vegan along with my wife Lisa Everett Andersen who is a clinical pharmacist and certified clinical nutritionist. I started my adult life in sustainable/biological agriculture and subsequently went to medical school and have always practiced integrative medicine.

I provide primary care, integrative medicine, IV therapies, prolotherapy, nutrition counseling and collaboration with my wife and other clinical pharmacists at Obrien Pharmacy, Mission, Kansas. I treat new born to the most elderly, every kind of issue experienced including collaboration with NP midwives to sustain delicate pregnancies and assist with fertility and bioidentical hormone replacement therapies.

Education:

• University of Arizona | Bachelor of Science in Argriculture/Ag. Education
• University of South Florida | Master of Science in Public Health
• Clayton University | PhD in Agriculture Biophysics
• Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona CA | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Certifications and Licensures:

• Certified Cenegenics, Trained Physician

As the second generation owner of O’Brien Pharmacy and the Kansas City Holistic Centre in Mission, Kansas, Lisa grew up in pharmacy and healthcare, yet was dubbed the “un-pharmacist” for helping patients attain healthier lives through lifestyle changes, such as adopting a plant-based diet, versus popping pills. She uses her almost 50 years of experience as a clinical pharmacist and 30-some years as a certified clinical nutritionist to help people achieve the reversal of disease and the reclamation of their health. In her private consultation practice, she focuses on outcome-based holistic patient care and education. Her work incorporates the principles of biochemically-based clinical nutrition, spirituality, physiology, and pharmacology.

Lisa is the President of the International and American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists, a member on the Government Affairs Committee for the Kansas Pharmacists Association, and is on the Foundation Board of Directors for the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding. She served on the Professional Affairs committee for the Kansas Pharmacists Association and the Education Committee for the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding. She has fellowships in the American College of Apothecaries and the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding. Lisa was on the Midwest Internal Review Board for 10 years, overseeing more than 950 studies for the Food and Drug Administration, and served on the board of trustees for the American Holistic Medical Association. Lisa formulated the antioxidant supplement Body & Vision, and the multi-vitamin/mineral Optimal Daily Allowance which won the NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements Five Star Award in 2014. Recently, Lisa authored a textbook to benefit both practitioners and patients titled Learning to Thrive in a Toxic World and the Impact of Clinical Endocrinology and BHRT, and is working on a follow-up book for practitioners. Lisa is currently seeking her diplomate in constitutional homeopathy as a student of The Canadian College of Homeopathic Medicine.

I am an Optometric Physician who incorporates whole-food plant-based nutrition into the treatment of eye disease. Whether you are a healthy individual trying to get even healthier, a diabetic looking to improve their lifestyle, or a hypertensive wanting to get off medication and take control of their life, I’ve got the tips and tricks for you. I have been watching my patients get healthier and get off medication for years now. Everyone can do this. I will help you.

Christine A. Degnon, MD, MPH (she/hers) is triple-boarded, with board certifications in Family Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine. “Dr. Chris” graduated from Bucknell University with degrees in Biology and Religion, then spent over two years serving as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya. She obtained her Medical Degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania and then completed the Family Medicine Residency Program at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood, South Carolina. She also earned a Master in Public Health degree at Boston University. Since opening Coastal Direct Primary Care in January of 2018, Dr. Chris has been partnering with patients to make health a priority. She believes in patient-centered care and shared decision making, which means she will listen to you and work with you to develop your health and wellness goals, as well as a strategy to meet them.

Melanie Hughes is a Nurse Practitioner working in family practice in Tremonton, Utah. Melanie
lived in England and Canada before coming to the United States. She has been with
Intermountain Health for over 20 years and appreciates working for a company whose mission,
vision, and values align with her own. She loved working in the emergency department and
intensive care, but has found her true passion is family practice. She finds fulfillment in getting
to know the whole patient, their family, and their unique challenges. She earned a Bachelor of
Science from Brigham Young University (1991), and a Master of Science from the University of
Utah (2005). Additionally, she is a diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Doctoral studies are not yet completed. Her favorite moments at work are when she can help a
patient see success with lifestyle changes. When away from work she enjoys time with family,
hiking, canoeing, kayaking, gardening, weight-lifting, and reading.

Dr. Kotlerman started her clinical career as a diagnostic, nutritional therapist specializing in mental imbalance and nutritional deficiencies. Although Dr. Kotlerman was running a successful practice in nutrition, it was obvious that there was a missing piece, as many clients needed more. It was at this time that Dr. Kotlerman walked the El Camino de Santiago, in Europe, and had a life-changing experience that showed her that she needed to commit to the process of being a chiropractor. Four days after returning to the United States, she was enrolled in Life West Chiropractic College in San Francisco, CA.

She graduated Life West Chiropractic College with Emerald clinical honors and as a recipient of the Carl Dieter Philosophy Scholarship. Dr. Kotlerman received education and certification in: Thompson drop table, toggle, diversified Gonstead, activator, DNFT, pediatric, pregnancy, and SOT Chiropractic techniques.

Dr. Kotlerman has since specialized in Averio FNT, a tonal, low-force chiropractic technique that uses sustained contact in specific areas in order to change spinal alignment and function.

Dr. Kotlerman is a published author with two books. Her clinical results book, “Exceptional Health: You Can Have It!” and her personal memoir, “Seeing Magic“. In addition to her books, she has published 6 international case studies in collaboration with the Australian Spinal Research Foundation and the Pan-Asian Chiropractic Journal.

Medical School Education: Creighton University

Post-Doctoral Training: Christiana Care Health System/Jefferson Medical College

Board Certifications: Internal Medicine; Lifestyle Medicine

Marc Debay, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D. is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Family Medicine for the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.

Debay received his M.D. from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculté de Médecine (Free University of Brussels), Belgium and a master’s and a Ph.D. in public health from The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. He completed residencies in family medicine at the Glendale Adventist Medical Center and in preventive medicine at Loma Linda University. He is board certified in both family medicine and preventive medicine.

Debay was previously an associate professor in the School of Medicine and in the School of Public Health at Loma Linda University and director of the Primary Care Physicians Services Project, a partnership between the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health and the Loma Linda Faculty Medical Group. He served as an attending physician in the departments of preventive medicine and family medicine and as a physician in the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System. He also focused on training physicians and other health professionals for primary care research and global health service.

His extensive international public health expertise includes reproductive, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, behavior change communication, and health systems strengthening. He has broad experience in program design, implementation, and evaluation at the community, district, national and international levels with a variety of government, academic and private organizations. He has served in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Among his many volunteer activities, he served as faculty advisor and supervisor to the Loma Linda University Street Medicine Outreach, a student-run volunteer medical group providing transitional care to the homeless of San Bernardino. He has also worked with a multitude of international aid organizations such as World Vision International and Doctors Without Borders.

He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Preventive Medicine and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.

He is fluent in both English and French and also speaks Spanish.

His interests include comprehensive patient-centered primary care, program evaluation and quality improvement, and global health education of physicians and other health professionals.

My name is Dr. Joseph Thomas and I am a trained family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician. I grew up health conscious as a vegetarian but after starting residency I learned of the healing power a plant-based diet possessed. I was able to lead a reversing diabetes course during residency and saw several people go from limited mobility to walking around the room. I was able to see peoples weight go down, happiness increase and true healing occur. This set me on a path to find other ways to heal people. After residency I started working in the hospital where I tried to help those in need obtain better help; realizing that the majority of chronic diseases started with the diet. I have since left the hospital and started up my own company (Simpliwell LLC) with my wife (nutrition counsellor in training) so that we could work with people earlier in the disease process to keep them out of the hospital and in a better state of health. It has been a pleasure joining up with the Plantrician Project to help the world achieve better health. 

Dr. Gretchen M. Potschka is an internal medicine/pediatric specialist in Longview, Washington and is affiliated with PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center. She received her medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Dr. Olsen graduated from ISU Family Medicine Residency in 2012 and has been practicing with InterMountain Medical Clinic since then. He attended medical school at Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in the Phoenix area. He enjoys camping, traveling, running, woodworking and backpacking. Dr. Olsen is currently accepting new, qualified patients.

Dr. Crymes is a faculty physician with Cox Family Medicine Residency Program in Springfield, Missouri. She is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served in the US Air Force for eight years. She earned her DO degree at ATSU-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Cox. Over the past five years, Dr. Crymes has become extremely interested in the concept of mindfulness. She has attended courses and obtained certification to teach mindfulness. She currently teaches mindfulness classes to patients for treatment of pain and stress-related illness and has worked to incorporate mindfulness in the medicine curriculum for physicians at the Cox Residency Program as of this spring.

Samantha Salmon is the founder of RawFoodMealPlanner.com, a health coaching and training service that specializes in brain health, weight loss, type 2 diabetes, menstrual health, raw foods, and energy. As a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and Brain Health Licensed Trainer, Samantha educates her clients on natural healing modalities such as nutrition and lifestyle to support their overall health and well-being. With a background in raw foods and plant-based nutrition, and a personal connection to diabetes through her grandmother’s death, Samantha is passionate about helping her clients achieve optimal health through dietary and lifestyle changes. She is also the former owner of Earth’s Healing Café in Chicago, Illinois, who has fed celebrities like Zoe Kravitz, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and fitness star Koya Webb. She is the creator of the Raw Food Health Empowerment Podcast and author of the book, “You Can Afford to Be Healthy”.
After getting a degree in economics from New York University and opening a raw vegan organic restaurant in Chicago, she went on to receive her health coach certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where she learned about more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods. 
Samantha is active in the health equity space in an effort to achieve her mission of eradicating type 2 diabetes in this country. She is a member of the Good Food Economy and Good Food Purchasing Policy Working Groups for LA Food Policy Council, one of the largest food policy councils in the country.

As a Lifestyle Medicine physician, I have a deep commitment to helping my patients lead healthier lives through nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, and stress management. I also have my Culinary Medicine certificate through the American College of Culinary Medicine, which allows me to combine my passion for cooking with my knowledge of plant-based nutrition. I believe that food can be both nourishing and delicious, and I love sharing recipes, cooking tips, and hacks to make meal prep easy and enjoyable. Whether you’re just starting your plant-based journey or have already adopted this lifestyle, I am here to provide guidance, support, and personalized care. Together, we can explore the incredible benefits of a plant-based diet and work towards achieving optimal health and well-being. I am excited to be a part of your plant-based journey and look forward to helping you thrive on this path. Let’s embark on this transformative journey together!