Expert Speakers

Mark Blumenthal is the founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council (ABC), the leading independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to disseminating accurate, reliable, and responsible information on herbs and medicinal plants. He is the Editor/Publisher of HerbalGram, an international, peer-reviewed quarterly journal. For six years he was an Adjunct associate professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, teaching the course "Herbs and Phytomedicines in Today's Pharmacy," Blumenthal is the senior editor of the English translation of “The Complete German Commission E Monographs – Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines” (1998), “Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs” (2000) “The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs” (2003), and “Rational Phytotherapy, 5th edition” (2004). He has been a leader in the concerns for more rational regulations of herbal and natural product manufacturing and education on alternative medicines for more than 35 years.

Hyla Cass, M.D, is author of several popular books, including: “Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutrition.” She is a member of the Advisory Board of Health Sciences Institute, consults to the supplement industry regarding formulations, and has developed several under her own label. She regularly appears on radio, television and print including “The View,” “The CBS Evening News,” “Time Magazine” and “People Magazine” to discuss integrative medicine. She graduated from the University of Toronto School of Medicine, interned at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, and completed a psychiatric residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/UCLA School of Medicine. She was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA School of Medicine until 2005, and is in private clinical practice in Pacific Palisades, CA.

Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D., is a medical doctor, naturopath, herbalist and acupuncturist with years of experience working with seniors and their health-related issues, including heat-related illness. She has authored/co-authored 19 books including, "Hormone Balance," "The Yeast Connection and Women’s Health," "IBS for Dummies" and "The Magnesium Miracle." Radio, television and magazines interview her regularly, including ABC, NBC and CBS. She's the medical director for the Nutritional Magnesium Association. NutritionalMagnesium.org

Michael T. Murray, N.D., is a graduate, faculty member, and serves on the Board of Regents of Bastyr University. He is co-author of "A Textbook of Natural Medicine," a textbook on naturopathic medicine for physicians, as well as the consumer version, the "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine." He has also written more than 20 other books including "Dr. Murray's Total Body Tune-Up," "The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines," "The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods" and his latest book "What the Drug Companies Won't Tell You and Your Doctor Doesn't Know." Dr. Murray is director of product development and education for Natural Factors, a major manufacturer of nutritional and herbal supplements.

Anthony L. Young is a partner with the law firm Kleinfeld, Kaplan and Becker, LLP, Washington D.C. Mr. Young has served as General Counsel to the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) since 1998. Mr. Young has practiced food, drug and environmental law since 1974. He advises and represents domestic and foreign manufacturers with respect to compliance and defense of matters under the statutes enforced by the United States Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Young is a frequent speaker on the subjects of legal requirements for the manufacture and sale of foods and dietary supplements. A member of the District of Columbia and California Bars, Mr. Young received his B.A. from the University of Southern California, his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and clerked on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.