Cardiometabolic Health

Dr. Brad McEwen PhD is a leader in preventive and personalised health, particularly in the area of cardiometabolic health and mental and cognitive health. He is an award-winning naturopath, nutritionist, herbalist, educator, researcher, and mentor with over 24 years of clinical experience. He has a PhD from University of Sydney, Master of Health Science (Human Nutrition) and Master of Public Health from Deakin University, among other qualifications in nutrition and sports medicine. He has a passion for teaching and has been educating in nutritional and naturopathic medicine and the health sciences for over 20 years. He has extensive experience in presenting seminars, webinars, and at conferences nationwide and internationally (including United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, New Zealand). He is an advocate for optimum health through nutrition and lifestyle medicine. Brad has a passion for research. He has numerous original research and review articles published in peer-reviewed journals. He is a peer reviewer for international journals. His research interests include the effects of diet, nutrition, and lifestyle medicine on cardiovascular disease, cardiometabolic syndrome, depression, anxiety, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, cognition, stress, type 2 diabetes, chronic disease. Dr. Brad has special interest in increasing public health, increasing and improving access to health services, overall chronic disease prevention, increasing access to nutritional foods and information for all schools and universities, and health equity. He has received numerous national and international awards, including the Eberhard F. Mammen Young Investigator Award (an international award in thrombosis and haemostasis), Excellence in Practice Lecturer Researcher of the Year award, and the Dorothy Hall Memorial Award for Practitioner Excellence. Dr. Brad has been a multiple finalist for Practitioner of the Year, Researcher of the Year, and Educator/Lecturer of the Year.

Director of Education at Activated Probiotics, Rebecca is a speaker, writer, educator, and qualified naturopath. She has twenty years of experience educating on all aspects of complementary and integrative health. A passionate and inspiring speaker, Rebecca has lectured to undergraduate students in Australia, UK, and the US, and delivered naturopathic education to healthcare practitioners around the world. She loves nothing more than sharing cutting edge research with her team of educators, practitioners and medical communities internationally.

Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Endoscopic Surgeon, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, School of Medicine University of Wollongong, Australia. Associate Professor Jim Parker started his academic career with 3 years of preclinical training in Chiropractic at the Sydney College of Chiropractic in the 1978. He completed a Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of NSW with a major in Anatomy in 1981. He obtained a Bachelor of Medicine Degree in 1986 and worked in General Practice. He completed the Diploma of Obstetrics in 1992 and obtained his Specialist Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1999. A/Prof Jim Parker has had a wide range of research interests with a particular interest in evidenced-based medicine and the application of research findings to clinical practice. A/Prof Jim Parker has published over 50 peer-reviewed research articles on preterm labour, obstetric emergencies, ectopic pregnancy, endoscopic surgery, nutritional and environmental medicine and the chronic diseases epidemic, polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolism and insulin resistance. A/Prof Jim Parker has been involved in a number of training, research, academic and educational roles since 1982. He has a number of collaborative research projects with a range of academics and clinicians in Australia and Internationally. He is currently an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Medicine at the University of Wollongong. He is actively involved in medical teaching, examining and research activities. 

Dr. Jason Kaplan is a cardiac imaging specialist and preventative cardiologist who studied Medicine at UNSW and graduated with Honours in 1999, completing his Internal Medicine Training at St George and Prince of Wales hospitals and Adult Cardiology training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Dr. Kaplan has done additional training in all aspects of echocardiography at international centres including the Mayo Clinic and has been involved in training echo sonographers for the last 10 years. Prior to training in cardiology, Dr. Kaplan completed additional advanced training in medical oncology and pharmacology. His training in these areas allows him to adopt a more holistic approach to patient care, particularly those with multiple medical issues This training has also led to a special interest in the emerging field of cardio-oncology, which is the cardiac care of patients who are undergoing or have previously completed cancer treatment. He is an accredited specialist in Cardiac CT and teaches on a regular basis to other specialists in this discipline. Dr. Kaplan is also a proponent of Integrative Cardiology incorporating principles of cardiovascular, nutritional, functional and Mind – Body Medicine in the care of his patients. In 2019 Dr. Kaplan became a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology being recognised for his contribution to cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Kaplan is currently a senior clinical lecturer in Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Macquarie University teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students.  

Dr. Ron is one of Australia’s leading holistic health advocates. Over 35 years of clinical practice he has developed a holistic approach to health and wellness, as well as a comprehensive model of how stress impacts on our lives, and the many, often surprising connections between oral and systemic health. His 2018 book 'A Life Less Stressed: the 5 pillars of Health and Wellness' has been published internationally. His weekly podcast 'Unstress with Dr. Ron Ehrlich' explores and expands on themes of his book, with world leaders in areas of health and regenerative agriculture. Dr. Ron’s passion is to empower individuals to fulfil their potential, take control of their health, build resilience and be the best you can be.

Dr. Rodrigues is a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and Clinical Psychologist with a focus on the Applied Neurosciences, being the application of neuroscience to real world settings. Dr. Rodrigues has worked as a privately practicing psychologist for over twenty years on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Dr Rodrigues is the founder and developer of the Neuroactualise program, which is a three stage treatment approach (RESET-REWIRE-RETRAIN) incorporating clinical psychology and the applied neurosciences. In this approach Dr. Rodrigues utilises a combination of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) “Tapping” and LENS Neurofeedback, as well as Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE) and Cranio-Electro Stimulation (CES) in her comprehensive treatment approach. As well as maintaining a clinical practice alongside her husband Errol, Dr. Rodrigues also utilises this growing field of the Applied Neurosciences with her peak performance clientele including business leaders, professional athletes and those seeking ultimate brain balance and optimal human performance states to achieve excellence in their respective fields. Dr. Rodrigues has a Bachelor of Behavioural Science and a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Applied Psychology, as well as a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Rodrigues is also currently completing a Masters of Neuroscience at the University of New England with her three key areas of research focussed on the effect of trauma on the brain, cognitive decline and neurodevelopmental conditions, primarily Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).