Ann Baldwin, Ph.D.,
Curriculum Vitae
Ann is a Research Professor of Physiology and Psychology at the University of Arizona and is Director of “Mind-Body-Science” (www.mind-body-science.com). She obtained her Bachelors degree in Physics from University of Bristol, UK, her Masters degree in Radiation Physics from University of London, UK and her PhD in Physiology from Imperial College, University of London. Her research focuses on the deleterious physiological effects of mental and emotional stress and how these outcomes may be minimized. She is currently exploring the efficacies of Reiki and of Biofeedback techniques in promoting sympatho-vagal balance, as indicated by analysis of heart rate variability, and thereby reducing the damaging effects of stress. She is also testing whether these techniques enhance mental, emotional and physical performance both in Parkinson’s patients and in otherwise healthy individuals. Dr. Baldwin has quantitatively monitored the effects of Reiki on cardiac function and on peripheral blood flow in humans and in rats. Her work has been featured on KVOA News 4 and on KUAT Arizona Illustrated. With her Reiki training and extensive scientific background, Ann Baldwin hopes to bridge the gap between energy healing and quantitative scientific enquiry. Dr. Baldwin has published over 90 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals on these topics and others including arterial disease, physiological testing of blood substitutes and the effects of environmental stressors on laboratory animals and on marine mammals. She has been a member of several review panels for National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, and serves on several editorial boards of major scientific journals, such as the American Journal of Physiology. Her work, in a variety of areas, has been funded by NIH, NSF, American Heart Association, Arizona Disease Control Research Commission, and by private and corporate sources. In her spare time Ann likes to ride her horse and she also volunteers as a horse handler for Therapeutic Riding of Tucson.
Elise Brownell, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae
Dr Brownell has extensive experience in senior project management and leadership positions in the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Most recently she was a Founding Member, Head of Project Management and Senior Director of Aerovance, Inc, a venture-backed biotechnology company spun out from Bayer Healthcare. At Aerovance she created and managed effective team processes to bring four product candidates into full scale clinical Phase 1 and 2 development. Prior to Aerovance, Dr Brownell acted as Head of Project Management for Bayer’s Biotechnology Unit, where she integrated project strategies to meet therapeutic and market needs. Other roles were directed toward building and negotiating partnerships with third parties to support the development programs, and leading research teams through early bench-toclinic development phases.
Dr Brownell received her MS, MPhil and PhD (Biology) from Yale University, and her BS (Biology) from Allegheny College. Dr. Brownell has been named as a member of the Life Science Steering Committee for ASTIA (www.astia.org) the nation’s premier entrepreneurial organization focused on women-led businesses. She is a member of the Advisory Board of Contract Pharma.
Dr. Brownell obtained her Third Level Reiki Master certification in January of 2008.
Jan Scicinski, Ph.D.
Dr. Scicinski holds a BSc from Imperial College, University of London and a PhD from Cambridge University, UK.
In the 15 years he spent at the pharmaceutical company, Glaxo, the company changed to GlaxoWellcome then GlaxoSmithKline and his work ranged from medicinal chemistry and early development through combinatorial chemistry and chemical technology research at various levels of responsibility working on new drugs for treating cardiovascular disease, viral infections and pain. In 2002 Dr. Scicinski joined Nuada Pharmaceuticals in North Carolina as Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry where he established and managed a medicinal chemistry team conducting research in diabetes, inflammation and urinary incontinence and serving as joint Principal Investigator on a $2M NIST grant developing the company’s unique technology.
In 2004, Dr. Scicinski joined the ALZA Corporation to pursue his research interest in combining drug delivery and drug discovery concepts, in particular research into delivery of medicines directly into the lymphatic system, establishing a new medicinal chemistry facility to support the work. He continued this interest by joining DURECT Corp in 2006 to research and propose new therapeutic programs for the company as well as to explore in-licensing and collaborative opportunities.
Dr. Scicinski is currently Vice President of Research and Development at RadioRx, Inc. a start-up that converts chemical entities from the defense and fuel industries to new medicines, focusing on anti-cancer indications.
He is an author/inventor on 48 publications including abstracts, journal articles, book chapters and patent applications. Jan has Reiki II training.
Anne Vitale, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Vitale shares her time between residences in New Jersey and sunny South Florida. She is both a registered nurse and advanced practice nurse licensed in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. Her experience in nursing practice, education, management, research and consultation spans 32+ years across community/public health, home health, acute care and higher nursing education academic settings. She is currently employed as a Visiting Assistant Professor with the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Vitale is passionate about excellence and mentorship in distance education, the exploration and practice of energy-based touch therapies and fostering aging-sensitive elder care. Areas of research interests include the healing interventions of touch therapies grounded in caring science, especially Reiki and its use in self-care, improving care for older adults across health care settings, and the use of touch to improve patient outcomes in older adults.
Dr. Vitale has been married for 32 years to her husband Dan, a CPA and avid golfer. They have 2 grown sons who live in New York City and work in the computer science field. For relaxation and enjoyment, Dr. Vitale enjoys swimming, golf, tennis, meditation and self-care with Reiki. She is a Reiki Master with a small private practice.
Selected Publications
Vitale, A.T. (2009). Nurses Lived Experience of Reiki in Self-Care. Holistic Nursing Practice (in press).
Vitale, A.T. (2007). An integrative review of Reiki touch therapy research. Holistic Nursing Practice, 21(4), 167-179.
Vitale, A.T. & O'Connor, P.A (2006). The effect of Reiki on pain and anxiety in women with abdominal hysterectomies: A quasi-experimental pilot study Holistic Nursing Practice 20(6), 263-271
Vitale, A.T. (2006). The use of selected energy touch modalities as supportive nursing interventions: Are we there yet? Holistic Nursing Practice, 20(4), 191-196.
Vitale, A.T. & McMurray, S.A. (2006). Is nursing in a state of disconnect? Advance for Nurses, 8(1), 34-35.
Selected paper or completed research study presentations
2009- Nurses' Lived Experience of Reiki in Self-Care, American Holistic Nurses Association Conference- Reflective Practice: Creating Sacred Space, Madison, Wisconsin (scheduled presenter).
