Ann Baldwin, Ph.D.,
Editor-in-Chief,
Summarization Team Lead
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.
Article Review Team Lead
Founding Partner, ZephyrBiotech, LLC
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.
Article Review Team Second Lead
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.

Mary Guarino Kearns, Ph.D.
Article Review Team
Curriculum Vitae available upon request
Mary holds a doctorate in developmental psychology from Fordham University and is a Reiki III practitioner. In her work for MANILA Consulting Group, Inc., she serves as a liaison between cancer prevention program developers and scientific reviewers in the process of reviewing programs for inclusion on the National Cancer Institute's Research Tested Intervention Programs website. She is also a wellness consultant, specializing in helping individuals with issues of stress management, work-life balance and healthful habits. Kearns has several years of corporate experience in the area of consumer attitudinal research and her academic research has focused on biomedical, complementary, and alternative medicine and the role that social support plays in health and health care usage. She recently launched an herbal bath and body product line, Herban Lifestyle™, which features natural and organic products in earth-friendly packaging. Her products are Reiki infused.

Marjorie Piazza, Ph.D.
Summarization Team
Curriculum Vitae
My philosophical beliefs have grown and expanded during the process of educating myself to become a holistic, integrative therapist. Personally, these past years have given me direction in the area of spirituality, which I consider a great bonus in my life.

The PhD training has led me to a deep interest in energy medicine. I am a Reiki Master Practitioner having studied with Rev. Paula Caracappa, MS, Reiki Master, in the lineage of Dr. Usui. As well, I am active on a team of researchers putting together the established evidence of Reiki’s supportive effect on healing, in nursing homes and hospitals. Our goal is to disseminate the resulting research information to administrators and directors as an encouragement to explore providing such services to their residents/patients.

The education and training I received in Social Work prepared me to provide services to clients in emotional need. The education from Clayton College has prepared me to provide services to clients with additional needs; among them, spiritual and physical. This dual education includes knowledge and skills necessary to serve clients safely and ethically; I honor these requirements not only in my profession, but personally as well.

I earned graduate degrees from Fordham University and Clayton College of Natural Health; my practice was started in 1976.

The practice and I have evolved over the years into a melding of the psychological, spiritual and physical nature of man; with references to the holistic/naturopathic philosophies of balance and health. As a holistic sciences consultant, I am an educator and coach, assisting my clients on their journey, which holds much richness along with its challenges.

Adrian Winters III, Ph.D.
Summarization Team
Adrian is currently a Pathologists' Assistant and supervises a surgical pathology laboratory at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas where he has worked for the past six years. He is also a Medical Technologist, working in clinical pathology for over 23 years, before earning his PA certification and concentrating on anatomic pathology. In total, he has more than 32 years experience in the medical laboratory.

He received his Usui Reiki Master Practitioner certification in December of 2007 and is an ordained minister with the United Life Church.

Adrian received his Doctorate in Complementary and Integrative Medicine in 2008 from Kingdom College of Natural Health. He concentrated on the study of medicine and health practices in other cultures and how selected practices may be integrated into western medicine from a preventive medicine perspective.

He has a Masters Degree in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Arizona which he received in 1992. While earning his degree, he studied tumor immunology and the involvement of macrophages in low- and non-metastatic tumors. Adrian also developed a test using PCR to determine active versus latent Epstein-Barr virus activity in immunocompromised patients.

Adrian is interested in the continuing growth of Reiki practice in the hospital and hospice settings, as well as integrating the use of Reiki into everyday life as a means of stress relieve and preventive health. He is especially interested in supporting Reiki research and demonstrating the effective use of Reiki as a complementary treatment modality.

He spends much of his spare time reading and researching the connection between science and spirituality with emphasis on how current paradigms in theoretical and quantum physics and string theory lend credence to a multidimensional universe and psychic experiences.

Adrian enjoys baseball, canoeing, hiking (especially in Sedona, AZ), playing African drums, and making and playing didgeridoos.

Nancy Merrifield, RN
Project Coordinator
My first experience with research was at Beaumont hospital in Michigan. My work as an exercise physiologist in their cardiac rehabilitation program required that I collect data evaluating the progress of our patients. I was surprised when my first abstract came back with an invite for a podium presentation. I acquired much knowledge at Beaumont, and my American College of Sports Medicine certification in Cardiac Rehabilitation. Soon, a job transfer brought me to the state of Washington where I joined the Auburn General hospital team. As Coordinator of their Cardiac Rehab Phase III program I was able to bring their program to the level expected by the American College of Sports Medicine and I was a major contributor to the development of their lipid management clinic. I loved my work; however, I wanted to do more in-patient care; so I left my career behind to pursue a nursing degree. I soon found my love for telemetry and worked on the cardiac floors and medical/surgical telemetry units as a travel RN. In my travels and teaching of patients it was easy to see a vital, missing element within the traditional medical community. We had forgotten to acknowledge the spiritual aspect of our patients. So I began searching for ways to do so. In 2005 I acquired my Reiki masters certification beginning a great healing process for myself, not knowing how important this would be in my family’s future. In 2007 my daughter spent three months in the hospital prior to having twins three months premature. The babies spent six months in the NICU and came home with multiple medical needs and, fortunately, with insurance willing to pay for nursing around the clock… I took the job. Remarkably, on my journey, I had gathered all of the skills needed to give them the best of care, including Reiki. Reiki has been with us prior to their conception and has carried us through some amazing medical hurdles. I now work 60 hours each week as my grandchildren’s home health care, Pediatric RN / Reiki Master. I cherish my work with Reiki in Hospitals, The Center for Reiki Research and especially The Touchstone Process; and as I take two year old Anya on her walks in the woods, to work on increasing her lung function, and as Anya shares the wonders of nature using the sign language that I have taught her, . . . I see that my path has always been clearly laid before me.

Cynthia F. Yap, RN
Summarization Team
Curriculum Vitae
I'm originally from New Jersey, but currently live in San Antonio via Oklahoma, Japan, Virginia, Seattle, and Okinawa. By the way, I'm in the military (Air Force), so I’ve obviously been moving around quite a bit. My education is eclectic as well: B.S. Chemical Engineering, B.S. Nursing, Master of Nursing, and most recently Master Level Reiki. I'm currently the clinical nurse specialist of the neonatal ICU at Wilford Hall Medical Center, soon to be San Antonio Military Medical Center South (but by then we'll have moved to the North campus).

Eileen Pummer, RN, MSN, CPHQ
Article Review and Summarization Teams
Curriculum Vitae
I am a Quality Manager at Stanford Hospital and Clinics (SHC) in Palo Alto, California. I work closely with staff at all levels to fulfill the deep-seated belief that care environments must be safe, healing, and respectful of the rights, needs and contributions of patients, their families and all health professionals. Recognized as a leader, I work with departmental leaders in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, vascular surgery and crucial care medicine to improve quality and performance.

A native of Baltimore, I earned my BSN at Salisbury State University and then joined the cardiac-surgery staff at the University of Maryland Medical Center. With a healthy appetite for travel and an open mind for a variety of learning experiences, my two decades of nursing has included work in cardiac and neurosurgical critical care units at major academic and metro hospitals in Delaware, New Orleans, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area.

My mission shifted eight years ago from providing to promoting quality care when I joined the Quality Improvement side of healthcare. Shortly after, I went back to school for a master degree in nursing administration.

I am a member of the American College of Cardiology, have a position on the ACC’s Nursing Education Committee and have become active with legislative efforts to advance health care reform in Washington and Sacramento.

My interest in integrative health treatments and choices is longstanding. I became interested in Reiki specifically while doing a project for my graduate nursing program. My contribution in supporting Reiki research and education is with the hope we can see more advancement of integrative practice into mainstream healthcare.

I embrace being on the forefront of creating innovative models of clinical effectiveness, research and participating in healthcare care reform. Life is good in healthcare these days!

In my spare time I try to keep pace with my three children and journalist husband. I recently completed an Olympic distance triathlon as part of my, anti-aging plan.

Eileen Bilynsky, LMT
Summarization Team
Eileen manages the front office of the Hearst Cancer Resource Center (HCRC) at French Hospital in San Luis Obispo, CA. She is a Reiki Master Teacher and licensed massage therapist who began her association with HCRC as a volunteer on the Reiki team, offering free treatments twice a month to cancer patients, their families, and their caregivers. She has a private practice in Arroyo Grande, CA, teaching and providing Reiki treatment sessions. Prior to this, Eileen worked for more than 12 years in marketing and communications for HIV/AIDS medications, helping to bring several medications to market that changed the course and outcome of living with HIV disease.

Eileen moved from Philadelphia and settled on the Central Coast of California in 2002. In her free time she can often be found hiking the trails or enjoying the beach close to her home. She has a B.A. from Temple University in foreign language and education.

Shabnam Hashemi, RN
Summarization and Article Retrieval Teams
Curriculum Vitae
Shabnam was born, raised, and attended high school in Tehran, Iran. She relocated to Rhode Island and graduated from Roger Williams University with a degree in chemistry. As her plans to work in clinical cosmetology did not materialize, she sought opportunities in medical technology. Living in Virginia, she completed an internship at Fairfax hospital and worked in the microbiology lab there for 2 years. In moving to Boston, Shabnam worked at MIT’s HMO medical department laboratory as assistant lab manager for 6-7 years, and later as a research microbiologist at Boston University. She earned a certificate in public health from the School of Public Health at Harvard University. With an interest in infection control, Shabnam has worked in a variety of clinical settings in the Boston area, Rhode Island and California. Over the years of working in clinical areas, Shabnam enjoyed patient contact and began to consider a nursing career. A supervisor encouraged her to enroll in a nursing program. Shabnam enrolled at Rhode Island College as a second -degree student, completed the nursing program successfully, and enjoyed clinical practice. She was a motivated student who was eager to learn. In December 2005, Shabnam was inducted into the Delta Upsilon Chapter at-Large of Sigma Theta Tau International and, in January 2006, graduated from Rhode Island College. In 2002, She became interested in the healing arts after receiving Reiki and Polarity from a friend. She enrolled in a Usui Reiki training program and 1-1/2 years later became a Reiki master. Since then, she has completed training in Clinical Aromatherapy, Craniosacral therapy, AMA DEUS, and Tong Ren. She practices on friends, family and anyone the universe brings to her path.

William Lee Rand
Founder, Writer
Production Coordinator
William Lee Rand is president of The International Center for Reiki Training, which he founded in 1991. He is also the publisher and editor-in-chief of Reiki News Magazine and the online Reiki Newsletter. He founded and developed the Reiki in Hospitals web site, forerunner of the Center for Reiki Research. William began practicing Reiki in 1981 and has taught full-time since 1989. He has studied Reiki with six teachers, three of whom are Japanese Reiki Masters. He has made three trips to Japan for the purpose of researching the history and practice of Reiki, and he continues to maintain close contact with other researchers and teachers. William has developed a number of Reiki techniques, including Reiki Aura Clearing and the Healing Attunement. Over a two-year period beginning in 1993, he and some of his students developed the Karuna Reiki® system of healing. In 1997 he traveled to the North Pole to place a Reiki World Peace Grid, which is dedicated to furthering world peace. He placed a Peace Grid at the South Pole in 1999 and one in Jerusalem in 2004. The Peace Grid system is the basis of a monthly world peace meditation William leads with Reiki practitioners around the world. William continues to teach Reiki classes internationally and has recently established a new Reiki Training Center in Hawaii.

Selected Publications

Articles
Rand has written more than 150 articles about Reiki. The following are a selection from those which have appeared in Reiki News Magazine and the online Reiki Newsletter:

“Enhance Your Reiki Energy with a Healthier Diet,” Fall 2008.
“The Origin of All Is Pure Consciousness,” Summer 2008.
“Growing Whole with Reiki,” Spring 2008.
“Living a Meaningful Life,” Winter 2007.
“What Makes Reiki Symbols Work?” Fall 2007.
“Reiki for Happiness and Success,” Fall 2006.
“What Is Reiki Energy?” Winter 2005.
“Science Validates Spiritual Healing,” Fall 2003.
“Creating a Reiki Class,” Summer 2002.
“Why Do We Need Reiki,” Summer 2002.
“Reiki in India,” Summer 2000.
“Working with Japanese and Western Reiki,” Winter 2000.
“Discovering the Roots of Reiki,” Spring 1998.
“Reiki in Hospitals,” Summer 1997.
“A Personal Healing Program,” Spring 1996.
“Reiki and the Shadow Self,” Fall 1995.

Books
Reiki, The Healing Touch. Southfield, Michigan: Vision Publications, 1990 and 2008.
Reiki Master Manual, Including Advanced Reiki Training. Southfield, Michigan: Vision Publications, 1990 and 2003.
Reiki for a New Millennium. Southfield, Michigan: Vision Publications, 1998.
The Spirit of Reiki, with Arjava Petter and Walter L¸beck. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press, 2001.
The Reiki Touch Kit. Boulder, Colorado: Sounds True, 2005.

Publisher
Spiritual Healing, Scientific Validation of a Healing Revolution by Daniel Benor, M.D. Southfield, Michigan: Vision Publications, 2001.

Gianna Settin, Ph.D.
Article Review Team
Curriculum Vitae
Gianna Settin, PhD, Director of Colorado-based Avanti Healing Arts®, respected Reiki Master Teacher of Gendai Reiki Ho, Usui-Tibetan, and Karuna Reiki®, is one of only a few Gendai Reiki Ho Shihans offering training in the USA in this school of Japanese Reiki. A Licensed Teacher with the International Center for Reiki Training for several years, she began Avanti Healing Arts® after a trek in Nepal in the later 1990’s and has taught Reiki around the world – in English and French.

Recognized for her contributions in geriatric medicine and clinical psychology with academic degrees from Columbia University and SUNY Stony Brook, she is an accomplished therapist with over 25 years experience in teaching and private practice, has presented topics in healthcare and holistic medicine at hundreds of professional conferences and workshops, and has numerous publications in Psychology and Reiki.

Dr. Settin is uniquely qualified to offer Psychotherapeutic Reiki and Emotional Healing as a treatment specialty. From her varied career path winding its way through veterinary medicine, psychology, herbalism and dance emerge her Reiki specialties: Reiki with Animals; Reiki with Plants; Reiki and Emotional Healing. From a family of musicians, her first career was as a professional ballet soloist in France. Calling upon this experience she originated Reiki Healing Dance™, a certification course presented worldwide.

Reiki Classes offered in the High Mountains of Colorado integrate offerings from her lifelong experience with meditation and movement-based energetic therapies, and Tibetan Buddhism and Native American influences, into creative workshops.

Gianna:

“As we strengthen our identification with our spiritual selves and honor our uniqueness as individuals we are more and more able to let go of ego and expectations. We expand our ability to live according to the Law of Allowance with others on the Earth and at the same time see ourselves within the larger framework of the Galaxy. There are many dimensions to existence. For me, simplicity is the rule --- my greatest pleasure comes from tending to my spiritual practice, sharing experience with the beings, animals, rocks, and plants I cross paths with, and being open to every new possibility!”

“Reiki is not a method or technique ---it is a joyful way of life that harmonizes our mental, emotional and spiritual aspects while effortlessly guiding us into exploration of our real nature, onto our authentic path. It has provided me with a level of stability and ongoing guidance that moves beyond anything that I have experienced elsewhere, and I feel completely blessed by its beauty. I love to teach Reiki and to empower others in its transcendent wisdom and wonder. It is truly a way to discover the sacred nature of inner healing, and to learn trust in Your Higher Self.”

Gianna relocated from the woods of N. Maine to N. Colorado and when not hiking and writing she practices and teaches Reiki and Meditation in the High Mountains of Estes Park. To read more or make an appointment for treatment and training please visit her website www.AvantiHealingArts.com