Lyme disease: what if everything you know about it was only a fraction of the truth? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Tom Moorcroft joins us to break down misdiagnosis, co-infections, persistence, testing pitfalls, immune dysregulation, and the mindset shifts that helped him recover after eight years of undiagnosed illness.
Most people think Lyme disease is simple—until they get it. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Tom Moorcroft joins us to share his eight-year journey of misdiagnosis, brain fog, joint pain, and debilitating fatigue that no doctor could explain. He walks through how Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella, and other co-infections overlap, why conventional treatment often falls short, and how immune suppression, total toxic load, and persistent forms of Borrelia complicate diagnosis and healing.
We dive deep into testing accuracy, the limitations of standard labs, the power of herbal protocols, and why slow-growing organisms require a fundamentally different treatment strategy. We also explore the emotional side of chronic illness, offering hope and direction to anyone navigating long-term symptoms.
Dr. Tom Moorcroft is one of the nation’s leading experts in Lyme disease, tick-borne co-infections, and complex chronic illness. With almost two decades of frontline clinical experience, he blends osteopathic medicine, advanced infectious-disease training, and root-cause functional approaches to help patients recover from conditions often dismissed or misunderstood by conventional medicine.
He is the founder of the Lyme Disease Practitioner Certification and Mentorship Program and host of The Lyme Insider Podcast, where he trains clinicians to diagnose and treat Lyme disease, Babesia, Bartonella, mold illness, and infection-triggered autoimmune conditions like PANS/PANDAS. Dr. Moorcroft is also a sought-after educator and a fellow of both the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society and the Medical Academy of Pediatrics Special Needs.
Dr. Tom Moorcroft
Website: tommoorcroft.com
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4MF1vvgVernzmORc6JdkG4?si=a33a63c4b4cf4778
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tommoorcroft
Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
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This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com
https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/
This is the mistake most protocols make with complex kids… In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. James Neuenschwander, also known as Dr. Neu, joins us to talk about root-cause biochemistry, why there’s no one-size protocol for autism or PANS/PANDAS, and how patterns like immune dysfunction, gut issues, methylation problems, and the cell danger response can drive chronic illness.
Why complex illness refuses to follow a checklist. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. James Neuenschwander shares how he left surgical residency after seeing his own family experience improve with herbs, homeopathy, dietary changes, and detox-focused approaches—sparking a decades-long commitment to treating illness at its source rather than chasing symptoms.
He unpacks why MAPS teaches biochemistry that applies beyond pediatrics, and why labels like PANS, PANDAS, autism, ADD, chronic fatigue, and even long COVID can share underlying processes like inflammation, immune dysfunction, mitochondrial stress, gut dysbiosis, and nutrient issues. Dr. Neu explains the cell danger response as a short-term protective shift that becomes destructive when it’s chronically activated—and emphasizes the core message for both parents and practitioners: keep learning, keep investigating root drivers, and don’t give up. Tune in to hear how patterns reveal what protocols miss.
Dr. James Neuenschwander, also known as Dr. Neu, is an integrative physician and the president and director of the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS). He leads BioEnergy Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he sees chronically ill children and adults with complex immune, gut, and neuroinflammatory presentations.
After training in conventional medicine, he shifted toward root-cause care centered on biochemistry—focusing on identifying what’s driving symptoms rather than treating diagnostic labels. Through MAPS, he helps train practitioners to understand key pathways and apply science-based, individualized strategies to complex chronic illness.
James Neuenschwander, MD
Website: bioenergymedicalcenter.com/provider/james-neuenschwander-md
Instagram: instagram.com/theneumd
MAPS: medmaps.org/faculty/james-neuenschwander/
Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
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This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com
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What if you did everything right in pregnancy… and your child still developed autism and PANS/PANDAS? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, functional clinical nutritionist Inna Topiler joins us to talk about autoimmunity, preconception health, hidden triggers, flares, and the deep emotional work of parenting a neurologically sensitive child.
What happens when you spend years restoring your own health, and still face your child’s autism diagnosis? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, functional clinical nutritionist Inna Topiler joins us to share her path from chronically sick child to practitioner, and then to a mom navigating her son’s autism spectrum disorder. She opens up about decades of infections, heavy metals, gut issues, and thyroid autoimmunity, and the grief of realizing that even with all her preparation, her son needed a different kind of support.
We explore how parental autoimmunity, thyroid health, environmental triggers, and even subtle trauma shape a child’s nervous and immune systems. Tune in to this honest, validating conversation for any parent who feels they did everything right and is still searching for answers.
Inna Topiler is a functional clinical nutritionist specializing in Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism—expertise shaped by her own long battle with infections, gut issues, heavy metals, and autoimmune thyroid disease. Her search for answers led her from Wall Street to a master’s degree and two decades of training in functional nutrition. For 21 years, she has helped clients address autoimmunity, hormone imbalances, digestive issues, and toxic overload through a root-cause, whole-body approach.
As a mom to a son with autism and PANS/PANDAS and a neurotypical daughter, Inna brings a rare dual perspective as both practitioner and parent. She’s passionate about blending conventional and functional tools, optimizing thyroid health, and creating cleaner, healthier homes. She is the creator of Thyrolove, a targeted multi-nutrient formula for Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism, and shares her podcast, programs, and resources at InnaTopiler.com and Thyrolove.com.
Inna Topiler, CNS, MS
Websites: innatopiler.com; thyrolove.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/inna-topiler-mooney-cns-ms-9a85b27
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3RQT9bHpyPTWgVbObDvxHF?si=97abed9e34d9454e
Instagram: instagram.com/innatopiler
Facebook: facebook.com/InnaTopiler
YouTube: youtube.com/@innatopilerofficial
Tiktok: tiktok.com/@innatopiler
Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
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What happens when a ten-year-old wakes up as a completely different child, hearing voices, gripped by terror, and no one can explain why? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Isabel Witkos shares her story of years of misdiagnosis, trauma, self-harm, and suicidality, and how she rebuilt her life through therapy, community, and a stubborn kind of hope.
She went to bed a typical ten-year-old and woke up terrified of her own mind. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Isabel Witkos joins us to talk about what PANDAS feels like from the inside. She describes going to bed as a typical ten-year-old and waking up overwhelmed by fear, intrusive thoughts, and symptoms no one could explain. Her family faced months of confusion, misdiagnoses, and missed school before learning about PANDAS. Even then, her recovery was long and complicated. She shares the grief of losing normal childhood experiences, the isolation of feeling misunderstood, and the struggle of living for years with a brain and body that no longer felt safe.
Izzy also opens up about the emotional side of her journey, including trauma, self-harm, and moments when she had to choose to keep going. Today, after years of hard work, she talks about finding calm, gratitude, and a desire for a peaceful life. Her story reminds families that this season is not the whole story and that recovery is possible.
Isabel Witkos is a young adult who spent a full decade living inside PANDAS. She was diagnosed at age ten after an overnight change that left her hearing voices, battling tics, intrusive thoughts, severe anxiety, and long stretches out of school. Her case was complex, with multiple triggers and layers of medical and emotional trauma, including self-harm and a suicide attempt in college.
Today, she speaks openly about the loneliness, grief, and identity loss that often go unseen in PANDAS. Through years of treatment, intensive therapy, and the steady presence of her family and friends, she’s learned that she is far more than her diagnosis, and now uses her story to offer validation, hope, and a vision of true healing to other families walking the same road.
Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
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What if your child’s sudden tics, rages, anxiety, or personality changes were signs of the immune system attacking the brain after an infection? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Craig Shimasaki reveals how a simple blood test can uncover hidden immune reactions, explain the most confusing symptoms, and point families toward real answers and real healing.
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If your child changed overnight, this conversation may explain why and what to do next. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Craig Shimasaki joins us to talk about how a simple infection can confuse the immune system and cause it to accidentally target the brain, leading to the sudden tics, rages, anxiety, and behavior shifts so many families experience. Tune in as we explore why these immune reactions are easily accepted when they affect the joints or thyroid, yet are dismissed as ‘behavioral’ when they affect the brain. Dr. Shimasaki also highlights the powerful role of gut health, microbiome diversity, and everyday exposures in shaping the immune system. His message is simple: when families understand the root cause, and when clinicians treat what the immune system is actually doing, kids and adults can improve in ways once thought impossible.
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Dr. Craig Shimasaki is a molecular biologist, entrepreneur, and long-time leader in turning scientific discoveries into real-world medical breakthroughs. With more than three decades of experience in molecular biology, infectious disease, and immune-triggered brain disorders, he co-founded Moleculera Biosciences, a precision medicine company helping families uncover the immune root causes behind sudden neurologic, psychiatric, and behavioral symptoms. Today, he teaches biotechnology entrepreneurship and works with scientists and clinicians around the world to bring urgently needed medical innovations to patients. Dr. Shimasaki has become a leading voice in understanding how infections can trigger autoimmune reactions in the brain, and how identifying these reactions can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
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Craig Shimasaki, PhD, MBA
Website: moleculera.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/craig-shimasaki-45b4a618
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com
Leaky skin. Leaky gut. Leaky brain. The connection is real, and it’s impacting our kids. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Sheila Kilbane joins us to connect the dots between eczema, atopic issues, histamine, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Join us as we break down the surprising overlap between leaky skin, leaky gut, and a leaky blood-brain barrier in kids with chronic inflammatory issues and offer practical, doable steps to support healing.
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What if your child’s eczema, gut issues, and rages were all connected? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Sheila Kilbane joins us to explore a big question on so many parents’ minds: How are my child’s skin issues, gut issues, and brain symptoms all connected? She breaks down her ‘inside out and outside in’ approach to eczema in simple, practical terms, while also asking why the fire started in the first place. We also look at the major triggers in a child’s ‘inflammation bucket’ and show how things like allergy season or a dust-mite–filled mattress can be the hidden reason tics, rages, or anxiety explode.
Dr. Kilbane also dives into when it actually helps to use medications or antihistamines at the beginning, and how to slowly layer in kid-friendly tools like smoothies, better snacks, and more plants in the diet without stressing the whole family. Tune in to hear real stories of kids whose eczema, ear infections, and behavior improved when a few key foods were removed, why giant food panels are unreliable, and how simple patterns and parent observations can guide your next steps.
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Dr. Sheila Kilbane is a board-certified pediatrician and integrative medicine physician who helps families get to the root of chronic childhood illnesses, from eczema and allergies to gut issues, asthma, and behavioral symptoms. After years in a busy conventional practice watching kids return again and again without lasting improvement, she set out to create a better model of care, one that listens deeply, looks for patterns, and uses both nutrition and medicine to support healing from the inside out.
Today, she runs a private practice and is the creator of the Healthy Kids, Happy Moms Program, a seven-step process designed to reduce inflammation and restore children’s health naturally and sustainably. A sought-after speaker and author, her mission is to transform pediatric healthcare and help one million kids get off medications they may not need while giving parents the clarity, confidence, and tools they deserve.
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Sheila Kilbane, MD
Website: sheilakilbane.com
Instagram: instagram.com/sheilakilbanemd
Facebook: facebook.com/sheilakilbanemd
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sheilakilbane
Twitter: x.com/sheilakilbanemd
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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From toxins to trauma, diet to infections—modern kids face more than we realize. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Beth Lambert and Dr. Heather Tallman Ruhm of the Documenting Hope Project join us to talk about why children’s chronic conditions like autism are driven by a ‘total load’ of modern-life stressors. Uncover how their groundbreaking research empowers parents to identify these invisible stressors and kickstart lasting change.
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Modern life is heavy on kids’ systems. This episode shows how to lift the weight. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Heather Ruhm and Beth Lambert from Documenting Hope join us to talk about the ‘total load’ theory: the idea that the modern world overwhelms children’s systems through diet, toxins, infections, and environmental exposures. We unpack a study that tracks thousands of data points to reveal the hidden web of factors contributing to chronic conditions like autism and PANS/PANDAS.
This conversation reminds families that progress begins with awareness: by tracking symptoms, noticing small wins, and reducing total load, parents can unlock new levels of resilience and hope for their child and the entire household.
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Beth Lambert is a former healthcare consultant and teacher who has spent over a decade studying the environmental and lifestyle factors driving chronic illness in children. As the Founder and Executive Director of Epidemic Answers and the Documenting Hope Project, she leads groundbreaking initiatives that combine research, education, and storytelling to inspire healing and transformation. She is the author of A Compromised Generation: The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in America’s Children and co-author of Brain Under Attack: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers of Children with PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalitis. Beth holds degrees from Williams College and Fairfield University, and she studied at Oxford University.
Dr. Heather Tallman Ruhm is a Board-Certified Family Physician dedicated to whole-person, integrative care. Blending her background in medicine with expertise in functional, bioregulatory, and energy medicine, she helps patients harness their innate healing capacity and self-regulation. A graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, she also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Dr. Tallman Ruhm has practiced across the United States, taught college-level courses in pathology and wellness, and co-authored peer-reviewed research on autism recovery. Based in Southern New Hampshire, she continues to teach, speak, and practice part-time while finding joy in yoga, skiing, hiking, and gardening.
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Website: documentinghope.com
Instagram: instagram.com/documentinghope
Facebook: facebook.com/DocumentingHope
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC_ZHXwyx8jIhJbUD2GXCTnw
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/documentinghope/
Twitter: x.com/DocumentingHope
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com
What if the fastest way to calm the brain starts in the gut? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Sabine Hazan reveals surprising links between gut microbes and the brain—showing how tiny shifts in bifidobacteria can influence cognition, behavior, and recovery. She also unpacks the truth about fecal transplant, what makes a ‘good’ donor, why environment and product quality can undo progress, and how to verify real microbiome healing instead of guessing.
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Fecal transplants, fake probiotics, and the fight for real gut healing. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Sabine Hazan joins us to share her groundbreaking work linking the gut to the brain and immune system. She explains how changes in the microbiome can influence conditions like autism and why restoring balance in the gut often leads to measurable improvements in health and behavior.
Dr. Hazan breaks down why fecal transplant is both science and art, from choosing the right donor to ensuring true engraftment and a supportive environment. She also exposes how many probiotic and yogurt labels fail to match their claims, urging families to test and verify quality. Her message is clear: when we protect the gut, we open the door to lasting healing and scientific discovery.
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Dr. Sabine Hazan is a trailblazer in gastroenterology, internal medicine, and hepatology, known for redefining how we understand the microbiome. As the first woman accepted into the University of Florida’s Clinical Gastroenterology Fellowship, she went on to lead over 300 clinical trials through her company, Ventura Clinical Trials, and now serves as founder and CEO of Progenabiome, a genetic sequencing lab conducting more than 35 microbiome studies.
Her team was the first in the world to detect SARS-CoV-2 in patient stool samples by whole genome sequencing, linking gut health to susceptibility to COVID. As Series Editor on the microbiome for Practical Gastroenterology and a frequent speaker at global conferences, she continues to push the boundaries of microbiome science—most recently pioneering familial fecal transplants that offer new hope for children with autism.
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Sabine Hazan, MD
Website: progenabiome.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dr.sabinehazan
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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What if your child’s symptoms trace back to your home’s air and dust? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Meredith Pleiter, an environmental health coach, joins us to reveal the eight non-negotiables for successful mold remediation. He also shares practical, budget-friendly steps families can take now to protect their kids from mold.
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What if your home is quietly keeping your child sick—even after mold remediation? Here’s why that test might be lying to you. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Meredith Pleiter joins us to lay out eight non-negotiables to protect your home from mold. She explains why new houses can still be moldy, why visible mold is only the tip of the iceberg, and why the inspector you choose determines everything.
We talk about fine-particle cleaning that removes spores, fragments, and mycotoxins from dust, how to choose an effective vacuum, when to fog, and why wet-wiping beats dry dusting. Meredith also covers simple wins for tight budgets—from self-draining dehumidifiers to vents, rugs, cars, and high-dust surfaces. Her message is hopeful and human: use your village, learn your home, and remember that food heals, environment matters, and you are not alone.
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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At ReligenDX, we are revolutionizing diagnostic testing by equipping healthcare professionals with cutting-edge tools for early detection, targeted interventions, and improved patient outcomes. Our innovative solutions, including the Folate Receptor Antibody Test (FRAT) for PANS, PANDAS, and Autism, provide critical insights into neurological and immune-related conditions. With a commitment to scientific excellence and personalized medicine, ReligenDX empowers clinicians to make informed decisions and optimize treatment for every patient.
Website: fratnow.com or religendx.com
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Normal folate test results may not tell you what the brain actually needs. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Richard Frye, a child neurologist, joins us to explain cerebral folate deficiency, why many kids show brain-level need despite normal blood tests, and how targeted folinic acid, dairy elimination, and mitochondrial support can unlock language, calm tics, and steady behavior.
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Think your child’s folate levels are fine? Here’s why that test might be lying to you. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Richard Frye shares the fascinating story behind cerebral folate deficiency, how antibodies can block folate from entering the brain, and why so many kids with autism improve with folinic acid (leucovorin). He explains how symptoms shift with age and why some children need more folate, not less.
Dr. Frye then reveals surprising connections: how dairy proteins can block receptors, why certain brands of leucovorin work better, and why ‘normal’ folate tests often mislead. He connects mitochondrial overdrive, nutrient gaps, and prenatal stress, showing parents and practitioners how a step-by-step plan helps children regain focus, energy, and progress.
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Dr. Richard Frye is a Child Neurologist with expertise in neurodevelopmental and neurometabolic disorders. He received an MD and PhD in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University. He completed a residency in Pediatrics at the University of Miami, Residency in Child Neurology and Fellowship in Behavioral Neurology and Learning Disabilities at Harvard University/Children’s Hospital Boston and Fellowship in Psychology at Boston University. He also received a Masters in Biomedical Science and Biostatistics from Drexel University. He holds board certifications in Pediatrics, and in Neurology with Special Competence in Child Neurology. He has authored over 300 publications and book chapters and serves on several editorial boards.
Dr. Frye is a national leader in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research. He is President and Chief Scientific Officer of the Autism Discovery and Treatment Foundation, Chief Medical Officer of the Neurological Health Foundation, Director of Research and Neurologist at the Rossignol Medical Center and Principal Investigator at the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center.
He has lead several clinical studies on children with ASD, including studies focusing on defining the clinical, behavioral, cognitive, genetic and metabolic characteristics of children with ASD and mitochondrial disease and several clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of safe and novel treatments that target underlying physiological abnormalities in children with ASD, including studies on leucovorin, cobalamin and tetrahydrobiopterin and has an ongoing multicenter controlled clinical trial on leucovorin, neuroimmune modulators and photobiomodulation.
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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School closures, masking, and fear left scars. Here's how to rebuild resilience. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Elizabeth Mumper joins us to unpack what COVID taught us about children’s health—what worked, what harmed, and how to do better next time. She connects school closures, masking, and fear with developmental and mental health fallout, then ties the virus to neuroinflammation, viral reactivation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and practical ways families can restore resilience.
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Did the lockdowns do more damage to our kids than the virus? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Elizabeth Mumper reveals how fear-driven lockdowns and masking policies may have harmed kids more than helped, disrupting emotional growth, learning, and safety nets. She contrasts this with other countries’ child-centered models and exposes how misclassified hospital data exaggerated children’s risk, fueling unnecessary fear.
Dr. Mumper then connects the dots between the virus and PANS/PANDAS, exploring how spike proteins, viral reactivation, and mitochondrial stress can ignite brain inflammation and mood shifts. From the gut-brain connection to the power of vitamins, oxygen, and parental intuition, she lays out a hopeful roadmap: support the mitochondria, question the narrative, and trust your instincts to protect your child’s future.
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Dr. Elizabeth Mumper is the President and CEO of The Rimland Center, where she mentors clinicians dedicated to helping children with neurodevelopmental challenges. She leads two pediatric practices—Advocates for Children, a general pediatrics practice, and Advocates for Families, which focuses on children with autism and related disorders.
A magna cum laude graduate of Bridgewater College, Dr. Mumper earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed her pediatric residency at the University of Massachusetts and the University of Virginia, where she later served as Chief Resident. Her decades-long career includes roles as Director of Pediatric Education for the Lynchburg Family Practice Residency Program, clinical faculty at UVA, and Medical Director of the Autism Research Institute. She currently teaches for MAPS (Medical Academy for Pediatric Special Needs) and Intersect for Kids and serves on the Medical Advisory Board for TACA (Talk About Curing Autism).
Widely recognized for her contributions to pediatric medicine, she has received numerous awards, including Miracle Maker of Central Virginia, Woman of the Year in Health and Sciences, and multiple Inspiring Change Awards from the MINDD Foundation. A respected author and international lecturer, she continues to advance functional and integrative approaches to pediatric care, inspiring clinicians and families across the globe.
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Elizabeth Mumper, MD, IFMCP, FMAPS
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-mumper-b143022a
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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Before you treat, see the brain. This is why it matters. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Eboni Cornish explains how brain scans can help us see and calm the brain inflammation that's messing with mood, sleep, and thinking. She details common root causes (vector-borne infections, mold/biotoxins, strep), the often-missed basics, and practical limbic system retraining tools that make treatment tolerable.
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This scan shows what lab tests often miss—and what to do next. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Eboni Cornish joins us to explain how brain scans can reveal inflammation and guide the next steps, from addressing hidden infections and toxins to designing the right therapies. She also describes her two-week intensive program that helps families reset with daily support and clear direction.
She highlights common but overlooked issues—hormones, thyroid, sleep apnea, and gut health—that can stall recovery. She shows how calming an overwhelmed nervous system with limbic retraining makes treatments safer and more effective. Most importantly, she reminds families that there’s hope and real answers beyond standard testing.
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Dr. Eboni Cornish is an integrative and functional medicine physician known for helping patients of all ages uncover and heal the root causes of complex chronic illness. She specializes in autoimmune disease, tick-borne disease, environmental toxicity, gut and neurological imbalances, and uses an evidence-based, whole-body approach to restore health.
At Amen Clinics, Dr. Cornish co-developed the Neuroinflammatory Intensive Program, a two-week immersive reset that combines advanced brain imaging, targeted therapies, and close medical support to help patients with persistent neurological and inflammatory conditions.
Dr. Cornish earned both her undergraduate and medical degrees from Brown University and completed her family medicine residency at Georgetown University. A Howard Hughes Medical Fellow, she conducted research at the NIH with Dr. Francis Collins and now serves as Treasurer of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society and is a Fellow of the Institute of Functional Medicine. Recognized as Northern Virginia’s Top Doctor, she’s widely respected for her patient-centered care and dedication to educating clinicians in functional and integrative medicine.
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Eboni Cornish, MD
Website: https://www.amenclinics.com/team/eboni-cornish-md/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.ebonicornish/
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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Supporting the nervous system beats punishing behavior. Here’s how. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Eileen Devine explains Brain First Parenting: a shift from behavior control to supporting a child’s brain and nervous system with empathy, accommodations, and co-regulation. She shows why parent healing and regulation are essential, why traditional behavior plans often fail kids with neuroimmune/neurobehavioral differences, and how families can build resilience day by day.
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It’s not bad behavior—it’s missing brain skills. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Eileen Devine joins us to explain how what looks like refusal or defiance in kids is often a brain skills gap or a stressed nervous system. Traditional charts, punishments, and rewards usually fail these kids—and exhaust parents.
Instead, she shows how to match expectations to your child’s real abilities, build in supports where skills lag, and use your own calm presence to help them regulate. She also talks about handling unpredictable ‘on/off’ days, the hidden trauma parents carry, and how to stop spiraling about the future. Tune in now to hear practical ways to work with schools, know when an environment isn’t safe, and add small daily habits that build endurance and hope over time.
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Eileen Devine is a parent coach, licensed clinical social worker, and mother to a teenager with neurobehavioral differences. After discovering the neurobehavioral model nearly a decade ago, she transformed her approach to parenting—and now helps other families do the same. She specializes in supporting parents of children with challenging behavioral symptoms, teaching a brain-first approach that builds connection, reduces overwhelm, and restores hope at home.
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Eileen Devine, LCSW
Website: https://www.eileendevine.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eileen.devine_brain.first/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenDevineBrainFirstParenting
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0yxGMOkvas1wAmojafUWZx
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileen-devine-b05638180/
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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When sudden mood swings or rage don’t respond to treatment, infections may be the culprit. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Rosalie Greenberg, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, explains how hidden infections can inflame the brain and trigger psychiatric symptoms. She shares real stories, warning signs to watch for, and a practical three-step approach: treat the infection, calm the immune system, and ease symptoms so kids can get their childhood back.
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When parents say something’s wrong, they’re usually right. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Rosalie Greenberg shares how many kids once labeled with psychiatric disorders—like bipolar or even schizophrenia—were actually battling hidden infections. She describes dramatic turnarounds, like a teen misdiagnosed with schizophrenia who improved once treated for Bartonella.
Dr. Greenberg explains why some medications (like antidepressants) can backfire in vulnerable kids, and how to use them more safely by starting very low, increasing slowly, and always watching for family history of bipolar disorder. She also notes how ‘psychiatric herx’ reactions during treatment sometimes ease with simple anti-inflammatories. Her bottom line is simple but powerful: be a detective, listen to parents, and never ignore sudden changes in a child’s behavior.
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Dr. Rosalie Greenberg is a board-certified adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist recognized for her expertise in complex childhood psychiatric disorders and pediatric psychopharmacology. She earned her MD from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, where she also completed her residency and fellowship, later serving as chief resident and a longtime faculty member.
With over four decades of experience, she has authored books, research articles, and produced educational media addressing topics from adolescent suicide and pediatric bipolar disorder to the psychiatric impact of infections. Practicing in New Jersey, she was among the first to highlight the connection between tick-borne illnesses and psychiatric symptoms in children, often in cases where no tick bite was known. Today, her private practice in Summit, New Jersey, focuses on the psychiatric manifestations of infectious and immune-related diseases in youth, while she continues to lecture nationally and internationally on children’s mental health.
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Rosalie Greenberg, MD
Website: https://www.rosaliegreenbergmd.com/
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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Fake food, real damage—here’s how to protect your child’s gut and immune system. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Michelle Perro joins us to share how ‘fake food’ and environmental toxins are disrupting our kids’ guts and immunity. We also explore practical steps you can start today—from choosing organic staples and cooking at home, to using bone broth, testing key minerals, gardening with kids, and even pushing for healthier school lunches.
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In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Michelle Perro shares her journey from pediatric emergency medicine to integrative pediatrics after witnessing how homeopathy transformed her own son’s health. She connects the rise of ‘fake food’ with today’s explosion of autoimmunity and neurobehavioral challenges in children. At the heart of her message is the gut microbiome: when chemicals like glyphosate disrupt gut microbes, kids become more vulnerable to inflammation that impacts mood, sleep, learning, and immunity.
Our conversation also turns practical, offering families clear, doable steps. Dr. Perro explains why going organic—especially with dairy, meat, and berries—makes a difference, and how cooking at home, packing lunches, and testing for zinc and magnesium levels can reveal and correct hidden deficiencies. She highlights simple solutions like bone broth, home or community gardening, breastfeeding, and vagal therapies, while also encouraging parents to push for healthier school meals. She ends with hope: even small changes, done consistently, can rebuild resilience and shift a child’s long-term health.
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Dr. Michelle Perro is a pediatrician with over four decades of experience spanning emergency and integrative medicine. She has focused her career on the impact of genetically modified organisms, pesticides, and environmental toxicants on children’s health. She is the co-author of What’s Making Our Children Sick? and serves as executive director of GMO Science, a nonprofit dedicated to evidence-based education on food and health. She also sits on the Scientific Advisory Board for Biocidin Botanicals. A sought-after speaker on regenerative food, soil, and environmental justice, she continues to champion children’s health worldwide.
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Michelle Perro, MD, DHom
Website: https://gmoscience.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMOScience
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmichelleperro/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-perro-md-2593ba9/
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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These moms turned heartbreak into hope—and created a movement that’s changing lives. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Jennifer Vitelli and Cathy Witkos join us to share how the Look. Foundation is tackling PANS/PANDAS through the three pillars of support, education, and awareness. From over $400,000 in healing grants to nationwide school outreach, we outline practical ways families can find help, community, and hope.
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In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, we sit down with the co-founders of the Look. Foundation, Jennifer Vitelli and Cathy Witkos to trace their journeys from isolated parents to movement-builders. They outline their foundation’s three pillars—support, education, and awareness—and share what that looks like on the ground: over $400,000 in healing grants, regular group calls that connect families across the country, and practical resources that shorten the learning curve and end isolation.
We also address common misconceptions and emphasize early detection: when kids experience abrupt behavioral changes, families and clinicians should look for medical triggers and document symptoms, while partnering with schools to connect the dots. The conversation highlights bold awareness campaigns and a long-term strategy to make access equitable, expand grants, and build a national infrastructure so no child with PANS/PANDAS is overlooked or left behind.
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Jennifer Vitelli serves as the executive director of the Look. Foundation, where she helps children and young adults affected by infection-triggered neuroinflammatory disorders like PANS/PANDAS. She has co-led and co-founded the Massachusetts Coalition for PANS/PANDAS Legislation, achieving key legislative wins. Jennifer was also a founding board member of the New England PANS/PANDAS Association.
Cathy Witkos is the president of the Look. Foundation and has been a leading advocate in the PANS/PANDAS community. She is a mother of three (one child healing from PANS/PANDAS) and has helped build support networks and awareness from the ground up. Cathy was a founding board member of the New England PANS/PANDAS Association and has spearheaded efforts in community education, school and nurse outreach, public awareness, and financial grant support for families facing this often misunderstood illness.
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Website: https://www.lookfoundation.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LookFoundation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/look.foundation/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/look-foundation-inc/
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Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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Could something as simple as your child’s breathing be affecting their behavior? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Drs. Lynda and Krystle Dean-Duru join us to explain how our breathing patterns shape sleep, immunity, and behavior in our children. We also delve into various aspects, such as birth factors, breastfeeding, nasal hygiene, and chewing, all aimed at reducing inflammation and promoting healing.
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In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, we explore the tight link between airway health, craniofacial development, and systemic inflammation in children. Drs. Lynda and Krystle Dean-Duru join us to trace patterns from birth to early feeding, showing how breastfeeding and chewing help the jaws widen, the palate lower, and the nose open for efficient nasal breathing. They emphasize that mouth breathing bypasses filtration and nitric oxide, strains the brain and body, and reinforces sympathetic overdrive that impairs sleep and healing.
They also outline a practical integrative toolkit that includes nasal hygiene to support lip seal as well as whole foods and posture for growth. Their message is hopeful: start as early as infancy when possible, but it’s never too late to improve airway, sleep, and overall health.
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Dr. Lynda Dean-Duru and Dr. Krystle Dean-Duru are a pioneering mother–daughter team transforming pediatric dentistry with an integrative, airway-centric approach. Together at Ashburn Children’s Dentistry, they combine laser-assisted therapies, myofunctional training, and growth-guidance appliances to optimize craniofacial development, sleep, and breathing from infancy through adolescence. Their shared mission is to empower families with early, preventative strategies that transform oral health, airway function, and overall health
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Website: https://www.kidzsmile.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshburnChildrensDentistry/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashburnchildrensdentistry/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashburn-childrens-dentistry-60a63537/?trk=public_profile_browsemap
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGrgxoVVrQRf6je6H_OkkDw
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Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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At NutraMedix, our mission is to address complex health challenges by supporting medical professionals and their patients with the highest quality nutraceuticals, education, and service.
With over 30 years of experience in the nutraceutical industry, we have earned a trusted reputation among healthcare practitioners worldwide.
We take a holistic approach to every step of our process from sourcing and formulation to scientific validation and sustainability. Our goal is to provide products that support not only individual health but also economic, social, spiritual, and environmental well-being.
By combining traditional wisdom with modern science, NutraMedix ensures that every product is crafted with the highest quality standards, offering practitioners safe, effective, and reliable solutions for patient care.
We collaborate with healthcare professionals to create targeted solutions that support a wide range of health challenges. Our unique supplements, including our signature liquid extracts, are designed to optimize absorption and effectiveness. Many of our products have been used in clinical settings and are trusted by practitioners for their reliability and results.
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Website: https://www.nutramedix.com/pages/practitioners
15% Discount Code: AVEATALKS
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Lyme disease wears many disguises. In kids, it can look like anxiety, depression, and even tics, symptoms also common for PANS/PANDAS. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Jaquel Patterson joins us to unpack how infections, a leaky blood–brain barrier, hormones, sleep, and nutrients interact. She also unveils what lifestyle, botanicals, and targeted testing can do to support recovery.
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What if your child’s tics were rooted in an infection no one’s testing for? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Jaquel Patterson joins us to share her clinical journey from personal diagnosis to treating complex tick-borne illness. She explains how chronic inflammation weakens the blood–brain barrier, activates microglia, and disrupts brain regions to fuel anxiety, depression, cognitive symptoms, and tics in kids.
Dr. Patterson talks about botanicals with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions, including stevia and cordyceps. She also discusses hormone considerations in adolescents and women, mold’s impact, and the need for individualized testing, realistic relapse planning, and steady advocacy toward full recovery. Watch the full episode to gain insights and discover practical strategies you can use today to protect brain health, calm inflammation, and support lasting recovery.
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Dr. Jaquel Patterson is a naturopathic physician and bestselling author with almost a decade of clinical expertise. She is the founder of Fairfield Family Health, where she specializes in tick-borne infections, autoimmune conditions, integrative psychiatry, autism spectrum disorder, allergies, and environmental medicine. Inspired by her mother’s struggle with lupus and her own journey overcoming tick-borne infections, she blends professional expertise with personal experience to provide compassionate, root-cause care. She is the author of Women and Lyme: An Integrative Guide to Better Health and a frequent speaker and trainer for healthcare providers worldwide. A past president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and current treasurer of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, her work has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, New York Magazine, CBS, NBC, and ABC.
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Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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Could planning before pregnancy reduce your child’s risk of chronic illness? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, functional medicine dietitian Vicki Kobliner joins us to talk about her Healthy Baby Roadmap program. Discover how preconception planning, critical nutrients like iodine and choline, and simple lifestyle steps can give your child the best start in life and help lower the risk of chronic illness.
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In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, we welcome functional medicine dietitian Vicki Kobliner to explore how parents can give their children the best start in life through her program, Healthy Baby Roadmap. Vicki explains why preconception planning is critical, emphasizing the importance of nutrients like iodine, choline, and methyl folate, along with safe fish consumption and reducing environmental toxins. She also shares practical steps for gut health, lifestyle support, and navigating pregnancy tests and birth planning with confidence. This empowering conversation offers hope to parents who want to reduce their child’s risk of chronic illness through informed, proactive choices.
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Vicki Kobliner is a registered dietitian and certified nutrition specialist with decades of experience in integrative and functional nutrition. She is the founder of Holcare Nutrition, where she specializes in supporting children and adults with complex chronic illnesses.
Vicki partners with families to create personalized nutrition and lifestyle plans that address root causes and promote lasting healing. She is a frequent lecturer, educator, and advocate, dedicated to helping patients optimize their health through the power of nutrition, functional testing, and integrative care.
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Website: https://holcarenutrition.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vkobliner
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holcarenutrition/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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Bringing PANS/PANDAS into the spotlight: one mother’s mission for awareness and change. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Gabriella True shares her journey as a mother of two children and her path to leading ASPIRE, a national nonprofit dedicated to PANS/PANDAS. She emphasizes the role of family and school support programs and the growing movement to bring these conditions into public consciousness.
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In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Gabriella True joins us to share her powerful story as both a mother navigating these conditions with her children and as the President of ASPIRE, a leading nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and supporting families. She recounts her children’s struggles, the challenges of delayed diagnoses, and the breakthrough moments that shaped her advocacy journey. Gabriella emphasizes how ASPIRE has become a lifeline, offering webinars, support groups, and vital educational resources for families and schools.
The conversation highlights ASPIRE’s multifaceted approach, from empowering families with knowledge to training educators and advocating for policy change. Gabriella also addresses why PANS/PANDAS remains underrecognized, the role of stigma in delaying diagnoses, and the importance of creating community connections. Above all, she shares words of hope, encouraging families to find gratitude each day and reminding them that progress, though sometimes slow, is real and ongoing.
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Gabriella True is a dedicated advocate, educator, and community leader supporting families impacted by PANS/PANDAS. As a mother of children affected by these complex disorders, she turned her personal journey into a mission to raise awareness, expand resources, and empower caregivers worldwide.
She serves as the President of ASPIRE (Alliance to Solve PANS and Immune-Related Encephalopathies), where she leads initiatives to advance education, promote research, and connect families with vital support. Gabriella also collaborates with clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to ensure that patients and families receive the recognition, care, and compassion they deserve.
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Website: https://aspire.care/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriella-true-581a9a9/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspirepans/
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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