Directory

Dana M. Elia, DCN, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, is an integrative and functional nutrition doctor and a registered and licensed dietitian nutritionist with more than 25 years of clinical experience. Born and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Elia relocated to Lancaster, PA in 2001 where she is the owner of Fusion Integrative Health and Wellness, LLC. For UWS, Dr. Elia is the course writer for the Clinical Reasoning in Nutrition Practice and Functional Nutrition Therapeutics II - Gastrointestinal course for the forthcoming DCN program.  An active member of her community, Dr. Elia serves on the executive committee of Dietitians in Integrative and Function Medicine (DIFM) where she holds the Past Chair position and previously served as Chair, Chair-Elect, Treasurer and Member Services Chair. Dr. Elia previously served on the executive committees for the Lancaster Area Celiac Support group and the Lancaster Chapter of the American Holistic Nurses Association. Dr. Elia’s fervor and dedication for the power within the food as medicine approach, stems from her own personal journey with autoimmune disease and a rare form of sarcoma. As a survivor and warrior for rare disease advocacy, in 2017 Dr. Elia was chosen as a one of four survivors for featured videos with the Fox Chase Cancer Center and Temple University. Dr. Elia enjoys writing about diet and nutrition and sees the process as a means to help people identify the underlying root causes of the barriers preventing them from optimal wellness. She is also the author of The Stem Cell Activation Diet and the upcoming 2021 book, The Sugar Detox Diet for 50+. In her free time, she loves hiking, camping at the Delaware seashore, traveling with her husband James, scuba diving or going on an adventure with her rescued lab, Champ.

Horace Elliott was elected to the Board in May 2014. He is the immediate past executive vice president of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE), retiring after serving 28 years (1986-2014). He is a graduate of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and taught biology and mathematics for several years.
 Prior to joining the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Elliott was manager of communications at Bendix Corporation’s Research Laboratories, and was director of administration for the Houston regional office of Price Waterhouse Coopers and director of administration for the Houston law firm of Susman-Godfrey. As executive vice president of the NBCE, he was responsible for operational and financial affairs of the organization that provides third-party, independent, pre-licensure testing the chiropractic profession required by all 50 states and several foreign countries. The National Board is governed by an eleven-person board of directors. While serving the NBCE, Elliott received an Honorary Doctor of humanities from Texas Chiropractic College; and a Doctor of Humane Letters from the American College of Chiropractors (FACC); and named a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractors (FICC). He received the George Arvidson Award from the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards for service to chiropractic regulation, and prior to his retirement, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Hanseo University College of Chiropractic in Korea and was named the Dynamic Chiropractic’s 2013 Person of the Year. He has served on several boards of directors, including the Farmington Village Housing Cooperative (president); the National Management Association’s Bendix Corporation Chapter (president); the Greeley Rotary Club (president elect); and the Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care, representing the National Board.

Jenn Evon was profiled during her time as a Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine student. She is now an alumna of the program and works as a course facilitator. Watch…

Dr. Ewald holds a doctor of chiropractic degree from Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (Southern California University of Health Sciences), master of public health from UCLA, and a master in…

Dr. Christine Farlow graduated from University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College) in 1984. She practiced chiropractic and nutrition for 31 years, retiring in 2015. Along with her…

Dr. Russ Flaten, certified mental performance consultant (CMPC) through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), is an adjunct professor and CMPC mentor in the sport and performance psychology program.  Prior to joining UWS, Russ has worked in both academic and consulting roles. On the academic side, Russ was previously with Adler University in their MA sport psychology and counseling program, teaching a variety of courses, providing CMPC mentorship, and coordinating internship placements for students. On the consulting side, Russ has worked on multiple military contracts supporting resilience, leadership and peak performance training. On the sport side, Russ has worked with all ages providing draft profiling and combine preparation for NBA, NFL populations, as well as mindset training to youth and college athletics. A passion area for Russ is better accounting for change factors in the educational process. Accounting for change can help better align the various theoretical orientations and mental skills to help promote a higher level of self-determination and active engagement for athletes as they work towards peak performance.

Jennifer Forbes, DC was elected to the board in 2012. She graduated from the University of Western States in 2000 with her DC and in 2015 with her MS in exercise and sport science. Dr. Forbes opened her own clinic in 2002, and currently oversees a multidisciplinary practice in British Columbia. Active in her community, Dr. Forbes heads the chiropractic services team at a multidisciplinary street clinic project at a local shelter for homeless and those at risk of homelessness. She also volunteers her auctioneering skills to raise money at many local non-profits varying from restorative justice and community services to sturgeon conservation. Dr. Forbes has served in positions both in the BC Chiropractic Association and in the College of Chiropractors of BC, as well as on a chronic pain working group for Fraser Health. She enjoys backpack camping, hiking and paddle boarding with her husband, Jordie, and her two teenage girls.

Ashley French has been with University of Western States since 2011 and has continued to bring her energetic attitude to the clinic ensuring a positive patient experience. Ashley prioritizes patient satisfaction and enjoys witnessing our communities achieve their optimal health with the help of the clinical team. Ashley was formally in a softball league from childhood through college, and enjoys spending time with her teenage daughter and family.

Natasha (she/her/hers) is the assistant director of recruitment for admissions and the principal designated school official (PDSO) for international students at UWS. She has a BA in East Asian studies/Japanese and an MA in Applied Linguistics. Natasha began her career in refugee resettlement then found her way into admissions where she continues to advocate for BIPOC, immigrant and refugee students. Born in Las Vegas, she has also lived in Japan, New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Provo and Portland! When she’s not on campus, Natasha enjoys exploring the beauty of the PNW by biking, hiking, kayaking and climbing all over Oregon.

Dr. Leslie Fuller is a naturopathic physician, and 2009 graduate of NCNM (now NUNM). Following graduation from the naturopathic doctorate program, she completed a two-year residency program, where she focused on the medical management of many chronic health care issues, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma, allergies, hormonal imbalance and digestive problems. She has been actively involved in the health and wellness arena for two decades, with a focus on neurologic wellness, sports medicine, disability awareness and IV therapy for well over a decade. During this time, she has focused on working with individuals with neurologic conditions, including spinal cord injury, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke, as well as helping able-bodied individuals become the best athletes possible. Dr. Fuller joined the UWS Faculty team in 2018 and currently teaches a primary care series of courses focused on lab diagnosis, pharmacology and differential diagnosis. She remains connected to and invested in several nonprofit disability groups throughout Oregon and is excited by the potential impact that naturopathic medicine will have on the field of neurological rehabilitation. With a strong background in sports medicine, Dr. Fuller has remained rooted in the current research and advisory for athletic enhancement, weight loss and health maintenance and encourages her patients to explore exercise and fitness at whatever level possible. In her spare time Dr. Fuller enjoys doing all things outdoors with her partners in crime and fun: one science teacher husband, two nerdy kids and two overly-furry dogs.

Dr. Doug Gardner has worked as a mental performance coach over the past 23 years, has been a member of AASP since 1994 and a CMPC from 1998-2020. A pioneer in the field, Dr. Gardner has been a fierce advocate for youth sport participants and has dedicated his career to creating safe and healthy learning environments for individuals throughout the athletic lifespan, from children to professional athletes. From his recent work in new ecosystem of professional esports, along with experiences working for the Boston Red Sox, the NFL Players Association and with competitive youth sport athletes seeking Olympic, collegiate and professional careers, Dr. Gardner is a leader in the development of large scale educational programming and curriculum across the athletic spectrum. Dr. Gardner has counseled thousands of individual athletes in navigating the challenges and obstacles they face as they pursue their athletic and academic dreams. Dr. Gardner has been at the forefront of online sport and exercise psychology program and course development since 2008. Dr. Gardner has developed online master’s and doctoral programs and has served as a subject matter expert and core adjunct faculty member at National University and Argosy University. Dr. Gardner has published research and textbook chapters in the areas of leadership, coaching behaviors, team dynamics, moral behavior in both traditional and esports. Based in California, Dr. Gardner continues to seek new and challenging performance ecosystems to work within and is a vocal leader advocating for the growing importance of performance psychology.     

Dr. Lorraine Ginter received her Bachelor of Science in biology from University of California, East Bay in 1996. She attended the Holistic Health Institute in San Francisco and graduated with a holistic health educator and practitioner certificate in 1979, and graduated from UWS in 1988 with a doctor of chiropractic degree. Dr. Ginter is board eligible for a diplomate in internal medicine. She also has additional training in Graston technique, kinseiotaping, enzyme therapy and primary care practice. She has been engaged in clinical teaching at UWS since 1991. Dr. Ginter’s work in the University of Western States Health Center combines her passions of clinical teaching and patient care. In her work as a chiropractic physician she mentors and supervises interns in the final two years of their education as they treat patients in the clinic. Dr. Ginter has a particular interest in treating the whole person, which means evaluating and addressing the patient’s primary concern, as well as taking a holistic approach by evaluating for and minimizing risk factors for illness and encouraging optimal health through nutritional and lifestyle support. Dr. Ginter maintains balance in her own life by engaging in activities with family and friends. She particularly enjoys interests that bring her closer to nature, which include gardening, bird watching and creating fiber art pieces through quilting and applique (check out her wool labyrinths in the UWS library)! She also maintains an active meditation and walking practice.

A physician, educator, and leader for more than 25 years, Dr. Girard has devoted her career to hospital-based integrative medicine and educating health care professionals across specialties. Her practice has…

Stephen Glass is an admissions advisor at UWS. As a native Oregonian, he grew up in Eugene and has lived in Portland for the last 10 years. Stephen graduated from the University of Oregon with a BS in Geography. He is passionate about the outdoors and can be found riding his bicycle on most days.

Dr. Stephen P. Gonzalez, a certified mental performance consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, joined University of Western States as an adjunct professor in 2021. In addition to his position at UWS, Dr. Gonzalez is the assistant athletic director for leadership and mental performance at Dartmouth College in the Dartmouth Peak Performance (DP2) program, where he oversees the broad-based implementation of leadership programming and mental skills work with 35 NCAA Division I Ivy League teams and more than 950 student-athletes. Additionally, Dr. Gonzalez works with several national team athletes from two countries and professional athletes in private practice and advises the tech start up Recover Athletics. Previously, Dr. Gonzalez was an assistant professor at SUNY Brockport in the kinesiology, sport studies and physical education department where he taught courses in sport psychology and consulted the NCAA Division III Golden Eagle athletics department as the director of mental training and Rochester Institute of Technology's NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Team. Dr. Gonzalez also has experience with the US Army, as he was formerly the lead master resilience trainer, performance expert for the comprehensive soldier and family fitness (CSF2) program at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. Dr. Gonzalez got into the field of sport psychology due to his passion and curiosity to enhance performance and well-being in others. His goals with clients are to help them enjoy their activities, cultivate well-being and ultimately enhance performance. A former NCAA Division I runner, Dr. Gonzalez continues to enjoy running and learning/ trying new sports.

Georgia Gootee is the associate director of admissions at UWS. She currently resides in Richmond, Virginia after many years in Portland, Oregon. Georgia has spent over a decade in education, working with students from elementary school to graduate school. An alumna of the University of Georgia, she can be found cheering on the Bulldogs every Saturday in the fall. In her spare time you'll find her in a garden, museum, or one of Virginia's many historical sites.