Houston CFIDS Association

M.D. in Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (trained in China)

• Diplomat of Pain Management by American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM)

• Texas Licensed Acupuncturist (AC00477)

• Diplomat of Acupuncture by National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)

• Diplomat of Herbology by NCCAOM

• Associate Professor of Oriental Medicine teaching Acupuncture, Tai Chi and Qigong at the American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Houston, Texas

• Instructor at Rice University in Continuing Education

• Acupuncture research at Baylor College of Medicine on knee arthritis

• 6th Generation Tai Chi-Qigong Disciple trained by Tai Chi master Jinghui Song & Ziyi Li since 1989

In the mid 1980s I planned to go to Western medical school because it made better sense to me, a modernized young Chinese man, with all its scientific-based information. But my father, a winery engineer, directed me to find a school which provided equal education in both Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine - as he put it “Traditional Chinese Medicine has withstood three thousand years worth of tests and trials and has never been overridden, including the introduction of Western medicine to the Chinese people in 1820.”

In my first year of medical school, one of my roommates had a toothache in one of his wisdom teeth and we gave him ibuprofen (it was not an over the counter drug at the time in China) and he was very excited because it killed the pain right away. That was the first time I ever gave a drug to a patient! Then we found out he had to take the drug every 4 hours and increase the dosage gradually. The next day he stopped taking the drug because of the effects it had on his stomach. On his next visit, he received acupuncture treatment on his hand and applied herbal powder to his gums to stop the pain and clear the inflammation. The pain stopped after 3 days’ treatment and the patient was able to keep his wisdom tooth.

After 12 years of medical practice, my deepest appreciation goes to all the great Chinese and Western medical doctors who have bestowed their healing knowledge upon us.

Secondly, I thank my father whose initial advice led me to my pursuit and enjoyment of practicing integrative medicine. In the beginning of my medical practice, I used many more drugs due to their rapid effects. Not long after, I realized that traditional Chinese therapies would be my therapeutic priority for many of my patients after giving them a full and complete diagnosis based on my integrated knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine. The advantages of integrative medicine are obvious because it enables me to look at the patient from both perspectives and provide a wider range of treatment options, often avoiding unnecessary and hazardous actions by carefully selecting the safest and most effective approach to the patient’s problem from either system of medicine.

Finally, my appreciation goes to Tai Chi-Qigong Masters Jinhui Song, Ziyi Li, and Mogen Lin. With distinct honor I became a sixth generation Tai Chi disciple and received Master-to-Disciple training since 1989. Such training enlightens me to heal a person physically and mentally with energy medicine.

Kiai Qigong for Immune Dysfunction

Kiai Qigong for Self-Health is a healing system which integrates the theories and concepts of Medical Qigong Therapy with the sound theory and movement-based structure of Kiai Jin Jitsu. Medical Qigong Therapy is the oldest of the four branches of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with the other three being acupuncture, herbal medicine, and massage. Kiai Jin Jitsu is an old healing system which combines sound with gentle movement and visualization and has been re-introduced to the West by Dr. Song Park. Gentle physical movements are coordinated with breathing methods to enhance internal development and increase consciousness. Visualizations open up the psyche and create space to free the mind of limitations and body of tensions. The ultimate effect is a restoration to balance and good health.

Dr. Hayat has adapted the general Kiai Qigong for Self Health program to specifically help individuals suffering from immune dysfunction. His program originated with the treatment of his own condition. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and the disease caused him to be bedridden and extremely ill for several periods of time. He suffered from severe fatigue and was desperate for relief from the pain and exhaustion caused by the disease. The Kiai Qigong for Immune Dysfunction program offers powerful and profound methods for energizing the body and empowering the individual to cope with, and in some cases, overcome the challenges of immune compromise, such as fatigue, inflammation, body pain, and cognitive imbalance (memory loss, inability to concentrate, etc). The methods are easily applied and can absolutely be done by somebody in the midst of an episode caused by, for example, MS, CFS, or Fibromyalgia. The methods include slow and gentle movements coordinated with sound and breathing, and an in depth understanding of the purpose of these coordinated efforts. Dr. Hayat used some of these methods while bedridden and they have worked well for him, and many of the clients he has shared them with over the past five years. He very much wants to share these with others suffering from immune compromise.

About Matt Hayat, Ph.D., MMQ

Matt has been studying the Eastern arts for 19 years. He began his studies in the martial arts and was first exposed to traditional Chinese medicine in this context. He trained in the combative arts and learned how to use the energetic system of the body for self-defense. However, one day he spontaneously fell ill and after four years of persistent health challenges, was eventually diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Matt’s educational background includes a doctoral degree in Biostatistics from the Medical College of Wisconsin. After graduating with his Ph.D., he worked for five years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has published in many peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals. He is currently a Biostatistician at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, working with NASA on studies of astronaut health aimed at developing countermeasures to the effects of micro (zero) gravity. After falling ill, he did intensive research into his treatment options with allopathic medicine, only to quickly discover there was little hope for treating, much less curing, his condition. Since that time he has been on a journey to learn as much as possible about the Eastern healing arts, and has been teaching Kiai Qigong for Self-Health workshops across North America and Canada for the past four years. Matt holds a Masters in Medical Qigong Therapy (MMQ) degree in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from the International Institute of Medical Qigong, a sister school of the Henan University of TCM in Zheng Zhou, China, and is the Chief Instructor of the Kiai Qigong program in the Kiaido International organization founded by Dr. Song Park. Matt currently runs a private clinical practice in the Clear Lake area of Houston, TX, and specializes in the comprehensive treatment of immune dysfunction using Oriental medicine. For more information, and to schedule an individual appointment, please visit www.martialsigning.com.

John Paul Liang is a noted guest lecturer and teacher. He is in the process of completing Doctor of Philosophy in Education and has completed the following to date:

Master of Science in Education; Master of Science in Oriental Medicine; Bachelor of Science in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering; Licensed Acupuncturist in Texas; Diplomate in Acupuncture (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine); Diplomate in Chinese Herbology (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine); Diplomate in Oriental Medicine (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine.

Methodist Hospital -Built up an acupuncture outpatient clinic in Methodist Hospital facility. Established and coordinated all issues related to the cooperation; Memorial Hermann/Houston Baptist University Wellness Center - Oversaw the progress of the internship program at the outreach site. Ensured that the program established provided quality education for interns and observation students; Halliburton Energy Services - Smoking Cessation Program -Executed a smoking cessation program for Halliburton employees; Memorial Southeast Hospital Outpatient Clinic - Developed an acupuncture outpatient clinic at Memorial Southeast Hospital Outpatient Clinic Established and coordinated all issues related to the cooperation; Rice University Student Health and Wellness Center - Organized and implemented the outreach clinic at Rice University, which currently sees
patients in pain related disorders, women’s health conditions, and internal medicine diseases; Legacy Community Health Center (formerly Montrose Clinic)- for HIV/Aids; Negotiated and formed the outreach facility at Montrose Clinic, which specializes in AIDS/HIV patients for conditions related depression, peripheral neuropathy, pain, stress management, and others; Cooperative Program with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Fudan Hospital, China - Joined with team at M.D. Anderson to establish a government funded acupuncture and herbal medical cancer treatment training for ACAOM students.

Mary~Margaret Lytle, B.F.A., “Help for People with CFIDS: The Oasis Concept,” began experiencing chronic fatigue syndrome from age of 22, yet like many of us was not officially diagnosed until years later. In the meanwhile, she earned an Interior Design degree from the University of Houston and entered the profession, serving both residential and business clients. She went on to receive additional training in Property Management and earned a Real Estate License in Washington State. CFIDS caused drastic alterations in both her interior design practice and work life. She gained invaluable “survival” training in a course taught by Seattle environmental physician, David Buscher, M.D.; received on-the-job training with Houston’s “Healthy Home” environmental architect, LaVerne Williams, A.I.A., L.E.E.D.; and received certification from the Texas State Structural Pesticide Control Board as an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator. Mary~Margaret also underwent disability advocacy training and became familiar with disability “speak” and has been an expert witness before the U.S. Access Board regarding the accommodations of people with chemical sensitivities. She’s been a guest panelist on Houston’s live Debra Duncan TV show and Seattle’s live Northwest Afternoon TV show. She’s been invited to speak before the Houston Commission on Disabilities and to participate as a panelist in a video designed for churches that minister to people with chemical sensitivities. From her own journey, Mary~Margaret will draw upon her background of specialized training, knowledge and skills.

Dr. McGehee is a graduate of Tulane School of Medicine with over 35 years experience practicing in Huntsville, Texas. He has been highly recommended by members of our organization for his knowledge of CFIDS/ME.

Dr. McGehee is an Ophthalmologist and Clinical Nutritionist certified By The International & American Association Of Clinical Nutrition. His specialties include Custom Designed Intravenous Therapies, Weight Loss, IV Minerals, IV Detoxification, IV Amino Acids, Natural Hormone Replacement For Men & European Therapies, Complete Nutrition Of Degenerative Diseases, Amino Acids, Diabetic Retinopathy, Physical Examinations, Eye Examinations, Glaucoma & Small Incision Cataract Surgery.

John Kern, President of Galleria Financial Planning, provides hourly financial planning advice to members of the Houston CFIDS support group on a sliding scale basis with limited pro bono hours set aside.  GFP is an independent financial planning company and does not sell products of any kind.

Mr. Kern holds a two-year graduate certificate from Kaplan College in Financial Planning.  In addition, he holds master’s degrees in Psychology and Health Care Administration.  This combination of degrees allows a unique perspective for the analysis of the psychological issues surrounding a client’s finances.

Mr. Kern’s experience with CFIDS began in 1988 as a Neuropsychological examiner for Dr. Larry Pollock, a relationship that continues to this day.  Mr. Kern’s wife also suffers from CFIDS, so he is intimately familiar with the emotional, social, and relational aspects of the illness.

By providing financial planning and financial preparation, Mr. Kern hopes to relieve some of the stress experienced by individuals suffering from CFIDS.

For more information, or to set up a free initial consultation, please call 713-961-0083 or visit www.galleriafinancialplanning.com.

Dr. Pollock, or “Dr. Strategy” as his clients have nicknamed him over the years, is the reason Project ReEntry exists and persists.  His calm demeanor, quality evaluations, and client-oriented style of treatment are responsible for its success over the years.  He is the owner and Executive Director.

Dr. Pollock was born in Oklahoma but raised primarily in Sweeny, Texas.  He attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches where he received his B.S. in Psychology in 1967. In 1971 he received his M.S. in Psychology from Syracuse University in New York.  After completing his internship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, he returned to Syracuse University and earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1973.

Dr. Pollock has been in private practice for over 35 years specializing in neuropsychology.  He is a Senior Disability Analyst and Diplomate for the American Board of Disability Analysts.  Although his practice does include clinical psychological services, the diagnosis and rehabilitation of clients who have suffered Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is his primary focus. 

In 1987, Dr. Pollock became the owner and Executive Director of Project ReEntry.  Since then over 1500 Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services’ (DARS) clients with brain injuries have completed the program and gone to work! 

For more information on services, evaluation and treatment, please call 713-797-9773 or visit www.projectreentry.com.

Patricia Salvato is board-certified in Internal Medicine. In private practice in Houston, Texas, she maintains an active patient base of approximately 3000 patients.

Dr. Salvato received her medical degree from the University of Texas Houston Health Science Center and served as Chief Medical Resident for the University of Texas affiliated hospitals.

Dr. Salvato is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, Southern Medical Society, Texas Medical Association, Texas Medical Foundation, Houston Academy of Medicine, American Society of Internal Medicine, International AIDS Society, International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, and the National Chronic Pain Outreach Association.  Dr. Salvato has staff privileges at several Houston-based health care facilities and is Chief of Medicine at Twelve Oaks Hospitals, a tenant-owned facility.

In addition to practicing medicine and extensive lecturing, Dr. Salvato is a clinical researcher with both a national and international reputation. She has twelve years of experience providing care to patients with both chronic and acute illnesses.

For more information, please contact Dr. Salvato at 713-961-7100.

August 4, 2007: Houston CFIDS Association Meet n’ Greet

September 1, 2007: No Meeting due to Labor Day holiday

October 6, 2007:

November 3, 2007: No Meeting due to room unavailability

December 1, 2007: Larry Pollock, Neuropsychologist

January 5, 2008: Michael Petersmith, Social Security Appeals Attorney

February 2, 2008: John Kern, Galleria Financial Planning

March 1, 2008: MaryMargaret Lytle - “Oasis” consultant

April 5, 2008: No meeting due to room unavailability

May 3, 2008: Dr. Liang on Acupuncture and the Immune System as they relate to CFIDS

June 7, 2008: Jane Mostowitz on Symptomology of CFIDS and Do you know your?

July 5, 2008:

August 2, 2008: Matt Hayat, Ph.D., MMQ on Kiai Qiqonq for self- health and improving your immune system

September 6, 2008: Bing You, M.D. (China) D.A.A.P.M., M.S., L.Ac. on Acupuncture and Integrated MedicineOctober 4, 2008:

November 2, 2008: Dr. Patricia Salvato

December 6, 2008