The Endothelial Glycocalyx as a Double-Edged Sword in Microvascular Vitality and Pathogenesis

Sponsored by Ortho Molecular Products

This presentation will provide an overview of our current understanding of the endothelial glycocalyx structure and function across the microvasculature and its systems biology implications. We will also discuss disease or injury states, such as infection, sepsis and trauma, where endothelial glycocalyx dysfunction contributes to severe inflammatory vasculopathy and how to use targeted nutrient therapies to regenerate a strong endothelial glycocalyx for improved wellbeing and longevity.

Learning Objective #1: Explore historical evolution of evaluating cardiometabolic risk and new, emerging paradigms

Learning Objective #2: Learn about the structure and function of the endothelial glycocalyx

Learning Objective #3: Identify the patient types that require endothelial health evaluation

Speakers:

Shipla Saxena, MD

Shilpa P. Saxena, MD is a Board-Certified Family Practice physician whose passion and purpose come to life through sharing her innovative patient education and practice management solutions in her classic ‘keep it simple” style. She serves as Faculty with the Institute for Functional Medicine, the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and the Metabolic Medical Institute at George Washington University. She also serves as the Clinical Expert at the Lifestyle Matrix Resource Center for the CM Vitals Program. Dr. Saxena is an expert in the Group Visit medical model, creator of Group Visit Toolkits, and co-author of The Ingredients Matter: India.

Jeffrey Bland, PhD, FACN, FACB

Dr. Jeffrey Bland is a personable and highly respected thought leader who has spent more than five decades focused on the improvement of human health. He is known worldwide as the founder of the Functional Medicine movement, which represents his vision for a care model that is grounded in systems biology and informed by research that he has a unique ability to synthesize. His pioneering work has created the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute, as well as the Institute for Functional Medicine, the global leader in Functional Medicine education. Since 1991, hundreds of thousands of healthcare practitioners have participated in PLMI and IFM programs, and this collective knowledge has positively impacted the lives of patients all over the world.

Dr. Bland began his career as a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Puget Sound. He is a natural educator and became involved with numerous academic institutions during the years he spent teaching. This includes the significant contributions he made to the founding of Bastyr University, the first federally accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in natural medicine in the US. In the early 1980s, Dr. Bland was hand-selected by two-time Nobel Laureate Dr. Linus Pauling to serve as Director of Nutritional Research at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine.

Dr. Bland is the author of best-selling books and over 120 peer-reviewed research publications. He speaks extensively, and his engaging style makes him popular with both professional and consumer audiences. Dr. Bland’s latest project is Big Bold Health, where he’s on a mission to transform the way people think about one of nature’s greatest innovations—the immune system. Through Big Bold Health, Dr. Bland is advocating for the power of immuno-rejuvenation to enhance immunity at a global level. It’s an ambitious and purpose-driven effort that encompasses his active stance on regenerative agriculture, environmental stewardship, and planetary health.

This presentation was originally offered at the 2023 Integrative Healthcare Symposium in New York City.