BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.3.1//EN TZID:America/Phoenix X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Phoenix BEGIN:VEVENT UID:300@az.childrenshealthdefense.org DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260306T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260306T200000 DTSTAMP:20260312T014427Z URL:https://az.childrenshealthdefense.org/events/autism-and-leucovorin/ SUMMARY:Autism & Leucovorin: Perspectives from Parents to Physicians DESCRIPTION:March Sedona Defenders Virtual Autism Expert Q&\;A Panel on CHD.TV\nOn September 22\, 2025\, the White House held a press conference o n leucovorin (folinic acid) and its potential applications for autism. How ever\, while a media frenzy followed\, a lot of details were missing in th e news about the specifics and nuances of this treatment method.\n\nFor in stance\, did you know that for leucovorin to be effective\, your child mus t follow a special diet?\n\nAlso\, leucovorin is a treatment specifically for cerebral folate deficiency\, which affects 40% of children with autism .\n\nIn this special Q&\;A panel featuring the former Director of Medic al Education for AutismOne\, an award-winning filmmaker\, and a mom who su ccessfully used leucovorin to help her son with level 3 autism\, learn abo ut what it takes to really help a child with autism to thrive and learn mo re about this FDA-approved treatment and whether it might be helpful for y our loved one on the autism spectrum. \n\nThe event will be virtual\, so you can join from the comfort of your own home. Whether you came to our la st event or wish you had\, you will not want to miss this autism expert Q& amp\;A panel!\n\nIf you missed our prior events\, you can watch the docume ntary screening of the award-winning documentary Restoring Balance: Autism Redefined here prior to this Q&\;A panel event.\n\nRSVP Below To Join The Event:\nPlease register below so we know to expect you. The direct lin k on CHD.TV is here.\n\nPanelists:\n\n Dr. Shawn Centers\, MD(H)\, DO (H) \, MH\, FACOP\, Professor of Pediatrics &\; Osteopathic Manipulative Me dicine | Chief Medical Officer\, The Integrative HOPE Center of AZ\n Ryan Hetrick\, Director\, Restoring Balance: Autism Redefined\n Viviana Sarah Perez\, Biomedical mom\n\nCo-Hosts:\n\n Julie Lapidus\, MSc\, MSc\, LMT\ , Author\, The Autism Generation: Understanding the Autism Epidemic from C auses to Solutions | Founder &\; CEO\, Autism Evolution\n Austin Selle vold\, Community Coordinator\, Children’s Health Defense Arizona Chapter \n\nSubmit your questions for the Panelists here!\n\nPanelists Biographies :\n\nDr. Shawn Centers\, MD(H)\, DO(H)\, MH\, FACOP\n\n Professor of Pedi atrics &\; Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine\n Chief Medical Officer\, The Integrative HOPE Center of AZ\n Pediatrician\, Licensed Homeopathic &\; Integrative Physician\n Former Director of Medical Education\, Aut ismOne\n\nShawn K. Centers\, MD(H)\, FACOP\, BCIM\, BCIP\, is an Arizona l icensed Homeopathic and Integrative Physician\, the former Director of Med ical Education for AutismOne\, and an internationally known expert and pro fessor of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Centers maintains a specialized consul ting practice with an emphasis on rare\, difficult-to-treat\, developmenta l and neurological disorders\, including children with epilepsy\, cerebral palsy\, immune disorders (including Lyme Disease\, PANDAS/PANS)\, learnin g disorders\, attention deficit disorder\, asthma\, allergy\, autism\, tra umatic brain injury\, and rare diseases. He has exceptional skills in usin g Homeopathic &\; Integrative Medicine\, Craniosacral Osteopathy\, Ener gy Medicine\, and Biomedical Approaches in finding health for patients. Dr . Centers is board certified in pediatrics\, is a founding Diplomate of th e American Board of Holistic and Integrative Medicine\, and was the foundi ng Chair of the Board of Integrative Pediatrics. He is a former Chief Resi dent in Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey. Dr. Centers was the lead author of the pediatrics section of Foundations in Osteopath ic Medicine the official text of the American Osteopathic Association used at over 300 medical schools worldwide.\n\nDr. Centers has served as a Cli nical Professor of Pediatrics at Touro University\, Lake Erie College of O steopathic Medicine\, A.T. Still University\, The Arizona College Of Osteo pathic Medicine\, as well as other osteopathic colleges in the United Stat es and abroad. Dr. Centers is a Professor Of Pediatrics and Integrative Me dicine for the Ontario Federation of Osteopathic Professionals and the Tor onto Academy of Osteopathy. Dr. Centers is a certified Master Herbalist\, Emotion Code Practitioner\, Master Trainer of Neurolinguistic Programming and Time Line Therapy\, Defeat Autism Now Doctor\, Expert in Essential Oil and Aromatic Medicine\, Silva UltraMind Trainer\, and was the Founding Pr esident of the American Academy of Pediatric Osteopathy.\n\nAlthough Dr. C enters sees patients of all backgrounds and conditions\, Dr. Centers has r eceived international and national recognition for his pioneering work wit h autistic and autistic spectrum disorder children. His use of cranial ost eopathy combined with the use of biomedical approaches\, therapeutic grade essential oils\, homeopathy\, diet and nutrition\, energy medicine and th e therapeutic use of sound and light. This pioneering approach has greatly advanced the care of many children with autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Ce nters has been recognized for his use of advanced energy medicine techniqu es including the development of Photobiomodulation (The Lumi Light)\, adva nced sound therapy technology representing the latest innovation in neuros cience and psychoacoustic technology.\n\nDr. Centers is a Fellow of the Am erican College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (FACOP)\, the American Associa tion of Integrative Medicine (FAAIM)\, the American College of Integrative Pediatrics\, and the American Academy of Pediatric Osteopathy. In additio n to his medical degree\, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Georgetown College. He studied herbal medicine under John R. Christo pher. He has extensively studied the techniques of John Grinder\, Richard Bandler\, and Thad Everet James. Centers utilize the Time Line Therapy tec hniques developed by Tad James\, PhD. Dr. Centers is also a Master Trainer of Neurolinguistic Programming and Time Therapy.\n\nAs a result of his in novative work in the field of pediatrics\, The International Association o f HealthCare Professionals (IAHCP) selected Dr. Centers to be featured in The Leading Physicians of the World. He has been honored as a “Top Pedia trician” by the International Association of Pediatricians (IAP)\, is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Pediatrics Council\, and Lifetime mem ber of the American Council of Pediatrics Specialists. Dr. Centers is also certified in Clinical Hypnotherapy and Time Line Therapy and has been awa rded a Certificate of Clinical Competency in Cranial Osteopathy.\n\nRyan H etrick\, Documentary Filmmaker\, Director\, Restoring Balance: Autism Rede fined\n\nRyan has worked in the behavioral therapy field with individuals on the autism spectrum for over 18 years\, engaging with clients ranging i n age from 2 to 40. In addition\, he served as a neurocognitive specialist and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist for the 50+ population. His exper ience spans various environments\, including homes\, schools\, and employm ent settings. After utilizing modalities such as Applied Behavioral Analys is\, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy\, Floortime\, and others\, Ryan graduall y recognized that behavioral therapy should not be the sole focus for thes e conditions\; rather\, biomedical treatment must take precedence.\n\nThro ughout his career\, Ryan came to a significant realization: while behavior al therapy has its merits\, it should not stand alone as the primary treat ment for autism spectrum conditions. Instead\, he discovered that biomedic al interventions should be the primary focus. A pivotal moment for Ryan oc curred when a family he was working with began implementing dietary change s. The results were astonishing! Their child experienced remarkable improv ements in vocabulary\, eye contact\, and overall social engagement—achie vements that far surpassed anything that had been accomplished in their be havioral therapy sessions.\n\nAfter years of working with people on the au tism spectrum\, it became abundantly clear to Ryan that dietary and biomed ical therapies were making a profound and positive impact. Faced with skep ticism from his immediate family\, colleagues\, and even other professiona ls about the transformative potential of these approaches\, Ryan felt a de ep motivation to share these inspiring success stories. This passion led t o the creation of the documentary Restoring Balance: Autism Redefined\, wh ich aimed to illuminate the real-life benefits of these interventions.\n\n Viviana Sarah Perez\n\nSarah is a mother of two\, wife\, and college stude nt dedicated to biomedical advocacy inspired by her son’s autism journey . Through research\, practitioner collaboration\, and intentional home-bas ed strategies\, she works to support his development while ensuring her da ughter feels equally nurtured and valued. She is currently studying to be come a holistic dietitian to support other parents of children on the spec trum at Arizona Western College. She is passionate about amplifying the v oice of informed parents in biomedical conversations.\n\nJulie Lapidus\, M Sc\, MSc\, LMT\n\n Author\, The Autism Generation: Understanding the Auti sm Epidemic from Causes to Solutions\n Founder &\; CEO\, Autism Evolut ion\n\nJulie Lapidus is the author of the forthcoming book The Autism Gene ration: Understanding The Autism Epidemic From Causes To Solutions being p ublished by Skyhorse and Children’s Health Defense Books. From causes to solutions\, it provides a groundbreaking roadmap for understanding and ad dressing the autism epidemic.\n\nShe has been researching the top innovati ons and methods in the field of brain health and autism for the last 16 ye ars. She is the founder and CEO of Autism Evolution\, which works with par ents of children with autism to help their children to thrive using a comp rehensive\, holistic approach using the best of biomedical and biohacking approaches. She has been trained by some of the top health practitioners i n the world. She has consulted with clients in both outpatient and residen tial settings and has worked with parents of children from ages 2 to 30 ar ound the world. Autism Evolution’s services and programs are offered vir tually\, and can be done from the comfort of one’s own home.\n\nShe hold s a Master of Science in Sustainable Development from HEC Paris and a Mast er of Science in Sustainable Management from Fundação Getulio Vargas. Sh e also previously served as a director at an integrative behavioral health facility.\n\nIn addition to being an autism wellbeing specialist\, biohac king expert and a MAPS (Medical Academy of Pediatrics and Special Needs) m ember\, she is a certified natural vision improvement coach\, a licensed m assage therapist (specializing in CranioSacral therapy)\, and an emotional healing coach.\n\nShe also serves as a community coordinator and board me mber for Children’s Health Defense Arizona Chapter.\n\nAustin Sellevold\ n\nAustin has been passionate about natural health for over 15 years. As t he world evolves\, he finds both joy and challenges in helping everyday pe ople create a more regenerative future. Now\, he’s on a freelance\, gras sroots mission\, bringing his entrepreneurial spirit to wellness\, service \, and gratitude for the community. Drawing from the reality that food is medicine\, the body is its own healer\, and that we can each restore balan ce in mind\, body\, and nature for ourselves\, Austin offers plant-based c atering\, independent consulting\, and home garden design from a small pri vate space in Chandler\, Arizona.\n\nHe’s volunteered with Arizona Child ren's Health Defense as a Community Coordinator since 2021. ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://az.childrenshealthdefense.org/wp-content /uploads/MarchCHDTalk22.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Phoenix X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Phoenix BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20250306T180000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR