Science-based   whole-person   healthcare

Dr. Alex Vasquez

  Educational and Professional Credentials

Educational Background

• Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine: Bastyr University (curriculum), Seattle, Washington 1999  Licensed Naturopathic Physician with Additional Prescriptive Authority in Washington since 2000 and in Oregon since 2004
• Doctor of Chiropractic: Western States Chiropractic College, Portland, Oregon 1996  Licensed Doctor of Chiropractic, Washington and Texas.
• Bachelor of Science (Human Biology): Western States Chiropractic College, Portland, Oregon 1995
• Other colleges, universities, and schools attended: University of Texas at Austin, Texas Chiropractic College, University of Houston, Riverside Military Academy

 

Professional Associations, Affiliations, Positions, Accomplishments

• Researcher and Lecturer, Biotics Research Corporation (2004-present)
• Member of the Core CAM Curriculum Committee at University of Texas Medical School in Galveston http://www.cam.utmb.edu (2003-2004)
• Forum Consultant (2003-present) and Former Adjunct Faculty, The Institute for Functional Medicine in Gig Harbor, Washington
• Adjunct Professor Orthopedics (2000), Radiographic Interpretation 1(2000), Rheumatology (2001), Bastyr University  
• Consultant and Healthcare Provider (2002-2003), Wellness Center for the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System www.MemorialHermann.org 
• Successfully Completed National Board Of Chiropractic Examiners Parts 1, 2, 3, and Physiotherapy (1994) and Part 4 (2001)
• Successfully Completed Jurisprudence Examination, Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (2002)
• Successfully Completed NPLEX: Naturopathic Physicians Licensure Examination (2000), State of Washington
• Member (1998-present), American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
• Nutrition Writer and Researcher (1998) for the "Eskimo-3" product information for the nutritional supplement company Tyler Encapsulations
• Worked with The Iron Overload Diseases Association to encourage Washington State Governor Gary Locke to proclaim September 21-27, 1997 as Iron Overload Diseases Awareness Week, signed by the governor on July 15, 1997
• "Teaching Assistant", Radiographic Interpretation, Bastyr University, Winter 1997
• Health Editor (1997) for MEN Magazine
• Successfully Completed Examinations for Licensure as a Doctor of Chiropractic, Washington and Oregon (1996) and Texas (2002)
• Member (1993-1996), American Chiropractic Association's Council on Nutrition
• Member (1992-1996), American Chiropractic Association
• Member (1994), Review Staff for The Journal of Naturopathic Medicine

 

Published Papers and Articles (partial listing--too many recent articles to keep up with!)

1. Vasquez A.  Drug as Disease and the Tripartite Role of Naturopathic Physicians. [Editorial] Naturopathy Digest 2006, April
2. Vasquez A. Dietary, Nutritional and Botanical Interventions to Reduce Pain and Inflammation. Naturopathy Digest 2006, March  Nutritional Wellness 2006, March
3. Vasquez A. Twilight of the Idiopathic Era and the Dawn of New Possibilities in Health and Health Care. [Editorial] Naturopathy Digest 2006, March
4. Vasquez A. Allopathic Usurpation of Natural Medicine: The Blind Leading the Sighted. [Editorial] Naturopathy Digest 2006, February
5. Vasquez A. Do the Benefits of Botanical and Physiotherapeutic Hepatobiliary Stimulation Result From Enhanced Excretion of IgA Immune Complexes? Naturopathy Digest 2006, January
6. Vasquez A. How Can Naturopathy Digest Best Serve the Profession? How Can Naturopathic Physicians Participate? [Editorial] Naturopathy Digest 2006, January
7. Vasquez A. Implementing the Five-Part Nutritional Wellness Protocol for the Treatment of Various Health Problems. Nutritional Wellness 2005, November
8. Vasquez A. A Five-Part Nutritional Wellness Protocol That Produces Consistently Positive Results. Nutritional Wellness 2005, September
9. Vasquez A. Integrative Rheumatology: Concepts, Algorithms, and Therapeutics.  The art of creating wellness while effectively managing acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders.  Volume One: Systemic Autoimmune Disorders. 2006
10. Vasquez A. Reducing Pain and Inflammation Naturally. Part 6: Nutritional and Botanical Treatments Against “Silent Infections” and Gastrointestinal Dysbiosis, Commonly Overlooked Causes of Neuromusculoskeletal Inflammation and Chronic Health Problems. Nutritional Perspectives 2006; January
11. Vasquez A. “Chapter 10: Organ System Function and Underlying Mechanisms: The Interconnected Web.” In Jones DS (Editor-in-Chief). Textbook of Functional Medicine. Institute for Functional Medicine, Gig Harbor, WA 2005
12. Vasquez A. “Chapter 25: Structural Imbalances.” In Jones DS (Editor-in-Chief). Textbook of Functional Medicine. Institute for Functional Medicine, Gig Harbor, WA 2005
13. Vasquez A. “Chapter 27: Inflammation and Autoimmunity: A Functional Medicine Approach.” In Jones DS (Editor-in-Chief). Textbook of Functional Medicine. Institute for Functional Medicine, Gig Harbor, WA 2005
14. Vasquez A, Murray MT. Chapter 188 “Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease” in Pizzorno JE, Murray MT (Eds). Textbook of Natural Medicine: Third Edition. Churchill Livingstone; Nov 2005
15. Vasquez A, Muanza DN. Accolades and Addenda for "Use of Botanicals in Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis": Comment on Article by Ahmed et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2005 published on-line December 15 http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/eletters/2/3/301
16. Vasquez A. Subphysiologic Doses of Vitamin D are Subtherapeutic: Comment on the Study by The Record Trial Group. The Lancet 2005 Published on-line May 6
17. Vasquez A. Reducing pain and inflammation naturally - Part 4: Nutritional and Botanical Inhibition of NF-kappaB, the Major Intracellular Amplifier of the Inflammatory Cascade. A Practical Clinical Strategy Exemplifying Anti-Inflammatory Nutrigenomics. Nutritional Perspectives 2005;July: 5-12
18. Vasquez A, Cannell J. Calcium and vitamin D in preventing fractures: data are not sufficient to show inefficacy. [letter] BMJ: British Medical Journal 2005;331:108-9
19. Vasquez A. Comment: evaluation of presence of aspirin-related warnings with willow bark. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2005 Oct;39(10):1763. Epub 2005 Aug 30
20. Vasquez A, Cannell J. Subphysiologic Doses of Vitamin D are Subtherapeutic: Comment on the Study by Porthouse and colleagues. [rapid response] BMJ: British Medical Journal http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/330/7498/1003#105711  2005, May 4
21. Vasquez A. Reducing pain and inflammation naturally - Part 3: Improving overall health while safely and effectively treating musculoskeletal pain. Nutritional Perspectives 2005; 28: 34-38, 40-42 
22. Vasquez A. Healthcare for our bones: A practical nutritional approach to preventing osteoporosis. [Letter]. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2005; 28: 213
23. Vasquez A. “Nutritional and Botanical Treatments for Pain and Inflammation: A Review of Current Research” (4.5-hour seminar) California Chiropractic Association Winter Convention & Exposition: Reno, Nevada 2005; February 26
24. Vasquez A. Reducing Pain and Inflammation Naturally. Part 2: New Insights into Fatty Acid Supplementation and Its Effect on Eicosanoid Production and Genetic Expression. Nutritional Perspectives 2005; January: 5-16  
25. Dave N. Muanza, Ph.D., Alex Vasquez, John Cannell, M.D., William P Grant, Ph.D. Isoflavones and Postmenopausal Women. [letter] JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association 2004; 292: 2337
26. Vasquez A. Vitamin D Supplementation in the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pain. The Original Internist 2004; 11: 7-9  
27. Vasquez A. Reducing Pain and Inflammation Naturally. Part 1: New Insights into Fatty Acid Biochemistry and the Influence of Diet. Nutritional Perspectives 2004; October: 5, 7-10, 12, 14
28. Alex Vasquez, D.C., N.D., Gilbert Manso, M.D., John Cannell, M.D. The Clinical Importance of Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol): A Paradigm Shift with Implications for All Healthcare Providers. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal 2004; 3: 44-54
29. Vasquez A, John Cannell, MD. Better Bones and Beyond: Vitamin D Plays Role in Inflammatory and Metabolic Disease. Holistic Primary Care 2004; (Fall) 5: 3,6,7  
30. Vasquez A. Integrative Orthopedics: Concepts, Algorithms, and Therapeutics.  The art of creating wellness while effectively managing acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Revised Edition Published August, 2004
31. Vasquez A. Integrative Orthopedics and Vitamin D: Testing, Administration, and New Relevance in the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pain. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 2004; October, 75-77  
32. Vasquez A, Gilbert Manso, M.D., John Cannell, M.D. The Clinical Importance of Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol): A Paradigm Shift with Implications for All Healthcare Providers. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 2004; 10: 28-37  
33. John Cannell, MD and Vasquez A. Measuring Your Vitamin D Levels: Your Most Important Blood Test? http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/3/vitamin_d_levels.htm  2004, July 3
34. Vasquez A. Natural Approaches to Menopause.  Impressions - A publication of The Women's Fund for Health Education and Research  Fall 2002, page 10
35. Vasquez A. Gender inequality in health and healthcare. Wingspan 1999;April-June,8-9
36. Vasquez A. Men's Health: Valuing gender equality in health and healthcare. MEN Magazine 1997; August, 10-11, 19
37. Vasquez A. Men's Health: Meditation for health of mind, body, and soul: the need for re-creation and the art of building a walled garden. MEN Magazine 1997; July: 10-11
38. Vasquez A. Men's Health: The five most common cancers in men: strategies for prevention. MEN Magazine 1997; June: 10-11, 23
39. Vasquez A. Men's Health: Iron in men: why men store this nutrient in their bodies and the harm that it does.  MEN Magazine 1997; January: 11, 21-23
40. Vasquez A. Musculoskeletal disorders and iron overload disease: comment on the American College of Rheumatology guidelines for the initial evaluation of the adult patient with acute musculoskeletal symptoms. Arthritis & Rheumatism: Official Journal of the American College of Rheumatology 1996; 39:1767-8
41. Vasquez A. Hereditary Hemochromatosis: It's not just for Caucasians. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 1996; July: 88
42. Vasquez A. Zinc treatment for reduction of hyperplasia of prostate. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 1996; January: 100
43. Vasquez A. Knowledge of hemochromatosis is prerequisite to its diagnosis and treatment. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 1995; December: 96-8
44. Vasquez A. Iron in Men: Why men store this nutrient in their bodies and the harm that it does. Mentor 1995; Fall: 24-5
45. Vasquez A. A brief review of two potential adverse effects of zinc supplementation: cognitive deterioration in patients with Alzheimer's disease, and copper deficiency. Nutritional Perspectives 1995; 18: 11, 19
46. Vasquez A. High body iron stores: causes, effects, diagnosis, and treatment. Nutritional Perspectives 1994; 17: 13, 15-7, 19, 21, 28
47. Vasquez A. Hemochromatosis and iron. Townsend Letter for Doctors 1994; August/September: 914-6

 

Volunteer and Social Service Activities

• Board of Directors (1996-1998), Seattle Men's Evolvement Network, a non-profit organization
• Health Editor (1997) for MEN Magazine
• Chiropractic Physician Volunteer, Sound Medical Clinic, Seattle, Washington, 1996
• Chiropractic Intern Volunteer, Eastside Community Clinic, Portland, Oregon, 1995
• Author of numerous health articles written for physicians and the general public

 

Professional Seminars and Lectures Presented  (too many to keep up with)

• London, RSM...
• Vasquez A. “Nutrition Review: Clinical Applications of Fatty Acid Therapy, Current Research on Vitamin D, and Phytonutritional Modulation of NF-kappaB” Biotics European Congres (Amersfoort, Netherlands) 2004; December: 11  
• Vasquez A. “Integrative Orthopedics” and “Detoxification” “Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice” (Tampa, Florida) hosted by the Institute for Functional Medicine www.FunctionalMedicine.org  2004; December: 1-3  
• Vasquez A. “Nutritional and Botanical Treatments for Pain and Inflammation” “Pharmaceutical Perspectives” (Boston, Massachusetts) hosted by New Hampshire Association of Naturopathic Doctors  http://www.nhand.org   2004; December: 1-3
• Vasquez A. Alternative Treatments for Hepatitis. Hepatitis Magazine Conference in Houston, Texas: November 9, 2002
• Vasquez A. Holistic and Natural Approaches to Helping People with Narcolepsy.  Narcolepsy Network's Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada: October 18-20, 2002
• The Clinical Management of Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload in Naturopathic Practice. 16th Annual National Convention and Exposition of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. August 22-25, 2001 in Tucson, Arizona
• Adjunct Professor at Bastyr University: Rheumatology (2001), Orthopedics (2000), Radiographic Interpretation 1 (2000)
• Iron Overload: causes, effects, diagnosis, and treatment. March 19, April 16, May 26, 1999 Presentations for the doctors and student clinicians at the Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic. Slide presentation and overhead illustrations, flow charts, Q&A, select case reports, extensive clinically-oriented handouts.
• Invited speaker, Western States Chiropractic College Clinic, Summer 1996
• The Diagnosis and Management of Genetic Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload. Western States Chiropractic College Clinic Senior Intern Orientation Program, Winter 1996

Post-Graduate and Continuing Education (partial listing)

Constant review of the research literature and Medline.

Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice http://www.fxmed.com/afmcp/index.html 
Presented by Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D, Robert Roundtree MD, David Jones MD, Vincent Marinkovich, MD (Stanford Medical School), Dan Lukazer ND, Robert Lerman, MD, PhD, Bethany Hays, MD, Michael Lyon, MD
March 15-22 in Seattle, Washington

Genomics in Primary Care Medicine
Presented by Bradley S. Rachman, DC, DABPM and RW Watkins MD, MPH, FAAFP
April 28, 2002 in Irving, Texas

Functional Medicine 2002 Gulf Coast Conference: Nutritional Endocrinology: Breakthrough Approaches in Improving Thyroid and Adrenal Function
Presented by Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D, Joseph Collins, N.D., Robert Rakowski DC, Robert Roundtree MD, Michael Leu, ND, Brazos Minshew MSc, Gottfried Kellerman PhD, Brad Rachman, DC
March 15-17, 2002 in Houston, TX

16th Annual National Convention and Exposition of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
August 22-25, 2001 in Tucson, Arizona

Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician Session 2: Lower Extremity: Diagnosis, Treatment, Rehabilitation
Presented by William Moreau, D.C., DACBSP, CSCS, FICC
February 10-11, 2001 in Portland, Oregon

Acute Care Nutrition
Presented by Donald L. Hayes, D.C.
December 9, 2000 in Bellevue, Washington

Twelfth Annual Forum on Therapeutic Nutrition: 2000 Clinical Practice Update
Presented by Lynn Patrick, N.D., Walter Crinnion, N.D., Paris Kidd, Ph.D., Alan Miller, N.D., Kathi Head, N.D.
April 29, 2000 in Seattle, Washington

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians Convention 1998
With presentations by Abram Hoffer MD PhD, Jared Zeff ND, Walter Crinnion ND, Davis Lamson ND, and many others.
August 26-30, 1998 in Portland, Oregon

Improving Genetic Expression in the Prevention of the Diseases of Aging
Presented by Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D.
January 31, 1998 in Seattle, Washington

Nutritional Improvement of Health Outcomes: The Inflammatory Disorders
Presented by Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D., with Eleanor Barrager, R.D.
February 8, 1997 in Portland, Oregon

The Role of Reduced Glutathione in Cellular Protection and Tumor Suppression
Presented by Gernot Treusch, Ph.D.
November 13, 1996 in Seattle, Washington

Staying Sharp: What's New in Brain Research
Presented by several leading researchers in the fields of neurobiology and clinical neurology.
May 15, 1996 at University of Washington in Seattle, Washington

Eighth Annual Forum on Therapeutic Nutrition: 1996 Clinical Practice Update
Presented by Paris Kidd, Ph.D., Alan Gaby, M.D., Alan Miller, N.D., Timothy Birdsall, N.D.
April 20, 1996 in Bellevue, Washington

The Third International Symposium on Functional Medicine
Presented by Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D., Paul Cheney, M.D., Ph.D., Elizabeth Jeffery, Ph.D., John Saltzman, M.D., Marian Diamond, Ph.D., M. Flint Beal, M.D., Herman Aldercreutz, M.D., Ph.D. and other prominent scientists, researchers, and physicians.
March 27-31, 1996 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

New Perspectives in Nutritional Therapies: Improving Patient Outcomes
Presented by Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D., with Eleanor Barrager, R.D.
January 6, 1996 in Portland, Oregon

Clinical Applications of Natural Medicines
Presented by Michael T. Murray, N.D.
November 12, 1995 in Vancouver, Washington

Functional Medicine Northwest: Meet the Experts
Presented by Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D., with David Jones, M.D., and Eleanor Barrager, R.D.
October 29, 1994 in Seattle, Washington

"Full Spine" Chiropractic Technique Seminar presented by the Impulse Seminar Group
Presented by Randy Carlson, D.C.
A two-day seminar in March, 1994 in Portland, Oregon

"Thoracic and Cervical Spine" Chiropractic Technique Seminar presented by the Motion Palpation Institute
Presented by Keith Innes, D.C.
A two-day seminar in January 1994 in Portland, Oregon

"Thoracic and Cervical Spine" Chiropractic Technique Seminar presented by the Motion Palpation Institute
Presented by Terry Elder, D.C.
A two-day seminar in November 1993 in Houston, Texas

"Thoracic and Cervical Spine" Chiropractic Technique Seminar presented by the Motion Palpation Institute
Presented by Terry Elder, D.C.
A two-day seminar in October 1993 in Portland, Oregon

"Lumbar Spine and Pelvis" Chiropractic Technique Seminar presented by the Motion Palpation Institute
Presented by Keith Innes, D.C.
A two-day seminar in August 1993 in Seattle, Washington

Phytotherapy: Herbal Medicine in the Clinical Setting
Presented by Donald J. Brown, N.D.
July 13, 1993 at Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena, Texas

"Full Spine" Chiropractic Technique Seminar presented by the Motion Palpation Institute
Presented by Keith Innes, D.C. and Terry Elder, D.C.
A two-day seminar in January 1993 in Houston, Texas