Barry Bittman, MD is a neurologist,
author, international speaker, award-winning producer/director and inventor.
As CEO and Medical Director of the Mind-Body
Wellness Center, a comprehensive, interdisciplinary outpatient medical facility
in Meadville, PA., Dr. Bittman has pioneered a new paradigm for treating the
“whole person.” Based upon extensive research, he developed Insights
for Living Beyond Cancer with Bernie Siegel, MD, a program that integrates
the power of mind, body and spirit with conventional medical care. Dr. Bittman
has also created similar programs for individuals facing the challenges of asthma,
cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes.
His medical perspectives, emphasizing a mind-body approach have been presented in his book, Reprogramming Pain, written to help individuals transform pain and suffering into health and success. His latest book, Maze of Life, co-authored with Anthony DeFail, is a soul-searching parable about restoring hope, meaning and purpose amidst life’s challenges.
As the host of the first nationally-syndicated integrative medicine weekly Public Radio program, Mind-Body Matters, Dr. Bittman interviewed 115 of the world's leading visionaries. His program featured cutting-edge in-depth perspectives that scientifically substantiate the integration of complementary approaches into conventional healthcare. Dr. Bittman's more than 250 articles on a host of integrative medical topics have been published in his newspaper column, Mind Over Matter.
Based upon his commitment for shaping the future of cancer care in traditional medicine, Dr. Bittman served as a board member of the American Cancer Society at the state level for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is also CEO of ECaP, Exceptional Cancer Patients, an organization founded by Bernie Siegel, MD in 1978 dedicated to providing retreats, training for health professionals, resources and information for individuals facing the challenges of cancer and other chronic illnesses.
Dr.
Bittman has been awarded three patents for his invention, Mindscope®, introduced
in 1992 as the world’s first clinical tool linking the nervous system to
a multimedia environment. Bittman’s innovative biofeedback technology has
been successfully utilized in clinical settings throughout the U.S., Canada
and Europe. A customized application was also incorporated into the training
program of U.S. National Figure Skating Champion, Tonia Kwiatkowski.
Dr.
Bittman's "whole person" approach has been featured in numerous leading
publications throughout the world, including USA Today, Business Week, Time,
Prevention, Discover, O (Oprah Magazine), the New York Times, the San Francisco
Chronicle, the Washington Post, Scientific American, Men's Fitness, Health magazine,
Spirituality & Health, New Age Journal, Self magazine and numerous other
leading publications.
In
1995 Dr. Bittman began TouchStar Productions,
a company dedicated to providing evidence-based resources to help individuals
harness their inner healing potential as a complementary approach to traditional
healthcare. With an emphasis on Psychoneuroimmunology, the medical discipline
that studies the interaction between emotions, nervous system, endocrine system
and immune system function, TouchStar’s initial releases (available through
select distributors in the US and Canada) feature multimedia journeys through
nature with introductions by world-renowned authors. SmithKline Beecham, one
of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, is distributing TouchStar’s
self-help program entitled Affirmations For Getting
Well Again, to cancer specialists throughout the nation. Affirmations for
Getting Well Again also won the coveted first place awards in the Wellness and
Cinematography categories from among 632 entries at the 1997 American
Medical Association’s International Health and Medical Film Festival
in San Francisco.
Based
on his conviction that Recreational Music-making is an effective therapeutic
strategy in conventional medical settings, Dr. Bittman led a team of researchers
who investigated the biological effects of the HealthRHYTHMS group drumming
protocol he co-developed. This foundational study (Alternative Therapies, Jan.2001)
correlates group drumming with increased activity of Natural Killer cells, specialized
white blood cells that seek out and destroy cancer cells and virally-infected
cells.
His recent research (Advances in Mind-Body Medicine, November 2003) demonstrated substantial reductions in burnout and mood disturbances in long-term care workers, as well as significant cost savings using a Recreational Music-making protocol.