Chev. Professor, Dr. Stephen Holt, MD, LLD(Hon.) ChB., PhD, DNM, FRCP (C), MRCP (UK), FACP, FACG, FACN, FACAM, Knight of Grace, OSJ,  a pioneer in the dietary supplement industry and Integrative Medicine announces a major shift in his professional activities. Dr. Holt has passed his executive and management responsibilities in the corporation Natures Benefit Inc (www.naturesbenefit.com ) to Jon Garcia, DNM, Dip. Of DSC and Certified in Nutrition and Public Wellness. He remains a Scientific Advisor to Natures Benefit Inc and several other healthcare corporations and consults on product development and regulatory matters in the industry.  Jon Garcia, of Natures Benefit Inc, stated, "Dr. Holt is an icon in the dietary supplement industry and he has developed several of the most successful categories of dietary supplements over a period of two decades. While many products have been sold in corporations where he has held a senior executive or management role, some of his products and research have been licensed to large pharmaceutical or nutraceutical corporations. As the most credentialed individual in the dietary supplement industry, I am pleased that Dr. Holt is devoting his time to supporting the industry in an academic and research context."

Today, Dr. Holt stated "for many years, I have, by necessity, played a role in the executive management of dietary supplement purveyance. Despite this administrative burden, much of my time has been spent attempting to educate the industry and other healthcare professionals on the evidence-based use of dietary supplements. I have decided to remove myself from executive management responsibilities to focus on academic pursuits, in order to continue to support the growth of natural medicine. I am not turning my back on the dietary supplement industry, but my days in business administration are over.  Increasing pressure has been placed on my time to lecture at many national and international meetings and author books and articles which extend beyond the dietary supplement industry. In the next few years, I shall continue my advocacy for natural healthcare in the international arena, as a keynote speaker in several countries. I have founded the Holt Institute of Medicine, affiliated with the World University of Natural Medicine, to focus on certification and degree level training in Integrative Medicine. In addition, I have agreed to support several organizations including: Integrative Medicine Asia,  the Global Foundation of Integrative Medicine, The Sovereign Order of the Orthodox Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem and the Board of Trustees of a University in New York (NYCPM). My roots started in academic medicine when I worked at several universities of excellence in the UK and the U.S. My current responsibilities as Chairman of the New York Department of Integrative Medicine have provided me with new tasks to create Continuing Medical Education in holistic healthcare."

Dr. Holt has been described as a visionary and thought leader in the nutraceutical industry. He has received awards of distinction from several academic and industry organizations. He announced recently the first of a series of Integrative Medicine conferences in a university based environment in New York. The initial conference is to be held on September 20, 2008 at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM). Dr. Holt holds the academic rank of Distinguished Professor of Medicine and his recent appointment as the Lieutenant Grand Hospitaller to the Knights of Saint John gives him new responsibilities to fulfill the mission statement of the Order in their international medical charitable activity. Dr. Holt maintains his practice of medicine in New York and he has developed recently a certification program for simple counseling on the use of dietary supplements (www.hiom.org).

Dr. Holt commented "I have seen major changes in the dietary supplement industry with a significant shift in medical treatment paradigms over the past two decades. These days, it is common to be dispensed natural products in the offices of many healthcare-givers or receive nutritional counseling in independent health food stores. I believe strongly in the concept of medical pluralism and modern medicine must start to embrace all medical disciplines, especially those with an emerging evidence-base. The dietary supplement  industry can only survive and flourish with scientific support. This was the topic of paramount importance that I addressed at the Natural Products Association (NPA) National Meeting, recently. The industry faces increasing regulation and a  burden of proof to show the efficacy of natural products. These are areas in which I hope that I can make the greatest contribution. The interface between what has been called alternative medicine and conventional medicine is softening due to increasing demand by healthcare consumers for natural medicine. I cannot see anything "alternative" about modern concepts of postive lifestyle and good nutrition to promote wellness and longevity. Patient requests for Integrative Medicine are increasing dramatically on a global basis, but growth is facing resistance by major political and economic lobbies. My training was primarily in conventional medicine, but many people, including myself, have recognized  the potential disadvanages and limitations of some allopathic medical strategies. Conventional medicine must be supported, but natural medicine offers greater portability, especially in Third World countries; and it has great potential for cost containment in industrialized communities. I have presented these concepts on two occasions to the U.S.Trade Union leadership at the National Labor Executive Conference, alongside the then President of the American Medical Assocation and the President of the American Nurses Association. I predict the increasing advent of natural medicine and its ascent into many models of healthcare delivery."

For Further Information Contact:
Cecily MacConchie
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973-256-4660

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