Osher Center Pediatricians to Speak at Upcoming Conference

On Saturday, March 11, Osher Center pediatricians Dr. Sanford Newmark and Dr. David Becker will be presenting at the Support for Families of Children with Disabilities Annual Information & Resource Conference. The conference will run from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at John O’Connell High School at 2355 Folsom Street in San Francisco.

Dr. Newmark will be presenting from 11:00 to 12:30 on the topic of “Does My Child Really Need Ritalin? An Integrative Approach to ADHD.” In this lecture, attendees will learn the importance of the integrative approach – seeing the child in the context of his or her family, friends, school and community, rather than as a set of symptoms that need to be fixed. Topics will include an overview of the environmental, genetic, and physiological aspects of ADHD. Dr. Newmark will then discuss non-pharmaceutical therapies, including nutrition, food sensitivities, vitamin and mineral supplements, parenting skills, school intervention and other complementary therapies.

Dr. Becker will present from 2:00 to 3:30 on the topic of “Mindfulness and Mind-Body Techniques for Kids and their Families.” Mindfulness has become a hot topic lately, working its way into school curricula and popular language.  In this workshop, Dr. Becker will talk about what mindfulness is and isn’t, as well as cover other mind-body strategies, such as guided imagery, biofeedback, and clinical hypnosis.  He will also discuss how to help kids develop self-regulation skills–and how to lead by example.

This annual Information & Resource Conference is a unique opportunity for families of children with disabilities, concerns, or special health care needs and the professionals who work with them to gather and exchange their knowledge and experiences. The conference is free and open to the public, but advance registration is recommended.