Journal of IiMER June 2024 Science in Nursing Studies from Florida International University. Additionally, she has obtained a Master's degree in Integrative Medicine from George Washington University School of Medicine and a Doctoral degree at the University of North Florida. Before joining the INIM, Irina worked for more than twenty years as a physician assistant in Russia. After relocating to Florida, she worked as a Clinical Research Nurse at Nova Southeastern University. Irina obtained an international certification as a Clinical Research Professional and has been involved in research in many roles. Irina teaches at Nova Southeastern University College of Nursing as an adjunct faculty. Irina's focus at the INIM includes myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic infections, vector-borne illnesses, metabolic syndrome, chronic pain, environmental issues, detoxification and auto-immune diseases and her research interests include neuroinflammation, biotoxin exposure, detoxification, immune dysfunction, the stress response, neuroendocrinology and implementation of integrative medicine modalities. Violetta Renesca is a Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner focusing on functional and integrative approaches to treat patients with complex neuro-inflammatory conditions. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Nova Southeastern University and worked as a staff nurse and charge nurse on the Progressive Care Unit at Broward Health. After receiving her Master’s Degree from Florida International University as an Adult Nurse Practitioner, she joined a large multispecialty geriatric center in Fort Lauderdale. Violetta obtained a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of North Florida. Violetta’s focus at the INIM includes myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, Gulf War illness, chronic infections, metabolic syndrome, chronic pain, environmental illness, detoxification, and autoimmune diseases. As a certified practitioner for the Institute for Functional Medicine, she works with patients to create personalized treatment plans that addresses root causes of chronic illness. She is also the Director of the Veterans Clinic where she sees patients with Gulf War illness. Additionally, she is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as well as the Institute for Functional Medicine. Dr Jesper Mehlsen Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark / EMERG Dr Jesper Mehlsen graduated as a medical doctor in 1979 and finished his specialist training in 1990. He has published more than 140 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals, mainly on the autonomic nervous system and more recently on complex diseases possibly resulting form HPV-vaccination. For more than 35 years, he has worked clinically and in research with dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Such dysfunction may lead to symptoms from a number of different organs often dominated by diminished control of blood pressure and heart rate. Over the past 5 years, he has worked clinically and in research with patients who suspect side effects due to HPV vaccination to be the cause of a number of symptoms, common to those seen in chronic ME. Dr Mehlsen is co-chair of the European ME Research Group (EMERG). Invest in ME Research Page 27 of 32
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