Biographies for 2008 Featured Speakers

Mark Kastner, L.Ac.
Mark Kastner grew up in San Diego, California. Attracted to healing Arts since the age of twelve, he attended the University of California at San Diego with the intention of becoming a physician. However, Mark became interested in the mind, body, and spirit philosophy behind alternative medicine, causing him to leave the university and begin studying with several holistic practioners, including Ram Das and Dr. Bernard Jensen. Under the tutelage of Dr. Jensen, Mark became interested in Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture. With Dr.Jensen's encouragement, Mark graduated from California Acupuncture College in 1987.

Through a program supported by the United Nations and the World Health Organization, Mark Kastner was chosen to participate in a clinical internship program in Bejing, China. There, Mark was privilegedto study under one of the top acupuncturist in the world, Dr.Cheng-Gu Ye.

Returning to United States in 1985, Mark became a Licensed Acupuncturist and created one of the top holistic medical practices in San Diego. Sensing the growth of alternative medicine in the early 1990, Mark wrote and published The Complete Guide to Alternative Healing, which sold over 10,000 copies in its first year. This book was written as reference book for alternative medicine and was well received both academically and by the public. Because of its good reviews and sales, the book was picked up and published by Henry Holt in 1995. With The Complete Guide to Alternative Healing as a foundation, Mark began working on local television and radio news shows in live question and answer formats.

Recently, Mark created a nonprofit foundation called Families Forever, focused on helping children through parental education. This foundations philosophy is based on the concept that conscious parenting creates conscious children. Mark has been practicing mind, body, and spirit medicine for the last eighteen years and has treated over 40,000 people in this period. He is currently in practice with his wife Marie, at the Circle of Living - healing center.

Mark's extensive experience has given him invaluable insights into helping people help themselves. This philosophy has been captured in his exciting healing novel, Closing the Circle.

Mark Kastner is speaking on Sunday.