Kim Burnham, PhD

I recently completed my PhD in Integrative Medicine from Westbrook University (2006). My dissertation topic was "The Effect of Integrative Manual Therapy on the Symptom''s of Parkinson''s Disease." In working on my dissertation I did a lot of research into the benefits of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) on Parkinson''s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer''s, Lou Gehrig''s (ALS), and Friedreich's Ataxia.

As the Director of Knowledge Management at the Center for Integrative Manual Therapy (CenterIMT), headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut, I answer questions for clients, students and the general public. Many of the questions center around Integrative Manual Therapy and in general what non-surgery and non-medication related therapies can do for healing and health.

Working for CenterIMT I have been able to enjoy travel and broadening my global perspective on health. In the last few years, I have consulted with clients in Hong Kong, Israel and Italy, as well as treating clients from all over the world in Bloomfield, Connecticut. One highlight was speaking at a "Defeat Autism Now" conference in Verona, Italy.

I have been researching and writing on health, food and nutrition topics for the last 20 years. It started with working for the Produce News and working as a freelance journalist in the fresh produce and agriculture industry for 10 years (1985-1995).

In 1993, I graduated from Sutherland-Chan Massage Therapy School and Teaching Clinic in Toronto, Canada. An excellent education there prepared me for a move to health care field. I spent 5 years studying at the Canadian College of Osteopathy, which helped me broaden my education into the field on manual therapy and looking at the individual in a holistic way.

I studied cranial work focused on holistic healing, headaches, back pain, fatigue, pain, neurological conditions, cranial circulation and more through the Upledger Institute, The Milne Institute, The Canadian College of Osteopathy and The Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy.

I am trained in working with the lymphatic system and working with lymphedema and immune system dysfunction. I studied lymphatics at Sutherland-Chan Massage School, the Canadian College of Osteopathy and through the Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy as well as completing the LPG Endermologie training.

Functional therapies I have studied include: Sole Support Orthotics Training and Orthotics Training through Langer. Brain Stimulating Method - Janny de Jong. Listening with the Whole Body. Vital Links. Sheila Frick. Clinical Hypnotherapy: Clinical Hypnosis, through Inner Quest Awareness Center of CA Hypnosomatic Institute.

My global perspective on health and good living is the result of growing in Colombia, Belgium and later teaching English and studying shiatsu in Japan and then massage therapy in Canada.

A Bachelors degree in Zoology from Brigham Young University (1982) gave me a stolid foundation in the sciences. My particular interested was marine biology and entomology. I am still very interested in the health benefits seen in children and adults swimming with dolphins.