WECARE: A Retreat For Healthcare Professionals, By Healthcare Professionals (CME)

RN | Founder | CEO | Co-Owner of The Point Retreats- Retreat Facilitator - Certified Wilderness First Aid - CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor Administrator and Results Analysis) - Heartmath Trainer and Coach - Lifestyle & Functional Medicine Health Educator - Certified EQ-i & EQ-i 360 Test Administrator and Results CoachI have worked in the healthcare industry for over 20 years in emergency medicine, cardiac care, orthopedics, primary care, diabetes education, and endocrinology. I have a Bachelors Degree in Nursing, Masters Degree in Healthcare Leadership, Advanced training from the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Institute of Functional Medicine, and American Academy of Functional Medicine.It was during my time working as a diabetes nurse educator, followed by my role as Director of Diabetes Care and Endocrinology, that I was motivated to be a change agent in the way we treat and manage chronic disease. I was alarmed at the increased prevalence of diabetes and the complex nature and cost of managing the disease. I was inspired by those patients who became partners in their care and with the right support, education, and coaching were empowered to make lifestyle changes that resulted in improved health and happiness. After initiating a "Living Well with Diabetes" series of classes with a local culinary kitchen, where providers, patients, and family members participated in innovative disease management cooking classes, I was determined to bring the science and practice of lifestyle medicine to more people living with a chronic disease or aiming to prevent one. This was the starting point for my change in personal health, passion for lifestyle and functional medicine, and the turning point in my career in healthcare. I realize the important role that nurses serve as they speak the language of medicine, healing, and health.After reaching out to those who have personally or professionally inspired my own journey to improved health, our dynamite "The Point" team of experts was created! Experts in lifestyle and functional medicine, but equally as important, experts in pursuing adventure, sharing laughter, providing support, encouraging greatness, and helping others achieve their personal goals!When I am not spending time at "The Point" you can find me spending time with my family and friends, watching our daughters basketball and soccer games, hiking, camping and canoeing in the Boundary Waters, downhill skiing, spending time on our farm, playing pickleball, yoga, traveling, going to a music concert, cooking, or continuing to study all things related to health, fitness, nutrition, and functional/lifestyle medicine.Biggest life accomplishments - my 3 girls, living in small cabin in Fairbanks Alaska for 6 months, completing a triathlon, finishing the 3 day/60 mile breast cancer walk with 3 wonderful women, completing a 40 mile dogsled adventure in the Boundary Waters with my good friend Jen and 3 of our daughters, and helping my dad write and publish his autobiography.Next adventures and goals: Hiking up an active volcano in Guatemala and roasting a marshmallow over hot lava at the top!

Director of Professional Health ServicesLisa is a board-certified nurse practitioner, who has received functional medicine training with the Institute for Functional Medicine. Most recently, she has attended trainings focused in the area of brain health and brain plasticity, focused on how to discover the root cause of neurologic symptoms and assist with creation of a personalized treatment plan. Functional medicine evaluates the whole person by obtaining information about an individual’s genomics, microbiome, nutrient status, hormone health, inflammation and toxic burden. Most chronic diseases have multiple contributing factors that can be modified to achieve improved health.Lisa is passionate about helping individuals and families who have concerns about cognition. In preparation for this calling, she attended trainings with Dr. Bredesen and the IFM in December 2016 and March 2017. These trainings have provided Lisa with the credential to assess patient’s genetic predisposition for dementia, assess underlying root causes of cognitive changes, and create a personalized plan for preventing or reversing disease.Having watched both of her parents struggle with complex medical issues in mid-life, including cognitive impairment, this calling is personal for Lisa, as well as professional. Since learning of successful interventions for the prevention and reversal of dementia, she is eager to put this information into actionable plans to help her family, as well as others to live more healthfully into their second half of life.

Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist & Integrative Health Coach Keith received a B.A. in philosophy from Calvin University in 1991 and an M.A. in Counseling from Denver Seminary in 1997. He spent 5 years working with troubled teens and their families at a residential treatment facility near Denver, offering individual, group, and family therapy, as well as serving as Counseling Director for the two years.After moving to the Twin Cities in 2003, he worked in the outpatient unit at Nystrom and Associates in New Brighton, continuing to work with teens, adults, and couples dealing with a variety of mental disorders and relational issues. After a brief stint in private practice, Keith’s growing interest in a holistic approach to helping people led him to pursue further education and enroll in Duke University’s Integrative Health Coaching program, where he received his certification. As an Integrative Health Coach, Keith enjoys working with people who are looking to grow in a variety of areas. He utilizes a model that encourages clients to take time to reflect upon and inventory various areas of health, encourages them to choose and own the process of pursuing their best health, and empowers them with tools to form a strategic plan, set realistic goals, and celebrate progress toward greater health and wholeness. While Keith engages clients pursuing a variety of health and wellness goals, he is also involved in a joint effort, with his wife Lisa, in helping people sustain and improve brain health. Their business—Intendedforhealth— was created to fight against the growing epidemic of Alzheimer’s and dementia, and is committed to bringing sound approaches and real hope to those at high risk.

Sarah Martin is a Physician Assistant and Certified Yoga Therapist at TRIA Orthopedic Center in Bloomington, MN. She is one of the founding members of the Integrative Medicine Program at TRIA and the Clinical Lead. She currently sees people in clinic as an upper extremity orthopedic specialist as well as Integrative Medicine provider for Chronic Pain. Additional training that she incorporates in to her visits includes Yoga Therapy with a certification and specialty in Chronic Pain, Meditation and Mindfulness, Functional Nutrition, Ayurveda and Lifestyle Medicine with an emphasis on the mind body connection in healing and wellness. She facilitates small group Yoga Therapy classes for Chronic Pain patients in collaboration with Physical Therapy and leads trainings for Mindfulness and Meditation as well as Yoga Therapy for Chronic Pain for health care providers.

Facilitator, Educator & Director of Business Operations
Jamie Petschow is an instructor and facilitator of breathwork, cold plunging, and sauna therapy. She has advanced education and certification in Sherpa Breath and Cold Exposure. She practices several breathing modalities and mindfulness techniques with her clients, including Wim Hoff and other evidence-based methods.When not facilitating, Jamie directs business operations for The Point Retreats Center in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota- an experience-based and medica teaching platform offering accreditation for personal and professional health education.Jamie has a B.S. degree from The University of Minnesota in Human Resources and Adult Education, and extensive hands-on research in Child Psychology. Her personal passion lay in mental health as a means to a longer, more satisfying, healthspan.In addition to breathwork, Jamie offers testing and education through leadership courses on Emotional Intelligence, Enneagram Personality Types, Team Dynamics, and more. She has completed academic pursuits in all of the above, and continues to work towards an advanced degree in clinical psychology and certification in medication education.

Angela Sydnes is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Chef and Horticulturalist that uses the Garden, Nature and Whole Foods to Help You To Grow Inspired To make Lasting Lifestyle Changes.