Join women’s health experts Associate Professor Mike Armour, Dr Orit Holtzman and Danielle Howe as they discuss the latest research around treating and supporting people with endometriosis, with a complementary and integrative medicine lens. This public webinar is designed for people with endometriosis and anyone who supports them, including family, friends and health professionals. We will cover the latest research on the effectiveness of acupuncture for endometriosis, discuss the role that medicinal cannabis might play in reducing endometriosis symptoms, unveil our endometriosis support policy for workplaces – Endo@Work – and discuss how we are implementing this at Western Sydney University via the Endo@Western initiative. The university is home to NICM, Australia’s leader in integrative and complementary medicine research and policy. Our Institute conducts research that advances our knowledge and understanding of traditional and complementary medicine and promotes evidence-based integrative healthcare, in alignment with the World Health Organisation’s Traditional Medicine strategy.

Speaker bios:

Associate Professor Mike Armour is the Director of Research and an Associate Professor in reproductive health at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, where he is currently running several clinical trials on endometriosis, menstrual health and complementary medicine. Mike is heavily involved in research and treatment of endometriosis, and he was the invited complementary medicine expert on the endometriosis expert working group (EEWG) for the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) that developed the first Australian guidelines for Endometriosis, released in January 2021. Mike is also a World Endometriosis Society Ambassador, Academic lead of the Menstrual Cycle Research Network (MCRN) at Western Sydney University, and Chair of the Australasian Interdisciplinary Researchers in Endometriosis (AIRE).

Dr Orit Holtzman (MBBS, PhD Neuroscience) is the Co-founder and Director of Leura Wellness where she practices functional medicine with a focus on cannabinoid medicine. She is also the Co-Founder and President of the Australian and New Zealand College of Cannabinoid Practitioners (ANZCCP) and an Adjunct fellow at NICM. Dr Holtzman is one of Australia’s most experienced authorised prescribers and educators and the 2024 Cannabiz Prescribing Healthcare Practitioner of the Year award winner. Apart from her clinical practice, she is passionate about advancing medical education and research in the field of cannabinoid medicine.

Danielle (Dani) Howe is a third-year PhD candidate at NICM Health Research Institute. Her research co-designs and evaluates guidelines, processes and educational initiatives to foster inclusive Australian workplaces for people with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. Danielle holds a Master of Science from the University of Edinburgh in Global Health and Public policy and a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University. Dani has nearly a decade of industry experience in community development working in monitoring and evaluation across Canada, UK, Australia, The Gambia, Sierra Leonne, Togo, Zambia, Palestine, Bangladesh. Through her research, Dani hopes to improve menstrual literacy and health and wellbeing outcomes for people with reproductive and chronic health conditions. She aims to explore how gender-related health inequities intersect aspects of our lives and systemically reinforce gender inequity.

Moderated by Stephanie Bedo, an award-winning health journalist and media professional with 20 years of experience working with researchers and scientists to communicate the latest advances in healthcare, leading to impactful change. Steph holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Bond University and is NICM’s media and marketing manager.

Contact the host of Complementary Medicine Conversations