EVENTS

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PROFESSIONAL SPEAKERS:  

Time: 4:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST  

WILLIAM J. REA M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.A.E.M.

William J. Rea, M.D. is a practicing thoracic, cardiovascular and general surgeon with an added interest in the environmental aspects of health and disease.  Founder of the Environmental Health Center - Dallas (EHC-D) in 1974, Dr. Rea is currently director of this highly specialized Dallas-based medical facility.

Dr. Rea was awarded the Jonathan Forman Gold Medal Award in 1987 and the Herbert J. Rinkle Award in 1993 and the 1998 Service Award, all by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, and was named Outstanding Alumnus by Otterbein College in 1991.  Other awards include the Mountain Valley Water Hall of Fame in 1987, the Special Achievement Award by Otterbein College in 1991, the Distinguished Pioneers in Alternative Medicine Award by the Foundation for the Advancement of Innovative Medicine Education Fund in 1994, the Gold Star Award by the International Biographical Center in 1997, Five Hundred Leaders of Influence Award in 1997, Who’s Who in the South and Southwest in 1997, The Twentieth Century Award for Achievement in 1997, the Dor W. Brown, Jr., M.D. Lectureship Award by the Pan American Allergy Society and the O. Spurgeon English Humanitarian Award by Temple University in 2002. Author of four medical textbooks, Chemical Sensitivity, and co-author of Your Home, Your Health and Well-Being, Dr. Rea has published more than 150 peer reviewed research papers related to the topic of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery as well as that of environmental medicine. 

Dr. Rea currently serves on the board and is president of the American Environmental Health Foundation, vice president of the American Environmental Board of Medicine and previously served on the board of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine.  He previously held the position of chief of surgery at Brookhaven Medical Center and chief of cardiovascular surgery at Dallas Veteran's Hospital, and he is a past president of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine and the Pan American Allergy Society.  He has also served on the Science Advisory Board for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on the Research Committee for the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy and on the Committee on Aspects of Cardiovascular, Endocrine and Autoimmune Diseases of the American College of Allergists, Committee on Immunotoxicology for the Office of Technology Assessment and on the panel on Chemical Sensitivity of the National Academy of Sciences.  He was previously adjunct professor with the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center College of Public Health.  Dr. Rea is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, the American College of Allergists, the American College of Preventive Medicine, the American College of Nutrition, and the Royal Society of Medicine.

Born in Jefferson, Ohio, Dr. Rea graduated from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, and Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio.  He then completed a rotating internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas.  He held a general surgery residency from 1963-67 and a cardiovascular surgery fellowship and residency from 1967-69 with The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School system, which includes Parkland Memorial Hospital, Baylor Medical Center, Veteran's Hospital and Children's Medical Center.

From 1969 – 1972, Dr. Rea was assistant professor of cardiovascular surgery at the University of Texas S.W. Medical School; from 1984-85, Dr. Rea held the position of adjunct professor of environmental sciences and mathematics at the University of Texas, while from 1972-82 he acted as clinical associate professor of thoracic surgery at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.  Dr. Rea held the First World Professorial Chair of Environmental Medicine at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England from 1988 – 1998.  He also served as adjunct professor of psychology and guest lecturer at North Texas State University.   

TITLE OF PRESENTATION:  Environmental Aspects of Health and Cardiovascular Disease. 

SUMMARY OF PRESENTATION:  

Dr. Rea will discuss the principles of environmental aspects of cardiovascular disease; several series of arrhythmias and heart failure influenced by the environment.  Environmental pollutants affect the cardiovascular system in many ways including vascular spasm, hypoxia, arrhythmias, and heart failure.

CONTACT DR. REA:

For more information about Dr. Rea and his services, visit his website at www.ehcd.com or call his assistant, Ellie Morlan at (214) 368-4132 or via email at elliem@ehcd.com.  

Time: 5:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST

William Croft, DVM, PhD, Medical Pathologist 

William Croft obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin in physiology in 1965, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1970.  In 1975, Dr. Croft received a medical pathology degree geared to study human disease from the Medical School of the University of Wisconsin.  Since that time he has dedicated his life to studying environmental illness involving heavy metal, solvent, phenol, and mold or fungi poisonings, to name a few.

In 1986, Dr. Croft published the first paper on indoor mold poisoning in the North American Continent and demonstrated the fingerprint for Trichothecene Mycotoxins in animals and humans.  This study was in part funded by the United States Army.  He has completed 8 autopsies, 4 adult humans and 4 children, clearly demonstrating pathology caused by inhalation versus ingestion of these mycotoxins.  Dr. Croft has studied, and observed over 6,000 people demonstrating signs and symptoms of mycotoxin poisoning and has determined the stages for inhalation mycotoxicosis.  Dr. Croft has studied this disease for over 23 years and in an effort to allow others to become aware of the disease; he is willing to share what he has learned concerning this environmental disease.

SUMMARY OF PRESENTATION:

Dr. Croft will discuss the answers to the question: Can indoor molds and mycotoxins cause adverse health effects, permanent illness, or even death? He will discuss various topics from the history of fungi, the definition of molds and mycotoxins, cross-contamination, stages of the disease, and trichothecene  mycotoxicosis.

CONTACT DR. CROFT:

For more information about Dr. Croft and his services, visit his website at www.edgi.org or call his office at (608) 274-1618.

Time: 6:00 P.M. EST to 7:00 P.M. EST

David K. Rueckert  

Executive summary

Mr. Rueckert has been conducting environmental consulting services since 1984. Mr. Rueckert founded Day Break Environmental Corp. in 1994.  Mr. Rueckert has over 20 years experience doing indoor air quality evaluations. 

Mr. Rueckert has a BS degree in Engineering Sciences from Baylor University.  Mr. Rueckert has additional training in Medically Significant Fungi from the CDC and the national laboratory training network.  Mr. Rueckert was certified for comprehensive practice by the American board of industrial hygiene. Mr. Rueckert has been an expert witness in more than 30 toxic mold law suits. Whether it was representing defendant or plaintiff the group hiring Mr. Rueckert fared favorably in the lawsuit.  

Work Experience

This section details where Mr. Rueckert has been employed. 

1984-1988                        Dames and Moore
Mr. Rueckert was a Junior Field Technician and later a senior Field Technician for this Geotechnical and environmental consulting firm. Mr. Rueckert worked for the Phoenix based location and later the Baton Rouge, LA office. Mr. Rueckert was involved in laboratory as well as field consulting work. Mr. Rueckert was involved with multiple superfund remedial investigations/feasibility studies (RI/FS). Contaminants included industrial and commercial chemicals and TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure Chemicals).  Mr. Rueckert was involved with quality control during the attempted remediation of the nations original “Cradle to Grave” site in Baton Rouge, LA. (Petro Processors site).  Based on Mr. Rueckert’s experiences with Dames and Moore he had extensive RCRA and CERCLA regulatory activities. Mr. Rueckert was trained in the OSHA 40 hour Hazardous Waste Operations (HAZWOPER). Mr. Rueckert was on good terms with Dames and Moore when he promoted to work with Western Technologies.  

1988-1993                                 Western Technologies, Environmental Division.
Mr. Rueckert came to Western Technologies as a project manager for environmental projects. A great deal of work was conducted towards the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). AHERA and NESHAPS work was conducted in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Tribal properties. Mr. Rueckert conducted hundreds of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) evaluations for chemicals, water damage and other previously unknown contaminants.  Mr. Rueckert managed up to 15 workers on environmental projects in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. Mr. Rueckert transferred to the Las Vegas, NV office. While in Las Vegas Mr. Rueckert was involved in the investigation and remediation of over 2 million square feet of the Dunes Hotel and Casino prior to explosive demolition.

1993-1994                                 Environmental Management Consultants (EMC)
Mr. Rueckert was hired as the General manager for Industrial Hygiene Services. While employed here, Mr. Rueckert conducted indoor air quality services on residential and commercial properties. Mr. Rueckert has always held for the highest quality of services to be performed. This did not coincide with EMC’s managerial concepts. Therefore irreconcilable differences developed.

1994-2005                                 Daybreak Environmental (Daybreak)
Mr. Rueckert conducted hundreds of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) evaluations for chemicals, water damage and other previously unknown contaminants per year. Daybreak became involved in litigatory support for defendants and plaintiffs regarding indoor air quality and insurance “Bad Faith” claims. Daybreak developed a consistent and impressive reputation in this area. Daybreak was able to conduct mycotoxin air, bulk and vacuum sample analysis which became important evidence in court. Mr. Rueckert has provided expert witness testimony in court on multiple occasions. Due to a life threatening injury and subsequent recovery, this corporation lapsed in 2005.

2006-Present   David K. Rueckert (DKR) has provided services reestablishing his presence in Water Damage and Indoor Air Quality services.  Subsequent to his recovery Mr. Rueckert has provided expert witness testimony in two lawsuits, to favorable review.  

Title of presentation: indoor air evaluations 

Summary of presentation:

Do you believe that your workplace, school, or home is making you ill? If so, what do you do about it? Are you confused about which method is better, air sampling or bulk sampling? What do you need to know before hiring someone to do remediation or to do air quality testing? Do the test results need to show the molds and bacteria to be speciated? What is speciated? Mr. Rueckert will answer these questions and any others pertaining to indoor air evaluations. 

CONTACT DAVID K. RUECKERT:

For more information about David K. Rueckert and his services, he can be reached at via e-mail at Mr_rueckert@yahoo.com or at (602)799-2257.