Board of Directors

Michael Friedman, ND

A naturopathic physician trained at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Dr. Friedman co-founded Restorative Formulations to provide formulas focused on potency and clinical efficacy for his patients. As president and lead formulator of Restorative Formulations, he has designed more than 40 clinically driven formulas, prioritizing sustainable sourcing of ingredients and rigorous quality testing. Dr. Friedman believes in full label transparency, meaning no proprietary blends, and he is known to give generously to patients who otherwise would not be able to afford supplements.

A Career Built on Advancing Restorative Medicine

Dr. Friedman began his career in private naturopathic practice, where he developed comprehensive, individualized treatment approaches for patients with chronic and complex health conditions.

He then became the founder of Restorative Medicine and the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine (AARM), an organization that delivers cutting-edge, clinically relevant continuing education to thousands of integrative medicine providers across the globe through annual conferences, webinars, botanical medicine monographs, and evidence-informed clinical summaries. He is also the founding editor and publisher of the Journal of Restorative Medicine., an online peer-reviewed clinical journal with articles indexed in MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar about holistic therapeutic approaches. [link all]

Educator and Author

Dr. Friedman has served as adjunct faculty in endocrinology at the University of Bridgeport and taught the Endocrinology Intensive at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine from 2010 to 2012. His books have become reference works in the field:  Fundamentals of Naturopathic Endocrinology (CCNM Press, 2005), Healing Diabetes: Complementary Naturopathic and Drug Treatments (co-authored with Alexander McLennan, CCNM Press, 2007), and a contributing role in Evidence-Based Approach to Restoring Thyroid Health (2014).

His most personal work, There’s No Pill for This: A Naturopathic Physician’s Personal Prescription for Managing Multiple Sclerosis, was published by Chelsea Green (2020), Rizzoli (Italy), and Bauer Media Group (Germany). His candid account of applying his own medicine to his own diagnosis has benefited clinicians and patients alike.

His peer-reviewed and clinical publications span endocrinology, metabolic health, integrative oncology, and the microbiome, appearing in journals including the Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal, Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal, Case Report: The Use of Botanical and Mineral Supplementation to Treat Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes, and Remission of Stage IV Metastatic Ocular Melanoma to the Liver the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, and Naturopathic Doctor News & Review.

A Trusted and Respected Speaker

Dr. Friedman has lectured to medical audiences on four continents. Highlights include the keynote address at the 2024 Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors annual conference ("Senescence, Autophagy, and Neurodegeneration"), presentations at Bastyr University, the National University of Naturopathic Medicine, The Boston School of Herbal Studies and the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences campus, an invited lecture at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences in Dehradun, India, and Restorative Medicine Conference presentations in Pretoria, South Africa and in partnership with the University of Arizona Integrative Medicine Program.

Dr. Friedman also started the podcast Restorative Medicine Conversations with functional medicine practitioner interviews, and he was interviewed on podcasts including the  Applied Natural Medicine Podcast , Superhuman Radio, and Natural Nurse and Dr. Z.

For Dr. Friedman, formulation, education, publishing, and teaching are intertwined to achieve one goal: advancing the evidence base of restorative medicine to put better tools in practitioners' hands.

Colin Chan, MD

Colin Chan, MD received his medical degree from the University of Toronto and is board certified in family medicine in both the United States and Canada. He is an affiliate assistant professor at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. His medical practice focuses on all aspects of health and wellness and disease prevention. He utilizes medical knowledge from both Western and Eastern Medicine, including naturopathic medicine and bio-identical hormones. He is one of the very few physicians in Florida who is certified in Restorative Medicine and routinely uses sustained release T3.

Jill Stansbury, ND

Dr. Stansbury is a naturopathic physician for 25 years specializing in women's health, mental health, and chronic disease. She holds undergraduate degrees in medical illustration and medical assisting, graduated with honors in both programs. Dr. Stansbury chaired the Botanical Medicine Program at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine for over 20 years and remains on the faculty of both NCNM and Bastyr University.

Susan Thompson, MD

Dr. Susan Thompson graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1985. She completed her residency in family medicine with an allopathic education. In 2004, Dr. Thompson was introduced to the Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome and from there to the broader field of Restorative Medicine. Since then she has been learning from patients and other healers how to guide persons toward wellness. Her current practice now focuses on her passions in health care: maternity and delivery, Restorative Medicine, and assisting the startup of a clinic in the mountains of Haiti for five villages that have never had health care.

Rosemary Gladstar

Rosemary Gladstar is a world-renowned herbalist and the founder of The California School of Herbal Studies, the oldest running herb school in the United States. She is the author of many books, including Herbal Healing For Women, The Story Book Herbal Healing Series, and The Family Herbal. She is a pioneer in the herbal movement and has been called the 'godmother of American Herbalism.' Rosemary is the organizer of the International Herb Symposium and The New England Women's Herbal Conference. Rosemary lives and works from her home, Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center, a 500-acre botanical preserve in central Vermont.

Penelope Beaudrow

Penelope Beaudrow is an Educator and Register Herbalist who earned her herbalist diploma from the Dominion Herbal College in British Columbia. She has had a career with herbs for over twenty years — from “the field to bottle” in all aspects of the natural products industry. She is a Product Development Specialist and Herbal Educator at Faunus Herbs; which manufactures, formulates, and develops complex food based supplements for the natural products industry. She is also the founder of The Ginkgo Tree, a small herbal business located on her family farm, Dogwood & Brambles. Penelope frequently lectures for herbal conferences and other various organizations, and has been featured in several herbal and gardening columns.

Darrow Hand, ND

Darrow M. Hand, ND earned a bachelor of science degree with a dual major in physics and communications from Antioch College. He was inspired by the work of John E. Sarno, MD who helped thousands of patients suffering with back pain to live normal lives again. He researched the medical field and decided that naturopathic medicine was an excellent way to help people. He studied for four years at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, Ontario, and graduated in May, 2000. While studying for his naturopathic degree, Dr. Hand discovered Bowen and Craniosacral Therapy. He has found them both to be effective, healing techniques for his patients.

Carol Penn, DO

Dr. Penn, with her focus on both prevention and wellness for the individual and the community, has held multiple leadership positions in medicine ranging from Acting Medical Director to Director of Service Integration during her service to our nation as a National Health Service Corp Scholar working with our Federally Qualified Health Centers. Presently, Dr. Penn is the Founder/Activist of both Penn Global Visions Health and Wellness Multi Media LLC and Penn Global Medical Group LLC. She holds board certifications with the American Board of Osteopathic Family Physicians, the American Board of Obesity Medicine and is a Fellow of the Academy of the College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Dr. Penn has been involved in supporting mind body medicine for many communities both nationally and internationally in her role as Senior Faculty with the Center for Mind Body Medicine. She currently serves on the national task force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of ACOFP. Additionally she is a proud Clinical Faculty member of Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine.