Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Leading Naturopathic Physician Konrad Kail, N.M.D. Has Brain Cancer © By Peter Chowka


(February 12, 2009) Konrad Kail, P.A., N.M.D., a prominent naturopathic physician in the U.S. and for the past two decades a high profile and indefatigable ambassador on behalf of both the naturopathic profession and integrative medicine, has been telling friends that he was recently diagnosed with, and has started treatment for, brain cancer.

In an e-mail to me on February 1, 2009, Kail, who is in clinical practice in Phoenix, AZ, wrote:

I recently had to have some brain surgery. I have the most common fast-growing brain tumor, an advanced glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in left frontal lobe. This tumor affects short term memory and how the brain responds to itself. Other than mild short term memory deficits, there is little [in terms of] side effects and almost no loss of other function. So far, I’m weaning off steroids. Follow-up week starts tomorrow. Radiation starts next week.
According to an article at Medscape, “Attention was recently drawn to this form of brain cancer when Senator Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with glioblastoma.”

Kail’s February 1 e-mail continued:
The tumor hasn’t affected my work performance (although I did miss a week of [seeing] patients). No funny chart notes, although you could tell that my words were affected. Now, it’s back to work, and see how well that I do.

I have groups of people praying for me all over the world. For most people that know me, this (blog-like) interaction is perfect. I totally trust you about who to tell what about me. I’ve had lots of support from the AANP [American Association of Naturopathic Physicians] family.

Emblematic of his good natured optimism, Kail’s valediction in his e-mail was “Yours in Health.”

Speaking of the AANP, Kail was the president of the organization, which represents licensed naturopathic physicians, from 1991-‘93 and in 1997 he was named the association’s physician of the year. Some other highlights of his long and distinguished career: He is one of the founders of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ and has a long association with the college as a teacher and an administrator, including chairing its board of directors from 1993-‘95. Outside of naturopathic medicine, Kail served on the federal government’s top CAM (complementary alternative medicine) panel as a member of the Advisory Council to the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (1999-2003). From 1999-2002, Kail was an Ex-officio Member, Cancer Advisory Panel for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Cancer Institute.

Before becoming a naturopath (he graduated with an N.D. degree from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, OR in 1983), Kail was educated and worked as a Physician’s Assistant. In addition to his naturopathic clinical medical practice, Kail is an expert in natural treatments for allergies. Among his writings is Allergy Free: An Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide, published in 2000 by Alternativcemedicine.com books. He has written over fifty articles published in the scientific literature and in the popular press, and he has made many presentations on natural medicine topics around the U.S. as well as in the UK, Australia, and Brazil.

As a hobby, Kail plays guitar and writes rock songs. An early source of information on Kail’s health condition in late January was Evan Zang, a natural products industry consultant and a Public Member of the Naturopathic Physicians Board of Medical Examiners in Arizona. Zang frequently plays music with Kail in bands in the Phoenix area.

Zang is one of a network of Kail’s friends and associates around the country, working to disseminate information and updates on his condition via the Internet. Announcements are expected soon about ways in which Kail’s many friends can stay informed and help, including contributing funds to help with the costs of his treatment.

Please visit this space again soon for important updates.

Interesting Reading:

Dr. Konrad Kail's Testimony Before the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (HHS) Subcommittee on Standards and Security Regarding Coding for Naturopathic Medical Services, January 29, 2003

6 comments:

TD said...
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Carolyn Fuller ND said...
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Jonathan (Jake) Psenka said...
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Unknown said...
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YBRIK said...
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YBRIK said...

RIP Konrad. Thanks for all your hard work.