DR. KATIE EASTMAN

Dr. Katie Eastman is a Grief, Loss and Transition Coach, a licensed psychotherapist and Medical Social Worker with extensive training in the field of Pastoral Psychology. Specializing in loss, traumatic loss and grief she supports individuals, families and communities before, during and after serious loss.

Dr. Katie attended Boston University School of Theology, The University of Houston School of Social Work Masters Program and acquired a Doctorate in Clinical Child Psychology from Antioch University. She has held a series of mental health-related positions working with children and families, culminating in work with seriously ill and dying children and adults and their caregivers. Most recently she has worked with suicidal teens, teen suicide survivors and bereaved parents. 

As a community engagement consultant, Dr. Katie has assisted groups and communities in developing collaborative strategies to prevent teen suicide and programs that offer support in the aftermath of this unique and increasingly common kind of tragedy. Forming a Suicide Prevention/ Mental Health Coalition in her own community, she engaged community stakeholders to collaborate, educate and engage people of all ages in promoting mental health as a fundamental aspect of wellness. The result has been greater access to mental health support and a significant reduction in the prevalence of teen deaths related to suicide. 

An engaging author and storyteller, Dr. Katie is known as an authentic force for good and love.

MALIA CARVALHO  aka ‘LIA LIGHT’ 

Musician, massage therapist, yoga practitioner and guide (Kundalini, Tantra, Yin).  Lia Light holds a passion for guiding others in  living a “Tantric Life”- that is fully feeling, expanding vision and truly embracing the mind body connection.  

With her family having roots in Hawaii, she possesses mermaid vibes and values of preserving the land, malama ‘aina! and bringing community together. Lia’s love for the arts lead her on a path of studying graphic design and art history, bodywork and yoga.

She enjoys cooking plant-based meals, singing, playing the guitar, painting and guiding others in exploring their visionary states of consciousness through movement, journey and meditation. She has spent years designing and decorating her home temple to become a place of healing and unity. 

Barbara Jennifer Gitlitz MD. 

Dr. Gitlitz is a medical oncologist, currently serving as a Medical Director at Genentech and affiliated with the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine as Voluntary Faculty. She is a passionate, devoted advocate for animal welfare and has dedicated much of her free time to helping dogs that have been rescued from the Dog and Cat Meat Trade. She is on the Board of Directors of The Animal Hope & Wellness Foundation.

Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on rescuing abused and neglected animals – locally, internationally and throughout the Asian Dog Meat Trade – rehabilitating them and finding them their forever homes. We embrace compassion, education and legislation to guide hearts and minds toward a brighter future for animals.

Mike Cotayo received his Master’s in Social Work from New York University in 2000 and is certified in Gestalt Therapy from the Gestalt Center for Psychotherapy and Training. He now works as a funny shrink, bringing humor and compassion to his work so that others may heal deeply and fully. He makes healing work more tolerable by helping providers feel comfortable using humor in their work. Mike toured nationally with The Short Bus Comedy Tour from 2005-2007 and has performed at a variety of places. Some prominent locations include The Laugh Factory, Columbia University, and a bowling alley...seriously, he killed it, and his shoes were on point. His specialties are working with trauma, borderline personality disorder and using laughter as a tool in therapeutic settings.

PATRICIA KAREN GAGIC, DStG, ICA

Patricia is an Award-winning International Contemporary Artist, Author and Visionary. She is represented by 13th Street Gallery in St. Catharines, Artworld Fine Art in Toronto, Ontario, FACEC International in France, Paul Fisher Gallery in Florida and Gallery on the Bay in Hamilton, Ontario. Patricia exhibited with BB International Fine Arts in Geneva, Berlin, Korea, Austria, and Zurich. In 2018, Patricia won the Gold Medal in Photography at the SNBA at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, France. ATIM (Art Tour International Magazine) named Patricia, Artist of the Year 2020.



She is a recipient of the 2017 Excellence in the Arts for Courage and Commitment to Human Rights, Dignity and Freedom by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. In 2019 she was awarded the Silver Medal in Photography and in 2021 she will receive the Pewter Medal in Painting from the Societe Academique Arts, Sciences and Lettres in Paris, France. She is the recipient of the Apollo and Daphne International Award Biennal of Baroque Art Salentin from Italia in Arte Nel Mondo Associaziona Culturaie. In 2020 she received the International Prize Raffaello & Canova in Venice, Italy. She studied under Master Artist Dragan Dragic since 1999 in France. Patricia authored an award-winning non-fiction Karmic Alibi and contributed to several compilations.

Patricia is an Entrepreneur who founded the Kyralex and MLX Property Management Group and has extensive background in banking, property and medical management. She is also the CFO of the Hamilton Vein Clinic owned and operated by Dr. Ned Gagic, General Surgeon.

Patricia is a Certified Meditation Specialist/Facilitator completing her Certification in Applied Mindfulness and Transformative Mindfulness and Mindfulness without Borders from Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Patricia is a member of the International Women’s Forum Toronto Chapter. She is also a Reiki Master, and a Level 3 Feng Shui consultant. Patricia has been a mentor for the Federal Business Development Bank and taught at Mohawk College Continuing Education.

In 2013 she was Knighted as a Dame of the International Order of St. George Grand Prior of Canada. Niagara Commandery. Past member of the Ontario Cabinet for Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, a member of the Sir Edmund Hilary Foundation Board, a Paul Harris recipient as a Rotarian. She has received the YMCA Peace Medal among other accolades. Patricia has presented on the stage at Carnegie Hall, The Harvard Club of Boston, and Nasdaq in NYC.

Future: Patricia is currently working on the projects which she feels are the culmination of her life as seen through the eyes of wisdom. The Karmic Art Experience, writing the super hero book “The Black Snowflake”, a re-write of Karma and Cash, a non-fiction “Thirsters and Quenchers” and two co-authored projects “Anger to Zen” and “Intentionally Extraordinary”.

She is recognized by WXN (Women’s Executive Network) as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada awarded the BMO Arts and Communication award in 2015, Royal Bank Champion in 2016 and BMO Arts and Communication in 2017. Patricia was inducted into the WXN Hall of Fame in 2018. She received the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Universal Women’s Network as a Woman of Inspiration.

Patricia is a lifetime Volunteer and Activist. On a personal note, she is an avid chess player, recipe creator, long distance swimmer, and has a love of travelling on pilgrimages to Nepal and Tibet…. She also can sing in Swahili. She is Co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of the not-for-profit Help Heal Humanity.

Linda De Villers is a licensed psychologist with a background of over 35 years in sex therapy. She's taught classes on human sexuality, therapy, and more in universities all over California. Her two books focus on what you can add to your sexual relationships.

Shonda is the voice behind radio personality Mallory J from 1075 Jamz FM, home of the Ricky Smiley Morning Show and DL Hugley in the afternoons. She’s been in radio for over 10 years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and 2 years in Charlotte NC before coming to Fort Myers. Hear Mallory J on her mid-day show from 10 am – 3 pm.