William Lee Rand

Founder and Resident Agent

William Lee Rand is president of The International Center for Reiki Training, which he founded in 1991. He is also the publisher and editor-in-chief of Reiki News Magazine and the online Reiki Newsletter. He founded and developed the Reiki in Hospitals web site, forerunner of the Center for Reiki Research. William began practicing Reiki in 1981 and has taught full-time since 1989. He has studied Reiki with six teachers, three of whom are Japanese Reiki Masters. He has made three trips to Japan for the purpose of researching the history and practice of Reiki, and he continues to maintain close contact with other researchers and teachers. William has developed a number of Reiki techniques, including Reiki Aura Clearing and the Healing Attunement.  

 

Over a two-year period beginning in 1993, he and some of his students developed the Karuna Reiki® system of healing. In 1997 he traveled to the North Pole to place a Reiki World Peace Grid, which is dedicated to furthering world peace. He placed a Peace Grid at the South Pole in 1999 and one in Jerusalem in 2004. The Peace Grid system is the basis of a monthly world peace meditation William leads with Reiki practitioners around the world. William continues to teach Reiki classes internationally and has recently established a new Reiki Training Center in Hawaii

Natalie L Dyer, PhD

President

Dr. Natalie Dyer is a Research Scientist, author, biofield therapy practitioner, and teacher. She completed her Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto in 2006, her PhD in Neuroscience at Queen’s University in 2012, and her Postdoctoral Fellowships in Psychology at Harvard University and at Harvard Medical School from 2013-2018.

As a Research Scientist, Natalie investigates integrative medicine for improving health and wellbeing and evaluates the effectiveness of hospital-based integrative medicine programs at Connor Whole Health at University Hospitals. As the President and Research Director for the Center for Reiki Research, Natalie conducts research on Reiki biofeld therapy and educates researchers, clinicians, and practitioners. She also conducts research on universal love, empathy, and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Natalie has published multiple scientific papers and presented her research to diverse audiences throughout North America, Asia, and Europe.

Natalie became a Reiki Master in 2016 and integrates Reiki with North American, European, and Tibetan shamanic practices. She lives in rural Canada with her husband, visionary artist Louis Dyer.

drnataliedyer.com

drnataliedyer.com

Ann Baldwin, PhD

Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Ann Baldwin is a retired Research Professor of Physiology and Psychology at the University of Arizona and is Director of “Mind-Body-Science” (www.mind-body-science.com). She obtained her Bachelors degree in Physics from University of Bristol, UK, her Masters degree in Radiation Physics from University of London, UK and her PhD in Physiology from Imperial College, University of London. Her research focuses on the deleterious physiological effects of mental and emotional stress and how these outcomes may be minimized. She is currently exploring the efficacies of Reiki, Biofeedback techniques and Equine Assisted Learning in enhancing sympatho-vagal balance, as shown by heart rate variability, and thereby reducing the damaging effects of stress. Dr. Baldwin has quantitatively monitored the effects of Reiki on cardiac function and on peripheral blood flow in humans and in rats. Her work has been featured on KVOA News 4 and on KUAT Arizona Illustrated.  

 

With her Reiki training and extensive scientific background, Ann Baldwin hopes to bridge the gap between energy healing and quantitative scientific enquiry. Dr. Baldwin has published over 110 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals on these topics and others including arterial disease, physiological testing of blood substitutes and the effects of environmental stressors on laboratory animals and on marine mammals. Her book, “Reiki in Clinical Practice. A science-based guide”, published by Handspring Publishing, is available here. She has been a member of several review panels for National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation and serves on several editorial boards of major scientific journals, such as the American Journal of Physiology. Her work, in a variety of areas, has been funded by NIH, NSF, American Heart Association, Arizona Disease Control Research Commission, and by private and corporate sources. In her spare time Ann likes to ride her horse and she also volunteers as a horse handler for Therapeutic Riding of Tucson. 

www.mind-body-science.com

Elise Brownell, PhD

Treasurer

Elise Brownell, PhD. has spent the last 40 years in the bio/pharmaceutical arena where she has played key roles in Discovery, Development, Opportunity Assessment, and Leadership Consulting to drive innovation. After completing her doctorate at Yale University, Elise’s career started at SUNY Stony Brook. She continued her interest in comparative molecular biology during her tenure at Frederick Cancer Research Facility and expanded her facility with molecular genetics while in various functions at Bayer Healthcare. Her efforts were widely recognized by promotion to Director, Project Management, where she led global cross-functional teams. Elise also became a member of the founding team of a venture-backed spin out (Aerovance, Inc), where she became head of project management.  

 

Dr. Brownell serves in Interim Executive capacities through her consulting practice, Zephyrbiotech, LLC for a number of emergent and highly innovative companies in the Life Science sector, and is the EVP of Operations and Project Management at Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. She is also a Reiki Master, and applies her biopharmaceutical experience to designing, managing and evaluating interventional clinical studies that test Reiki’s effectiveness in a variety of indications. Elise received her Diploma in Piano from Eastman School of Music, BS (Biology) from Allegheny College, and MS, MPhil and PhD (Biology) from Yale University

Jennifer DiBenedetto, PhD, RN-BC

Member at Large

Jennifer is a Registered Nurse and has been practicing nursing since 2013. She is an Assistant Professor of DNP Online Graduate Nursing Program at Regis College in Weston, MA. Jennifer is currently a post-doctoral research fellow in Primary Care Medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center/Dartmouth College. Jennifer obtained her nursing degree from Rivier University in Nashua, NH in 2013, completed her master’s degree in nursing leadership in 2016 from Framingham State University in Framingham, MA, and obtained her PhD in nursing at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School in 2021.

Jennifer has been an Usui Reiki Master Teacher since 2015 and has been a Holy Fire II Karuna Reiki Master with the International Center of Reiki Training since 2017. Jennifer has been teaching Reiki privately since 2015 and has been practicing Reiki since 2014.

Jennifer’s goal is to conduct and disseminate nursing and Reiki research and spread awareness of integrative health in hospital and clinic settings. She hopes to target all members of the interdisciplinary team to assist providers in gaining knowledge and experience in integrative health to improve their outcomes. Her research interests include Reiki, Yoga, Mindfulness, Acupuncture, mind-body practices, post-operative care, critical care, mental and psychological health, congestive heart failure management, and diabetes management.

You can visit her website at www.balancerestored.org 

www.balancerestored.org 

Ann Thompson, MA

Member at Large

Ann Thompson, MA, Certified Medical Reiki Master (CMRM) has practiced Reiki since the mid-1990s. She is a Level III Reiki Master (Usui, Holy Fire); a CMRM registered with Raven Keyes Medical Reiki International, LLC; a Certified End-of-Life Doula; an ordained interfaith minister; and a 30-year career writer-editor and published poet (www.wellspringofwords.net ). 

 

As a practicing CMRM, Ann has provided pre-/post-op inpatient and outpatient Reiki to people undergoing surgery for: hysterectomy, hip replacement, maxilla-facial repair, and cancers of the tongue, jaw, esophagus, ovaries, and breast (double mastectomy).  In addition to practicing Reiki, she teaches Reiki Levels 1, 2 and 3 both privately and through Potomac Massage Training Institute. Ann also is co-directing the new National Reiki in Healthcare Certification initiative, with her colleague, Reiki Master-Teacher Helene Williams, RN. She gives speeches/presentations and publishes articles on Reiki and other aspects of holistic health, healing, and spirituality, including most recently: 

www.wellspringofwords.net 

Helene Williams, BSN, RN

Member at Large

Helene is a Registered Nurse and received her BSN from Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Her background includes oncology, hospice, and orthopedic nursing. She has been teaching and practicing Reiki since 2007 and is a graduate teacher/student of the International House of Reiki in the lineage of Usui Reiki Ryoho. She is also a Usui Tibetan and Karuna Reiki Master trained by the International Center for Reiki Training.

Helene has over fifteen years of experience providing Reiki sessions in hospital, hospice, and long-term care settings. She also has a well-established private practice where she offers Reiki and mindful meditation sessions and teaches Reiki classes.  She has presented information on Reiki and holistic health care at national nursing conferences, was a collaborator in a hospital-based Reiki research study, implemented and facilitated a hospital Reiki Volunteer Program, and in 2013 established the Lancaster Community Reiki Clinic.

She is passionate about providing Reiki-focused educational opportunities and programs within health care organizations. You can find out more about her practice at www.helenewilliamsreiki.com

www.helenewilliamsreiki.com

Patricia DeLeon, PhD

Member at Large

Patricia DeLeon is an Associate Professor of Biology and Nutrition at Borough of Manhattan Community College and the founder of Kiaoracoaching Inc. She received her Bachelors degree in Pharmacy from the Universidad de Antioquia (Colombia), her Masters degree in Biochemistry from the City University of New York (CUNY) and her PhD in Biochemistry from CUNYT as well. Her research is geared to understanding the effect of Reiki on the growth of human cancer cells.

She has trained as a Reiki Master, Shamanic Reiki Master and Integrated Energy Therapy practitioner. Her goal is to contribute to the understanding of Reiki so it can be integrated as a complementary practice to western medicine.

Kiaora Coaching

Angela Kolls, BA

Member at Large

Angela received her BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Irvine, and is a Reiki Master Teacher and owner of Waves of Zen Healing Arts, LLC, in Durham, North Carolina. She holds certifications in Usui/Tibetan Reiki, Holy Fire® III World Peace®, Karuna® Reiki, ICRT Animal Reiki, and ReikiScience™.

Most of her training was completed at the Duke Health & Well-Being Center (formerly the Duke Integrative Medicine Center) under the guidance of Deborah Dixon, with additional instruction from Libby Barnett and Torsten A. Lange. Angela leads the monthly online meeting Reiki in Clinical Settings (RCS) and founded its Journal Club. Both initiatives are open to Reiki practitioners, healthcare workers, and the general public to discuss peer-reviewed Reiki research, share insights, and network, especially for those affiliated with Duke Health & Well-Being’s Reiki programs.

Angela’s personal experiences and her interest in healing research and anomalous experiences have also led to her involvement with the Rhine Research Center. Additionally, she offers a free guided meditation session on the first Sunday of each month.

Waves of Zen Healing Arts

Akleema Ali, BSc, PG Cert

Member at Large

Akleema (Kimi) Ali has been a Guidance Officer with the Ministry of Education in Trinidad & Tobago since 2004. She has published work in the fields of adolescent depression, suicidal ideation, community mental health, reiki, meditation and poetry. Her current interests and hobbies involve baking, meditation and poetry. Her
philosophy in life is to greet everyone with kindness, compassion and gratitude.

Akleema is a Usui/Holy Fire © III Reiki Master (2018) and a Holy Fire © III Karuna © Reiki Master (2020) who is very passionate about how Reiki can be integrated into health care systems and complement traditional medical intervention. She is the owner of The Reiki Lighthouse which offers Reiki sessions and workshops to both private individuals and corporate wellness plans. Akleema is dedicated to her path of wellness and contributes to many conferences and projects that seek the ultimate aim of empowering, inspiring and educating others.

The Reiki Lighthouse

Ruth McKlusky, BA

Secretary

Ruth McKlusky, an award-winning communicator and president of the McKlusky Group, has more than three decades experience providing communications, public relations, event planning and project management services to businesses and non-profit organizations.  A huge shop local advocate, in 2018 she co-founded La Vida Local, which offers food and wine tours to wineries, cideries and craft distilleries in the Ottawa Valley.  She received her BA (Economics) from Carleton University and her Social Media Certificate from Algonquin College.

After many years promoting renewable energies in the eighties, Ruth feels she’s come full circle and is happy to once again be working with energy and furthering CRR’s exemplary mission.  Introduced to Usui Reiki in 2011, she obtained her Reiki Master Teacher certification in 2015 and is working to establish her practice Red Wheel Reiki & Botanicals. She lives in a small village nearby Ottawa, Canada’s capital city.

Red Wheel Reiki & Botanicals

Elisenda Cama i Gibernau, PhD

Research Assistant

Elisenda is a dedicated Reiki practitioner who began her journey in 2023 and has embraced daily practice ever since. She first studied Reiki in Spain and later deepened her understanding by training in Japan with a monk master, enriching her connection to both traditional and spiritual aspects of the practice. With a background in pharmacy and a PhD in Global Health, Elisenda brings a unique blend of scientific and holistic perspectives. She is now focused on integrating her research expertise with Reiki to explore and better understand its potential benefits for health and well-being.

RootToReceptor

Suchita Pande, PhD

Research Assistant

Dr. Suchita Pande is an Assistant Professor at the School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, India. She earned her PhD in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she studied the structure-function relationships of proteins involved in immune function and rare diseases.

She subsequently pursued postdoctoral training at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, where she worked in the field of molecular cardiology with a focus on advancing cardiac-targeted therapeutic strategies for heart failure.

In recent years, she has expanded her interests to integrative approaches to health and healing. She is the founder of RootToReceptor, an emerging platform that explores how different healing practices affect the body at the molecular level, helping to explain their impact on health and well-being.

RootToReceptor