Kirk (Rod) Slagel:  

has presented this technique in Spring Valley, New York to a group of psychotherapists and mind-body counselors and to several groups of interns at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Slagel received his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in August of 2000, his Masters of Education from Antioch New England Graduate School in 1994 and his Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University in 1982. While at Southwest College, Dr. Slagel served as his Class Representative, a Student Representative to the SCNM Board of Directors, and for two years (1996-97 and 97-98) as the student Board Member for the Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association (AzNMA). He received the AzNMA’s President’s Award for Outstanding Professional Service in 1998. His Master’s thesis project, the culmination of over 15 years experience as an outdoor guide, skill instructor and wilderness medicine instructor, was the development of a two and one-half day leadership self-awareness workshop entitled the ECHO Project. The primary goal of the workshop was for people in leadership positions to be able to become aware of, reflect upon and cognitively interact with the manner in which they affect the group within which they are working. In his former life, Dr. Slagel was a wilderness guide and skill instructor for 18 years. As a guide he lead trips and instructed outdoor skills throughout the Eastern U.S. in such disciplines as rock climbing, whitewater canoeing, winter camping, spelunking, leadership training, backpacking and bicycle touring amongst others. In 1989 Dr. Slagel was certified as a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician Instructor-Trainer (WEMT-I/C) and worked on a local ambulance service and for a private wilderness medicine company in northern New Hampshire. He taught numerous courses throughout the Eastern U.S. to outdoor instructors, outdoor enthusiasts, rescue professionals and military Special Forces.