2003 North American Conference

No matter what you personally think happens in an NDE, its effects on the experiencers are profound. In this session, the basic NDE will be discussed, what it is, how it occurs, typical experiencers' reactions to be aware of, and how to handle the experiencer with compassion and understanding

Ms. Corcoran has had a distinguished military career spanning 25 years during which she earned her PhD. During her military service in Vietnam, Ms. Corcoran was introduced to the Near-Death Experience. Since then she has worked to educate healthcare professionals and lay communities on the Near-Death Experience. She is a founding member of IANDS and has served as a member of the Board of Directors as well as President. Currently she is researching veterans who have had a Near-Death Experience in combat. Ms. Corcoran has lectured nationally and internationally and has published several articles on NDEs.

Corroborative NDErs appear to perceive accurately from a vantage point outside their physical bodies earthly events imperceptible from the vantage point of their physical bodies and otherwise unknowable to them. Corroborative NDEs hold great promise for providing evidence that NDEs are "real" and that consciousness is more than a product of brain activity. The presenters will review the professional literature about corroborative NDEs; will report the results of a current, large-scale study of self-reported corroborative NDErs; will describe a planned experimental study of corroborative NDEs in the hospital setting involving computer animations; and will seek feedback from participants and answer their questions. NDErs who have had corroborative NDEs are especially invited to attend, as is anyone interested in the topic.

Bruce Greyson has served as an Attending Psychiatrist in various health care facilities since 1976, and as professor of psychiatry at numerous universities. He has presented at Regional and National conferences, is a member of numerous professional societies, and has been the principal investigator for several research studies. He currently serves as editor of The Journal of Near-Death Studies (opens in a new window) and has published extensively in professional journals.

Janice Holden has an Ed.D. in Counselor Education. Her areas of expertise are transpersonal perspectives on counseling, counseling theory and technique, couples counseling and sexual dysfunction therapy, dream work in counseling, and secondary school counseling. She is an active member in several national and international professional organizations. She has published numerous articles, book chapters and books.

Jeffery Long earned his medical degree in 1981. He is board certified by the American College of Radiology, Therapeutic Radiology. He is currently Co-Medical Director of the MultiCare Radiation Oncology department at Tacoma General Hospital. Dr. Long has published numerous articles in professional journals.

See Part 1 above for description.

The work of the Danish mystic Martinus (1890-1981) substantiates what happens during an NDE. As human consciousness consists of electromagnetic rays (ray-formed, non-physical matter) and as this type of matter is indestructible, the human consciousness survives physical death. Ray-formed matter is measurable and contains not only consciousness, but also the life-force of the being (hence the flat line when the life force leaves the body). The ray-formed matter constitutes a field of energy and this field contains the self or "I". The physical body is only the instrument of the "I" and the brain is the plug through which the energy field electrifies the body. We are essentially the same whether we have a physical body or not, as the core of our being consists of another type of matter than physical matter. Death is an illusion.

Ms. Byskov obtained her MA and BA from the University of Aarhus, Denmark. She has completed extensive research of the Danish mystic Martinus (1890-1981). Her book "Death is an Illusion", publishing the main points of Martinus holistic worldview. Ms. Byskov lectures locally about the fascinating insight revealed by this extraordinary spiritual teacher.

Harold Widdison obtained his Ph.D. in 1970 at Case Western-Reserve University. He has taught courses on death, grief, and bereavement for 20 years. Mr. Widdison has published numerous articles in professional journals and has presented at state, national and international conferences.

Carl Becker received his Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii in 1981. He has researched NDEs in Japanese hospitals and literature for 30 years. Mr. Becker has published numerous books on bioethics, death and dying, and NDEs in both Japan and the United States Currently, Mr. Becker is a Professor of Bioethics and Comparative Religion at Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

A report from a double near-death experiencer. Paul Elder is the mayor of a small city in Canada. He has twice experienced the illusory transformation referred to as death: a drowning at the age of 12, and a heart attack while playing hockey at the age of 41. In this presentation he provides an in depth account of the dying process itself, along with a description of the accompanying out-of-body experiences that literally change lives. Elder claims that these extraordinary, but natural, experiences carry a tremendous impact. They wield the power to transform our belief systems and lives into a profound new understanding of what and who we truly are, also revealing the one, single thing that matters most.

The experiencer panels are always some of the high points of the conference. Each of the four or so experiencers on the panel tells his or her experience and answers questions from the audience.

Individual who have Near-Death experiences have after effects that may be difficult to deal with under normal circumstances. However, soldiers who have these same issues are often in environments that they have little control over and can't just stop what they are doing and choose to do other things. They may very well have to go fight again and hurt other people and do things that may be very upsetting to them. It is therefore very important that military providers be familiar with the after effects and the integration process so they can assist military experiencers in their efforts to integrate the NDE into their life and their current military mission.

Ms. Corcoran has had a distinguished military career spanning 25 years during which she earned her PhD. During her military service in Vietnam, Ms. Corcoran was introduced to the Near-Death Experience. Since then she has worked to educate healthcare professionals and lay communities on the Near-Death Experience. She is a founding member of IANDS and has served as a member of the Board of Directors as well as President. Currently she is researching veterans who have had a Near-Death Experience in combat. Ms. Corcoran has lectured nationally and internationally and has published several articles on NDEs.

Marlene Krohner earned her BS in 1970 at Wayne State University. In 1992, Ms. Krohner experienced an NDE. Ms. Krohner has presented at several universities.

B. Jason MacLurg earned his M.D. in 1983 at the University of Washington and completed his psychiatry residency at the University of California in 1987. Currently he has a full-time private practice of adult and geriatric psychiatry, including medication management and psychotherapy. Dr. MacLurg is a member of several professional organizations and has been published in professional journals.

Linda Jacquin is a businesswomen who has been a member of IANDS for many years. She has had two NDEs, once as a child and once as an adult. Ms. Jacquin will discuss her NDE, how they were responded to by professional caregivers and by her family.

In keeping with the continuing development of methods and techniques promoting the evolution of human consciousness, this qualitative study of the "Healing/Regeneration Center," a venue purportedly experienced following death, examined the subjective reports of 89 volunteer participants.

Participant applications and in-program questionnaires were analyzed with three different techniques: hermeneutics (word meaning), semiotics (symbol interpretation), and the narrative and metaphor (story analysis) method using computer-analysis software, QSR Nvivo.

Results indicate that the nonphysical healing/regeneration process involves the presence of spiritual beings, the experiences of love, energy and light, and happiness or enjoyment. The key to maintaining optimal health is to express love. The participants descriptive similarities of the realm labeled the Healing/Regeneration Center imply a shared view of the afterlife or, in Jungian terminology, a collective unconscious phenomenon.

Dr. Pearsall is a licensed clinical psychoneuroimmunologist. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical and Educational Psychology at Wayne State University in 1968. Currently he is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Nursing at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He also serves on several advisory boards at both the University of Hawaii and the University of Arizona. Dr. Pearsall is vastly published in medical and scientific journals as well as an author of 15 best-selling books.

This presentation has been designed and implemented to assist health care professionals of all types, to factor Spirituality into their perception of health care. Attitudes of health care professionals are discussed and the messages they convey are examined. We all have our individual thought patterns, and these can be as contagious as our attitudes. Participants are encouraged to study their own tendancies to entertain or send out discounting messages. How to help promote a positive, healthy, self image is revealed and strategies are recommended for radient health and healing.

Ms. Chicca holds a MA in Counseling Psychology. She has provided counseling for individuals, couples and families since 1992. She is the founder and facilitator of IANDS San Diego.

This panel discussion includes medical professionals who themselves has had a near-death experience as well as people whose practice has been influenced by their knowledge of NDEs.

Dr. Kircher went through her own near-death experiences early in life. She earned her medical degree in 1979 and completed her residency in Family Practice in 1982. Dr. Kircher is board certified in both family practice and hospice care. Currently she serves as the Medical Director for the Wellness Center at Mercy Medical Center in Durango, CO. She is a member of several professional associations and speaks nationally on end-of-life issues and Near-Death Experiences.

Dr. Colli earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1997. Her psychotherapy practice encompasses both orthodox psychology and the psychology of spiritual experiences. Dr. Colli researches the role of trauma in entering transpersonal or spiritual realms. Her expertise includes working with survivors of life-challenging illness. She has presented at national conferences. Dr. Colli has also published in local and national journals.

Healing Touch (HT) is an energy-based modality commonly used to facilitate care of the dying person. In this session, HT theory, techniques and experiences will be described. Special attention will be given to the energetic assessment and perceptions of the practitioner, as well as those left to be shared with the terminally ill client.

Ms. Osterlund earned her Masters of Science in Nursing in 1985 at the University of Hawaii Manoa. Currently she is Clinical Coordinator for Pain Management at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu. Ms. Osterlund belongs to several professional organizations, and has published in many professional journals. She is also a well-known local and national speaker on pain management, healing touch, and the use of humor in healing.

No description of this presentation is currently available

My intention is to explain to all the feelings of a person who has been given a "fresh start". I also will demonstrate this reality of oneness that I now have. I expect that the reality of some who attend this conference will be changed. It is both my God self's and my desire for everyone to be happy, healthy and to grow to their fullest potential. We both choose to come and assist.

Mr. Kaplan has been a successful businessman in Boston, MA for over 30 years. After his NDE, he accelerated his volunteer practice of healing persons through intuitive guidance.

The presenters will compare the findings of this study with results from other published research.  Discussion will be encouraged.  NDErs with psychic or healing gifts are invited to attend, as is anyone interested in the topic.

Jeffery Long earned his medical degree in 1981.  He is board certified by the American College of Radiology, Therapeutic Radiology.  He is currently Co-Medical Director of the MultiCare Radiation Oncology department at Tacoma General Hospital.  Dr. Long has published numerous articles in professional journals.

Jody Long, an attorney, has researched paranormal phenomena for several decades.  She serves on the board of directors of Seattle's Friends-of-IANDS group, and is webmaster of the NDE Research Foundation.

This presentation explores the psycho-social-spiritual components of the NDE and a individual's experience as they return to their physical bodies and live with the after-effects. The adjustment process of living with expanded awareness will be discussed, drawing upon case studies, research, and the presenter's own NDE. Particular focus on the phenomena of telepathy, healing abilities and kundalini awakening will be emphasized, including effective techniques to stabilize and/or diminish the effects if they become intrusive. The presenter will demonstrate a particular phenomenon, an ancient wisdom language given to her during her NDE, that she utilizes in her work as a clairvoyant consultant and lecturer.

Ms. Karunamaya holds a BS in Sociology. She is a near-death experiencer and currently works as a Clairvoyant consultant and lecturer.

After a long career in medical/academic social work in critical care, cardiology and bone-marrow transplant, Kimberly Clark Sharp, MSW, maintains a practice exclusively serving near-death experiencers on individual, group and community levels. How this came to be and how others can follow suit is the basis of her presentation.

Ms. Sharp earned her MSW in 1976 at the University of Washington and founded the Seattle chapter of IANDS in 1982. She is widely published in journals, textbooks and magazines on the subject of near-death experiences. Ms. Sharp has also lectured at national and international conferences.

No description of this presentation is currently available

Ms. Atwater is one of the original researchers of the Near-Death phenomenon, having begun her work in 1978. She speaks nationally and internationally on the subject of NDEs and has published several landmark books.

This presentation is about the power of the near-death experience (NDE) to infuse NDErs with the inspiration and passion to make a difference in the world. It is presented especially for those who have had an NDE; however its message holds equally well for anyone who is interested in actualizing more fully their life purpose. Many people share the belief that we are born with a life purpose, or mission, through which we are called to bring forth our talents and passions to serve the world and make it a better place. Given their otherworldly experiences, many NDErs have tasted a universal love and understanding that goes beyond ordinary human experience. Sadly, yet understandably, many of them then find it extremely difficult to be in this seemingly gross physical world. Based on personal experience and years of sweat and tears, the author will share her own insights into the nature of the challenge of being on the earth plane.

Ms. McCaffrey has had three NDEs. Her experiences have lead her to create a Non-profit organization, Changing the Face of Death, that is dedicated to public awareness, consciousness raising and service towards the rights of the dying. Ms. McCaffrey has lectured locally on Near-Death Experiences and dying.

Near-death life reviews pose a challenge to current memory research in terms of the sheer amount of instantaneous and empathetic information recalled. Advances in Quantum Bio-mechanics (quantum physics of the human body) support, for the first time, a scientific basis for ND life reviews. Microtubules, DNA, and the brain are described as communicating non-locally with virtually unlimited memory storage capacity. The Quantum Hologram will be introduced, through which non-local (instantaneous) communications are believed to take place via the zero-point field (ZPF).

Mr. Beck completed his Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology in 1996. Currently he is in private practice as a psychotherapist, providing individual and relationship counseling for adults. Dr. Beck has been involved in consciousness research for many years. He has published articles on transpersonal experiences and consciousness, and has presented nationally on these subjects.

An open discussion to explore the challenges and pitfalls that have beset many of us as we have sought to reclaim the power and ecstasy of the NDE or similar STEs. It will be an open gathering designed to explore the experiencer's and the consciousness researcher's quest to simulate or recreate the NDE or STE thru 'less than positive' behaviors. Participants will be asked to respect each others opinions and anonymity, allowing for each person's point of view without retort or critique.

P. Edward Salisbury, a near-death experiencer earned his Doctorate in Divinity in 1982 at Berkeley. He has worked for over 20 years providing compassionate care and counseling to the dying and their families. Mr. Salisbury has lectured locally and nationally on near death experiences, death, and dying, and has published numerous articles on these topics.

Mr. Gaylord is a psychotherapist in private practice and a chaplain in hospital and hospice settings. He has been a student of meditation for 25 years and is a near-death experiencer. He holds a master's degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychotherapy and is the founder of Boulder, Colorado's Friends-of-IANDS support group.

Janice Holden earned her Ed.D. in Counseling Education in 1998. Her areas of expertise are transpersonal perspectives in counseling, counseling theory and technique, couples counseling and sexual dysfunction therapy, dream work in counseling, and secondary school counseling. She is an active member in several national and international professional organizations. She has published numerous articles, book chapters, and books.

Cassandra Musgrave is a spiritual counselor, educator and writer based in Santa Rosa, CA. Her NDE research was published in the, Journal of Near Death Studies (Spring 1997). Ms. Musgrave is an IANDS board member and near-death experiencer.

In an article published in the Scientific American book, The Hidden Mind, David J. Chalmers pointed out that the existence of consciousness is simply not derivable from our present laws of physics. For a true 'theory of everything', the existence of consciousness must be derivable from physical laws. He therefore proposes that consciousness is a fundamental physical property that obeys a set of natural laws that we do not have enough information to formulate. This presentation reviews the descriptions of the behavior of consciousness as found in the literature about NDEs and other related fields and develops such a set of hypothetical physical laws.

Dr. Brumblay completed his Medical Degree in 1978. He completed his residency in Emergency Medicine in 1981. He has served in various positions in emergency medicine for the last 20 years. Currently he is the Medical Director for the Emergency Medical Service Division for the City and County of Honolulu. Dr. Brumblay founded the Oahu chapter of IANDS in December 1998.