Yehuda Handelsman, MD
President, Medical Director, Principal investigator
Metabolic Institute of America

Yehuda Handelsman, MD, FACP, FACE, is an endocrinologist in solo private practice in Tarzana, California where he developed and successfully utilizes a unique, multiple intervention, approach to preventing cardiovascular disease in the high risk patient. He is the Medical Director of the "Metabolic Institute of America", Principal Investigator, of the clinical research division of the Institute and clinical investigator at the Westside Arthritis & Metabolism Center. He is Senior Scientific Consultant for the Metabolic Endocrine Education Foundation. Dr Handelsman is Chair and founder of the International Committee for Insulin Resistance; and Chair and Program Director of the Annual World Congress on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome. Dr. Handelsman is secretary and executive board member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE), where he has been a national board member since 2002, and served as a trustee of the American College of Endocrinology for 2 years. Currently, he serves on AACE's National Lipids Guidelines Task Force, Diabetes road map task force, task force to create standards for insulin pumps and the American College of Endocrinology task force on the Prevention of Diabetes where he chairs a symposium on macro and microvascular risks in pre-diabetes. He has been a member of the 2007 Diabetes Guidelines Revision Committee, and a reviewer for the HTN guideline. Additionally he serves as associate Editor, "Journal of Diabetes" an International peer reviewed journal, based in China, devoted to diabetes research, therapeutics, and education and he is on the editorial board of "Clinical Endocrine News".

Nava Mekel
Director, Medical Education Management Division

Nava has extensive administrative experience and has been in the Medical Meeting Management field for the past 15 years. Her experience along with her leadership skills and genuine love of people makes her uniquely qualified to direct the Medical Education Division of the Metabolic Institute of America.

Following wide experience in medical education programs, Nava has been the course director of the Annual World Congress on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (WCIRS) since its inception in 2003. She leads both local and nationwide educational projects, medical conferences and CME meetings and has substantial experience and expertise in developing and applying for grant sponsorship for CME programs. She also provides administrative services including attendee registration, events, travel planning and general event coordination.

Nava has experience in the management of nonprofit associations. She served as the secretary of a non-for- profit association organizing large festivals in Los Angeles and currently has been serving as the administrator of the Metabolic Endocrine Education Foundation.

Originally from Israel, Nava has called California home since 1992. She earned a Computer Graphic Design degree from California State University Northridge.
She is married and lives with her husband and 2 daughters in a lovely southern California community.

Mike Heinzel
Study Coordinator
Research Lab Technician
N.C.M.A., N.C.P.T., EMT-B, XT-S

Mike has been a research study coordinator and a Lab Technician for over 13 years.
He has been leading studies in metabolic diseases and endocrinology which include research in Diabetes, Lipid disorders and High Blood Pressure. He acquired skills and was involved in research in immunology, infectious diseases, HIV as well as various hormonal conditions to include vitamin D and Parathyroid hormone disorder.
Mike is experienced and proficient in conducting studies from Phase II through phase IV.
Mike's other skills include: X-Ray Technician, BLS Instructor, EMS and DOT Hazmat Certified, I.A.T.A. Certified, D.A.R.T. Disaster Service Worker with Ventura County Sheriff. 

The following is a list of several recent studies:

• Improving Lipid profile in patients with Dyslipidemia (2002)
• Point-of-care vs. Laboratory testing- Study for adherence on Glycemia (2002)
• Observational study on the effect of active Vitamin D in the treatment of Hyperparathyroidism (2003)
• A potential new diabetes compound in Metformin-Treated Subjects with T2DM (2006)
• Comparison of long acting insulin vs. Oral in Triple-Agent Therapy (2007)
• A Study of a potential new diabetes compound for treatment of T2DM in Treatment-Naïve Subjects (2007)
• Treatment or prevention of Diabetes with a cholesterol lowering, non absorbable, drug which is also indicated for diabetes (2008)
• Treatment of diabetes with a potential new weight loss compound (2008)