While the experts waste time requesting more research and arguing over arbitrary safety levels, Teresa has a different strategy regarding toxic chemicals: Shopping.
Her theory, which is already driving toxic products off store shelves, is this: If we stop buying potentially harmful proucts, they will stop making them!
Teresa is a physician assistant, former assistant professor of medicine, director of wellness education for Project Wellness, and author of Cardiology Essentials and Holler for Your Health: Be the Key to a Healthy Family.
Let Teresa show your audience how to identify potentially harmful products on store shelves and where to find safer alternatives.
If you are in search of a media-savvy guest with a new and refreshing angle on bisphenol A, phthalates, brominated flame retardants, cancer and chronic disease prevention, or nontoxic living, give us a call!
WDBJ Channel 7 Roanoke, VA Television Interview with Teresa Holler
(Here is the transcript)
October 31, 2008 FDA takes a closer look at chemical found in baby products
Concerns over a chemical found in some baby bottles have the Food and Drug Administration taking a closer look at the issue.
BPA is used to make some plastic products. It's also found in the lining of some cans. The main concern is about the potential harm to the child's development.
Friday, an advisory committee to the FDA agreed with the findings of a report, raising questions about safe levels of exposure.
Teresa Holler is on a mission to warn parents about the dangers of chemicals like BPA. She's even written a book called "Holler for Your Health."
"I'm a mom, and it makes me angry that other mothers don't know," says Holler. "We should all know. We should all have a choice of what chemicals we put into our own bodies and that of our children."
Holler encourages parents to switch to all BPA-free bottles or glass ones, but she's also concerned about other baby products.
"There are three products they came up with that are the highest contaminated products for BPA," says Holler. "One of them, unfortunately, is infant formula. The good news is if you buy in powder version, it's not contaminated by BPA."
Dr. John Moore believes parents should be aware, but he doesn't think such drastic measures are necessary at this point.
"There is not a reportable case of human disease that's directly attributable to BPA at this point in time," says Moore. "The chemical itself and the structure of it raised some concerns."
The growing consumer concerns have led Toys"R"US to phase out baby bottles and other baby feeding products with BPA in all its stores by the end of this year.
Walmart is also taking similar steps and offering more BPA-free products.
"We don't know risks that are out there from here," says Moore. "It's not a huge risk, it's not a great risk. BPA has been around."
But Holler isn't willing take the risk.
"For me and my family, I try to stick with glass pretty much exclusively," says Holler.
For more information, you can check out Holler's website.
NEWS RELEASE August 6, 2008
Author Partners with Agency that Prevents Children from Dying Alone in American Hospitals
When Valerie Sobel saw a problem, children with terminal illnesses left to die alone while their devastated mothers were forced to work, she jumped right in to help. She founded the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation, in honor of her late son, in order to provide immediate financial assistance allowing mothers to stay at the bedside.
Teresa Holler, author of Holler for Your Health, a book that identifies harmful chemicals hidden in common products, has identified a new problem: A weak economy is threatening charitable contributions that are essential to programs that cater to the neediest. Teresa, like Valerie, has decided to do something. She has founded the Give Big Book Tour, and travels the nation earning money to donate to the Foundation.
Teresa wrote Holler for Your Health to arm parents with the information they need to protect children from cancer, autism and other potentially devastating illnesses because the prevention methods are largely unknown by the medical community. She believes the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation is a perfect match for the book’s earnings because it helps children who are suffering from the same conditions she intends to prevent. In her words, “It is an injustice that these children are dying in the first place; how can I not help?”
You can help too. Simply purchasing a copy of the book will protect your family’s health while helping others. Regarding Holler for Your Health (240 pp, tpb, $22.50), New York Times best-selling author, Mark Hyman, MD, believes, “If there is one book you need to read to learn how toxins are making us sick and what to do about it, this is it.” Ordering your copy directly from the author provides the greatest donation. Visit www.holler4health.com for more information.
Teresa Holler is a Physician Assistant and a former Assistant Professor of Medicine. She has a Masters Degree in Primary Care Medicine and has completed Doctoral coursework in Medical Writing and Environmental Health. She is also the author of “Cardiology Essentials” (Jones and Bartlett, 2007). She is a well regarded professional speaker.
For more information or an interview, contact: Teresa Holler, (540) 580-5109
May 21, 2008 WDBJ television interview with Joy Sutton
Mother writes book about the toxins found in our homes In the book, Teresa Holler reveals the hidden dangers in a variety of plastic products. She also warns about some children's clothing that's made with a flame retardant, a chemical Holler says can get into the child's blood stream.
Botetourt View
May 14, 2008
Blue Ridge woman authors book on health
Teresa Holler of Blue Ridge has written a book, "Holler for your Health: Be the Key to a Healthy Family," which she says every one needs to read about hazardous chemical exposure and health.She's also calling it "The Give Big Book Tour" as she is giving part of the profits to Blue Ridge Autism School.
Holler is a physician's assistant who has studied the human body and reaction to hazardous chemicals in our environment like air pollution for example. She will be at the Blue Ridge Library on Wednesday, May 21at 7:30 p.m.
She is very impressed with the Blue Ridge Autism Center and believes a variety of perhaps hazardous environment issues and genetic issues have contributed to the alarming rise in autism.
This is an advance of her book which will hit the book market in August, she said.
The things we have around us can be detrimental especially to children. Regarding paint, carpet or even a new car she said, "It you can smell it, it is probably toxic." Her advice is to air things out. Check labels for VOC's--Volatile Organic Compounds she said as a preventative when painting for instance.
She told The Botetourt View that cancer rates in America in 1908 were 1 in 8,000. Now she says they are approaching 1 in 2.
She works with Cardiology doctor, Dr. Savage in Roanoke and also has an association with Dr. Leo Galland in New York City, who operates the Foundation for Integrated Medicine and promotes many approaches to health and healing.
Advice? Holler offered, "Fix the things you can!" like the following:
-Avoid silver dental fillings -Eat fish lower on the food chain like tilapia Used canned salmon instead of tuna -Strengthen your natural detoxifiction -- sweating is good for you (unless you are very young or elderly check with your doctor.) -Eat cruciferous veggies -- raw is better than cooked but eat them -- broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage -Use flax seed meal in cooking
Her book is $20 and will be on sale after her talk.
NEWS-LINE FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS FEATURE STORY
10/01/2006
Author: Kelly Dolde
Finding Her Higher Calling: One PA Works to Make Her Many Ideas into Realities
Teresa Holler is a busy woman by any standard. She is the mother of a young child and a full-time PA whose workweek is divided into three areas that could each be a full-time occupation for any person with less energy, determination and imagination than Holler. "First, I have my own business called CME Opportunities, LLC that I've run from my home for three years. My business holds conferences for PAs and NPs. I am an assistant professor and a clinical coordinator at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, Virginia. And, every Tuesday, I am a cardiology PA."
Holler was also, until just recently, actively pursuing her DHS in health sciences, a goal she has tabled for the time-being because she just signed a publishing contract to write a book on cardiology for NPs and PAs. Despite, or perhaps because of, all of her responsibilities, Holler is cheerful, reflective and eager to see which of her many other ideas will next come to fruition.
"I had always been interested in a career in health and also teaching others about health and wellness. I was with a group of students, spending a week working at a soup kitchen in Philadelphia. We lived in an apartment adjacent to the kitchen, and many of the children who came to the kitchen lived there as well. When we weren't working, we'd often play with these kids in the streets. There was one little boy who really stood out to me. He had a big smile and was one of those kids with a tremendous presence. The last day or two that we were there, this boy didn't come outside with the others. There was such a void without him. We asked where he was and learned that he had the measles. It was very surprising to me. I was a little naive but I didn't realize that at this day and age in this country, people were still getting illnesses like the measles. I used this experience as my admissions essay when I applied for medical school because I'd been so affected by it."
Children, again, were the cause of Holler's decision to reconsider the future she'd planned as an MD. "I was doing an internship at a pediatric department near my home while in college. Some of the physicians' wives would bring their children to the cafeteria at lunchtime so they could see their fathers. It seemed terrible to me that these were the rare moments these children and their fathers had with each other because of the demands of being a doctor. I began considering other options. One of the nurses at the hospital asked me if I'd ever heard about PAs. I hadn't; even my college advisor hadn't heard of the field. I went to the library and looked up PAs and made a copy of the page I found. There were only about twenty PA programs in the US at that time. I remember telling my mother about my decision to become a PA. She looked at me and asked, ‘What is this PA stuff? Either be a doctor or a nurse!'"
Holler qualified for a scholarship program through the National Health Service Corps that paid for her PA education. After graduating, she owed the government two years of service in a medically underserved area. "I was fortunate because I really don't know how I would have paid for PA school without the scholarship. But this isn't an easy scholarship program, particularly the two-year requirement that follows. It builds character and I'm glad I had to go through that time. I was very lucky to be assigned to family practice in North Carolina."
"Following those two years, I faced a new challenge. I was single and I could really go anywhere in the world. How do you decide where you want to go when you have so many options? It was almost overwhelming. I went to a PA meeting in Wilmington and a cardiologist was there who was looking for a PA. I applied and later withdrew my application. They called me and asked why I was withdrawing and I said it was because I wasn't certain of what I wanted to do. They convinced me to meet with them, which I did and the doctor told me what the work would be like and convinced me to come and join them. It was a fluke but it worked out beautifully. I was with that cardiology group for eight years. It was my introduction to cardiology; they taught me everything. They were wonderful. I only left because I wanted to teach. I found a similar position in Roanoke where I work once a week to keep my skills sharp."
"I've always had a passion for teaching. When I became a PA, I precepted for DukeUniversity students for many years. That was always the brightest part of my day. I decided to follow my heart and moved with my family to Virginia to take the position at the Jefferson College of Health Sciences as an assistant professor and clinical coordinator. I take care of the students. I coordinate the sites they're at during their clinical year and make sure the students are doing well. There is a high burnout rate among clinical coordinators so many schools are moving away from making it a full-time position and are, instead, balancing it with teaching. At certain times of the year, I teach a lot. I teach cardiology and EKG interpretation. When that time roles around, I do a lot of teaching and there is no time for anything else. The rest of the time, I monitor students and work to attract facilities to accept our students during their clinical year."
Holler was inspired to start her CME business after having difficulty finding PA conferences that fulfilled her needs. "I've gone to meetings that didn't address my needs as a PA or meetings where information presented wasn't quite right. The PA meetings I attended were often too broad. I couldn't find a good conference to go to. I got frustrated and decided to hold my own. I knew I wanted to do one on cardiology and I added one on orthopedics, as I needed to hold two conferences to be profitable. They are weeklong conferences at the beach. People enjoy them. I coordinate the topics based on evaluation responses from the previous year. I get the speakers and put it all together. I advertised, but now most of the attendees find out about the conferences through word of mouth."
While Holler loves being a PA, she believes it's a very challenging field to be in today. "There are more opportunities than ever before and I know it's the career for me. With Money Magazine ranking it as a great, lucrative career, we'll have people who see it as going to school for only two years to make a lot of money. In fact, it's a very hard job. If you don't get the right physician to work with, you might have someone who takes advantage of you. You're cheap labor and you have a huge responsibility. You have to be clinically accurate and you have to make sure you present information well to your physician. If a prospective PA doesn't really care about people and seek to better the lives of others, they're only really benefiting themselves. It's hard to see patients from all walks of life and have compassion for all of them. It's a challenge to sympathize with people who've made poor lifestyle choices. But you have to have it in your heart to care about everyone, not just the people who remind you of your loved ones or yourself."
Another challenge for PAs, says Holler, is allotting enough time during their busy days to spend with each patient. "PA schedules are becoming more like those of a physician, with longer hours and more patients. PAs stood out in the beginning because they took the time to talk in depth with their patients. If we're pushed towards greater productivity, than the time with patients will suffer. Our challenge as PAs is to maintain control of our schedules and continue to spend the time with patients. Otherwise, what is the point of a PA? PAs fill the void the doctors inevitably create because of the demands they face. Doctors have to, by law, state every risk and benefit involved in a given procedure to a patient. It's like listening to the fast blurb at the end of a car commercial. They have so much they have to say and so little time to say it that the patient is left bewildered. That's when the PA can actually speak to the patient as a human being and explain what they've just heard and help put them in a better place to make their decision. My biggest fear is if PAs are more like doctors and are pressed for time to the same degree, this type of patient interaction will no longer be possible."
With her recent book contract, Holler is on her way to fulfilling a personal goal. "So many people are out there searching for what's going to make them feel good inside. They know there's something more in life and they just can't put their finger on it. It's frustrating. And now I feel like I've figured it out."
"My original intention in life is to make a profound difference in the lives of people truly in need. As a PA, I thought it would do this, but once I was working, I'd see the benefits I received from my work, but I wondered how much I was truly helping others. I've had the luxury of stepping back and looking at everything and taking a chance. And since I've done that, it seems like all of these opportunities are coming my way." Holler has a creative plan for how she will present the information in her cardiology book to NPs and PAs, framing the factual data within narratives about her own experiences, mistakes and successes. She also expects to donate the proceeds from her planned future books to Oprah's Angel Network. "I think the books will inspire and enlighten people and then the proceeds might make a profound difference for children who are living in poverty. Rather than fixing just one problem at a time as a clinical PA, writing these books may allow me to make a profound difference for many people in many ways. I believe that we all have a higher calling and this work is mine."
Teresa Holler, MS, PA-C, earned her BS in biology 1993 from Siena College, her BS in PA studies from Touro College in 1996, and her MS in rural primary care medicine from Alderson-Broaddus College in 1999. She was pursuing a DHS in health sciences prior to signing a publishing contract to write a book on cardiology for NPs and PAs, a project that is now her focus.
Kelly Dolde is a freelance writer from Baltimore, Maryland. She is on the editorial staff of NEWS-Line for Physician Assistants.
