Dr Raxlen obtained a B.A. in philosophy and anthropology from Stanford University. It was there he was influenced by his Professor, Gregory Bateson, the noted anthropologist who introduced Dr. Raxlen to “general systems theory”, medical ethnology and communication theory. As a result, during his medical training at the University of Toronto, Dr. Raxlen worked two full summers in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala and San Salvador, assisting medical personnel in helping native Indian people in both countries. He completed an internship at McGill Medical School Hospital Network. He then worked a full year in the emergency room of a large Toronto hospital, as well as serving as an associate “medical house call doctor”.
His interest in medical anthropology in underdeveloped countries took him to Belem, Brazil and the Amazon River, where he spent a year in the Xingu River Basin. He lived with an indigenous Amazonian tribe for six months. There he studied parasitology and other tropical diseases. This resulted in a life long interest in therapeutic herbal medicine.
He returned the following year to begin training at the University of Chicago Medical School. He received a two year advanced fellowship in Family and Child Psychiatry. He was appointed to the faculty as a lecturer in Family and Child Psychiatry.
His practice moved to Connecticut in 1972 where he was appointed lecturer at Fairfield University and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University. In 1975, he was appointed Director of the Children’s Service Center of Bridgeport and founded the Graduate Center for Clinical Studies at the University of Bridgeport.
After a decade of private practice (1978-1988) pioneering nutritional and integrative psychiatry/ medicine, he became interested in tick-borne disease (Lyme Disease) because of the chronic undiagnosed symptoms of his patients.
Dr. Raxlen’s practice was situated in the highly Lyme endemic areas of Westchester and Fairfield counties. Over the past 15 years, he has successfully treated over thirty-five hundred cases of Tick- Borne Disease (specializing in neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive complications). Over 90% of his practice is now devoted entirely to Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD) and co-infections.
The diagnosis and treatment of Tick-Borne Disease (TBD) is complicated and requires not only clinical observation but also modern medical technology. This includes, utilization of advanced radiology (SPECT and MRI), comprehensive neuropsychiatric evaluation (testing), serology from specialty laboratories, advanced co-infection testing (Babesia, Bartonella, and Ehrlichia), sleep lab assessment and physical therapy evaluation. Presently, Dr. Raxlen is one of the few family psychiatrists in the tri-state area to initiate a total comprehensive treatment program which utilizes both oral and intravenous (IV) antibiotic treatment. He also uses other treatment strategies such as neuropharmacology and stress management for:
- depression
- panic disorder
- bipolar mood disorder
- epileptiform seizure activity
- ADD
- memory loss
- sleep disorder and pre-frontal lobe deficit syndrome.
He employs nutriceutical supplements to support the patient’s natural immunologic healing system.
He was an original member and co-founder of AIMS (Academy for Integrated Medical Studies) and served for several years on the Board of Directors of the Omega Institute. He was a founding member of ILADS, and was elected secretary of the first board of governors of ILADS (the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society). He has been a featured speaker in more than forty workshops over the years on topics ranging from psychiatry, drug abuse, psychoneuroimmunology and Tick-Borne Diseases. He has been on national television (ABC, NBC, Fox) discussing the medical concerns which pertain to TBD. Dr. Raxlen is featured on the Discovery Channel in the Mystery Illness discussing Lyme Disease and it’s diagnosis.
| 1968 – 1969 | BA – Stanford University, Palo Alto, California Major: Philosophy and Anthropology |
| 1960 – 1965 | Doctor of Medicine – University of Toronto Medical School Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| May 1963 – Sept. 1963 | Emergency Medicine Quetzaltango, Guatemala Worked as an extern in a mountain hospital administering emergency care to native Indian populations |
| 1965 – 1966 | Rotating Internship – Montreal Jewish General Hospital Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| June 1966 – Oct 1966 | Emergency Room Medicine – North York General Hospital Toronto, Ontario, Canada Responsible for Emergency Room services and house call medicine |
| 1966 – 1967 | Tropical and Emergency Medicine Belem, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Worked intensively in the Amazon basin Xingu River estuary serving Indian population in parasitology |
| 1967 – 1968 | First Year Psychiatric – Hawaii Integrated Psychiatric Program months – Chronic care, state hospital for severely, emotionally disturbed; Kaneohe State Hospital. Primarily schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders months – Outpatient, emergency and inpatient hospital psychiatry, Queens Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Honolulu, Hawaii. Special research in child and cross-cultural psychiatry and anthropology with Gregory Bateson. |
| 1968 – 1969 | Exchange Program – General Medicine (6 months) Israel – Kibbutz: Kafar Blum Arad (Negev) Responsible for general medical services: research on socialization of early childhood in Kibbutz system |
| 1968 – 1969 | Drug Abuse Fellow – Illinois Drug Abuse Program (6 months) heroin addiction and amphetamine abuse Jerome Jaffe, MD Director Responsible for the overall medical duties and psychiatric consultation to the drug abuse program, including an in-hospital, closed unit at the University of Chicago Medical School. Medical Director, Gateway House (Therapeutic Community) |
| July 1969 – July 1971 | Second and Third Year Residency Program University of Chicago Medical School Department of Psychiatry Daniel X. Freedman, Chairman |
| 1971 – 1973 | Child and Family Psychiatry Fellowship Program Institute for Teachers of Child and Family Therapy; University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic, Salvador Minuchin, MD, Chairman and Charles Malone, MD, Director of Child PsychiatryTaught 6 hour Clinical Seminars in Family Therapy to Staff of the Following Centers: Luzerne – Wyoming Mental Health Center; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Cumberland Perry County Interservice Agency; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Hall-Mercer Clinic; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania West Philadelphia Child Guidance ClinicStaff Psychiatrist – West Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic Evaluation, treatment of children and families. Supervision of mental health personnel and medical students |
| 1973 – 1978 | Director of Training and Consultation in Family Psychiatry at the Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center Bridgeport, CT Responsible for the teaching, training and supervision of the staff of the G.B.M.F.C. in adult, child and family systems therapy. This included a weekly 6-hour seminar with didactic teaching, video tape presentation and a live demonstration of family cases and oneway mirror supervision. Clinical consultant and Seminar Leader at Regional Narcotics Center Bridgeport, CT |
| 1974 – 1984 | Psychiatric Consultant at Stratford Counseling Center Stratford, CT |
| 1975 – 1976 | Consultant Clifford Beers Child Guidance Clinic Child and Family Psychiatry New Haven, CTClinical Consultant and Seminar Leader in Family Therapy for Department of Children and Youth Services. State of Connecticut Adolescent Unit at Fairfield Hills Hospital |
| 1975 -1978 | Director (half-time position) Children’s Service Center of Greater Bridgeport for State of Connecticut Completely reorganized failing children’s service treatment center, establishing a “family school” day program (25 children – ages 6- 14: special education services with classroom behavior modification and individual and family therapy); crisis unit with direct liaison with Bridgeport Hospital Department of Pediatrics; community-based services including initiation of Mental Health team directly into school system of “exceptional ghetto children” working cooperatively with teachers and school psychologists. Designed family therapy component of a 3 year $175,000. Federal grant for early intervention strategies of high risk (only large grant awarded to Fairfield County for pre-school children in last 10 years). Established an advisory council composed of concerned citizens both professional and non-professional to assist in the direction of the Children’s Center. |
| 1983 – 2006 | Private Psychiatric Practice in Greenwich, CT. The practice was situated in a highly Lyme endemic area of Westchester and Fairfield Counties. |
| 2006 – Present | His practice is now situated on the upper west side of Manhattan. Over the past 27 years, the practice has successfully treated over 1500 cases of “chronic, persistent Lyme disease” (specializing in neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive complications). Over 80% of practice time is now devoted to this complex and demanding illness. The diagnosis and treatment of this multi-systemic illness includes: utilizing nuclear radiology (SPECT, MRI); neuropsychology (testing); neuroimmunology (PCR for DNA, Western Blot IGG & IGM); co-infection testing (Babesia and Ehrlichia); sleep lab assessment; auto-immune and endocrine testing. Presently, I am the only psychiatrist in the tri-state area to initiate a total comprehensive treatment program, utilizing oral and IV antibiotic treatment intervention in conjunction with neuropharmacology and stress management for ADD, memory loss, sleep disorder, and prefrontal lobe deficit syndrome. I have integrated these treatments with supportive modalities from my work in psychoneuroimmunology and nutritional medicine. |
| 2008 – 2017 | Served on Board of Governors, University of the Americas, West Indies |
PAST MEMBERSHIPS
| A.P.A. | American Psychiatric Association |
| A.A.M.F.T. | American Association of Marriage and Family Therapist Supervising Member |
| A.F.T.A. | American Family Therapy Association Charter Member – 1979 Initial Organization Meeting – Chicago |
| A.M.H.A. | American Holistic Medical Association |
| A.A.E.M. | American Academy of Environmental Medicine |
| A.A.O.M.P. | American Academy of Orthomolecular Psychiatry |
MEMBERSHIPS
| ILADS | International Lyme and Associated Disease Society |
HOSPITAL AFFILIATION
| 1975 – 1979 | Staff – Bridgeport Hospital – Bridgeport, CT Director, Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation: Department of Pediatrics |
UNIVERSITY AFFILIATION
| 1971 -1979 | University of Pennsylvania Medical School Lecturer Department of Child Psychiatry |
| 1974 – 1975 | Fairfield University – Fairfield, CT Lecturer |
| 1975 – 1977 | Yale University – Department of Psychiatry Assistant Clinical Professor Supervisor of Psychiatric Residents |
| 1975 – 1979 | University of Bridgeport – Bridgeport, CT Lecturer and Adjunct Professor |
PUBLICATIONS
| “Learning-Entry into Pattern” |
A paper and 45-minute film on Family Investigations in the Azores published in OUR OWN METAPHOR. This is a report in book form edited by Katherine Bateson on the conference in Austria of the Wenner-Gren Foundation – 1968, led by Gregory Bateson. Theme: “Effects of Conscious Purpose on Human Adaptation.” (published)
“Kinesics of Conflict”
Videotape Training Film: a study of four-generation black family showing the kinesics of territorial and hierarchical power relations at Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic.
“Family Diagnostic Treatment Profile”
Special teaching material (20 pages). A specialized diagnostic and treatment profile designed for teaching the fundamentals of family system theory and therapy. (unpublished)
“Bateson, The Ecology of Ideas and Family System Therapy”
(unpublished)
“Lyme Disease: The Great Masquerator”
book in progress
“From Local Lyme to Universal Borreliosis – Complex Clinical Observations in a 15 year Neuropsychiatric Practice”
(unpublished paper with clinical cases)
“Family Co-Infection Syndrome””
(unpublished paper)
PLAYS
| “Kick a Blind Man’s Day” |
A 3 act play: a drama with a black psychiatrist and a suicidal adolescent as a protagonist, concerning loss, grief and mourning.
“The Gallows Horse and Ballad of Alfie Huff”
A whimsical Western morality play.
“False Dawn”
An adaptation of Elsie Weisel’s “Dawn”, consequences of moral choices.
“Satan’s Gamble”
A 3 act play: a study of altruism during the holocaust.
PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
| Stowe, Vermont – 1972 |
Teaching and supervision in Family Therapy (presentation of work on edited video tape with narration, “Kinesics of Conflict”)
Washington, DC – 1973
Panel Discussant: “Multiple Family Therapy” American Association for Psychiatric Services for Children
Springfield, Massachusetts – 1974
Workshop: Family Systems and Therapy
University of South Carolina Department of Psychiatry – June 1977
A 2 day workshop: Family Systems “Diagnosis and Treatment: A Guide to the Perplexed” Presentation to residents and faculty using specially designed diagnostic/treatment protocol
University of Bridgeport School of Nursing – Bridgeport, Connecticut – 1976
Conference Director: 1 day Workshop with Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic “The Paraprofessional in Family Therapy”
Four Winds Hospital – Katonah, New York – 1980 – 1983
Teaching Seminars Family psychiatry and hospital treatment case presentations
Hershey, Pennsylvania – 1982
Paper presented at the Society for Clinical Ecology. Eating Disorders: Bulimia/Anorexia, An Ecological Approach
Appearance on NBC Today Show
On two occasions – 1980 and 1981
- Child Safety and Family Dynamics – Accident prone children and dysfunctional families.
- Food Allergy and Behavior and Neuropsychiatry.
Appearance on ABC “Good Morning New York” – 1982
“Food and Mood” – Discussion of diet and nutritional considerations relating to Bulimia, Obesity, Anorexia and Heart disease.
Lecturer at Omega Institute One Week Workshop – Rhinebeck, New York – 1982
Holistic Health and Psychiatry: A Critical Examination of Philosophy and Methods
Featured Speaker – October 1984
Pastoral Workshop Conference, Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport. “The Soul and the Mind” Spiritual issues and psychotherapy
Guest Speaker – Seton Hall University – 1989
International Catholic Seminars for Catholic Clergy. Post graduate education: Psychoneuroimmunology: A new integration of the CNS and immune system.
CME WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE
Related To Lyme Disease and
Co-Infection Syndrome
| May 5-6 1993 | Sixth Annual Lyme Disease Scientific Conference Jersey Shore Medical Center |
| Oct 7 1995 | Functional Brain Imaging with SPECT Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Atlanta, Georgia 6.5 CME |
| April 19-20 | Chronic Lyme Disease: Basic Science & Clinical Approaches 1996 Boston, Massachusetts 15 CME |
| April 25-26 | 11th International Scientific Conference on Lyme Disease and 1998 Tick Borne Disorders Hartford, Connecticut 15 CME |
| June 3 1998 | 11th Annual Symposium: Lyme Disease and Related Infections Yale University School of Medicine 5 CME |
|
Attended Lyme Disease Foundation Scientific Conference with CME credit 1995, 1996, 1997, 1988, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004 |
PRESENTATIONS ON LYME DISEASE
| 1994 | Presentation Videotape of Case presentation – 4 Atypical Lyme Disease Cases of Greenwich Population Greenwich, Connecticut |
| 1995 | Presentation “Lyme Disease and Integrative Medicine” New Jersey with Dr. Lesley Fein and Dr. Brian Fallon |
| 1998 | Presentation – Featured Speaker “Chronic Lyme Disease and Neurological Symptoms” Eastern Connecticut Lyme Support Group |
| 1998 | Presentation – Featured Speaker “Chronic Lyme Disease/Psychiatric Syndrome” Bethel Connecticut Lyme Support Group |
| 1999 | Presentation with videotape – Featured Speaker “Lyme Disease and Integrative Medicine” Trumbull Connecticut Lyme Support Group |
| 1999 | Founding Member – Secretary of Board of Members International Lyme Associated Disease Society (ILADS) Boston, Massachusetts |
| 2000 | Presentation – Featured Speaker “Lyme – The Great Imitator” Greenwich Lyme Disease Task force Greenwich, Connecticut |
| 2000 | Presentation – Featured Speaker “General Overview of Lyme Disease Issues in Large City Population” New York Lyme Disease Task Force New York City |
| 2001 | Presentation – Featured Speaker “Neuropsychiatric Sequalae of Borrelia” Wilton Lyme Task Force Wilton, Connecticut |
| 2001 | Presentation with colleagues “ILADS – Case Conference Presentation – 2 Cases of Severe Depression associated with Borrelia” Princeton, New Jersey |
| 2002 | Presentation – Featured Speaker “Borrelia and Co-Infections” Poughkeepsie Lyme Seminar |
| 2003 | Presentation Middletown Lyme Seminar Presented with Dr. Amiram Katz (neurology) and Dr. Dan Cameron (family practice) (Videotaped) |
| 2003 | Presentation with colleagues “ILADS – Case Conference Presentation – Family Co- Infection Syndrome – Effects on family system of persistent evolving infections” Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 2003 | Presentation – Featured Speaker “From Lyme to Borreliosis – Clinical Observations in a 15 year Neuropsychiatric Practice” Newtown Fireside Lyme Seminar (Videotaped) – Public Television Event – Entered in special competition national award |
| 2003 | Presentation – Featured Speaker “Integrated Approach to Borrelia and Co-infections” Lyme Disease Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (Videotaped) |
| 2004 | Presentation – Featured Speaker “Lyme Disease Informational Seminar” Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, NH |
| 2004 | Presentation – Featured Speaker “Systemic & Neuropsychiatric Diagnostic & Treatment Dilemmas in Borrelia & Co-Infections” National Capital Lyme Disease Association Sibley Hospital, McLean, Virginia |
| 2005 | Presentation – Guest Speaker “30th Anniversary of Lyme Disease with no Compassion Observed!” Farmington/Unionville Senior Community Center Unionville, Connecticut |
| 2005 | Presentation – Guest Speaker Hope to Heal Lyme Conference Treating Lyme Disease Using Integrative Medicine Hyatt Regency Reston Reston, Virginia |
| 2005 | Presentation with collegues ILADS Annual Conference Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |