Cost: Member: $52.50 | Student Member: $22.50 | Non-member: $97.50
Abstract: Mast cell disorders are increasingly recognized, yet their diagnosis and management remain challenging. This lecture provides a practical, beyond-the-basics approach to evaluating and treating these complex conditions. Key topics include differentiating mast cell activation syndrome from other mast cell disorders and understanding the limitations of laboratory testing. The role of underlying contributors such as mold exposure and long COVID will be reviewed, along with common co-morbid conditions including POTS, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, SIBO/IFO, fibromyalgia, and histamine intolerance. The session will also address medication tolerance, including sensitivity to drug excipients, and provide a practical overview of both pharmaceutical and natural treatment strategies. Emphasis will be placed on individualized, stepwise care to improve patient outcomes.
Presenter Bio: Dr. Lela Altman is a licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist with extensive clinical, academic, and leadership experience. She is a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Gastroenterology and is widely recognized for her work with complex gastrointestinal conditions and mast cell disorders.
Dr. Altman has practiced in a wide range of clinical settings, including private practice, a federally qualified health center, free clinics, teaching clinics, tribal health, and a hospital-affiliated integrative medicine clinic. She currently serves a rural, medically underserved community in Washington State, where she provides high-volume primary and specialty care across the lifespan. She also maintains a private practice in Western Washington.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Altman has a strong academic and mentorship background. She served as faculty at Bastyr University for over a decade, where she supervised clinical education, taught classes, led institutional committees, and helped restructure clinical training programs. She is the founder of Integrative Medical Education, through which she develops continuing education programs and mentorship opportunities for clinicians seeking advanced training in integrative gastroenterology and complex patient care.
Dr. Altman is also actively involved in developing evidence-informed gut health products and professional resources designed to bridge gaps between research, clinical practice, and real-world patient needs. She is passionate about improving access to care and advancing integrative medicine within multidisciplinary healthcare systems.
This presentation is worth 1.5 Category 1 CE credits, including 0.5 Pharmacology credit, for Washington-licensed NDs.
(Originally presented May 1-3, 2026, at WANP's 2026 annual conference.)