Meet the staff

Medical Providers

Timothy Culbert, MD, is the Medical Director. He guides the clinical, research, programming, education, funding, and marketing aspects of the Integrative Medicine Program and provides developmental/behavioral pediatric medical services, specializing in pediatric mind/body medicine. He is board certified in developmental and behavioral pediatrics and holistic medicine and is certified in medical hypnosis and biofeedback. Dr. Culbert received a bachelor's degree in biology from St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and completed medical school at the University of Minnesota. He serves as core faculty for the Behavioral Pediatrics Program at the University of Minnesota, and is also a clinical faculty associate at the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center. He completed a one-year Bush Foundation Fellowship, focusing on pediatric complementary and alternative medicine, and was appointed a member of the Task Force on Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He researches and publishes in the area of self-regulation skills training with children and adolescents, and lectures locally and nationally on pediatric complementary and alternative medicine, biofeedback, psychopharmacology, and pain management. 

Michelle Berg RN, MS, CNP, is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who is specialized in Children with Special Health Care Needs. Her interests include behavioral and developmental health issues. She particularly enjoys working with children and families impacted by autism. Michelle has a MS from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cites and attained a graduate minor in Complementary Therapies and Healing Practices from the Center of Spirituality & Healing. In addition she has a Certificate in Disability Policy and Services. She received her BS in nursing from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire.

Kathleen Farah, MD, is board certified in Family Medicine and Holistic Medicine. She has completed certification with the Center for Mind Body Medicine and is on the faculty for their Professional Training Program. Dr. Farah has been leading mind body skills groups for children and adults for years. She has completed extensive training in craniosacral/visceral therapy through the Upledger Institute. In addition, she has attended the Institute for Functional Medicine where she has completed course work in nutrition and supplements in health and illness. These techniques and knowledge are particularly suited to headaches (migraine and tension), chronic pain including abdominal pain and musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, asthma, and stress. Dr. Farah completed her undergraduate degree in Medical Technology at College of St. Scholastica, and her Medical degree at University of Minnesota, She is an Adjunct Instructor in the University of Minnesota Duluth School of Medicine.

Maura Fitzgerald RN, MS, MA, CNS, is a Clinical Nurse Specialist. She is the project coordinator for research activities in pediatric integrative medicine, provides clinical services in integrative assessment, mind-body medicine and clinical aromatherapy; and develops and conducts educational programs for staff. Maura works closely with hospital doctors and nurses to give holistic Integrative care to inpatient children at both Minneapolis and St Paul Children’s Hospitals. She has an MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas, a Certificate in Holistic Therapies from the College of St. Catherine, a MS in parent-child nursing from the University of California at San Francisco, and a BS in nursing from the University of North Dakota. She teaches, writes for publication, and lectures locally and nationally on pediatric integrative medicine.

Amy Johnson-Grass, ND, LN, LM, CPM is a naturopathic doctor, clinical nutritionist and midwife. Amy received a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College, and completed naturopathic medical school at Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington where she earned her doctorate of naturopathic medicine, master of science in nutrition and midwifery certificate. In 2005, Amy was awarded a three-year NIH postdoctoral fellowship at the Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation focusing on complimentary and alternative medical research. She researches and publishes in the area of women’s health and pediatrics. Amy's philosophy is to treat the whole person, finding the root cause of symptoms.  She sees her role as an educator, someone who empowers patients to promote their innate healing abilities in conjunction with natural therapies.  She identifies her patients’ personal health goals and focuses on individualized treatments, which may include dietary and lifestyle modifications, whole foods nutritional counseling, botanical medicine (herbs), homeopathy, and nutritional supplementation.

George Kramer, MD, is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist who is board certified in PMR, Pain Medicine, and Medical Acupuncture. Dr. Kramer provides consultation for Integrative Physical Medicine approaches including child-friendly approaches in acupressure, electrical stimulation of acupuncture points, auricular acupuncture, and teaches self acupressure techniques and basic exercises for musculoskeletal pain problems. He often incorporates suggestions for self-care and teaches parents point stimulation for relieving pain and anxiety, nausea, and other discomforts. These strategies are often particularly helpful for pediatric patients with pain complaints: headaches (tension-type or migraine), musculoskeletal pain, recurrent abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other chronic pain problems. Dr Kramer completed his undergraduate degree and medical school at the University of Minnesota. He completed a physical medicine residency at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, pain medicine, and medical acupuncture, and is a member of the American academy of Medical Acupuncture.

Susan Sencer, MD, is the Director of Hematology/Oncology. She guides the clinical, research, programming, education, funding, and marketing aspects of integrative medicine for children and families in the hematology/oncology program at Children's Hospitals and Clinics. Dr. Sencer received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, and completed her MD program at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, specializing in pediatrics and in hematology/oncology, and continuing adjunct faculty status with the medical school. She has over 20 years of training and experience in pediatrics, hematology/oncology, and complementary/alternative medicine. In 1998, she was the recipient of a Bush Foundation Physician Mid-Career Fellowship to study the use of complementary and alternative medicine in children with cancer. She lectures locally and nationally on pediatric integrative medicine and is an expert on the uses of herbals and supplements in pediatric oncology.

Psychology Providers

Lynda Richtsmeier Cyr, Ph.D., L.P., is a pediatric psychologist for the Integrative Medicine Program. She specializes in chronic illness and incorporates mind-body medicine into her psychotherapy practice. She has expertise in the treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety, chronic pain and stress-related disorders. Dr. Richtsmeier Cyr has been leading mind-body skills groups for children, teens, and parents for many years, and has completed certification in Mind-Body medicine through the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C. She has taught nationally in the area of mind-body medicine. She helps guide the clinical, educational, and research aspects of the Integrative Medicine Program. Dr. Richtsmeier Cyr is also a Clinical Instructor of Pediatrics for the University of Minnesota School of Medicine and serves as core faculty for the Behavioral Pediatrics Program. Dr. Richtsmeier Cyr has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received specialized post-doctoral training in the area of Pediatric Psychology at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Christine Gibbon, Ph.D., L.P., is a licensed psychologist with Children's Pain and Palliative Care Program and also works in the Integrative Medicine program. She specializes in treating psychological issues related to medical coping, and in managing pain. She has also developed a special focus working with children and adolescents with sickle cell disease and their families. Throughout her training, Dr. Gibbon has taken opportunities to learn from and work with patients from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Dr. Gibbon earned her B.A. from Loyola University of New Orleans and she earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Gibbon completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Children's Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School.

Anastasia Sullwold Ristau, Ph.D., L.P., is a licensed psychologist who specializes in pediatric and clinical child psychology: working with children and families affected by medical related issues. She has expertise in the psychological assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with epilepsy, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, psychosomatic/stress-related disorders, high functioning-developmental disabilities and behavioral disorders. Dr. Sullwold Ristau incorporates mind-body medicine into her psychotherapy practice. She has taught locally and nationally in the areas of behavioral management, parenting, and psychosomatic issues. Dr. Sullwold Ristau obtained a BA from the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota, a MA in clinical psychology from Minnesota State University at Mankato, a PhD in clinical child psychology from Auburn University in Alabama, and completed a post-doctorate fellowship in clinical child/pediatric psychology at Children’s Mercy Hospitals in Kansas City, MO.

Massage Therapists

Barb Cant, RN, NCMT, CHTP, is a massage therapist and Healing Touch practitioner. Barb specializes in Swedish massage techniques and Healing Touch, an energetic approach to health and healing. She works primarily with children with pain, chronic illness, and those with life threatening diseases. She has an associate degree in nursing from St. Mary's Jr. College (now the College of St. Catherine) and a certificate in Holistic Therapies and Health and Wellness counseling from The College of St. Catherine. She is certified in massage therapy through The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. She is also certified in Healing Touch through Healing Touch International.

Karen Gillespie Haeg, BA, NCMBT Karen graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor of arts and received her massage certification at the Minneapolis School of Massage and Bodywork. She is trained in Swedish and Sports massage, Craniosacral Therapy, Somatoemotional Release and Healing Touch. Karen passed the national certification exam in massage and bodywork and is a member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. Karen came to the Integrative Medicine Clinic with experience working with children in the Autism Spectrum Disorder and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. She empowered parents to care for their children by coordinating the first Craniosacral Workshop for Families at Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota.

Candace Linares, NCMT, Candace graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor of arts degree in 1989. Candace provides massage therapy to inpatients and outpatients in the Integrative Medicine Clinic. She has a joint appointment within the Integrative Medicine Program and the Pain Team. Candace has completed training in Myofascial Release, CranioSacral Therapy, Healing Touch, and Swedish massage. She received her massage training from Minneapolis School of Massage and bodywork. Candace has been certified in massage therapy since 2003 through the National Board of Massage and Body Work. She assisted in coordinating the first CranioSacral Workshop for Families at Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota in January 2006. Candace is on the advisory board of massage for National American University. She has taught massage for Minneapolis Massage Therapy and Bodywork and for Minnesota School of Business.

Kathryn Lindenfelser, MMus, MT-BC, CMT, is a music therapist, massage therapist and reflexologist. She provides therapies to in-patients through the Integrative Medicine Program. Kathryn completed her music therapy education at Augsburg College and her Master’s in music therapy at the University of Melbourne. Her Master’s research involved a qualitative study investigating bereaved parents’ experiences of music therapy with their terminally ill children. As a board certified music therapist, Kathryn also has training in Guided Imagery and Music – Bonny Method from Appalachian State University and Neurological Music Therapy from the Center for Biomedical Research at Colorado State University. Kathryn trained in massage therapy and reflexology at Sr. Rosalind’s School of Professional Massage. She has additional training in CranioSacral Therapy through the Upledger Institute, Bach Flower Remedies from the Australian School of Reflexology and Relaxation and Ear Reflexology through the American Academy of Reflexology. Kathryn has presented and lectured, and has provided therapies to children and families, in the Midwest and in Australia.