2025’s Must-Attend Educational Event! Empowered Wellness: A Women’s Health Summit

Saturday, March 8, 2025 | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Holiday Inn & Suites | East Peoria, IL

101 Holiday St, East Peoria, IL 61611

Registration Details

• Cost: $75 per person (includes light breakfast, a healthy lunch, snacks, and beverages, all sessions, & film)
• Vendors & Sponsors: Explore health-focused vendors offering products and services tailored to your needs.
• Parking: Free on-site

An Inspiring Day of Women’s Health & Wellness

Hormones | Menopause | Bone Health | Heart Health | Breast Health | Sleep | Lifestyle | Nutrition

The Couri Center invites you to attend Empowered Wellness: A Women’s Health Summit, an exclusive event dedicated to advancing women’s health and wellness. Featuring a distinguished lineup of industry experts, insightful sessions, and opportunities to connect with leading health experts, this is a day you won’t want to miss!

Agenda 

7:30 AM-8:00 AM           Registration/Check-in/Networking/Coffee

8:00 AM-9:00 AM          The (M) Factor Film: Shredding the Silence on Menopause

15 min                                 Break

9:15 AM-10:15 AM           Keynote, Dr. Michele Couri: The Truth About Menopausal Hormone Therapy

10:15 AM-11:00 AM         Dr. Sarah Zallek: The Power of Sleep

15 min                                 Break

11:30 AM-12:15 PM          Dr. Bilal Malik, PhD, CSO, QT Imaging: A New Era in Breast Imaging

12:15 PM-12:30 PM          Panel Q & A

12:30 PM-1:30 PM           LUNCH / Networking / Exhibits

1:30 PM-2:15 PM              Leslie Rusch-Bayer, RD: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

2:15 PM-3:00 PM              Dr. Cheryl Burdette: Beauty Down To The Bone: It’s Not Just Skin Deep

15 min                                  Break

3:15 PM-4:00 PM             Dr. Dan Couri: Cardiovascular Disease in Women

4:00 PM-4:30 PM            Panel Q &  A/ Closing Remarks  

Why Attend?

• Gain actionable insights into women’s health from trusted experts.
• Connect with like-minded attendees who share your commitment to wellness.
• Access exclusive vendors and resources tailored to your needs.
• Be inspired to take control of your health and wellness journey.

Expert Line up & Sessions 

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM  

The (M) Factor Film: Shredding the Silence on Menopause

The (M) Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause film explores the hidden impact of menopause on women’s lives. Menopause has ramifications beyond just an individual woman’s well-being. The far-ranging results of women enduring untreated menopause include billions of dollars in lost wages, upended careers, family disruptions, and emotional chaos. With evidence-based information, the film empowers women to make informed health decisions and aims to remove the stigma surrounding menopause and aging. This feature-length documentary film centers on the lived experiences of women across the U.S. Cameras follow women into their doctors’ offices, at work, and in their homes to expose the challenges they face—including racial biases, gender-ignorant care, inequitable structures and systems, and barriers due to the lack of basic midlife healthcare research. The women featured here open up about their experiences and share their stories of enduring debilitating symptoms while being ignored, ridiculed and/or shamed—and left untreated. Now, there’s a movement to fix the broken system, change the culture, and transform our future. “The (M) Factor” turns the spotlight on progress. With input from emboldened physicians, healthcare advocates, and leaders in the menopause movement, the film focuses on what is being done to address this public health crisis and offers solutions that can be replicated in medical communities and workplaces across the country—more on The (M) Factor website.  

9:15 AM-10:15 AM 

Reclaiming Women’s Health: The Truth About Menopausal Hormone Therapy

Dr. Michele Couri, MD, FACOG, ABIHM  Founder and Medical Director of the Couri Center for Gynecology and Integrative Women’s Health

Dr. Couri specializes in hormone replacement therapy and innovative strategies to help women achieve optimal health and longevity.  Dr. Couri will lead an engaging discussion that demystifies hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and explores its transformative potential for women’s health. This talk will present the latest data on the safety and benefits of HRT, including its role in improving bone density, heart health, cognitive function and alleviating vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes. She will also address the widespread misconceptions stemming from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study, which misled a generation of women about the risks of HRT. By examining the flawed interpretations of this study and highlighting robust, contemporary research, this session aims to empower women with accurate information to make informed decisions about their health.  

Dr. Michele A. Couri is a dedicated and compassionate physician specializing in women’s health. She is a proud graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine and completed her OB/GYN residency at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois. In 2011, Dr. Couri completed a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, where she trained under the world-renowned Dr. Andrew Weil. Her dedication to holistic and personalized care led her to study Functional Medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine, further enhancing her ability to address the complex needs of her patients. Dr. Couri is Sottopelle trained in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) pellet therapy, demonstrating her expertise in addressing hormonal health. As a member of the Menopause Society, the European Menopause and Andropause Society, and the International Menopause Society, she remains at the forefront of research and advancements in women’s health, particularly in menopause care. She is the Founder and Medical Director of the Couri Center for Gynecology and Integrative Women’s Health, where she provides comprehensive, patient-centered care. Dr. Couri also developed Total Lifestyle by Couri (TLC), a unique lifestyle program focused on optimizing health and wellness through nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, and functional lab testing. Voted Peoria’s Best OB/GYN for eight consecutive years, Dr. Couri’s mission is to empower women through education and evidence-based medical care, ensuring they thrive at every stage of life.  

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

The Power of Sleep

Dr. Sarah Zallek, MD  Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center and Medical Director, OSF Sleep Peoria    

Sleep is a cornerstone of health and wellness, yet many women experience significant sleep disruptions during perimenopause and menopause. This talk will explore the critical role sleep plays in overall health, including its impact on hormonal balance, cognitive function, and cardiovascular health. Attendees will gain insights into the ways hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can contribute to insomnia, night sweats, and fragmented sleep.

The presentation will also provide practical strategies for improving sleep quality, including lifestyle modifications, stress management techniques, and evidence-based medical interventions. By understanding the unique sleep challenges faced during this stage of life, women can take empowered steps to restore restful sleep and enhance their overall well-being.

Dr. Sarah Zallek is a neurologist specializing in sleep medicine, and most recently board certified in Lifestyle Medicine as well. She serves as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, Illinois, and she has been the Medical Director, OSF Sleep Peoria since its inception in 2000. She earned a degree in biopsychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.D. from Rush Medical College. She completed neurology residency and sleep medicine and epilepsy fellowships at the University of Michigan and is a clinical professor of neurology at University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. From 2019-2023 she led the development and implementation of a compassion-based communication course for physicians. Dr. Zallek is a keynote speaker and consultant on sleep, and compassionate communication.

11:30-12:15 

A New Era in Breast Imaging: Comparing QTI with Mammography, DBT & MRI

Dr. Bilal Malik, PhD, Chief Science Officer of QT Imaging

This seminar will explore the role of Quantitative Transmission Imaging (QTI) in breast imaging and its comparative performance against conventional modalities, including mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), and breast MRI.  QTI has demonstrated diagnostic performance comparable to mammography and DBT, offering additional benefits of being pain-free, radiation-free and providing quantitative imaging capabilities, making it a promising tool in routine screening and diagnostic workflows. Preliminary studies further highlight QTI’s ability to match the detection capabilities of breast MRI, a gold standard in breast imaging, with early evidence indicating that all findings visible on MRI are also detectable with QTI. This underscores QTI’s potential to serve as a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative in scenarios where MRI might otherwise be required. This presentation will provide a comprehensive analysis of QTI’s evolving role in clinical practice, emphasizing its complementary and standalone applications alongside established imaging technologies. The findings position QTI as a transformative tool in advancing the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, particularly in dense breast tissue and other challenging diagnostic scenarios.

Dr. Bilal Malik brings over a decade of experience in the research, development, and commercialization of medical devices across both academic and industry settings. He is an expert in advancing innovation in image and data science, with a strong track record in developing cutting-edge medical imaging technologies, shaping research strategies, and successfully navigating FDA regulatory pathways.   As the Chief Science Officer of QT Imaging, Dr. Malik drives the research and development efforts behind the industry’s pioneering transmission ultrasound breast acoustic CT scanner. He has been instrumental in transforming the device from a prototype to achieving FDA clearance and commercialization, setting a new benchmark in breast imaging. Dr. Malik earned his BS in Engineering Sciences from GIK Institute in Pakistan and his MS and PhD in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University. He has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and more than 60 conference presentations. Additionally, Dr. Malik serves as a member of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Medical Imaging Study Section, where he reviews grant submissions from small businesses in the field of medical imaging.

12:15-12:30    Panel Q & A

1:30 PM – 2:15 PM

When Lifestyle Recommendations Don’t Work: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All  

Leslie Rusch-Bayer, MS, RD, LDN, CPT Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer at the Couri Center

In this seminar, Leslie will uncover why “one-size-fits-all” approaches to diet, exercise, and supplementation often fail to address the complexities of individual health. She will explore how obesity, chronic disease, unhealthy aging, and frustrating symptoms can be exacerbated by generic recommendations. Attendees will gain insights into healing from dietary trauma, validation of symptoms, and understanding unique health needs. Leslie will provide actionable strategies for building a personalized roadmap to longevity, vitality, and improved well-being.

Leslie Rusch-Bayer, MS, RD, LDN, CPT, is a distinguished Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer with over a decade of dedicated service at the Couri Center. Her extensive expertise encompasses nutrition, lifestyle modification, weight management, and resistance training, integral to her personalized TLC™: Total Lifestyle by Couri programs.  Leslie’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with Exercise Science from Illinois College and soon after earned her ACE Certified Personal Trainer certificate. She completed her didactic program in dietetics at Illinois State University and a dietetic internship at Iowa State University. In August 2020, she completed her Master’s Degree in Professional Practice in Dietetics at Iowa State University.  Leslie collaborates closely with Dr. Couri and the medical team at the Couri Center to deliver the TLC™: Total Lifestyle by Couri integrative wellness program. Her approach is rooted in the understanding that each woman is unique, necessitating individualized nutrition plans and exercise regimens. Leslie specializes in weight loss, food sensitivities, chronic disease management, functional training, and overall wellness. Her commitment to personalized care has empowered countless women to achieve their health goals and enhance their quality of life. For over a decade, Leslie Rusch-Bayer has transformed lives through the Couri Center’s personalized TLC™: Total Lifestyle by Couri programs, specializing in nutrition, weight loss, and lifestyle optimization.

2:15 PM – 3:00 PM

Beauty Down To The Bone, Because It’s Not Just Skin Deep

Dr. Cheryl Burdette, Director of Education at Progressive Medical Center 

A major entry point for many people to health is through aesthetics.  As we work to turn back the clock, it becomes quickly apparent that creams and lotions may minimize some impact, but to really change the root of what is going on, it is necessary to build from within.  It is fascinating to look at the connections between healthy skin and hair, and how that relates to bone density and connective tissue in general as they relate to overall wellness.  One of the best correlations with longevity is lean muscle mass, again a type of connective tissue, and a driver of overall health.  In this talk we will look at the powerful combination of upregulating genes involved in connective tissue growth and how minimizing wrinkling also minimizes fractures.  We will look at antioxidants that turn on sirtuins, the major pathway associated with longevity, as well as evaluation of AMPKinase as it relates to diet and exercise and its anti-aging effects.  The average woman in the US spends close to 4000.00 dollars a year on products in the beauty industry.  An understanding of how better nutrition builds beauty from within helps people to redirect their efforts to therapies that are effective, improve overall health, and are more than just skin deep.  

Dr. Burdette is Director of Education at Progressive Medical Center which is one of the largest integrative clinics in the Southeast.  She is the co-founder of Precision Point Diagnostics, a laboratory that focuses on gut based health and wellness.  There she designs clinical profiles and trains clinicians on their utilization. She has a rich history in the integrative medicine laboratory space.  She designed and teaches the clinical curriculum for Origins Incubator, a practice management group, that has helped to launch many successful practitioners. She is the Educational Director and on the board of advisors for Xymogen, a physician line pharmaceutical. She is on the board of advisors for TheraDura Diagnostik, a German based lab company. She serves on IRB boards, is involved in study design and translational research, and has lectured extensively worldwide. She directs an accredited Naturopathic residency at Progressive. Her passion is teaching about the practice of Integrative and Naturopathic Medicine, to increase awareness of evidenced-based natural therapies, to both rule in and rule out tools that are effective in patient care. 

 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM

Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Risks and Strategies to Reduce the Incidence

Dr. Dan Couri, MD, Cardiologist, Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute 

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in women, yet it is often under-recognized and under-treated. This talk will highlight the unique risk factors women face, including hormonal changes during menopause, autoimmune diseases, and pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia. Attendees will learn about evidence-based strategies to reduce the incidence of CVD in women, including lifestyle modifications, targeted screenings, and the importance of personalized medical interventions.

The presentation will also explore the role of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in improving cardiovascular health. Emerging research indicates that initiating HRT during the early postmenopausal years can support heart health by improving lipid profiles, vascular function, and overall cardiovascular risk markers. By understanding the critical differences in how CVD presents and progresses in women, healthcare providers and patients alike can take proactive steps to improve prevention, early detection, and outcomes.

Dr. Daniel M. Couri is a clinical cardiologist at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota. With expertise in cardiomyopathic and valvular heart disease, structural heart interventions, and advanced cardiac imaging, he holds Level III certifications in Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology, Cardiac CT, and Cardiac MRI.

After completing a master’s degree in Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Couri completed his medical degree at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, followed by residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases/Advanced Cardiac Imaging at the Mayo Clinic. He has served as Assistant Professor of Medicine and Radiology at Southern Illinois University, contributing to cardiovascular education and clinical innovation.

Dr. Couri is a member of several prestigious professional organizations, including the American College of Cardiology, the American Society of Echocardiography, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, the American Heart Association, the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, and the Catholic Medical Association. Recognized for his leadership, teaching, and dedication, Dr. Couri continues to advance cardiovascular care through innovation and education.

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM      Panel Q & A / Closing