Leonardo Gonzalez

I come from a family of healers in Colombia, South America. My father and several of his siblings are doctors, and their father is a professor at a medical university. Nevertheless, when I was a child I was most inspired by my father's enchanting music, shamanic medicine and herbal knowledge. I remember wanting to be an "alchemist" at age six.

I came to California when I was eight years old, and soon thereafter started learning Judo and African drumming. When I was in high school I excelled in math and became immersed in computers. I dove into technology with a passion and fervor that would later become my trademark. Within a couple of years I was in charge of a new NASA K-12 Internet program at Watsonville High School. When I was 17 I went to MIT to study computer science, wanting to go to the Mecca of technology and engineering.

While at MIT, I had a major heart- and eye-opening experience; I was inspired by the genius and creativity all around me. I came to yearn for a sense of purpose and meaning in my pursuits. I decided to come back to Santa Cruz and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I studied music for a few years, along with philosophy, computer science, math, physics, chemistry, biology, and psychology, . I developed a fascination with cognitive neuroscience while attending research colloquia and professional meetings. I realized that the overarching theme that encompassed my interests was centered around the concept of consciousness and its interaction with physiology.

All this time, I was also developing martial arts, Qigong, and spiritual practices. At a meditation intensive with a teacher of mine, I felt the sudden calling of my destiny: to follow the path of healing. I was confused at first as to how I could integrate cognitive neuroscience and medicine, but I soon discovered that there were many fascinating interdisciplinary fields that incorporated both consciousness and healing.

I met many friends who were studying acupuncture. This motivated me to pursue independent, private, and group studies in medical Qigong, Reiki, massage therapy, acupressure, herbal medicine, hypnosis, and biofeedback. I benefited tremendously from alternative medicine, which inspired me to explore the intersection of modern biomedicine with alternative and traditional medical systems. I became passionate about integrating the benefits of modern science and technology with the wisdom of ancient traditions. In 2002 I started exploring the website of the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and began planning and writing grant applications. I apprenticed with scientists, physicians, psychiatrists and acupuncturists.

My main areas of interest are cognitive neuroscience and medicine. One long-term plan of mine is to participate in the Medical Scientist Training Program, attending medical school while engaging in a doctoral research program. I am very excited about pursuing research collaborations involving integrative and psychosomatic medicine, bioelectrical engineering and dynamical systems theory. I'm also interested in creating innovative multimedia curricula for health and science education.

My personal quest demands a balance of focus centered on learning, teaching, clinical practice, and research/engineering.

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© Leonardo Gonzalez

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