Dr. Joe Tafur will discuss the traditional role of psychedelic and plant medicine practices that nourish spiritual and emotional well-being. Drawing from his experience with ayahuasca curanderismo and traditional Amazonian plant medicine, Dr. Tafur will describe spiritual healing techniques that influence emotional biology, exploring associated evidence in the fields of psychoneuroimmunology and epigenetics. Through sharing stories and engaging current research, Dr. Tafur will further relate spiritual healing to transformative experiences observed in clinical investigations in the emerging field of psychedelic psychotherapy.

Joe Tafur, M.D., is a Colombian-American family physician originally from Phoenix, Arizona. After completing his family medicine training at UCLA, Dr. Tafur spent two years in academic research at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry in a lab focused on mind-body medicine. After his research fellowship, over a period of six years, he lived and worked in the Peruvian Amazon at the traditional healing center Nihue Rao Centro Espiritual. There he worked closely with master Shipibo shaman Ricardo Amaringo and trained in ayahuasca shamanism. In his book "The Fellowship of the River: A Medical Doctor's Exploration into Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine," through a series of stories, Dr. Tafur shares his unique experience and integrative medical theories. He leads the nonprofit organization Modern Spirit which is currently investigating the epigenetic impact of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. To learn more about his work, visit drjoetafur.com and modernspirit.org.

This event is sponsored by the Naropa Psychedelic Studies program.

A Zoom link will be sent upon registration.

Naropa University welcomes participants with disabilities. Persons with questions about accessibility or who require disability accommodations should contact Kristin Anderson-Bohan at [email protected] at least two weeks prior to the event.