Alison Bested, M.D.
Diplomate, American Board of Integrative Medicine
Chair, Integrative Medicine
Director, Student Research Development
Associate Professor, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Alison Bested is the Chair of the Department of Integrative Medicine at Nova Southeastern University. She is also Associate Professor at NSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine, Director of Student Research Development and Diplomate of the Board of Integrative Medicine, American Board of Physician Specialties.
For the past 26 years, Dr. Bested has treated patients with complex chronic medical conditions including myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Gulf War illness and multiple chemical sensitivity. She is trained as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist as well as managed support and education groups using telemedicine in Toronto, to support her long distance patients.
She completed her fellowship in clinical and laboratory hematology, genetics, immunohematology, internal medicine and oncology, as well as, receiving her diplomate in Integrative Medicine. Additionally, she has coauthored two books: Hope and Help for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, and The Complete Fibromyalgia Health Diet Guide and Cookbook. Dr. Bested's future goals focuses on the continued education to the public about ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, Gulf War illness (GWI) and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) through various media channels as well as promoting NSU as the #1 treatment and research center in the United States for patients with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and GWI.
- President’s Faculty and Development Grants Award, Nova Southeastern University:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Detecting Mycotoxin Subgroup Goal
To build on and explore whether exposure to mycotoxins is detectable in patients with ME/CFS. The study will assess if mycotoxin exposure results in more severe symptoms in ME/CFS patients and evaluate if new treatment protocols can improve the quality of life of these severely ill patients.
2022
- A Case Series of 39 United States Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Bested AC, Rana AM, Hardigan P, Niyirora J, Cheema A, Antony G, Defina PA, Machado C. Clinical and Translational Neuroscience. 2022; 6(3):21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ctn6030021
2021
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Essentials of Diagnosis and Management Bateman L, Bested AC, Bonilla HF, Chheda BV, Chu L, Curtin JM, Dempsey TT, Dimmock ME, Dowell TG, Felsenstein D, Kaufman DL, Klimas NG, Komaroff AL, Lapp CW, Levine SM, Montoya JG, Natelson BH, Peterson DL, Podell RN, Rey IR, Ruhoy IS, Vera-Nunez MA, Yellman BP. Mayo Clin Proc. 2021 Aug 23:S0025-6196(21)00513-9. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.07.004. PMID: 34454716.
- A common language for Gulf War Illness (GWI) research studies: GWI common data elements Cohen DE, Sullivan KA, McNeil RB, Klimas NG; Gulf War Illness Common Data Elements Working Group; Symptoms Assessment Working Group, McNeil R, Ashford W, Bested A, Bunker J, Cheema A, Cohen D, Cook D, Cournoyer J, Craddock T, Golier J, Hardie A, Helmer D, Lindheimer JB, Lloyd PJ, Kerr K, Krengel M, Nadkarni S, Nugent S, Paris B, Reinhard M, Rumm P, Schneiderman A, Sims KJ, Steele L, Turner M; Systems Assessment Working Group, Sullivan K, Abdullah L, Abreu M, Abu-Donia M, Aenlle K, Arocho J, Balbin E, Baraniuk J, Block K, Block M, DeBeer B, Engdahl B, Filipov N, Fletcher MA, Kalasinsky V, Kokkotou E, Lidie K, Little D, Loging W, Morris M, Nathanson L, Nichols MD, Pasinetti G, Shungu D, Waziry P, VanLeeuwen J, Younger J; GWI CDE Administrative Team, Klimas N. Life Sci. 2021 Aug 2:119818. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119818. PMID: 34352259.
- Gulf War Illness Clinical Trials and Interventions Consortium (GWICTIC): A collaborative research infrastructure for intervention and implementation. Cheema AK, McNeil RB, Craddock T, Broderick G, Abreu MM, Aenlle K, Helmer DA, Ashford JW, Sullivan K, Bested A, Cohen DE, Shungu D, Chandler H, Fletcher MA, Krengel M, Klimas N. Life Sci. 2021 Aug 1;278:119636. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119636. Epub 2021 May 17. PMID: 34015289.
2019
- Editorial: Advances in ME/CFS Research and Clinical Care Friedman KJ, Bateman L, Bested A, Nahle Z. Front Pediatr. 2019 Sep 18;7:370. doi: 10.3389/fped.2019.00370. PMID: 31620406; PMCID: PMC6759795.
- Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Emerging Osteopathic Approach: A Narrative Review Larrimore C, Ramnot A, Jaghab A, Sarduy S, Guerrero G, Troccoli P, Hilton K, Bested A. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2019 Jul 1;119(7):446-455. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2019.081. PMID: 31233110.
2015
- Review of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Evidence-Based Approach to Diagnosis and Management by Clinicians Bested, A.C., Marshall, L.M. Reviews on Environmental Health. Volume 30, Issue 4, Pages 223–249, ISSN (Online) 2191-0308, ISSN (Print) 0048-7554, DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2015-0026, November 2015.
2013
- Intestinal Microbiota, Probiotics And Mental Health: From Metchnikoff To Modern Advances: Part III – Convergence Toward Clinical Trials Bested, A., Logan, A., Selhub, E. Gut Pathogens, 2013; 5 (4):1-13.
- Intestinal Microbiota, Probiotics And Mental Health: From Metchnikoff To Modern Advances: Part II – Contemporary Contextual Research Bested, A., Logan, A., Selhub, E. Gut Pathogens, 2013; 5 (3):1-14.
- Intestinal Microbiota, Probiotics And Mental Health: From Metchnikoff To Modern Advances: Part I – Autointoxication Revisited Bested A, Logan A, Selhub E. Gut Pathogens, 2013; 5 (5):1-16.
2009
- A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study Of A Probiotic In Mood-related Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Rao A, Bested A, Beaulne T, Katzman M, Ioria C, Logan A. Gut Pathogens, 2009; 1(6):1-6.
2004
- Tools to Treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Marshall L, Bested A, Bray R. The Canadian Journal of CME, 2004; 16(1):56-65.
2003
- Symptom, Diagnostic and Disability Validity: Improving Patient Outcomes Marshall L, Bested A. Canadian Disability, 2003: Summer edition.
- Poorly Understood Conditions of the 21st Century plus “Why Do I Feel So Tired?” Marshall L, Bested A, Bray R. The Canadian Journal of Diagnosis, 2003; 20(7): 65-71 and 39-41.
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Clinical Working Case Definition, Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols Carruthers BM, Jain AK, De Meirleir KL, Peterson DL, Klimas NG, Lerner AM, Bested AC, Flor-Henry P, Joshi P, Powles AP, Sherkey JA, van de Sande MI. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2003; 11(1): 7-115.
2001 & Later
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Neurological Findings May Be Related To Blood-brain Barrier Permeability Bested A, Saunders PR, Logan AC. Medical Hypotheses, 2001; 57(2): 231-237.
- Idiopathic Acquired Sideroblastic Anaemia Transforming to Acute Myelosclerosis Bested A, et al. Cheng G, Pinkerton PH, Kassim O, Senn JS. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 1984; 37: 1032-1034.
- Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of Knee Joint. Marshall K, Bested A, et al., Ortho. Review, 1982; 11 (10): 346-348.