Dr. William S. Cook is a Board-Certified Outpatient Psychiatrist providing high quality, confidential patient care in Jackson and Natchez, Mississippi.

A native of Jackson, Dr. Cook is a graduate of Wheaton College (IL) where he majored in biology. He returned home to Jackson, Mississippi to complete his medical school training at the University of Mississippi Medical School. He completed a flexible internship at Framingham Union Hospital in Framingham, Massachusetts, focusing on internal medicine. While pursuing an aspiration of being a dermatologist,

Dr. Cook completed a year of pathology residency training at the Mallory Institute of Pathology at Boston City Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He then completed a National Institute of Health fellowship in dermatology at the University of California in San Francisco. Still unclear of his final direction in medicine, Dr. Cook worked in emergency medicine in both California and Mississippi.

He went back to school to complete his residency training in psychiatry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, where he served as chief resident during his senior year. He received the Jaquith Award for most outstanding resident his senior year. Dr. Cook then completed a fellowship in Public Psychiatry at Columbia University in New York along with a fellowship specializing in sexuality at Bellevue Hospital (NYU School of Medicine) in New York.

He has been a psychiatrist for more than 20 years with a current private outpatient practice in Jackson, Mississippi along with working part time in Natchez, Mississippi.

Dr. Cook is the co-author of "Your Third Act - A Guide to a Great Retirement" about the challenges and opportunities of retirement and aging. With co-author Grant D. Fairley, they explore how to prepare to have an enjoyable and meaningful retirement.

He is currently working on a new book with co-author Grant D. Fairley on the topic of compassion fatigue. The title is "Discover Your Oasis - Hope for Weary Caregivers" and is expected to be published in late 2017.

Joan Chandler Komer is an educator, self-esteem coach, seminar speaker, author & researcher. She is the CEO of Peak Performance Institute Inc.

Joan, and her husband, Dr. Larry Komer, have presented this dynamic and transformative seminar over 100 times in nine provinces with more than 35,000 attendees. The attendees rated the seminar very good or excellent in the 98% of the satisfaction questionnaires.

Joan Komer trained with Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield of Chicken Soup for the Soul fame. Her entertaining and engaging style is motivational and encouraging. Being in menopause herself, she is an excellent role model for other women in the same phase of life. Her message is one of positivity and hope. Her practical examples and suggestions on how to thrive during the menopausal years apply to every stage of life.

As a successful CEO, Joan is a role model for younger women who are developing their leadership experience.

Her seminars on self-esteem and many other topics are available through Peak Performance Institute Inc.

Joan earned an honours degree in Psychology from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. She won the Psychology prize in her third year. At the McArthur College of Education at Queen’s she received a degree in Education, Counseling, and English.

In addition to being an accomplished speaker, Joan is the co-author of a book that offers to revolutionize our understanding of the treatment of brain injuries. The book is called, "New Hope for Concussions, TBI & PTSD" and was co-authored with Dr. Larry Komer.

Joan and her husband, Dr. Larry Komer, live in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Larry Komer is a sought-after expert and authority in restoring hormones, health, performance, happiness and vitality. This new area of medicine is called Interventional Endocrinology. He has pioneered several treatment methods recognized as leading-edge protocols for the treatment of menopause, Andropause (low testosterone) and traumatic brain injury.

Larry Komer trained at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario with a degree in physiology (the science of how living organisms function). He went on to receive his MD degree at Queen’s and then went to McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario where he earned his specialty degree in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Komer is Associate Clinical Professor at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.

He joined the staff of the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital in Burlington, Ontario in 1976 and since then has delivered almost 13,000 babies. He introduced many new gynecologic techniques to the hospital including operative endoscopic surgery, operative tubal surgery and reversal of sterilization, gynecologic laser surgery, diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy and founded the Bone Health Clinic during his research in osteoporosis. His office practice has included a wide range of gynecologic assessments, but in the last 20 years has focused on hormonal evaluation and hormone-replacement therapy (Interventional Endocrinology).

Dr. Komer has been a leader in the treatment of menopause, writing guidelines for physicians and delivering more than 100 talks entitled “Be Menopositive” with his wife Joan. He has assessed and successfully treated over 13,000 women who are suffering from poor hormonal function.

In 2004, he became Founder and Director of the Masters Men’s Clinic. This is the largest clinic in Canada diagnosing, treating, and doing research on testosterone deficiency syndrome. The clinic has assessed and treated more than 6000 patients.

Dr. Komer has been on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society for the Study of the Aging Male.

During that time, he observed the link between traumatic brain injury and low hormones in both men and women and has been a leading advocate for hormonal restoration to re-establish normal brain function. This led to the creation of the Komer Brain Science Institute where Dr. Komer and his team, have been restoring hormones in brain injured patients.

He has a long affiliation with athletics. His original training was in exercise physiology before he became a physician. He has looked after athletes his whole medical career. Dr. Komer has been Team Physician for the Toronto Rock Professional Lacrosse Team since its inception 17 years ago. They have won six league championships. He has been Team Physician for Team Canada Lacrosse in The World Lacrosse Championships (2003 and 2015 when the men’s team won gold medals and 2013 when the women’s team won their silver medal). Dr. Komer has been Team Physician for many other lacrosse teams both in Canada and in Europe. With these teams, he has seen and treated many concussions. Dr. Komer is also an avid golfer.

In 2016, Dr. Komer was the recipient of the prestigious Physician Care Award.

Dr. Komer's seminars are available through Peak Performance Institute Inc.

He is the co-author of a book on a new treatment method for those with brain injuries, "New Hope for Concussions, TBI & PTSD."

He and his wife, Joan Chandler Komer, live in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Patrick T. Quaid (Optometrist, MCOptom, FCOVD, PhD) is a practitioner, researcher, author and lecturer on vision development. Dr. Quaid mainly deals with treatment visual dysfunction both in concussion-related cases and learning difficulty related cases.

He authored the book, "Learning to See = Seeing to Learn: Vision, Learning & Behavior in Children" on visual processing, ADHD, IEPs, and other topics relating to the connection between vision, learning, and behaviors in children. A number of contributors to the books from various professions make this an excellent resource for parents, educators, optometrists, and others in the helping professions.

He is an Adjunct Professor (University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science, Ontario, Canada) and CEO of VUE-Cubed Vision Therapy (www.vuetherapy.ca) in addition to currently serving on the board of directors for COVD International (College of Optometrists in Vision Development, www.covd.org, USA based not-for-profit group).

Originally from the Republic of Ireland, Dr. Quaid originally studied Statistical Mathematics and subsequently trained as an Optometrist in the UK (University of Bradford School of Optometry) and subsequently worked in the UK Hospital Eyecare System (Moorfield’s Eye Hospital, London & Bradford Royal Infirmary, West Yorkshire) specifically dealing with the pre-operative and post-operative treatment of strabismus and co-management of glaucoma.

Dr. Quaid was awarded his Doctorate in Vision Science at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science in 2005 in addition to completing a Post-Doctorate funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). Dr. Quaid’s Ph.D. thesis and post-doctoral research aided in the development of an early detection device for glaucoma (Heidelberg Edge Perimeter) which is now in commercial use. Dr. Quaid serves as Adjunct Faculty at both the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and also consults with the David L. MacIntosh Sports Medicine Clinic (University of Toronto affiliated). He has published several papers as the first author in high impact optometry and ophthalmology journals such as Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science and Graefe’s Archives of Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology on topics related to both glaucoma and the challenging area of binocular vision dysfunction and it relates to learning disabilities and concussion injuries.

Dr. Quaid frequently lends his expertise as a speaker and a writer on a variety of topics related to vision health. He has spoken at venues such as Ohio State, Berkeley UC, McMaster University Medical School, University of Western Ontario Medical School in addition to concussion based lectures for both physicians and medical students at the University of Toronto Medical School. Dr. Quaid has also given interviews to numerous media outlets (including CBC) across Canada on the topic of Binocular Vision dysfunction and its relationship to 3-D Technology.

In 2019, Dr. Quaid was given the NORA award in recognition of his work for the “Advancement of Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation.” At the same ceremony, Dr. Eric Singman, MD PhD (Chief of Neuro-Ophthamology at Johns Hopkins University) received this prestigious,

multidisciplinary award for co-authoring a landmark chapter on visual dysfunction in concussion with Dr. Quaid. The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) is based in the United States and is focused on visual issues related to brain injury.

In addition to his PhD and Post-Doctoral training, Dr. Quaid has also completed a Fellowship with the College of Optometrists & Vision Development (USA Board Certification designation in the area of Rehabilitative Vision Therapy).

In Jan 2014, Dr. Quaid opened the Guelph Vision Therapy Centre (now called "VUE-Cubed” Clinics), which was the first clinic in Canada of its kind to integrate clinical management and research into a “clinical translational research” model which allows data to be tracked on all treated patients to track the effectiveness of therapy. Dr. Quaid very much supports collaborative care models in an effort to deal with the ramifications of visual dysfunction both in the concussion domain and in the visually related learning difficulties domain. Dr. Quaid’s clinic has also received support from the Canadian Government (SR&ED grants) to research in his clinics better means of detection and management of visually related problems in concussion cases and learning difficulty cases.

Grant D. Fairley is an inspirational speaker with Strategic Seminars, an executive coach, and a business consultant. For over 30 years, he has been doing presentations on finance, leadership, team building, relationships, personal development, spiritual life, and more. He serves as an executive coach, providing professional development to business, government, and community leaders. He combines mentoring and storytelling to give unique and memorable experiences for his audiences and his individual clients. Grant is the author of a number of books and a co-inventor of patented healthcare technology. Grant is a graduate of Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. One of his great pleasures is spending time with old friends - of any age.

Psychiatrist and long-time friend Dr. Bill Cook and Grant wrote their latest book for caregivers and helping professionals about surviving compassion fatigue and avoiding burnout. The title is "Discovering Your Oasis - Escape Compassion Fatigue." Their previous collaboration was the book, "Your Third Act - A Guide to a Great Retirement."

His biography of Robert Homme, Friendly Giant biography called "Look Up - Way Up!" came from his love of The Friendly Giant show that he watched as a child.

"Up to the Cottage - Memories of Muskoka" included stories and anecdotes about life at the family cottage in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. It is a book designed to connect with everyone who had a place "away" that they would go to in their summers or weekends. He describes a simpler time with stories that will be familiar to all who knew cottage country in the 1940s to the 2000s.

Grant's book called "Own Your Future - Wisdom for Wealth and a Better Tomorrow" was co-authored with colleague and friend Michael H. Lanthier. It looks at ideas that can give you a sound financial strategy that will be successful in any kind of financial weather. It also explore some of the values and big ideas that will help you keep money and wealth in context to ensure that it is your servant - not the other way around.

On the topic of leadership, Grant's book is entitled, "Positive Influence - How to Lead Your World." As the title suggests, the book looks at using influence rather than control as the tool to make a lasting difference in your world. It is written to apply to anyone who is in a leadership position from a large company to a small group. The principles and values of a leader are described in ways to can help someone who is new to leadership as well as a fresh perspective for the seasoned executive. This book flows from his leadership experiences as well as my work as an executive coach.

Grant's next book is, "Enchanted Living - Insights for Your Life from Fairy Tales & Fables." It is expected in summer 2022.

Contact Grant through grant@silverwoods-publishing.com or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantdfairley. You can follow Grant on Twitter @grantfairley and he has a blog on Tumblr http://grantdfairley.tumblr.com.

Grant also enjoys doing his family history. He is the grandson of James Alexander Cowan, the public relations pioneer, writer, and Toronto-era friend of Ernest Hemingway. Grant's great-grandfathers were also writers. Hugh Cowan was a Presbyterian minister, historian, and author. Great-grandfather Fred G. H. Williams was a parliamentary reporter in Canada, journalist, and popular historian, who wrote for more than sixty years in Canada's formative period. His great-great-grandfather was Charles Fenwick Williams, the celebrated war correspondent covering the adventures and battles across the world during Victorian England.

He is delighted to be married and enjoys being the father of four children and a grandfather of three.

From Grant...

I am one of those liberal arts generalists who spends my time connecting ideas, people and possibilities together. So it is little wonder that I have done a wide range of activities in what we call a career.

In addition to writing, I am an executive coach who works with senior management in corporations, government and organizations as well as top sales people. My role with them is to encourage and challenge them in their professional and personal life journeys.

I also do seminars on a wide range of business, relationship, sales training, customer service and team building topics.

The writing part of my story is something that has been there since I was very young and when my parents on the advice of my Grade 2 teacher recommended that they buy me a typewriter. She was concerned about my handwriting. I was liberated to put words to paper. I have been typing ever since.

I believe that we are echoes of not only those who have parented, taught and mentored us but also of those who are our ancestors. I never met two of the following from my family tree and the third I only knew through the eyes of a child and later a teenager. In spite of this, there is certainly a resonance there.

My maternal great-grandfather Hugh Cowan (1867-1943) was a Presbyterian minister in Canada and later with the United Church of Canada. Throughout his career, he also wrote local histories of the areas near where he lived in Ontario (Detroit Windsor & Essex County, Chatham & Kent County, the Georgian Bay area and Sault Ste. Marie) and even wrote an adventure tale set in an earlier century entitled "La Cloche : the Story of Hector McLeod and His Misadventures in the Georgian Bay and the La Cloche Districts." His last book was about a perspective on Christianity and where it might be heading in the latter half of the 20th Century was entitled "The Great Drama of Human Life" now back in print.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_F._Cowan

My grandfather, James Alexander Cowan (1901-1978) was a writer for The Toronto Star in his younger years and was a friend of Ernest Hemingway when the Hemingways were in Toronto. Hemingway was the best man at my grandparent's wedding in Toronto just before the Hemingways went to Paris. In his 20's, my grandfather wrote feature articles for Canada's Maclean's magazine. He went on to become the first Public Relations person in Canada. His clients included Cyrus Eaton of C&O Railways, Odeon, Steeprock Mines, Rank Films in England and President Franklin Roosevelt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Alexander_Cowan

My great-grandfather, Fred Williams (1863-1944) was a writer for a number of Canadian newspapers in Montreal and Ottawa before going to The Mail & Empire - now part of the Globe & Mail in Toronto. In addition to general features, he also was an early member of the Parliament Hill Press Gallery. For most of his career, he was best known for a syndicated column, "A Day In Canadian History" that popularized Canadian history. This and other columns like "Lest We Forget" continued until his death at the age of 81.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_George_H._Williams

My great-great grandfather Charles Fenwick Williams (1838-1904) was a noted war correspondent and newspaper editor in London, England in the 1800s. He witnessed and reported on many of the great battles around the world of the late Victorian era in places like Egypt, Afghanistan, and Turkey. Charles was also the editor of The Evening Standard and other London newspapers as well as being a founder and president of The London Press Club. He wrote more than a half-dozen books on his war experiences and one on promoting understanding between religions. He lectured on his adventures in the UK and in the United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Frederick_Williams

He welcomes contacts from readers through our publisher's website grant@silverwoods-publishing.com

Jenny Fountain is a Vice-Principal with the Greater Essex County District School Board. She has 25 years of teaching experience in the elementary panel. More than half of her teaching career has been spent working with inner-city youth and Syrian refugees. Over the past 20 years, she has served as an associate teacher for aspiring teacher candidates and ECE students. Currently, she is serving as the Ontario Principal’s Council representative on the GECDSB Mental Health

Steering Committee.

She earned a Master of Education degree in Curriculum Studies from the University of Windsor and has a specialist certificate in Special Education from Queen’s University.

Jenny lives with her husband, Ken and their three children, Cody, Jessica and Aidan, in Ontario, Canada. Jenny and Ken are active in their local church and support three foster children through Compassion Canada. In her spare time, she and her husband volunteer at a local animal rescue and have spent the last several years fostering abandoned kittens and rehoming rehabilitated feral cats.