Mary Hardy, MD
Medical Director
Responsibilities
I joined the Center in 2006 as an integrative medicine physician to develop services never offered in the Center before. I provide educational programs that help patients and family members understand nutrition, dietary supplementation and complementary medicine practices. My goal is to help patients and family members choose wisely based on the best evidence available and to help them individually tailor their wellness program.
Training
I graduated from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1981, and moved to New England to finish my medical training. I completed my internal medicine residency at the Tufts New England Medical Center in 1984 before studying medical ethics at Harvard Divinity School and Loma Linda University. My first major introduction to complementary medicine occurred during my internship. The hospital was right on the edge of Chinatown and I learned about the differences between our medical process and Traditional Chinese Medicinal treatments from my patients. This exposure continued during my first trip to China, with a group of physicians, in 1986. I completed advanced training in botanical medicine at the Institute for Medical Herbalism and in traditional Chinese herbal medicine at the Academy of Pain Research in San Francisco. I have studied with a number of practitioners in the United States and Europe as well as visited traditional healers in Peru, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco and China. I am the complementary and alternative medicine expert for a number of research projects conducted by the Southern California Evidence Based Practice Center at the RAND Corporation. In addition, I have expanded my interest in botanical research by serving as the Associate Director of the UCLA Botanical Research Center, funded by the National Institutes of Health. I serve as the Co-chairperson of the Clinical Practice Committee of the Academic Consortium of Integrative Medicine (an organization of the leading medical schools practicing and teaching in this area).
Professional Work
After 10 years in private practice in the greater Los Angeles area during which I integrated a variety of techniques into my own practice and developed an extensive referral network, I was recruited to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. There, I founded and was the medical director of a multi-disciplinary Integrative Medicine Program, which I directed for more than 5 years. This Integrative Medicine program saw a number of cancer patients and our team found the combination of conventional and complementary medicine to be very helpful for patients during and after their treatment. In addition to my clinical duties, I participated in research at both the RAND Corporation and UCLA. I have been involved in training healthcare professionals about the benefits of using complementary and alternative therapies. I have just recently completed a book for Reader’s Digest on Integrative Medicine which should be available Spring, 2006.
Personal Interests and Perspectives
I believe that true healing in medicine comes from the individual and that it is the clinician’s role to help the patient find the resources, both internal and external, needed to return to wellness. I also believe that the most effective, least toxic therapy is the best therapy to offer the patient. True healing cannot occur unless the whole patient, and often their family, is taken into account in designing a treatment plan. Before I prescribe any medication or therapy, I ask the patient to look at the lifestyle choices that they are making. I encourage patients to make changes in diet, exercise and stress management first. After that, we look at what additional interventions may be needed.
I try to practice what I preach and balance my professional life with a rich personal life. My family and friends are very important to me. I enjoy sharing with them my love of art (both making and appreciating it), reading (just about anything) and travel. One of the best things about studying botanical medicine are the fabulous field trips to see healing plants in their native settings.
Professional Publications
Seeram NP, Lee R, Hardy M, Heber D. Rapid large-scale purification of ellagitannins from pomegranate husk, a by-product of the commercial juice industry. Separation Purification Technology; Published online 4/2004.
Seeram NP, Adams LS, Hardy ML, Heber D. Total cranberry extract versus its phytochemical constituents: antiproliferative and synergistic effects against human tumor cell lines. [Journal Article] Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry. 52(9):2512-7, 2004
Liu QY, Sartippour M, Brooks MW, Zhang Q, Hardy ML, Go VL Li FP, Heber D. Ganoderma lucidum spore extract inhibits endothelial and breast cancer cells in vitro. Onc Reports 2004; Published online.
Krochmal R, Hardy M, Bowerman S, Lu QY, Wang HJ, Elashoff R, Heber D. Phytochemical assays of commercial botanical dietary supplements. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2004 Dec;1(3):305-313
Sartippour MR. Seeram NP, Heber D, Hardy M, Norris A, Lu Q, AZhang L., Lu M, Rao JY, Brooks MN. Rabdosia rumbescens inhibits breast cancer growth and angiogenesis. International Jnl Oncol. 2005 Jan; 26(1):121-7
Lum MR, Potter E, Dang T, Heber D, Hardy M, Hirsch AM. Identification of botanicals and potential contaminants through rflp and sequencing. Planta Med. 2005 Sep; 71(9):841-6
Singh B, Liu XD, Der-Martirosian C, Hardy M, Singh V, Shepard N, Gandhi S, Khorsan R. A national probability survey of American Medical Association gynecologists and primary care physicians concerning menopause. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Sep;193 (3 Pt 1):693-700
Hsiao AF, Hays RD, Ryan GW, Coulter ID, Andersen RM, Hardy ML, Diehl DL, Hui KK, Wenger NS. A self-report measure of clinicians’ orientation toward integrative medicine. Health Serv Res. 2005 Oct;40(5 pt 1):1553-69
Udani J, Hardy M, Madsen DC. Blocking carbohydrate absorption and weight loss: a clinical trial using Phase 2 brand proprietary fractionated white bean extract. Alternative Medical Review, March 2004; 9(1):63-9.
Hardy ML. Herbs of special interest to women. Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association.2000; 40(2):234-242.
Hardy, ML. Herb-drug interactions: An evidence based table. Alternative Medicine Alert. June 2000; 3(6):61-72.
Hardy ML. Ayurvedic interventions for diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Rockville, Md: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, US Dept of Health and Human Services; June 2001. Summary, evidence Report/Technology Assessment, No. 41. AHRQ publication 01-E040.
The full evidence report from which the above reference was taken was prepared for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality by the Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center/RAND under contract No. 290-97-0001. Print copies may be obtained free of charge from the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse by calling 1-800-358-9295. Requesters should ask for Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 41, Ayurvedic Interventions for Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review (AHRQ Publication No. 01-E040). The Evidence Report can also be downloaded as a zipped file online at: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/evrptfiles.htm#ayurved.
Selected Lectures and Presentations
Mary Hardy, Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, Natural Supplement Research: Review of Recent Research Trials, Women’s Health with Recent Trials, January 2005, San Diego, CA.
M Hardy, AACM International Educational Conference on Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine (CAIM), A Blast to the Future, Emerging Concepts of Immunology, November 2004, San Diego, CA.
Hardy, M, MD, The NIH Dietary Supplement Research Centers Program: Progress and Promise, Presenter “Training the Interdisciplinary Team for Research & Care”, September 2004, September 2003, Las Vegas, NV
Mary Hardy, Approaches to Characterizing Study Material, “Scientific Approaches to Quality Assessment of Botanical Products”, September 2004, Oxford, MS.
Mary Hardy, Speaker & Discussion under the Open Strategic Planning Committee, Office of Dietary Supplements, March 2004, Bethesda, MD.
ML Hardy. Quality and Safety of Botanical Dietary Supplements in Symposium AAAS National Meeting, February 17, 2004 Seattle, Washington.
M Hardy, Hematology/Oncology Grand Rounds, “Complementary Therapies & Traditional Chinese medicine for Cancer Patients: How to Guide Patients Using Adjunctive Therapy”, March 2003, Los Angeles, CA.
Hardy M. Adjunct Herbal Therapy for Management of Obesity. Symposium Science of Weight Management at 10th Annual Symposium on Complementary Health Care November 19, 2003 London, England.
Seeram N, Constant H, Thompson J, Hardy M, Heber D. Assessing Quality & Variability in Botanical Extracts: Use of a Novel Technique–Multi-dimensional Profiling. Presentation at 10th Annual Symposium on Complementary Health Care November 19, 2003 London, England.
Hardy, M. Course Director and Co-presenter. “Introduction to Herbal Medicine”, American Pharmaceutical Association National Convention, Yearly, 1998 to 2002.
M Hardy, North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) 13th Annual Meeting, October 2002,Chicago, IL.
Hardy, M. “Complementary Therapies for Cancer: The United States Experience”, Guananmen Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Beijing, China, April 2002.
Hardy ML, Coulter ID, Venuturupalli S, Morton SC, Roth EA, Shekelle P. Ayurvedic Botanical Interventions for Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review of Western and Indian Literature. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference on Complementary, Alternative & Integrative Medicine Research. Boston, MA, April 12-14, 2002.
Favreau JT, Coulter ID, Hardy ML, Morton SC, Roth EA, Shekelle MD. Mind-Body Interventions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference on Complementary Alternative & Integrative Medicine Research. Boston, MA, April 12-14, 2002.
Venuturupalli SR, Hardy ML, Coulter ID, Roth EA, Morton SC, Shekelle PG. A Method to Access Scientific Ayurvedic Literature from India for Systematic Reviews. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference on Complementary, Alternative & Integrative Medicine Research. Boston, MA, April 12-14, 2002.
Coulter ID, Favreau JT, Hardy ML, Morton SC, Roth EA, Shekelle P. Biofeedback Interventions for Gastrointestinal Conditions: A Systematic Review. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference on Complementary, Alternative & Integrative Medicine Research. Boston, MA, April 12-14, 2002.
Hardy, M. “Black Cohosh: Review of the Literature for Safety & Efficacy”, Nutracon, March 11, 2002.
Hardy, M. “Elements of Evidence Based Review”; Moderator: “Stimulants and Thermogenic Ingredients”, Conference on the Science and Policy of Performance Enhancing Products, Bethesda, MD January 8, 2002.
Hardy, M. Considerations on the Training and Safe Practice of Physicians Using Alternative and Complementary Therapies. Meeting of the Alternative Medicine Sub-committee of the California Medical Board. February 1, 2001.
Hardy M. How to Use Wisdom Infused in Traditional Therapies and Practical Herbal Medicine for Health Professionals, Pharmacy in the Rain Forest Workshop, Amazon, Peru, October 1997-2001.
Hardy, M. & McQuade-Crawford, A. “Botanical Medicine in Women’s Health”, American Pharmaceutical Association National Convention, Washington, D.C., March 2000.
Hardy, M. & McDermott, J. “Integrating Alternative and Complementary Medicine into Pharmacy Practice”, American Pharmaceutical Association National Convention, Washington, D.C., March 2000.