RESUME'
Jason Mark Alster, M.S.
Wethersfield, Connecticut.
Tel, 860-5939908
http://jasonalster.googlepages.com/home
http:/www.jasonalster.com
Professional careers:
*Entrepreneur – enhanced performance, study strategies, test preparation;
*Psycho-physiologist researcher and biofeedback therapist, peak performance;
*ADHD coach, Natural Solutions for ADHD , Dyslexia , and Test Anxiety;
*Electro-Neuro-Diagnostics Technology ( END);
*Sleep / wake research and Polysomnographic Technology R.PSG.T;
*Art instructor , artist, handwriting correction;
*Author , publisher, book marketing, book trailer videos, educational videos ;
*Mentor coordinator Business Networking International ( BNI);
* Workshops provider , conversational Hebrew, Zen painting, handwriting improvement , relaxation techniques, artistic creativity ;
Work and professional experience
After completing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in biology (psycho-biology) and a minor in education at the Yeshiva University, N.Y., I trained at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital EEG program to become a certified EEG technologist (1979). In parallel I also worked at the New York Psychiatric Center as a research technologist at the sleep disorders unit for psychiatric patients. After completing the program I had begun employment at the College of Medicine and Dentistry N.J. ( 1979) Neurology department as chief EEG technologist. My responsibilities included: Performing EEG, Brain auditory and visual Evoked Potential testing, and sleep/wake recordings. During this time ( 1981) I also received a New Jersey realtor license with the Burg Agency and Century 21. When a research position opened up at NYU Medical Center respiratory department and Clinical Research Unit 9 1982) to perform research on sleep wake breathing disorders Sleep apnea and sudden infant death (SIDS) , I became part of the first American team to test CPAP technology (continuous positive airway pressure) for sleep / wake respiratory disorders.
In 1984, I moved to Israel and accepted a position in sleep research at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Sleep/wake disorders lab as chief research technologist. Research topics included developing scoring criterion for periodic leg movements of sleep, ( PLS) actigraph sleep motion technology for field monitoring of movements analysis during sleep, spectral analysis of sleep recordings, and sleep perception studies in insomnia. In 1991, I completed a master thesis at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in conjunction with the Rambam Medical Center department of neurosurgery. My thesis was of comparing coma to sleep in search of outcome prognosis. This was one of the first studies to measure circadian temperature rhythms in coma.
The Carskadon Award for Exemplary Sleep Research was granted for this work.
Behavioral and learning strategies help /tutoring
When the research was completed, I joined the Tel-Aviv Day Mental Health Unit (Ramat Chen) (1991-1995) and trained as a biofeedback therapist using relaxation education for anxiety disorders, PTSD, insomnia, stress disorders, ADHD and test anxiety. Married to an Israeli, I was obligated to do Israel reserve duty and was associated with the Noise Hazard Institute in the Israel Medical Corps (1990-1997) and the Sleep Research Clinic at Shiba Medical Center (1992-1994). My main duties were research on brain activity in tinnitus, biofeedback management of tinnitus and stuttering, and brain research on the effects of noise hazards in the military. As a result of this research a non- REM sleep parasomia in tinnitus was classified. In 1997 my reserve duties were at the professional army Psychiatric Unit ( Machon Keva) and MALSHA psychiatric army unit involved in emergency battle trauma as a biofeeback relaxation specialist. In 1995 I was employed in the Israel Maccabi Alternative Medicine Health system as well as the complementary medicine department of Hillel-Yafe Medical Center providing biofeedback services.
In 1996, I opened a private biofeedback clinic in Zichron Ya’acov, and Ra’anana using Multimodality Integrated Biofeedback parameters together with learning strategies and natural techniques to help learning challenged students suffering from ADHD, dyslexia and or test anxiety.
Authorship
Many of the tools developed in the clinic have been published in a graphic self help book, BEING IN CONTROL (1999), the video BEING IN CONTROL:Natural Solutions For ADHD Dyslexia and Test Anxiety ( 2006 ) and Guide for GSR Biofeedback for the Natural ADHD Practitioner where I also propose an objective physiological measure of ADHD. Also published was a book on art creativity, Creative Painting for the Young Artist ( 2003) and Anyone Can Improve Their Handwriting which was later improved upon as “ Anyone can Improve Their Own Handwriting” (2010) and offered as a video download. In 2006, I returned to the USA and joined the Hartford Hospital Neurology and neuro-diagnostic department. My duties till this day ( per diem) include performing routine EEG's, portable, ambulatory, and long term EEG's and assisting the EMG department with testing for neuro-muscular disorders. In 2009, I completed a non-fiction novel / memoir about my life in Israel. It is a story about following your dreams and finding roots. In 2010, I began Rainbow Cloud Natural Learning and Study Strategies for test preparation and helping students reach their potential by natural means. My tag line is “Follow that Rainbow and Surpass Your Potential.” I also began to provide services of making entertaining movie trailers videos for authors and business booktrailervideos .
Main achievements-
· Classified a medical disorder
· Developed an objective physiological measure of ADHD
· Developed a prognostic test in coma using body temperature
· Published the first colorful self help book for ADHD
· Developed a unique method for correcting poor handwriting
· Developed a unique hummus recipe
· Published a book helping dysgraphics learn art
· Published a unique book about Israel from an American perspective
Workshops
I now offer workshops for art, Hebrew language, relaxation techniques, improving handwriting, speed reading, creativity, memory enhancement, study skills.
.
Professional societies and affiliations- past and present..
Israel Biofeedback Association,; American Society of Neuroelectro-diagnostic technologies; Association of Polysomnographic Technologists( ASET); American Association for Applied Psychophysiology Self –Regulation and Biofeedback (APSB); BNI – Business Networking Israel; BNI West Hartford , Ct.
CAPA – Connecticut Association of Authors and Publishers.
Awards: Carskadon Award for Exemplary Sleep Research.
Education and work experience:
2011 – Joined Newington and Wethersfield Adult Education division to provide a number of workshops on improving handwriting, accelerated learning and study strategies, pastel art , Chinese bamboo brush painting, relaxation techniques, Hebrew language, speed reading, memory techniques, improve handwriting.
2011 Many author talks, TV and radio interviews, Israel lectures.
2011- Art lecture – John Singer Sargent, art mentor, his career and his art New Britain Museum Art.
2011-Art Workshop the Zen of Art New Britain Museum of Art
2011-Joined BNI Business Networking , appointed as business mentor co-ordinator for group.
2011-Taught “ Dealing With writer’s Block” workshop for CAPA – Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association conference.
2011- Taught“ Anyone can Improve Their Own Handwriting” workshop for Wethersfield Public Schools Adult Education department.
2011 Completed a course at the entrepreneur center at Hartford University.
2010-Joined the Conflict Resolution team for workers at Hartford Hospital.
2009- Published memoirs of living in Israel. A non-fiction novel about following your dreams: Leaving Home, Going Home , Returning Home. With Amazon.com
http://jasonalster.googlepages.com/leavinghome,goinghome,returninghome
2007- 2009 Hartford Hospital – Electro- Neurodiagnostics EEG/EMG.
2006- Relaxing Sights and Sounds of Natural Israel – CD video
2006- Guide to GSR Biofeedback for the Natural ADHD Practitioner CD-video
2006- Natural Solutions For ADHD Dyslexia Test Anxiety (CD-Video)
2006-1996 Established-Center for Biofeedback, Peak Performance,
and Learning Strategies- Zichron Yacov, Israel
2006-1999- Rainbow Cloud Publications to self publish instructional information
2003- 1997 Machon Keva - Israel Medical Corps –Behavioral therapist for army staff
2002-1996Maccabi -Israel national Health Service Natural Medicine division (MERAV)- biofeedback specialist
1997-1990 Noise Hazards and Brain Research Institute Israel Medical Corps-research
2003-1995 Hillel Yafe Medical Center Alternative Medicine division – biofeedback specialist 1995- 1991 Tel Aviv Day Mental Health Center-anxiety clinic biofeedback specialist
1994-1992 Sheba Medical Center Sleep Research Unit-research
1991-1990 Master Science degree Technion Institute of Technology-Medical School
1989-1984 Sleep Research Lab Technion Institute of Technology-research
1984Marva- Gadna youth service program
1984Ulpon school Kefar Saba and Kibbutz ulpon Teldor
1983-1982 Liscensed Real Estate Agent New Jersey
1984-1982 NYU Medical Center Clinical Research Unit- sleep lab technologist
1982-1979 College of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey Medical Center-
Chief neuro-electrodiagnostics technologist
1978-1977 Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center EEG technology program
1977-1975 Yeshiva University, NY- BA Psychology/biology, ( psychobiology) minor/education
1974-1973 Johns Hopkins College Maryland
1973-1970 Mechina High School Ner- Israel, Maryland
1970-1960 Hebrew Academy, Hartford Connecticut
Publications and Key Professional Presentations
2006- Presentation to ESTI the Israel Tourette society
2006-Video- Relaxing Sights & Sounds of Natural Israel
2006-Publication video-Guide to GSR Biofeedback Techniques
for the Natural ADHD Practitioner
2006-Publication Video- Natural Solutions For ADHD Dyslexia and Test Anxiety
2003-Author and publisher- Creative Painting for The Young Artist. Rainbow Cloud
2002- Author and publisher-Being In Control:Natural Techniques for Increasing Your Potential
and Creativity for Success in School. Rainbow Cloud Publications.
2001- Integrated Biofeedback as a Natural Treatment of ADHD: Long Term Outcome
The Promised Childhood Congress Tel Aviv
2000- Multimodality Integrated Biofeedback as a Treatment for ADHD- The 2nd
international conference on ADHD/LD and the Jewish World- Jerusalem
1999 Presentation- Multimodality Biofeedback in ADHD- ESRA- Israel ADHD society
1999- Being In Control- Hebrew version. Rainbow Cloud Publications.
1997- Treatment of Attention Deficit Disorders in children with biofeedback- ADHD
conference – Organizer- Haifa University.
1997-Multicomponent biofeedback for achieving lower arousal in insomnia ALSTER J, OREN H, WOLMER L, RON S. Sleep Research 1997; 26: 539.
http://www.websciences.org/cftemplate/NAPS/archives/indiv.cfm?ID=19979675
1996-The role of Biofeedback in Potentiating Health and the Crisis of the Immune System., Israel
1996- Multimodality Biofeedback in the Treatment of ADHD: A case study.
9th Conference for Child Development Centers. Zichron Ya’acov,
1995- Bizarre dreams following elective surgery; dreams can reflect a biological state.
Sleep Research, v 24,128.
1994-EMG and GSR biofeedback-assisted relaxation therapy for primary and
secondary insomnia. Sleep Research v 23, 186.
1994-Biofeedback in the diagnosis of of anxiety, sleep disorder, and psychosomatic
disorders. Anxiety Disorders conference- Herziliya, Israel
1993-Psychological profile of help-seeking and non-help-seeking tinnitus patients.
Scand Audiology.V 24, 13-18.
1993- Sleep disturbance associated with chronic tinnitus. Biological Psychiatry. V 34;84-90.
1993-Sleep complaint in chronic tinnitus. Sleep Research, V 22, 298.
1993Density spectral array, evoked potentials, and temperature rhythms in the
evaluation and prognosis of the comatose patient. Brain Injury, v 7, 191-208.
1992-Spectral array recording of sleep and coma: Validation and technique.
American J EEG Technology. V, 32, 65-85, 1992.
1991- The effect of moderate heat stress on auditory brain stem evoked response in
man. J therm, Biology. V, 16, , 5 pp249-253.
1991-Spectral array, evoked potentials, and temperature rhythms in the prognosis of the comatose patient. Sleep Research V 20,
1990- PMS during daytime sleep. Journal of Polysomnographic Technology -winter
1990- Artifacts and pattern recognition in wrist actigraphy . Journal of
PolysomnographicTechnology – spring
1989-Actigraphically based automatic bedtime sleep-wake scoring: validity and
clinical applications. Ambulatory Monitoring, v2
1988-Spontaneous awakenings within sleep in EDS- fatigued patients and normals.
Annals ofBasic Human Research, V. sleep
1988-Screening for sleep disorders by actigraph recordings. Sleep Research, V. 18,
1988- Spontaneous Awakening within sleep in EDS fatigued patients and normals
9th European Congress of Sleep Research- Jerusalem
1987- Periodic Leg Movements of Sleep with and without arousals –implications for scoring the PMS record. 5th International Congress of Sleep Research Copenhagen
1987- Computerized assessment of sleep time by wrist actigraph. Sleep Research,
V 17.
1987 – Periodic leg movements in sleep with and without arousals – implications for scoring the PMS record. Sleep Research V 16.