Joyce Whiteley Hawkes received her Ph.D. in biophysics from Pennsylvania State University in 1971 and was a postdoctoral fellow with the National Institutes of Health at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center. She subsequently published thirty-six manuscripts in scientific journals and worked as a supervisory research scientist with the National Marine Fisheries in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Hawkes's work was honored with a U.S. National Achievement Award, and she was elected to the position of Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Following a near-death experience that inspired her to change careers, she earned a master's in pastoral ministry from Seattle University and extensively explored indigenous healing traditions throughout Southeast Asia alongside renowned native healers. Dr. Hawkes continues to share her gifts as a healer, teacher, and writer by presenting seminars nationally and internationally. She can be contacted via www.joycehawkes.com.