About Us
Inspiring a community with a commitment to anthroposophic medicine
Our mission
The Anthroposophia Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2018 to support the research and teaching of anthroposophic medicine, and provide a resource to medical practitioners to network, collaborate and learn together. The purpose of this platform is to serve as a community resource, provide training and mentoring opportunities, and above all else, share our commitment to an anthroposophical approach to medicine and human health.
As a member of our Foundation, you’ll receive access to exclusive anthroposophic articles, webinars, mentoring session, books and more. To join, you will need an active medical license. You can register here.
Board members
Mark Finser
Mark Finser was a founding board member of New Resource Bank and chair of the board until its acquisition by Amalgamated Bank in 2018, where he now continues as a director. Mark started his career in social finance in 1984, joining the founding and leadership group of RSF Social Finance, an organization focused on developing and implementing financial services out of the ideals of anthroposophy. As president and CEO, Mark grew and oversaw the organization’s assets to 120 million.
Mark serves on several boards, including Yggdrasil Land Foundation, Gaia Herbs, RSF Social Finance, Waldorf Educational Foundation and Waldorf Schools Fund. He also serves as a consultant and trustee for several family offices around the U.S. and abroad. In his spare time, he enjoys beekeeping and spending time in the garden.
Peter Hinderberger MD, PhD
Dr. Peter Hinderberger received his medical degree in 1979 and his PhD in 1980 from the University of Berne, Switzerland. He is a primary care physician and medical director of the Ruscombe Mansion Community Health Center where he has been practicing since 1984. He was introduced to anthroposophic medicine and mistletoe in 1978 during his internship at the Lukas Klinik in Switzerland (now Clinic Arlesheim). The clinic specializes in cancer treatment using anthroposophic medical modalities (mistletoe, homeopathy, external applications, movement and art therapy).
Jennifer Schmitt, ND
Dr. Jennifer Schmitt is a board-certified, anthroposophic, naturopathic doctor. She has an integrative pediatric and family practice outside of Santa Rosa, California. She studied pre-med at St. Edward’s University in Austin, received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Marymount Manhattan College in New York and received her doctorate degree in naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle. Her medical school specialty training included family medicine, maternity, advanced pediatrics, diabetes and cardiovascular care. She also specializes in naturopathic oncology supportive treatment with mistletoe therapy.
Dr. Schmitt lectures and teaches at Waldorf schools and works in classroom observation, parent education and with the school’s faculty to have a greater understanding of the development of the child. She is the on the board of the Society for Physicians of Anthroposophic Naturopathy and is on the faculty of the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training, Center for Educational Renewal Waldorf Teacher Training and International Physicians Medical Training in Anthroposophic Medicine. She is also a member of the California Naturopathic Doctors Association, as well as a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians and Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Ex-Officio Board Members
Steven Johnson, DO
Director of Programs and Research
Dr. Steven Johnson finished his residency in internal medicine at the University of Massachusetts affiliated hospitals, in Worcester in 1996 as Co-Chief Resident of Internal Medicine. He has lectured frequently in Europe and the U.S. on integrative medicine and oncology, with a focus on mistletoe therapies, and anthroposophic, biological and nutritional modalities.
Dr. Johnson directed one of the first major integrative medicine clinics in the U.S., bringing together a multi-disciplinary team with extensive conventional and holistic modalities of care. He has spent the majority of his career deeply immersed in clinical practice helping patients across the country. He has a deep appreciation for nature and the study of medicinal botany and natural medicine.
Dr. Johnson has written numerous magazine articles, has been a guest on several radio shows and will soon co-release a book on Mistletoe Therapy and Integrative Medicine. Recently, he served as the director of the first European Mistletoe/integrative medicine training program and currently serves as a mentor to clinicians across the U.S. He is the president of the Physicians Association for Anthroposophic Medicine and of the Foundation for Health Creation. Presently, he works part time in private practice in upstate New York and serves as a medical consultant.
Claus Sproll
Treasurer
Claus is a business professional with many years of experience in independent school administration, human service organizations, intentional communities and small businesses. His focuses and core competencies are in financial planning, strategic planning and corporate governance. He completed studies in school administration and community development at Sunbridge College and in social therapy from the School for Spiritual Science in Dornach, Switzerland. Claus is a certified instructor in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and has a certificate in non-profit management from LaSalle. He is Founder and Director of Corporate Integrity at AdminService, the CEO of LILIPOH Publishing, Program Director at AdminInstitute and has served as a director on numerous boards.
Advisory Council
Christian Wesseling, MD
A native of Germany, Dr. Christian Wesseling graduated from the United World College of the Atlantic in Glamorgan, South Wales in 1974 and the University of Düsseldorf Medical School in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1981. He completed a three-year residency in family medicine at Lutheran Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri and a one-year fellowship in holistic medicine at the Ita-Wegman Clinic in Arlesheim, Switzerland.
Christian is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Institute of Homeopathy, the American College for the Advancement of Medicine, the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, the St. Louis Institute of Integrative Medicine and the Physicians’ Association of Anthroposophical Medicine, having served as its secretary and president.
Christian is board-certified in family medicine, homeotherapeutics and anthroposophic medicine, and is a past chairman of the Department of Family Practice at St. Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood, Missouri. He has lectured locally and nationally on a variety of health-related topics. He is also the medical director of Oakwood Lifesharing Services, Inc., a community serving the needs of handicapped youth and adults.
Jasper J. van Brakel
Jasper J. van Brakel joined RSF Social Finance as its president and CEO in 2018. He guides RSF as it builds on its success in transforming the way individuals and organizations work with money. Prior to joining RSF, Jasper was a partner at Newpark Capital, a private equity firm for impact-driven companies. Concurrently, he served in an advisory role with a family office, an impact investor and regenerative field builder, where he initiated partnerships and provided leadership support to several portfolio companies, both as an advisor and board member.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Jasper spent 14 years with the Weleda Group, advancing from sales positions in Germany to leading global strategy, branding and marketing. He moved to the U.S. in 2008 to lead Weleda North America as president and CEO in New York. As chair and interim CEO for Weleda’s Dutch and Belgian subsidiaries, Jasper restructured the company and positioned it for growth.
A graduate from Harvard Business School’s general management program, he also received his master’s degree in economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam. He serves as board chair for Gaia Herbs in Brevard, North Carolina and sits on the board of directors of Teton Water Ranch in Denver, Colorado. Jasper currently resides in San Rafael, California with his wife and four children.