Blue Ridge Lyme Link

01/15/2026

This year, our community said goodbye to three physicians whose work changed the course of Lyme and tick-borne disease care and helped countless individuals along the way.
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Dr. Charles Crist was known for something patients never forgot: he listened. Based in Missouri, he treated people who had been dismissed elsewhere, helping them regain not just their health, but their dignity. For many, he was the first doctor who truly believed them. (Read his obituary here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/charles-crist-obituary?id=60532641)

Dr. Alan McDonald was a pathologist and researcher whose groundbreaking work explored the connections between Lyme disease, neurodegeneration, and Alzheimer’s, pushing science to ask harder questions—even when the answers were uncomfortable.

Dr. Alex Shikhman was a physician and scientist who focused on immune system dysregulation and complex chronic illness. He combined clinical care with research, seeking better tools to help patients who didn’t fit into neat diagnostic boxes.

We honor their lives, their work, and the patients they fought for. Our hearts are with their families, colleagues, and everyone whose life was touched by their care.

If you are looking for a doctor who understands Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, Project Lyme can help. Our Medical Provider Search connects patients with clinicians experienced in Lyme and tick-borne diseases, including some who offer telehealth visits. Visit https://projectlyme.org/providers-landing/ to learn more.


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01/01/2026

Wishing everyone good health and happiness in 2026!

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12/22/2025

Wishing everyone peace, joy, good health and healing this holiday season.

12/09/2025

It was a very chilly day in the office this morning! Stay warm out there, Lyme Warriors!

12/01/2025

Although Lyme disease is the most common vector‑borne illness in the United States, it remains one of the hardest to diagnose and treat. That’s why I was

11/27/2025

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that a tick borne syndrome is getting the appropriate attention. But as a provider, I'm still a bit frustrated that mainstream medicine still gaslights my patients, denies the impact Lyme disease and co-infections have on patients nationwide, and *still* has not made significant changes toward more accessible and more accurate testing.

More and more cases of alpha-gal syndrome are being diagnosed in Missouri, but because the condition does not have to be reported to the state, it’s hard to know just how common it truly is. And without an accurate count, it can be hard for funding and policy decisions to be made.

11/27/2025

Wishing patients and families a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. 🦃

11/20/2025

The Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease community is proud to honor Dr. Richard I. Horowitz with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of dedication, compassion, and leadership. The award was signed by more than 22 advocacy groups across the U.S.

We are deeply grateful for Dr. H’s tireless work—speaking at events nationwide, serving on government forums, and continually pushing for better awareness, research, and treatment. He has been a steadfast partner to the community and has always been willing to help tackle this difficult disease.

He is pictured below with longtime staff members Sonja, Barbara, Lisa, and Heather.

A patient of Dr. H’s for 27 years presented the award, sharing how he helped her walk again after six years in a wheelchair, overcome debilitating vertigo, reduce cognitive and memory challenges, and also helped manage fatigue and pain. Her words: “Dr. H gave me life—experiences and moments I never would have had without his compassion and dedication.”

After 41 years, Dr. H is closing his clinical practice but will continue supporting patients and physicians in new ways.

Ongoing Services:

John Fallon, his Nurse Practitioner of 20+ years, will continue treating patients under Dr. Dempsey at the AIM Center.

Dr. H will still be available to consult medically with a patient’s physician:
email medical@hvhac.com
more info https://cangetbetter.com/consulting-services/

Nutritional support and supplements remain available:
Email supplement@hvhac.com
More info https://cangetbetter.com/nutritional/

Current and upcoming projects:

NIH grant submitted: randomized trial on dapsone combination therapy and the MSIDS model. Updates at www.cangetbetter.com
Digital Lyme/TBD digital application in development
Third science book, Why We Stay Sick, coming in 2026 (Simon & Schuster) www.cangetbetter.com
Ongoing updates via:
~ Medical Detective Substack: https://medicaldetective.substack.com/
~ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drrichardhorowitz/
~ CanGetBetter Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/56bd98c5cddc/can-get-better

We thank Dr. H for everything he has done—and all he continues to do—for the Lyme and tick-borne disease community.

Dr. Richard Horowitz Lymedisease.org Bay Area Lyme Foundation Focus on Lyme LymeAid 4 Kids Lyme Treatment Foundation LymeAid 4 Kids Military Lyme Support Minnesota Lyme Association Texas Lyme Alliance The Quiet Epidemic Lyme WNY Hudson Valley Lyme and Other Tick Borne Diseases Group

11/06/2025

11/06/2025

Burbur Pinella is the liquid supplement you need to support natural detoxification and healthy brain functions on a daily basis. Get neurological support.

11/03/2025

As hunting season continues, please protect your loved ones from tick bites using products with picaridin (for skin) and permethrin (for clothes and gear). Lone star ticks, which are infamous for transmitting the "red meat allergy," are aggressive. Tick-borne diseases are rising, but the complication Alpha Gal allergy creates for treatment can be costly, as some medications for treatment need to be compounded to avoid allergens in our medications and herbal supplements.

A once-rare allergy that can cause severe reactions hours after eating red meat is dramatically rising across the United States, according to preliminary findings by researchers at VCU Health and Virginia Commonwealth University. 

10/01/2025

Today, Blue Ridge Lyme Link LLC opened its door to its first in person appointments. I am so pleased to be able to start serving the greater Lyme community.