Thomas J. Wheeler, PhD
Founding Fellow
Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA
Thomas J. Wheeler, PhD, was formerly Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. His research focused on the transport of glucose across animal cell membranes. He served on the Editorial Board of the journal Biochimica et Biophysica Acta for seven years.
In 1992, Dr Wheeler began teaching an elective course on “alternative medicine,” one of the few courses on this subject with a critical, scientific perspective.
For several years he served as President of the Kentucky Council Against Health Fraud, and he continues to contribute content to the group’s web site. He is active on Healthfraud, an e-mail discussion list, with an expertise in the analysis of claims related to biochemistry, homeopathy, and energy medicine. He has served as an advisor on nutrition and food science for Quackwatch.
Long interested in the area of public science education, Dr Wheeler took early retirement in 2006 to pursue a new career in high school teaching. He is currently a chemistry teacher.
Selected Writings:
- Course on Alternative Medicine [handouts and readings]
- “Why integrative medicine?” Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 2003; 1(1):5-9.
- “Hydroxycitrate as a weight-loss ingredient,” Quackwatch, 1999 Nov 30.
- “Some notes on Deepak Chopra and Maharishi Ayur-Veda,” Bay Area Skeptics Information Sheet, 1994; 13(11):1-3; 13(12):2-5.
Testimony: