Austin Air is not only a leader in air purification, but also a force for good in driving national conversations around environmental health and prevention.
This past week, Austin Air partnered with Environmental Medicine Education International (EMEI) to host Invisible Enemies: What You Can’t See Can Hurt You, a powerful three-day webinar series designed to address a critical gap in modern medicine: the lack of education on environmental toxins and their impact on immune health.
Two trailblazing experts, Dr. Lyn Patrick and Dr. Ann Marie Fine, led the sessions. Their goal? Nothing short of a revolution in how clinicians think about patient care, chronic disease, and toxic exposure.
“Something’s Missing” – The 1995 Missive and the Case for a Paradigm Shift
In 1995, the Institute of Medicine wrote a missive highlighting a glaring omission in medical education: the failure to train physicians to recognize and address chemical exposures. Thirty years later, that gap remains.
The result? Skyrocketing rates of autoimmune disease, cancer, and chronic illness. Patients growing more desperate and more dismissed. And doctors – good doctors – knowing something’s wrong but not knowing how to fix it. Or as Dr. Lyn Patrick said in her Day 2 keynote,
“Doctors know that they don’t know. They just don’t know how to learn it.”
The Invisible Enemies three-day webinar was an urgent response to that gap in knowledge – a grassroots call for a paradigm shift in how medicine approaches environmental toxins and immune health.
You can watch all three days of the, Invisible Enemies, webinar now on YouTube.
Meet the Experts
This virtual event was hosted by the Environmental Medicine Education International (EMEI) and sponsored by Austin Air. Speakers included:
Dr. Lyn Patrick
With decades of experience and a strong foundation in integrative care and toxicology, Dr. Patrick leads the educational programs at EMEI. Her clinical focus includes chronic disease management with an emphasis on the role of environmental exposures.
Dr. Ann Marie Fine
A double board-certified naturopathic physician, Dr. Fine has long advocated for preventive care and environmental detox strategies. She’s passionate about using research-backed tools to protect and restore immune health.
Stacy Malesiewski
A clean air expert from Austin Air who facilitated the webinar while also sharing practical guidance for patient care and practice management.
Enter Education: Clinicians Can’t Treat What They’re Not Trained to See
Hundreds of healthcare professionals registered for the Invisible Enemies webinar, seeking to close the gap between what their patients need and what their education provided. The series focused on what Drs. Fine and Patrick called the top five immune toxins contributing to chronic disease – and what can be done about them.
Day 1: What Are the Top 5 Toxins?
Dr. Patrick and Dr. Fine identified the most common, most damaging immune toxins patients are exposed to:
- Microplastics
- Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
- Formaldehyde
- Benzene
- Dioxin
These exposures are everywhere: in our food, homes, air, water, and even personal care products. But mainstream medicine rarely screens for them. The doctors emphasized that understanding the root causes of immune dysfunction begins with recognizing the pervasiveness of these toxins – and why standard lab tests often miss them.
Day 2: What Are These Toxins Doing to Our Immune Systems?
In Day 2 of the “Invisible Enemies” webinar, Dr. Patrick walked through how chemical exposures alter immune function, leading to autoimmune conditions, chronic fatigue, allergies, and even certain cancers. More importantly, she gave practical tools for identifying exposure in clinical settings.
“We can’t use typical testing. We need to go deeper.” – Dr. Lyn Patrick
She and Dr. Fine explained how to use chem panels, complete blood count (CBC) draws, and lymphocyte subset mapping to identify toxic burden and immune dysfunction. They also discussed advanced testing to distinguish between mold, Lyme, and solvent exposure – conditions that often present with overlapping symptoms but require different interventions.
One simple recommendation is to take the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) Questionnaire.
Day 3: How Can Clinicians Help Patients Now?
The final day focused on solutions – from individual interventions to systemic changes. Immediate steps included:
- Medical-grade air purification
- Indoor air and water testing
- Targeted supplementation and detoxification
The team also called on clinicians to lead policy change and elevate environmental medicine in clinical practice. Patient stories reinforced the need for compassionate, informed care—and continued education.
“This is a beginning, not an end. We’ve barely scratched the surface.” – Dr. Ann Marie Fine
The Role of Clean Air: A Non-Negotiable for Health
When it comes to reducing the burden of toxicants, clean air was highlighted as foundational.
Dr. Fine stated clearly: “Air is our most immediate and constant exposure – more than food or water. Clean air isn’t optional. It’s primary.”
Both experts endorsed the use of high-efficiency air purifiers, particularly those with medical-grade HEPA and activated carbon, to filter out particulate matter, VOCs, and biological contaminants like mold spores and mycotoxins.
That’s exactly why Austin Air purifiers are so often recommended by physicians and used in clinical research. Their unique filtration system captures the widest range of airborne contaminants, making them a critical tool for people with asthma, allergies, chronic illness – or anyone seeking better health.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Every webinar participant received a 68-slide deck summarizing key points and clinical pearls, but the biggest takeaway was this: this work can’t stop here. To build a healthier future, we need clinicians who are ready to lead the change.
That’s why EMEI is offering a comprehensive, continuing education program, Clinical Training in Environmental Medicine. Designed to train clinicians in the practical, clinical, and policy dimensions of environmental medicine, it’s the next step for anyone ready to turn knowledge into action.
EMEI is also offering How to Thrive in a Toxic World and Prevent Disease – a course for consumers in how to protect you and your family.
Dr. Patrick and Dr. Fine also emphasized that for patients, air purification is no longer optional.
Stacy Malesiewski also outlined Austin Air’s dealer and affiliate programs, as an opportunity that allows clinicians to provide patients with trusted solutions – while also bringing in additional income for their practice.
A Commitment to Public Health
This webinar is just the latest in a series of educational efforts from Austin Air to raise awareness around urgent public health issues. Last year, Austin Air released the three-part documentary Breath of Hope: Combatting Childhood Asthma in U.S. Schools, spotlighting the asthma crisis in underserved communities and the role of air quality in student health. Like Invisible Enemies, the documentary aimed to empower change by sharing expert insights, real-life stories, and actionable solutions. Together, these projects reflect Austin Air’s ongoing commitment to education, advocacy, and clean air for all.
