UCF Business Incubation client brings in high-profile speakers to showcase the health benefits of CBD
Eustis, Fla. (May 14, 2025) — A key factor in expanding the market for its CBD products is educating people about the health benefits of CBD.
Yesterday, Upaya Health started its first educational sessions, sharing information about CBD to nearly 50 members of the Mercedes Benz Club in the Villages.
“What we are bringing to the market at Upaya Health can certainly transform the health of seniors using natural elements found through CBD,” says Dr. Narendra Kini, CEO, Upaya Health. “There is still a resistance to this treatment because of misinformation that sessions like this will help overcome.”
The session featured raw plant food and cannabis expert, Deborah Waddell, and Dr. Frank Boskello. The two are community health and wellness educators collaborating with Upaya Health.
During the event, the two highlighted the following subjects:
- Understanding the Endocannabinoid System: Cannabis interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system—the body’s regulatory system—helping maintain balance across stress, inflammation, pain and mood regulation.
- THC vs. CBD – Benefits and Differences: THC and CBD both offer powerful healing potential. THC helps with pain, sleep, and appetite, while CBD provides anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and mood-balancing effects, without impairment.
- Delivery Methods of Cannabis: Cannabis can be used via inhalation, ingestion, sublingually and topically. Topical applications, such as CBD creams, show high efficacy in treating inflammation-based skin conditions.
- Clinical Findings and Responsible Use: An observational study conducted by Upaya Health showed 71 percent efficacy in reducing erythema using CBD topicals.
One of the critical aspects of the session was a discussion about the potential issues with buying CBD.
“Due to the lack of oversight by state and local governments, it is critical to purchase any CBD products from reputable suppliers,” Waddell said.
Upaya Health is a client of the Lake County/Eustis Business Incubator.
Speaker Bios:
Deborah Waddell, LAc, Dipl.Ac
Deborah Waddell brings a uniquely interdisciplinary background to her work in health and wellness, rooted in both environmental science and integrative medicine. She began her career as an Environmental Scientist and regulatory expert in hazardous waste, earning a research fellowship to Rutgers University, where she studied bioremediation techniques for petroleum hydrocarbon contamination. Her early work, including published research on heavy metal uptake in wetland plants, contributed to innovations in natural site cleanup using indigenous bacteria. As a recognized authority, she was invited to the White House during the Clinton Administration to advise on Superfund regulatory reform.
Following over a decade in environmental remediation, Deborah transitioned into health care as a nationally board-certified Acupuncturist and educator. She holds a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Foundation at Cornell University and served on the Editorial Advisory Board of Natural Practitioner Magazine, contributing regularly on Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and whole-food nutrition.
In The Villages, Florida, Deborah developed and taught courses on plant-based living, including The Power of Foods for Life Extension, and continues to lead cooking classes that make healthy eating both accessible and enjoyable. She also facilitates a local support group focused on low-fat, whole-food, plant-based lifestyles as a path to longevity and planetary health.
Further expanding her commitment to plant-based healing, Deborah became a Certified Cannabis Educator and serves on the board of The Medical Marijuana Club in The Villages. A passionate advocate for the therapeutic power of plants, she integrates decades of scientific and holistic expertise to help individuals restore balance and vitality.
Frank Boskello, PhD, MPA, BSPharm
Dr. Frank Boskello brings over four decades of health care experience to The Villages, with a focus on customer service, performance improvement, and geriatric pharmacology. With a distinguished academic background—earning his BS in Pharmacy from the University of Connecticut, an MPA in Health Care Management from the University of New Haven, and a PhD in Health Services with a concentration in Geriatric Pharmacology from Walden University—Dr. Boskello has dedicated his career to advancing patient care for diverse populations.
He is the founder of Fairfield Clinical Consulting, LLC, where he provided strategic consulting services to a wide range of healthcare settings, including dialysis centers, group homes, hospices, and community health organizations. His consulting work emphasized observational research and quality improvement in chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. At Optimus Health Care, Dr. Boskello led projects in immunization compliance, pediatric asthma care, 340B program oversight, and community health worker training.
As a lifelong educator, Dr. Boskello has served as an adjunct and clinical instructor at several institutions, including the University of Connecticut, St. Vincent’s College, and the University of St. Joseph, teaching subjects ranging from pharmacology and patient counseling to pharmacy technician training and experiential education.
Dr. Boskello holds multiple professional certifications, including Geriatric Pharmacy, Medication Therapy Management for Diabetes, Cannabis Wellness Advising, and Gerontology. He is also certified in HIPAA compliance, CPR/AED, and emergency response (Stop the Bleed).
Now a resident of The Villages, Dr. Boskello is passionate about using his extensive background to support the health, education, and well-being of fellow residents and their guests.
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UCF Business Incubation Program: Alan Byrd, Alan Byrd & Associates, 407-415-8470, Alan@ByrdConnections.com
About Upaya Health: Upaya is on a mission to transform the world of medicine. Upaya endeavors to create only natural formulations that maximize one’s well-being with high-quality CBD and is embarking on transformational nanoparticle R&D to improve the human condition. In short, we are striving to empower people to live their best lives. Visit UpayaHealth.com/ for more information.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program: The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high-growth/impact enterprises. Since 1999, this award-winning program has provided vital business development resources resulting in over 300 local startup companies reaching their potential faster and graduating into the community where they continue to grow and positively impact the local economy.
With eight facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties, and the cities of Eustis, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs. In 2023, current incubator clients supported over 1,000 employees and generated over $120 million in revenue. Nineteen companies graduated from the program and remained in the local community. For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu
