Founding members of the Council were invited
based on their background as active practitioners of Ayurveda in the USA, their
work as active educators in Ayurvedic educational programs in the USA, their
background and training as Ayurvedic professionals, and their ability to “play
well with others.”
The council is composed of Ayurvedic educators
and practitioners, Vaidyas (Ayurvedic Physicians), Doctors (MDs). It is our firm belief that such work is best done by an
independent group of Ayurvedic practitioners actively engaged in the field of
education who have undergone thousands of hours in the milieu of education to
develop their expertise.
2012 Council members
Dr. Vd.
Anupama KizhakkeVeettil BAMS,
MAOM, LAc, PhD(c)
Anupama Kizhakkeveettil is an Ayurvedic practitioner and licensed acupuncturist.
She received her BAMS degree from India and Master Degree in Oriental Medicine
from the US. She is currently pursuing her
PhD in public health. She has been teaching
and practicing Ayurvedic medicine over a decade. She has presented papers at
national and international conferences and has authored peer-reviewed journal
articles in complementary and alternative medicine. Currently she serves as
principle investigator for an integrative approach for Low back pain research study
and co investigator for a smoking cessation study. She also serves as peer
reviewer for journals and international conference in US. She received an Outstanding Researcher award
in 2008 and Excellence in Research award in 2010. She also received Ayurvedic
vachaspathi award from APNA in 2010. Currently
she is working as an Assistant Professor and the lead instructor for the
Ayurvedic program at Southern California University of Health Sciences and
director of research board in AAPNA.
Dr. Bhaswati Bhattacharya,
MPH,MD,HHC,AWHC (Chair)
A
holistic physician, educator, and activist, Dr. Bhaswati served at Wyckoff
Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn from 2001-2011, as Director of Research and
as Director of the Division of CAM. She has also worked as an attending
physician in family medicine, internal medicine, and ob/gyn and is Clinical
Assistant Professor at Weill-Cornell Medical College. She has been teaching medical students since 1997, and guiding research, clinical, and didactic courses in medical schools continuously since then.
She
has also held faculty positions at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, The Graduate
Institute (CT), Sai Ayurveda College of Miami, and Georgetown University and is
the founder of The DINacharya Institute in New York. She teaches holistic
medicine in her private practice (www.drbhaswati.com). She has over 25 years of
experience in clinical research, primary care, clinical practice, and CAM
medical education in academia, non-profit organizations, and the corporate
world. She has served on the Board of Directors of NAMA, AAPNA, SAPHA (South
Asian Public Health Association), IWGA (International Working Groups of
Ayurveda), ICRAIP (Interdisciplinary Council for Revival of Ayurveda Industry
& Practice-West Bengal), and the AHMA (American Holistic Medical
Association). She was the co-Principal Investigator of an NIH-funded R25 grant on CAM for medical schools in the USA.
Her
academic training includes doctoral work in pharmacology/neuroscience (Columbia University), a
masters in international public health (Harvard University), a doctorate in allopathic medicine (Rush University of Chicago),
with residency training in family medicine (Columbia P&S) and preventive & community
medicine (Mount Sinai/NYU), and training in nutrition (Columbia University/IIN) and holistic medical disciplines. Her
ongoing training in ayurveda is both traditional - through gurukula in India
since 2001, and contemporary - through ayurveda certification courses at the
AYU Academy / Sai Ayurveda. Her clinical work has been featured in a
documentary called Healers: Journey into Ayurveda, playing worldwide since
2003, on The Discovery Channel. She is the recipient of several awards in
Ayurveda.
Dr. Vd.
Jayagopal Parla S, BAMS,MD (Ayu), MAOM(c)
Received
his Bachelors degree in Ayurvedic medicine and surgery (BAMS) after completing
five and a half years of training from Bangalore University. He also persued
three years of education to receive Masters degree in Ayurvedic herbology from
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. Bangalore.
Dr. Jayagopal completed Yoga teacher’s training course from Atma Darshan, Bihar
school of Yoga. In addition to his twelve years of clinical experience, Dr.
Jayagopal has traveled to Europe and Japan to propagate the science of
Ayurveda. Currently he is teaching as chair and associate Prof. dept. of
Ayurveda at American university of complementary medicine, Beverly Hills, which
offers Clinical Doctorate in Ayurveda (AyD)/PhD programs.
In addition to the above he is also offering Ayurvedic clinical services at
AUCM community clinic. Being proactive
in propagating ayurveda to the community he has held seminars and educational
demonstrations at various Yoga centers, senior facilities and health
associations. Dr Jayagopal has presented several papers in national and
international conferences. Dr Jayagopal serves as chair of Academic committee
Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America, BOD of California
Association of Ayurvedic Medicine, Member Complementary and Alternative
Medicine at Charles Drew Medical University, USC medical systems, LA. He also a
visiting faculty for Japan Ayurveda School, Tokyo, Japan and Southern
California University of health Sciences, Whittier, CA.
Dr.
Jayarajan Kodikannath, BSc, BAMS
Dr.
Jayarajan Kodikannath is the Academy Director of Kerala Ayurveda (USA) responsible
for all academic programs conducted internationally by Kerala Ayurveda with a
focus on bringing quality education on authentic Ayurveda across the globe.
An alumnus of the Govt. Ayurveda College, Tripunithura, Cochin Dr.Jayarajan
joined Kerala Ayurveda Pharmacy Ltd as Medical Officer at Amrutham Hospital,
Aluva and KAPL Ayurvedic center at Kappad, Kozhikode.
Suffused with expertise in traditional Ayurvedic health care
practices especially Panchakarma
(Ayurvedic detoxification) and Ksharasoothra (medicated
thread therapy) a specialty of Kerala Ayurveda tradition, Dr Jayarajan took
charge as the Chief Medical Officer of an exclusive Ayurvedic wellness center -
Ayurvedagram. Ayurvedagram is a heritage wellness center in Bangalore catering
to the authentic practice of Ayurveda in pristine surroundings for the
treatment of chronic diseases and Rejuvenative therapies. He played a
significant role in making Ayurvedagram of international repute with extremely
satisfied clients across the globe.
He is the co-coordinator and the resource person for various
training programs conducted in traditional Ayurvedic therapies and medicine. He
is an accomplished trainer for the advanced courses in Ayurveda and orientation
program for overseas students conducted by Ecumenical Christian Centre,
Bangalore. His corporate sessions and workshops on Application of Ayurveda in
daily life, Stress management and BMS are immensely popular.
Dr Jay, as he is fondly referred, is actively involved in various
research projects of Kerala Ayurveda. He is currently the principal
investigator of a research on integrated approach of Ayurveda and Stem cell in
Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. Dr Jay ran a hugely successful “Ayurveda Summer
Makeover” program in Slovenia in the Spring of 2008. A program sponsored by a
fashion magazine selected 5 women from several applicants to be given a Summer
Makeover with Ayurvedic treatments and therapies. A winner in all ways the
program received wide attention in the press and media alike. Dr Jay has
presented several papers on Ayurveda in national and international seminars. He
writes articles on wellness an health regularly in periodicals and responds to
the readers’ health queries in the Health issue of The New Indian Express.
Patricia Layton – MA, CAS, PKT, E-RYT 500
Co-founder of Bhavana Institute and Director of the Ayurveda Studies
Program, Pat has been training Ayurveda educators and practitioners for the
past twelve years. She was introduced to Ayurveda in 1975, by her
spiritual mentor and has spent her adult life studying and integrating the
practices of Yoga and Ayurveda into her life.
She graduated from the
California College of Ayurveda in 1997 as a Certified Ayurvedic Specialist and
Panchakarma Technician, and went on to complete a Panchakarma training course
in India with the International Academy of Ayurved. She has a B.S. in
Natural Science from the University of Pittsburgh, and she also earned a
masters’ degree in Integral Health Studies at the California Institute of
Integral Studies, where her thesis was an epistemological study on how American
students learn Ayurveda.
While living in San Francisco she owned and operated Yerba Buena Ayurveda, a
full-service Ayurveda clinic. She also taught extensively in the Bay
Area, including four years as adjunct professor at San Francisco State
University; two years adjunct at the California Institute of Integral Studies;
thirteen years core faculty in the Iyengar Yoga Institute’s Yoga Teacher
Training Program; and five years core faculty at the California College of
Ayurveda. She also taught Year One and Year Two practitioner programs at
Kanyakumari Ayurveda in Milwaukee for five years.
Prior to teaching Ayurveda Patricia taught all aspects of yoga and worked as
a Yoga Therapist at a Pain Clinic from 1982 to 1987. She teaches her
specialties in the Bhavana Yoga Teacher Training Program – Physiology for Yoga
Teachers; Sankhya Philosophy; Ethics for Yoga Teachers; Emotional Purification;
Physiology of the Subtle Body; and Ayurveda for Yoga Teachers. She is a perpetual student and continues her study of both Yoga and Ayurveda
in the US and India.
Patricia is known for her scholarship, humor, and incredible memory.
Her extensive contact over the past 40 years with a variety of high quality
teachers of both Yoga and Ayurveda in the US and India has provided her with a
wealth of knowledge that she unselfishly passes on.
Dr. Vd.
Ashlesha Raut, BAMS, MD (Ayu), NC, BCIM
Dr. (Vaidya) Ashlesha Raut is a Consulting Ayurvedic practitioner and
Nutrition, Health Educator. She is a classically trained in Ayurveda
M.D. from the prestigious Mumbai University in India with specialty in
Rasashastra (Mineral Medicine) and Bhaishajya Kalpana (Ayurvedic
Pharmaceutics). Her expertise also includes research in Ayurvedic
product formulation and branding for global markets. She was a Medical
Director of L’amar Natural Products (a division of CIPLA India) and
Ayurvedic Advisor for Pharmaceutical companies in India. Dr. Raut was
awarded a prestigious “Shiromani Award” by Indian Board of Alternative
Medicines for her contributions towards the alternative medicine in the
industry. Ashlesha is a General member of NAMA (National Ayurvedic
Medical Association – USA), Life time member of NIMA (National
Integrated Medical Association-India), and Treasurer & Executive
member of AHWS (American Hindu World Services organization). Dr. Raut
has been practicing Ayurveda for more than a decade and has been an
integral part of the global healing community with a mission towards
providing a Holistic Path for Wellness and Optimal Health through
Ayurveda and integrative medicine. She serves on the faculty of Sai Ayurvedic College of Miami and The DINacharya Institute.
2012
Advisory Board
Dr.
(Vaidya) Vivek Shanbhag, BAMS, MD (Ayu), ND
served as Medical Director at
Natural Medince Clinic, Seattle. His clinical, teaching and research
experience spans over 18 years. He is the founder of AYU Academy, and author of
Beginners Introduction to Ayurveda. He has served on the Board of
Directors of NAMA and AAPNA. During 1991-96, he
was Chairman of the Ayurvedic Department at Bastyr University, Seattle.
During 1985-88, he was Head of Institute of Research in Ayurvedic
Medicine, Poona, India. Dr. Shanbhag's 14 years of Ayurvedic and
Naturopathic clinical training includes Ayurvedic graduateion (BAMS) at
Karnataka University, post-graduation (MD-Ayurved) at Poona University
and Doctorate in Natuopathic Medicine at Bastyr University. He was
awrded the prestigious I.I.M. Gold Medal for his MD-Ayurved Research
Thesis. Dr. Shanbhag has served on the faculty of several ayurvedic schools, including AYU Academy, Kerala Ayurveda Academy, Ayurveda Institute of America, Sai College of Miami, DINacharya Institute, and Mount Madonna School of Ayurveda.
Dr. Vd.
Aparna Bapat, BAMS
As the Sai College of Miami senior faculty member and Academic Dean, Dr. Bapat has
been a dedicated international Ayurvedic Specialist (Vaidya),
consultant, and educator since 1990. She has served on the Board of
Directors of NAMA and AAPNA.
She studied Ayurvedic medicine at the University of Pune, faculty of
Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery. She was a Senior Lecturer at the
College of Ayurveda in London, U.K. Dr. Bapat is the author of numerous
articles on Ayurvedic medicine and related themes, has made multiple
television appearances, and is one of the premiere lecturers, scholars
and practitioners of Ayurveda in the West today. She has taught on the
faculty of the New Jersey Institute of Ayurveda, the AYU Academy, Kerala Ayurveda Academy, and The DINacharya Institute.