Bharathi A. Venkatachalapathy., Bams, FAIM, YIC, Board Chair

Vaidya Bharathi Venkatachalapathy, is Chair of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association Certification Board (NAMACB). She is an Ayurvedic practitioner, educator, researcher, and speaker with over 27 years of clinical experience in Ayurveda and Integrative healthcare.

She earned her Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) from Bangalore University, India, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (FAIHM). She is also a certified VYASA Yoga Instructor, reflecting her commitment to a holistic approach to health and wellness.

Based in Orange County, California, she serves on the faculty of the Southern California University of Health Sciences and Mount Madonna Institute's College of Ayurveda, is a visiting instructor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and a clinical mentor for the UCSF Ayurvedic Medicine Training Program.

A longtime leader within NAMA and NAMACB, Bharathi has previously served as NAMACB Vice Chair, Board Member, and Chair of the NAMA BAMS Task Force. She is committed to advancing excellence, professional standards, and credentialing in the Ayurvedic profession through education, leadership, and certification.

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Education

• Bachelor's in Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery  (BAMS), Bangalore University, India

• Fellow from Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (FAIHM)

• Certified VYASA Yoga Instructor  

• Certified Massage Therapist 

Activities & Affiliations

• Fellow from Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine

• NAMA CB Board Chair

• AD Beta Exam Subject Expert

• BAMS task force Subcommittee

• AD Beta Exam Subcommittee

• AIHM (Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine) - professional member.

AHSLESHA RAUT, BAMS, MD (AYU), Vaidya-ADLC, Board Vice-Chair

Ashlesha Raut is a third-generation Vaidya (Ayurvedic physician), educator, researcher, and integrative health practitioner with more than 25 years of clinical and teaching experience. She is dedicated to advancing authentic Ayurvedic education, professional standards, and integrative approaches to health and wellness in the United States. Raut earned her Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery and Doctor of Medicine in Ayurveda from the University of Mumbai, India, specializing in Ayurvedic Metallurgy and Pharmaceutics. She has taught at various Ayurvedic educational institutions in the United States and India and has presented Ayurveda-related research internationally.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), University of Mumbai, India

• Doctor of Medicine in Ayurveda- Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, University of Mumbai, India

• NAMA Certified Ayurvedic Doctor (Vaidya- ADLC)

• Certified Yoga Instructor  

• Board Certified in Integrative Medicine

• Additional credentials: N.C., HHP, RAS

ACTIVITIES & AFFILIATIONS

• NAMACB Board Member

• Founder, President, and Chief Clinician, Ayurveda for Healing and Panchakarma Wellness Center, Illinois

• Program Director, Ananda Ayurveda Academy, Chicagoland, Illinois

• Professor, Department of Ayurveda, Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU), California

• Adjunct Clinical Professor, KHS Medical Research Center, Mumbai, India

• President, Ayurveda Union of Midwest (ÃUM)

Jay Apte, BAMS, MS

Dr. Jay Apte is an India-trained Ayurvedic physician with 40 plus years of clinical and teaching experience. She earned an integrated degree in Allopathic and Ayurvedic Medicine from Pune University in India, and an M.S. in Biomedical Sciences in Pharmacology from the University of North Texas. Dr. Apte integrates Ayurvedic wisdom with modern science and has helped thousands of clients. She is a respected educator, entrepreneur, and lecturer who has advanced Ayurvedic education and healthcare throughout the United States.

Education

• Pune University, India_ Allopathic and Ayurvedic Medicine

• University of North Texas_ M.S. in biomedical Sciences

Activities & Affiliations

• Board member NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association)

• Former President, California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine

• Founder of Ayurvedic wellness centers, educational programs, and AyurFoods.

Manjusha vinjamury, Md (ayur), DACM, L.AC., FAIHM

Manjusha Vinjamury is an Ayurvedic physician, licensed acupuncturist, educator, and healthcare administrator with over 30 years of experience in integrative medicine. Vinjamury is the founder and director of Acuveda Integrative Health Center in Los Angeles and serves on the faculty of Southern California University of Health Sciences. Dr. Vinjamury is a respected speaker, author, and educator who has presented nationally and internationally on integrative health and Ayurveda.

Education

• University of Victoria, BS (Human Performance)

• University of Saskatchewan, BS (Physical Therapy)

• University of Saskatchewan, MS (Exercise Physiology)

• University of Alberta, PhD (Exercise Physiology)

JAMES J LASKIN, PT, PHD

James Laskin is a Professor of Physical Therapy at the University of Montana and is the director of the Applied Exercise Physiology Laboratory and the New Directions Wellness Center. Dr. Laskin continues to be clinical active as a physical therapist and has an active and varied research portfolio which revolves around issues of physical activity and the prevention/mitigation of secondary chronic disease in those with physical disabilities and chronic illness. Currently he is working on several projects at ICORD investigating 2 novel exercise devices and another project examine the potential of benefits of passive heating on cardiorespiratory health.

Activities and Affiliations

• NAMA CB Board member

• ASEAN Fullbright Scholar

• Researcher in Residence, Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, Vancouver, Canada

• President, Northwest, Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine

• Visiting Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia.

HEIDI NORDLUND, ADLC

Heidi Nordlund has more than 25 years of experience teaching Yoga, Ayurveda and Spiritual Healing. Heidi was born in Denmark and has traveled the world integrating the principles of Ayurvedic Medicine and Yoga therapy.  She is deeply passionate about supporting people to heal at all levels and is actively working towards advancing Ayurveda and Holistic Medicine across the globe. Heidi has mastered ways to connect energetically with people remotely, and is through her unique combination of Ayurveda, Yoga Therapy and Ancient Energy Healing, helping people all over the world to unleash their healer within.