2026 CAAM Conference Speakers

  • Dr. David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri) is an internationally renowned Vedic teacher (Vedacharya) active in related fields of Yoga, Ayurveda, Jyotish and Vedanta worldwide over the last forty years and author of numerous books.

    He is director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies, which provides educational resources in these Vedic fields. He is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, third highest award of the govt. of India for his Vedic educational work.

    His book Ayurvedic Healing was recently honored by the British Parliament as part of Diwali celebrations.

  • Freedom Cole is a practitioner of Jyotiṣa (Jyotiṣa Paṇḍita), Āyurveda (AP) and Yoga therapy (C-IAYT). He is initiated into a traditional Jyotiṣa lineage which traces back to the royal astrologers of Odisha, India. Freedom is the author of two books and numerous articles. With his training in Sanskrit, Vedic philosophy, modern psychology and over two decades of clinical practice, he translates the ancient principles into practical clinical application. Freedom serves on the faculty at Southern California University of Health Sciences and is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. He has an international Jyotiṣa school (Science of Light) dedicated to training and empowering the next generation of high-quality Jyotiṣa practitioners.

  • Dr. Bhushan Patwardhan is a National Research Professor – Ayush and Distinguished Professor at Savitribai Phule Pune University and IIT Kharagpur, with an adjunct role at Western Sydney University, Australia. A Fellow of India’s National Academy of Sciences and Medical Sciences, he has over 40 years of pioneering work in biomedical sciences, higher education, and evidence-based Ayurveda. He formerly served as Vice Chairman of the University Grants Commission and Chairman of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in India. Internationally, he has advised WHO and led the Ayush India program for the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre. His research includes Ayurvedic biology, Ayusoft™️, AyuGenomics™️, reverse pharmacology, and integrative health, with multiple patents and over 200 publications. His acclaimed books include Genome to Om and Ayurveda for Kids.

  • Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary is a neurologist, neuroscientist, and expert in sound medicine, Ayurveda, and Siddha Medicine whose work bridges modern neuroscience with ancient healing traditions.

    After more than a decade directing Wellspring Health at Scripps Memorial Hospital, she began researching Siddha Medicine in Tamil Nadu, South India, where she continues to study and revive its ancient practices.

    She is the author of The Prime: Prepare and Repair Your Body for Spontaneous Weight Loss and Sound Medicine: How to Use the Ancient Science of Sound to Heal the Body and Mind, and has appeared as a medical expert on The Dr. Oz Show and Home & Family.

    Through her research, retreats, and teaching, Dr. Chaudhary empowers people worldwide torestore health and awaken their highest potential—mind, body, and spirit.

    To learn more about Dr. Chaudhary and her uniquely effective approach to wellness, please visit www.drkulreetchaudhary.com

  • Dr. Trupti Gokani is an award-winning, board-certified neurologist, health and mindset coach, Ayurvedic expert, and Master Practitioner of NLP. She founded The Zira Mind & Body Center in 2006, pioneering an integrative approach to migraine treatment. Dr. Gokani created the Three Brain Optimization Program™ to help clients identify the root causes of disharmony. She has worked with media figures like Dr. Oz, global pharmaceutical companies such as Teva, and clients worldwide. She has contributed as a Huffington Post blogger and faculty member for The Shift Network and Metagenics. Currently, she serves as Chief Medical Officer of Saffron & Sage, President of the American Chronic Pain Association board, and advisor to several health organizations. Dr. Gokani is recognized for blending modern medicine, Ayurveda, and coaching for holistic healing.

  • Vish Chatterji is the author of The Business Casual Yogi: Take Charge of Your Body, Mind & Career and the newly released Astrology Decoded: The Secret Science of India's Sages, through Mandala Publishing. He is an accomplished business leader turned executive coach with a twenty-year executive career. As a corporate leader, he managed $2B global vehicle platforms for DaimlerChrysler, created a $200M division at Belkin, led product innovation at Universal Electronics resulting a five-fold increase in stock price, and bootstrapped a tech startup to early revenue.

    In parallel to his leadership career, he has studied the Indian Wisdom Traditions for the past two decades. Vish now coaches business leaders blending Western management with Eastern wisdom, and teaches on a variety of topics at the intersection of leadership, well-being and spirituality. He helps people find light in their work through the wisdom of his ancestors, leveraging the traditions of Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda, Vedic Philosophy, and Jyotish (Vedic Astrology). His coaching practice, Head & Heart Insights counsels clients across the globe, and he serves as a Faculty Coach and Educator for the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute at UC Berkeley.

    Vish holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University, an MBA from University of Michigan and an Executive Coach certification from UC Berkeley. He completed his yoga teacher training at Anand Prakash Ashram, Rishikesh and completed teaching certifications in Ayurveda & Meditation at Chopra Global. He also completed Dr. David Frawley's 300-hour Ayurvedic Astrology course and Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar's courses in Vedic Counseling and Vedic Medical Astrology. He has also held publicly elected office overseeing the Beach Cities Health District in Los Angeles California.

    He was born in the bustling city of Hong Kong to Indian parents, has traveled to over fifty countries, and can get by in seven languages. He currently resides in Redondo Beach, California, within a bike ride to the Pacific Ocean. He is a married father of three and is often found cooking with the family, working in the garden, and tinkering in the garage!

  • Author of the best-selling book Ayurveda Cooking For Beginners, director of VedaWise, and creator of numerous courses and series on Ayurveda, Laura promotes sacred, sumptuous living through the Vedic sciences of Ayurveda, Jyotish, Mantra and Devi Sadhana. She has studied with some of the great masters of our time, practicing and sharing what she has learned from the heart-centered wisdom schools of the world. Her blog food-alovestory.com is an inspirational resource for Ayurvedic nourishment and delight.

  • Mary-Alice Quinn, AD, CAS, is a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Clinical Herbalist, and senior educator with over 20 years of experience in integrative Ayurvedic healthcare. A NAMA-recognized Ayurvedic Doctor and Professional Member of CAAM, she blends Classical Ayurveda with insights from Functional Medicine, Nutritional Therapy, and Clinical Herbalism. Since 2004, Mary-Alice has supported clients worldwide through her remote practice, combining traditional wisdom with modern diagnostics and personalized care. She is also a respected teacher, known for her practical and compassionate style. In 2026, she will launch The Integrative Ayurveda Mentor podcast, offering clinical insights and conversations that bridge ancient healing with modern life. Learn more at MaryAliceQuinn.com

     

  • Anusha Sehgal is a classically trained Āyurvedic physician with over 20 years of experience in teaching, practice, and research in the field of Āyurveda. She has a BAMS degree from the renowned Ayurveda College Coimbatore and a Masters's in Ayurvedic Pharmaceutics from Rajiv Gandhi University, Bangalore. She has taught classical Āyurvedaa at all levels of education both in India and the US. She has been involved in controversial research regarding standardization, quality control, and safety of Āyurvedic medicines. 

    Anusha Sehgal is a strong advocate for generating awareness of authentic Āyurveda through teaching, presentations, and writing. She has worked with various groups including Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), India, and L’Oreal Research and Innovation team. She is currently working as the director of Boston Āyurveda Inc., adjunct faculty at Kripalu School of Āyurveda as well as lead instructor of the Advanced Āyurveda Practitioner Training (AAPT) and Āyurveda Doctor programs at Boston Āyurveda Inc. She also served as the former Editor in Chief of the Ayurveda Journal of Health, and founding chair of the NAMA Certification Board (NAMACB).  

  • Dr. Aditi Kulkarni, MD (Dravya-Guna) from Kerala University of Health Sciences, India, is an Ayurvedic Physician specializing in Oncology and Integrative Family Wellness. She advances evidence-based Ayurvedic protocols for cancer prevention, side-effect management during conventional treatments, and relapse prevention through integrative care. Dr. Kulkarni offers personalized, clinically monitored Ayurvedic interventions focused on restoring balance, managing inflammation, modulating immunity, and improving quality of life for cancer patients at all stages. Her expertise also includes Gastroenterology, Autoimmune Disorders, Women’s Health, Dermatology, and Stress-Related Conditions. Additionally, she has contributed to healthcare innovation by developing AI-enabled Electronic Medical Record systems that enhance clinical accuracy and integrate Ayurvedic diagnostics with modern data science, bridging traditional healing with cutting-edge technology.

  • Arun Deva is a NAMA-certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (CAP), Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist (C-AYT), an IAYT Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) as well as a Yoga Alliance-certified Vinyasa Krama Yoga teacher (E-RYT-500). He founded Arunachala Yoga & Ayurveda and has served on the boards of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) and California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine (CAAM). Arun led NAMA’s Committee for Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy to successful fruition. An international teacher and conference speaker, he has also lectured often at IAYT and NAMA events as well as contributed articles to the Ayurveda Journal of Health. Featured on radio and TV, Arun continues to teach Ayurveda and Yoga in various yoga teacher training programs and Ayurveda schools. Born in India and based in Los Angeles since 1977, he now focuses on consultations, writing and research on the connections between yoga and Ayurveda. 

  • Dr. Girish Tillu, M.D. (Ayurveda Pharmacology) and Ph.D. in Health Sciences, leads research at the Ayush Centre of Excellence, Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India.

    He has contributed to multi-institutional research on drug development for degenerative and autoimmune diseases, clinical trials, and epidemiological studies. Dr. Tillu’s current work includes Ayurveda-based adjuvants for COVID-19, immunomodulation, and the study of Prakriti and gut microbiota associations.

    He has also been involved in developing Ayurveda knowledgebase like AyuSoft. As an educator, he teaches courses on AYUSH systems, integrative health, dietetics, clinical trials, and bioethics. His multidisciplinary approach integrates traditional Ayurveda with modern research and clinical applications. He is an editor of the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine.

  • Sujatha Reddy is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado and Ohio, Board-Certified in Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine (BC-TAM), and a certified Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapist. With over 30 years in Ayurveda and 20+ years in mental health, she integrates Eastern and Western healing practices. Sujatha is also a Certified Trauma-Informed Therapist, Holotropic Breathwork Practitioner, Yoga Therapist, and Kundalini Yoga & Meditation Teacher. She holds a BAMS from India and a Master’s in Community Counseling from the University of Dayton. Sujatha is the Founder and Executive Director of Ayumind LLC and Heartland Wellness PLLC, and owns a Humanly mental health franchise in Lakewood, CO. She volunteers with NCCBAM, serves on its board, and is affiliated with CCA, OCA, NBCC, AAPI, and COLORAMA.

  • Dr. Karthik Krishnan is a globally recognized Ayurveda educator and business leader committed to integrating authentic, evidence-based Ayurveda into modern life. Trained in classical Ayurvedic medicine (B.A.M.S.) from the University of Calicut, he is Vice President – Ayurveda & Wellness at The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Coimbatore). With over a decade of leadership in India and the U.S., Dr. Karthik has held key roles in clinical practice, education, and strategic management, including at Organic Ayurveda Inc. and Kerala Ayurveda Ltd. He is known for bridging tradition and science, advancing global Ayurveda education, and mentoring practitioners to innovate while staying rooted in classical wisdom. A respected speaker and educator, he brings clinical depth, strategic insight, and cultural integrity to his work.