2026 CAAM Conference Speakers
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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
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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).
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Joshua Barr is a modern-day yogi, sound healer, and master of integrative healing arts who blends ancient wisdom with a compassionate, heart-centered approach. With over 20 years of experience, he combines bodywork, sound healing, Varma therapy, Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, and Reiki to restore harmony to the mind, body, and spirit.
After suffering a debilitating stroke at age 25 that left his left side paralyzed, Joshua defied medical expectations by using holistic healing methods to make a full recovery. His journey led him to Buddhist monasteries in Thailand and Cambodia, Hindu ashrams in India, and nearly a decade of study with his Guru, Sri Sakthi Amma, in Tamil Nadu, South India, where he mastered the ancient art of sound healing.
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Brenda Krulikowski is a Medical Ayurvedic Specialist, Herbalist, and Pancha Karma Specialist with over 20 years of experience in clinical care and Ayurvedic education. Her work is distinguished by a deep commitment to herbal medicine and women’s health, which informs both her clinical practice and educational focus.
Since 2006, Brenda has served as the Director of Herbalism and a core faculty member at the California College of Ayurveda, where she plays a central role in training the next generation of Ayurvedic practitioners. In 2007, Brenda founded the college’s 9-month Herbal Apprenticeship Program. This comprehensive program provides students with hands-on training in Brenda’s extensive herbal teaching garden, home to over 90 medicinal plants, along with practical experience in the preparation and formulation of herbal remedies within the college’s pharmacy.
Widely recognized for her engaging, down-to-earth teaching style Brenda brings Ayurvedic principles to life with clarity, humor, and heart. Alongside her educational work, she plays a vital role as Co-Formulator of AyBo – Ayurvedic Botanicals, a thoughtfully crafted line of professional herbal products rooted in Ayurvedic wisdom. Through meticulous formulation and quality sourcing, AyBo delivers effective, authentic botanical remedies that support holistic health and wellness. Brenda’s expert insights have also been featured in esteemed professional journals, further reflecting her respected voice within the field.
Brenda integrates her clinical expertise and educational leadership in Ayurveda and herbalism to unite traditional healing with modern holistic care, thoughtfully bridging ancient wisdom and contemporary practice.
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Yogini Shambhavi Devi is one of the most important and dynamic women teachers of the deeper aspects of Yoga coming out of India today, widely respected worldwide and in traditional circles in India. Her teachings are rooted in the ancient teachings and traditions of Bhakti Yoga, Shakti Sadhana, Jyotisha (Vedic Astrology), Mantra Yoga and Ayurveda.
She is a Yogacharya or master Yoga teacher with deep knowledge of Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Mantra Yoga. She is also the Jyotishacharya or master teacher of Vedic astrology and handles astrological consultations for Open Space Yoga institute.
Yogini Shambhavi is a mystic Yogini, spiritual guide and educator of ancient Vedic traditions and is noted for her clear, direct, and uncompromising expression, and her ability to inspire seekers from every walk of life. She unfolds the bliss of well-being through Vedic Upayas, ancient rituals, mantra and meditation, drawing one to the deeper ‘Yogic Reality’, awakening the universal Shakti power within us.
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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.
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Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh is a physician, certified yoga therapist, and globally recognized expert in Ayurvedic medicine. Trained at Rush Medical College and formerly an ER doctor, she now leads Arvasi’s mission to integrate modern science with ancient healing.
Author of two acclaimed books, The Longevity Formula and The Health Catalyst, she brings decades of clinical and cultural insight to guide people toward personalized, practical wellness.
Her podcast, The Healing Catalyst, along with features in goop, mindbodygreen, and HuffPost, inspire a worldwide audience to reclaim health with clarity and confidence.
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Dr. Sudha Prathikanti, MD is an Integrative Psychiatrist who specializes in the use of both conventional and complementary medicine therapies to restore and enhance mental health. After graduating from the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Prathikanti completed a psychiatric residency and clinical fellowship in Women’s Mental Health at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Prathikanti is a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSF, where she serves as the medical director for Adult Primary Care Psychiatry at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and also directs the Integrative Psychiatry Teaching Clinic at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health.
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Katie Silcox, M.A. is the New York Times Best-Selling author of the book Healthy, Happy, Sexy - Ayurveda Wisdom for Modern Women and the new book - Glow-Worthy. She is the founder of The Shakti School, a school for women-centered Ayurveda and holistic wellness. She holds a Masters degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and is currently pursuing depth studies in Jungian Psychology. Her platform focuses on the convergence of ancient holistic medicine, functional medicine science and heart-centered spirituality. In her former life, she has been a researcher in Artificial Intelligence, a cover model for Yoga Journal magazine in Russia and the owner of a beach bar in Spain.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.