Daniel Seitz, JD, EdD, Independent Consultant (Session Moderator)

For 30+ years, Dan has been involved with complementary and integrative medicine education, accreditation and regulation. Currently, he serves as executive director of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, which accredits doctoral programs in naturopathy. Previously, he served as founding dean for Northeast College of Health Sciences’ Acupuncture School, chair of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, and president of the New England School of Acupuncture; Dan has also periodically assisted NAMA and IAYT with projects.

S. Prasad Vinjamury, MD (Ayurveda), DACM, MPH Chair, NAMACB

Prasad Vinajmury is a Professor at Southern California University of Health and Sciences (SCU) teaching traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. He is the Assistant Director of Eastern Medicine Department and the Director of Integrative and Family Health Services, SCU Health.  Dr. Vinjamury is a licensed acupuncturist and has over thirty years in clinical experience in integrating Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and western diagnostic methods to evaluate, assess, and manage patients. In addition to his teaching and clinical services, he is also deeply involved in clinical research in integrative medicine. He has presented papers on various subjects in several national and international conferences and published several articles on CIM topics in peer-reviewed journals. He served as an expert for WHO for developing benchmarks for Ayurveda practice and education and in developing ICD-11 codes for traditional medicine.

Vaidya Ashlesha Raut, BAMS, MD Ayurveda, NC, HHP, BCIM, RYT-200, AD
President, Ayurveda Union of the Midwest

Vaidya Ashlesha Raut is a distinguished Vaidya (Ayurvedic physician), clinician, educator, and researcher with over 25 years of experience. As Director of Ananda Ayurveda Academy and Ayurveda Chair at VaYU, she pioneers Ayurvedic education, clinical research, and holistic healing. A gold medalist and award-winning scholar, she has led global workshops, authored publications, and presented at major conferences, passionately advocating for Ayurveda’s integration into mainstream healthcare and its accessibility worldwide.

Dhanada Kulkarni, BAMS, LMT, BCIM, CYEd, CCRP
President, Texas Ayurveda Professionals Association

VedAcharya Dhanada Kulkarni, BAMS, LMT, BCIM, CYEd, CCRP, is a renowned scholar and leader in Vedic sciences, recognized as a distinguished keynote speaker and expert in integrative medicine with 23 years of experience. A Yajur Vedic Brahmin, she carries a three-generation legacy in Ayurveda, Vedic Astrology, Vastu, and indigenous healing. Excelling as a classical Ayurveda Clinician, Dhanada holds many prestigious leadership roles including Founder, President, Board of Directors, Advisory Board member, Faculty, academic expert/scholar Ayurveda Physician, Director and Clinical Executive, Clinical Researcher, Ambassador for organizations like KASSANDRA WELLNESS GROUP, TAPAS, NAMA, NAMACB, AAPNA, CAC, NCAM, ICAA, IACDSC, and IOIHP.

Anupama Kizhakkeveettil, BAMS, MAOM, LAc, C-IAYT, FAIHM, PhD
Board Member, Ayurvedic Accreditation Commission

Vaidya Anupama Kizhakkeveettil is an Ayurvedic Vaidya from India, licensed acupuncturist, professor, researcher, and founding Program Director of the Ayurvedic Medicine program at Southern California University of Health Sciences. Holding a PhD in Public Health and a Fellowship in Integrative Health and Medicine, she co-founded Athreya Herbs and Athreya Ayurvedic Integrative Health Center. She has traveled to over eleven countries to promote Ayurveda, published research, and serves on the boards of CAAM, NAMA, AAC, and as Chair of APHA’s Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practices Section.

John Kepner, MS, MBA, C-IAYT
Treasurer, National Ayurvedic Medical Association

John served as the executive director of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) from 2003 -2020. There he focused on developing the many pillars required to support Yoga therapy as a recognized and respected emerging health care profession, including all elements of the standards.   He worked closely with NAMA on many of the same issues.  He also led connecting IAYT to the wider integrative health community, especially the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health.

Heather Grzych, ADLC, MA (Ayurveda)
President, National Ayurvedic Medical Association

Heather Grzych currently serves as the president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association. Heather is Ayurvedic Doctor-Level Certified by NAMACB, serves on the faculty at Mount Madonna Institute College of Ayurveda, and was formerly the head of product development for a multi-billion-dollar health insurance company. Her first book, The Ayurvedic Guide to Fertility, has sold thousands of copies worldwide, and she has been featured in Sports Illustrated, Yoga Journal, and the Sunday Independent. Her podcast, Wisdom of the Body, ranks in the top 3% of podcasts globally.

Melissa Camacho, ADLC, LAc, DipOM
Ayurveda Professionals of Arizona

Melissa Camacho is an Ayurvedic Doctor Level Certified (NAMACB), teacher of Ayurveda, and Licensed Acupuncturist with over 17 years of clinical experience. She is an alumna of The Ayurvedic Institute and Ayu Academy. She has a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine and is nationally board certified and state licensed in Arizona. Her clinic–Sedona Sol Acupuncture & Ayurveda, thrives in Sedona, AZ. She teaches Ayurveda at conferences, online, and locally in the Southwest.

Heather Burkart, CAP, CPT, E-RYT (500), YACEP
Ayurvedic Association of Wisconsin

Heather is a Certified Ayurvedic Educator and Practitioner, a Professional Member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, and the former Vice-President of the Ayurvedic Association of Wisconsin. She is the founder of Her Well Being Ayurveda & Yoga and specializes in women's digestive and reproductive wellness.

Anisha Durve, DOM, AD
Ayurveda Association of Florida

Dr. Anisha Durve is a Doctor of Acupuncture, Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA certified), Ayur-yoga teacher, and meditation instructor with 25+ years of clinical experience. She trained under Dr. Vasant Lad at the Ayurvedic Institute and studied panchakarma techniques at Indus Valley Ayurvedic Center in India. Co-author of *Marma Points of Ayurveda*, she founded the Marma Institute in 2018. Currently, Dr. Anisha is the Director of Acupuncture and Ayurveda at the University of Miami’s Osher Center for Integrative Health.

Heidi Crocker, DC, EdD, C-IAYT

Heidi brings over 35 years of clinical experience integrating chiropractic and yoga
therapy to support whole-person health. She has held academic and administrative roles in health professions education for more than 15 years, specializing in programmatic and institutional accreditation, as well as the development of interprofessional education curricula. Heidi is passionate about advancing yoga therapy as a recognized profession within the integrative healthcare system, advocating for its role in fostering holistic, patient-centered care. In her free time, she enjoys adventurous travel experiences, especially with her husband and three grown children.

Lisa Cavallaro, PsyD
Executive Director, Ayurvedic Accreditation Commission (AAC)

Dr. Lisa Cavallaro is a licensed psychologist and holds a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. Lisa has been the Executive Director of the Ayurvedic Accreditation Commission since its inauguration in 2021. She is the former program director/founder of a multidisciplinary wellness program within a regional medical center and has been involved in hospital-based accreditation reviews. In addition, she was in private practice for  25 years and has taught master’s and doctoral graduate courses in psychology and facilitated many educational and support groups.

Bill Hershey, Business Coach, Non-CPA Accountant
Life Stream Business Services

Bill Hershey is the founder of Life Stream Business Services, and supports growing integrative health practices with strategy, coaching, accounting and bookkeeping. He has taught internationally on the topics of business strategy, marketing and money management and his workshops have been featured by professional organizations like National University of Naturopathic Medicine, National Ayurveda Medical Association, California Association Ayurvedic Medicine, and others. Prior to business life, Bill spent 15 years at a meditation retreat center in rural Oregon. Living a quiet life in the forest and practicing a spiritual lifestyle brings him joy.

Rachel Murphy, Fractional Marketing Manager
Rooted Strategy

Rachel Murphy is a Fractional Marketing Manager who works with Holistic Health Practitioners to grow their personal brand, plan their digital marketing strategy, and create content that feels good + works. She received her business degree in marketing before kicking off her career at a Digital Marketing company working with Fortune 500 retailers. She left corporate America to start an Ayurvedic brand before realizing she was more marketer than practitioner and pivoted to serve that niche in a new business - Rooted Strategy.