NAMA’s 2022 election to fill four positions on the Board of Directors has concluded. Thank you to all NAMA members who cast their votes. It is our pleasure to announce our 2022 Board of Directors-Elect. Each Director-Elect has been elected to serve a three-year term extending from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2025.

Please start to get to know them. Below are their statements to the membership, in order of their appearance on the ballot.

Sushma Jakkula, BAMS, AD
Florida

It took a few years for me to start Ayurvedic practice in the U.S. after we moved here, since I was not aware of the scope of practice of Ayurveda in the U.S. until I found NAMA. I joined NAMA in 2016 as a Professional Member. It is my passion to spread this ancient science using different avenues to accelerate awareness, acceptance, and adoption in the United States. I see NAMA as one of those powerful stages, and I am trying to increase my participation in NAMA every year.

Jayarajan Kodikannath, BSc, BAMS, AD, AYT
California

Being a classically trained Ayurvedic Doctor from Kerala, India, I am passionate about propagating Ayurveda as a consciousness-based natural healing system that can provide sustainable solutions to various global health concerns. As a representative of the lineage tradition of Ayurveda, I feel continuing on the board of NAMA and giving leadership to the efforts to build the Ayurvedic profession and to make it a legalized profession in the U.S. is my dharmic path. My life is dedicated to Ayurveda.

Rucha Kelkar, PT, BAMS, AD, AYT, DPT
California

Namaste dear friends! As you know, Ayurveda is in a period of major transition, moving from the stage of obscurity to one of general recognition and respect. The path forward to establishing Ayurveda as a legitimate healing science presents varied challenges; it is therefore essential that we work together, using our collective experience and skills to promote and safeguard the interests of our precious field of study. NAMA has played an indispensable role in this process, and much work still lies ahead. For years, I have strived to promote awareness of the gift of Ayurveda, which is unparalleled in so many of its aspects, and I feel honored to serve on NAMA's Board of Directors to further advance the various efforts of this organization.

Heather L. Grzych, CAP
California

After being on NAMA's board for three years, I see how we need all Ayurvedic professionals to be succeeding more in the U.S. NAMA has done over 20 years of very hard work to lay the U.S. foundation for Ayurveda, and I believe it is about to pay off. As NAMA’s current Board Secretary, I will continue to do my part to help NAMA enable our Ayurvedic professionals to collectively achieve greater prosperity and recognition for the profession right now in the U.S. I'm here to serve, so reach out to me!

The board will work to continue growing and establishing the structure of what it means to be an Ayurvedic professional, while expanding partnerships with donors and sponsoring organizations, yet also focusing on reasonable, balanced operations that will ensure NAMA can continue to exist for the Ayurvedic profession. Much work lies ahead.

Thank you,
Nominations & Elections Committee

Jolynne Flores, Chair, Membership Manager
Monika Manohar, BAMS, AD, Director
Susan Weis Bohlen, Director