Speakers of the Ayurveda Symposium 2023

Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)
Prof. Dr. Tanuja Nesari, BAMS, MD (Ayu), PhD (Ayu) Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA). She is the Chair for the Health Sector sub-skill Council for AYUSH and a member of Governing Council of IMS, BHU. Dr. Nesari is also a member of the General Assembly of ICCR, a Member of the Board of Governors, CCIM and serves on the academic board of various universities like ITRA, Jamnagar & National Academic and Research Bodies.
She serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of CCRAS and domain expert of the Technical Screening Committee (TSC) of NMPB. Her influential leadership has brought more than 20 MOUs into the credit of AIIA. She played a key role in converting AIIA Hospital, New Delhi into COVID Healthcare Centre, where the patients are being provided holistic Ayurveda treatment.

Practitioner of alternative medicine
Hans Heinrich Rhyner, MD, PhD (Alternative Medicine), Dipl. NHP Ayurveda Medicine, is a recognized expert and pioneer of Ayurvedic medicine in Europe. He lived in India for 25 years and ran his own clinic in Bangalore. He looks back on 40 years of clinical experience and is the author of textbooks on Ayurveda. He applies his knowledge in his Swiss practice in Teufen, in Munich, Vienna and on Mallorca as well as in his manufacture of Ayurveda products in Austria.

Vice Chancellor of the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), University, Jaipur

Prof. Sanjeev Sharma is Vice Chancellor of the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), a leading Ayurveda University in Jaipur. He is a scientist, author and is one of the leading Ayurveda and Marma experts. Under his leadership, NIA has become one of the most advanced Ayurvedic training institutions in the world.

Physio- and Ayurveda therapist, alternative practitioner (physiotherapy)
Karin Bachmaier is an Ayurveda, Kalari and Sukshma Marma therapist as well as a non-medical practitioner for physiotherapy. As a lecturer, the trained physiotherapist enriches the European Academy of Ayurveda with her over 25 years of experience in manual therapy patient care, including from her own practice in Eichendorf/Lower Bavaria.

Master of Science in Ayurvedic Medicine, certified educator, alternative practitioner
Oliver Becker has been practicing Ayurvedic medicine in his own practice for many years. At the European Academy of Ayurveda, he works as a lecturer, module leader, educational coach and interpreter in the Ayurvedic Medicine course. In addition, he teaches in various other training courses of the Academy. His professional focus as a lecturer includes pharmacology and internal medicine of Ayurveda. In addition to Ayurvedic medicine, he has profound knowledge of yoga, Vedic knowledge systems and Sanskrit.

Gynecologist
Federica Brunetti, MD, is a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics; since 2020, she has mainly dealt with gynecological problems of chronic pelvic pain, vulvodynia and endometriosis. She works at Casamedica Medical Center in Bergamo, Italy, in the team of Dr. Chiara Marra, who specializes in chronic pelvic pain and women's health care with an integrated approach. Dr. Brunetti has been a doctor-in-training at the Ayurveda Point School in Milan for two years under the direction of Professor Antonio Morandi and Carmen Tosto. By studying Ayurvedic medicine, she hopes to find a new way to treat women's health in its entirety and complexity, where Western medicine often fails.

Head of the Ayurveda department at the Habichtswaldklinik Kassel
Ananda Samir Chopra, MD, studied medicine and Indology at the University of Heidelberg. After his license to practice medicine, he spent one year in Kolkata, India, studying Ayurveda. Since 1996 leading physician of the Ayurveda Clinic Kassel. 2009 to 2011 scientific assistant in a research project on the modern history of Ayurveda at the University of Heidelberg. Furthermore, he is the 1st chairman of DÄGAM e.V. (German Medical Society for Ayurveda Medicine). In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Chopra continues to be scientifically active in the history of medicine. Since his childhood he has been learning and practicing Indian classical music (Hindustani Sangit).

Assistant professor Panchakarma at the AIIA
Dr. Prasanth Dharmarajan PhD comes from a family of Ayurvedic doctors in Kerala and was one of the first employees of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), the top institute of the AYUSH Ministry of the Indian government. In 2015, he was appointed advisor and assistant professor for Panchakarma. He built up and developed the Panchakarma Department, which now treats hundreds of patients per day. He created the first national standards for training panchakarma therapists in India and trained the Institute's postgraduate students and therapists. Zuvor he worked in the Department of Panchakarma and Integrative Medical Studies at the Mata Amritanandamayi Math and its Ayurvedic School of Kerala. There he led and taught educational programs for international students, including Western doctors and medical personnel.

Ayurveda Clinic Director, Professor, J.S. Ayurveda College, Vice Chancellor, Maganbhai Adenwala Mahagujarat University, India
Prof. Shivenarain Gupta MD (Ayu) is a physician and professor of Ayurvedic medicine from Nadiad (India). He earned his doctorate degree from the famous Ayurveda University of Jamnagar. Today he heads the Department of Internal Medicine at the P. D. Patel Ayurveda Hospital. As a professor of the affiliated J. S. Ayurveda College, he has succeeded in establishing one of the most prestigious pancakarma clinics in India, where patients from India and Europe receive help. He was awarded by IASTAM (India) for his achievements in teaching and appointed as Vice Chancellor, Maganbhai Adenwala Mahagujarat University in 2022. At the European Academy of Ayurveda, he has been one of the key teachers and academic head of training in Ayurvedic Medicine for many years.

Professor and head of Svasthavritta
Dr. Mihir Hajarnavis MD (Ayu) is professor and head of the department of Svasthavritta and deputy headmaster at Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya in Pune. He is also a member of the study commission PG Paraclinical Subjects at the Ayurved Maharashtra University of Health Science in Nashik. He has been teaching in his special field of Svasthavritta for two decades and has extensive experience in research.

Ayurveda therapist, coach, yoga teacher, gong therapist
Tanja Hettich earned her Master of Ayurvedic Science from the European Academy of Ayurveda in cooperation with Middlesex University London in May 2023 and further gained clinical internship experience in Nadia and Kerala. Throughout her career, she held various senior positions as Head of Design and Brand Manager in the fashion industry before focusing on the field of Ayurveda from 2015. She has been practicing as an Ayurvedic Nutritionist since 2017 and teaches classes in Ayurvedic spice lore as well as Ayurvedic oil treatments and massage. Her own style of yoga developed from various trainings and observing the needs of sick and stressed patients. Gong treatment for humans and dogs was added to reduce emotions, trauma and stress as quickly as possible. With coaching Tanja supports individuals as well as practices in conflict management, practice organization, knowledge transfer and welcome culture. Since 2013 she has been sharing practices of embodiment, mindfulness and awareness. "Everything begins with awareness. It is your choice to open your eyes and live!" She is grateful for advice and support to earn her PhD.

Holistic dentist, Ayurveda specialist
D.M.D. Annette Jasper has been running her own practice in Munich for 20 years. Already at the beginning of her career she decided to work holistically and, if possible, not to use metal. Her special expertise lies in the fields of implantology and CMD (cranio-mandibular dysfunction). She deals with functional disorders and their effects such as tinnitus, back problems and headaches. Accordingly, she regularly lectures on the topic of tinnitus as a guest speaker in ENT clinics. In Dr. Japser's practice, factors from naturopathy and Ayurveda flow into the highly modern dental medicine.

Master of Science in Ayurvedic Medicine, Certified Health & Medical Nurse, Yoga Therapist and Certified Mental Trainer
Gabriela Karall runs her own practice for Ayurveda and Yoga therapy in Austria. Her special expertise is in the field of chronic neck pain. Regular Ayurveda & Yoga practice with Dr. Ajit Mandlecha and Dr. Shirish Deshpande in Pune and in Kerala (India). Development of a seminar series "Sound of Ayurveda" with Peter Hess.

Professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences
Dr. Anupama Kizhakkeveettil is a doctor of Ayurvedic medicine, licensed acupuncturist, professor, researcher, and founding program director of the Ayurvedic Medicine Department at the Southern California University of Health Sciences. Her contributions to the field of complementary and alternative medicine include extensive travel to propagate Ayurveda worldwide, numerous research presentations at national and international conferences, and publications in various peer-reviewed research journals. Dr. Anu serves on the boards of directors of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine, the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, and the National Ayurvedic Accreditation Council. She is the co-founder of Athreya Ayurvedic Integrative Health Center and Athreya Herbs, a U.S.-based provider of Ayurvedic herbal supplements.

Ayurvedic doctor and music therapist
Dr. Shubham Ram Kulkarni MD (Ayu) is practicing as Ayurvedic physician and music therapist in Pune and Mumbai, India, both in a renowned palliative care hospital and in his own private practice. In addition to his medical studies, Dr Kulkarni holds master's degrees in palliative care and psychology. He is furthermore a neurologic music therapist and a vocalist for classical Indian music. With the benefit of these qualifications, he has successfully conducted clinical researches in the field of Ayurveda and music therapy ranging from insomnia, stress, depression, dementia and cancer to pregnancy care. Dr. Kulkarni share his knowledge as an international speaker and has launched two mobile apps for training in music therapy.

General practitioner
Chiara Mariani, MD, has been a general practitioner since 2010 and was a member of the Italian Society of General Medicine (SIMG) until 2021. Since 2023 she has been an Ayurvedic Physician (Ayurvedic Point, Milan) and is attending a specialization in Ayurvedic Panchakarma Therapy (Ayurvedic Institute Asthavaidyan Thaikat Mooss', Thrissur). She has published papers on general medicine and teaches palliative care and chronic pain management to students of GP schools.

M.Sc.ayur., alternative practitioner and health care nurse
Isabelle Mertens works as a naturopathic therapist in the Clinic for Integrative Oncology and Supportive Medicine under the direction of Clinic Director PD Dr. med. Petra Voiß at Essen Mitte Clinics. As part of a large team, she helps to make the side effects of cancer disease and therapy more bearable for patients and to strengthen both physical and psychological resilience. In addition, she is a member of the 'Working Group Integrative Nursing in Oncology' coordinated by Prof. Dr. Mahler of the Faculty of Nursing Science in Tübingen, which aims to establish international expert standards in oncological nursing. She regularly gives lectures and workshops on this topic in the continuing education series of the Working Group for Gynecological Oncology (AGO/ AGImed). She also works since 2019 in her own practice in Essen with Ayurveda, acupuncture and other naturopathic methods.

Ayurveda doctor, former professor for postgraduate studies at the Gujarat Ayurved University
Prof. Dr. S.K. Mishra MD (Ayu) PhD was for several years professor and physician at the Faculty of Internal Medicine at the renowned Gujarat Ayurved University in Jamnagar (India). As a founding member of various Ayurveda colleges and associations, he looks back on a long and successful teaching and practice of Ayurvedic medicine. At the European Academy of Ayurveda he lectured on his specialties of Kaya-Cikitsa and Rasa-Shastra as part of his studies of Ayurvedic Medicine.

Indologist and religious scholar
Prof. Dr. Martin Mittwede is head of the Master of Science in Ayurveda Medicine at the European Academy of Ayurveda. The indologist and religious scholar habilitated already in 1996 with a research project on Ayurveda and has many years of experience in further medical training. He also teaches at the University of Frankfurt/Main and has published numerous works on Ayurveda medicine.

Neurologist and Ayurveda doctor
Antonio Morandi is a neurologist and Vaidya (Ayurveda Academy, Pune (India) / Joytinat International College of Ayurveda). He also has a specialization in Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy ( Ayurvedic
Institute Ashtavaidyan Thaikat Mooss',Thrissur). He has been Director of the Ayurvedic Point, Milan, for many years and is President of the Scientific Society for Ayurvedic Medicine Italy (SSIMA). In 2017 he was awarded the prestigious IASTAM ZANDU Award for Research in  Ayurveda. In 2019 he received the ECIM Award for the best clinical publication as co-author.

General practitioner and Ayurveda physician
Since 1998, Dr. med. Annette Müller-Leisgang has been working with her own practice for Ayurveda and nutritional medicine in Munich. In addition, she specializes in travel and occupational medicine. She has more than 30 years of experience in Ayurveda and heads the Ayurveda Institute Munich.

Specialist for physical and rehabilitative medicine, medical psychotherapist
Dr. med. Kalyani Nagersheth has been working as an Ayurveda doctor since 2000 and was head of the Ayurveda department at the Habichtswald-Klinik, Kassel. Today she runs her own practice for Ayurveda medicine in Frankfurt. She also takes over the medical supervision of Panchakarma cures at the Rosenberg Ayurveda Health and Spa Centre. One of her specialties is Western and Ayurvedic Phythotherapy. She is a book author and has many years of experience as a lecturer in Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurveda Physician
Dr. Sandeep Nair is a research associate and Ayurvedic physician in the Department of Neurology and Complementary Medicine at Augusta-Kranken-Anstalt Hattingen, Germany since September 2011. He is working with Univ. Prof. Dr. med. Przuntek on various research projects such as the influence of Vasthi and Ayurveda diet on microbiomics and the influence of Nasya on hyposmia of Parkinson's disease patients. His main responsibilities include diagnosing and treating patients with extrapyramidal movement disorders and other neurodegenerative diseases using complementary methods, training neurologists, therapists, and nurses on complementary medicine, and conducting clinical trials, observational studies, and systematic reviews of various treatment approaches for Parkinson's disease. Dr. Nair is a former assistant professor of panchakarma at MVR Ayurveda Medical College Kannur, Kerala. He completed his BAMS and MD in Panchakarma at Government Ayurveda College Trivandrum, his MSc in Neurorehabilitation Research at Danube University Krems, Austria, and his specialization in Clinical Research and ICH GCP at Pharma Academy Leipzig, Germany. Dr. Nair is one of the board members of IFAD (Indian Professional Association of Ayurveda Germany).

Director of the Institute of Ayurveda SNA Oushadhasala
Prof. A.N. Nambi MD (Ayu) represents the rich heritage of the Ashtavaidyas, for centuries the largest family of traditional doctors in India. He is active as a speaker, lecturer and physician in clinical practice and research. In addition to his position as director of the Institute of Ayurveda S.N.A. Oushadhasla (P) Ltd,
Thrissur, Kerala, he is a faculty member at Ayurvedic Point, Italy. He also served as scientific coordinator of the INDRA network and was a member of the Council for International Cooperation of Indian System of Medicine in the AYUSH Department of the Indian Government.

Ayurvedic Practitioner, Aromatherapist
Gabriela Paleta is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Aromatherapist and Yoga instructor and practices Ayurveda in Lisbon Portugal, specialising in Women and Children Wellbeing. She is also part of the AMAYUR Board - The Ayurvedic Medicine Portuguese Association for some years.

Ayurveda Physician
Manish Patel MD (Ayurveda), PhD in Kayachikitsa, works as Professor and Head of the Postgraduate Department of Kayachikitsa, J. S. Ayurveda College, Nadiad, India, where he works closely with Prof. Dr. S.N. Gupta. He has more than 20 years of clinical experience and has been actively teaching since 2007. Among other things, he gives practical/clinical training to students of the European Academy of Ayurveda and other institutions from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Numerous publications about his research in areas that were only sporadically present in Ayurvedic clinical research, such as chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, liver cirrhosis, ulcerative colitis, diabetic neuropathy and Parkinsonism.

Ayurveda doctor and pharmacologist
Vaidya Rammanohar MD (Ayu) is a doctor of Ayurvedic medicine and pharmacologist. He is currently serving as Director of Research at Amrita Centre for Advanced Research in Ayurveda, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Kollam, Kerala. He also serves as a research advisor for the National Institute of Ayurveda and for History of Science at the Indian National Science Academy. He is an expert member of the World Health Organization Committee on International Standardization of Ayurvedic Terminologies. He served on the Kerala State Government Task Force for AYUSH response to COVID-19. Further, he is a member of the Interdisciplinary Research and Development Working Group for COVID-19 at the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. His special interest is psychology and spirituality from Ayurvedic perspective.

Specialist for Ayurveda nutrition
Kerstin Rosenberg runs the European Academy for Ayurveda together with her husband. The internationally renowned specialist for Ayurveda and nutrition has been training people in Ayurveda nutrition and health counselling, psychology and therapy throughout Europe since 1996. She has 25 years of practical experience in Ayurveda and is in daily contact with patients, training participants and spa guests. As an author, she has published numerous Ayurveda books, which are among the best known works of Ayurveda literature.

Director of the European Academy for Ayurveda
Mark Rosenberg heads the European Academy for Ayurveda and is managing partner of the Rosenberg Ayurveda companies. He has many years of experience as a management consultant, Vastu expert and Yoga teacher BDY/EYU. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of VEAT - Berufsverband Europäischer Ayurveda-Mediziner und -Therapeuten e.V. He was awarded the prestigious Vaidya Sundarlal Joshi Memorial Management Award by MGMS (India) to honour him for his outstanding management achievements in the field of Ayurveda. He also received the IASTAM Pandit Shiv Sharma Oration Award.

Ayurveda Physician
Dr. Sukumar Sardeshmukh (BAMS) comes from a long line (more than 11 generations) of Ayurvedic physicians known for their ability to diagnose disease through pulse diagnosis (nadi pariksha). Along with his father and grandfather, Dr. Sardeshmukh has experience in the clinical treatment of cancer patients at India's first "Integrated Cancer Research Hospital," which is recognized both nationally and internationally for its success in the comprehensive treatment of cancer. He also has several Panchakarma centers across the country that receive patients from all over the world for a process of complete regeneration and healing. He is a trustee of Bharatiya Sanskriti Darshan Trust, which is involved in various activities such as Ayurvedic Medical College, Ayurved Hospital, Integrated Cancer Treatment and Research, Panchakarma Hospital and Sanjeevani Medicinal Plantation Unit.

Neurologist and senior hospitalist
Dr. Sandra Szymanski is the head physician of the Department of Neurology and (Ayurvedic) Complementary Medicine at the Evangelisches Krankenhaus Hattingen, which was founded in 2008 by Prof. H. Przuntek, initially as an outpatient center. From 2009, she worked as a senior physician in the department and played a key role in developing and expanding inpatient care before taking over as overall director in 2020. Her neurological training previously took place over many years at St-Josef-Hospital, Klinikum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum. With its unique, holistic and integrative concept, the certified special department for Parkinson's treats about 600 patients per year, very successfully combining Western and Ayurvedic medicine, also in the field of multiple sclerosis. In addition to clinical activities, she develops scientific projects together with the Ayurvedic physicians of the department, cooperation partner is among others the AYUSH Ministry / CCRAS (MoU), and gives lectures for patients and professional audience in Germany and India.

Consul General, Consulate General of India in Frankfurt
Dr. Amit Telang assumed the post of India's Consul General in Frankfurt on July 30, 2020. He graduated with a master's degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur and briefly served as a medical officer and lecturer before joining the civil service in 2004, first in the Indian Revenue Service and from 2005 in the Indian Foreign Service. Previously, he was head of the political wing at the Indian Embassy in Berlin and then head of the economic and trade wing at the Indian Embassy in Moscow. In the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, he served in the Public Relations Division, the Administrative Division, and the East Asia Division.

Yoga teacher, therapist, vice-director Ayurvedic Point
Carmen Tosto is a yoga teacher and Ayurveda therapist. She is also the Vice-Director of the Ayurvedic Point, Milan (Italy) and holds an Honorary Degree of Ayurveda Acharya from the Ayurvedic Institute Ashtavaidya Thaikat Moss, Thrissur.

Ayurveda Physician
Prof. Hitesh Anantray Vyas MD (Ayu) PhD (Ayu) started his academic education at JS Ayurveda College, Nadiad, before he acquired his postgraduate degrees at IPGT & RA Hospital and Gujarat Ayurved University in Jamnagar. During his career he worked in various leading positions, most recently as Deputy Hospital Superintendent and Head of Department of Swasthavritta of IGPT & RA. Meanwhile, he looks back on 23 years of teaching experience and has a vast experience in guiding research works of his students. 80 research papers on his scientific work have been published so far in peer reviewed national and international journals.

Specialist in neurology, Ayurvedic physician
Dr. med. Nadine Webering worked for a long time in a leading position in acute neurolgy in various clinics before she decided to study traditional Indian medicine at the Chair of Naturopathic Medicine at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Most recently, she worked in the Department of Neurology and Complementary Medicine (Ayurveda) at the Protestant Hospital in Hattingen as a senior physician. Today, she runs her own online company where she offers Ayurveda consultations online, among other things, making Ayurveda accessible to people who do not want to travel far to see an expert. Her main focus is the treatment of neurological diseases with Ayurveda and her first book "Migraine holistically treated with Ayurveda" was published on this topic. She is also a lecturer in Ayurvedic medicine.