Dr. Steffany Moonaz is a yoga therapist and researcher residing in the Philadelphia suburbs. She serves as the Research Director at SCU, and Adjunct Research Faculty at Maryland University of Integrative Health. Dr. Moonaz became curious about importance of mind-body activities at a young age and has always had a passion and a curiosity about the healing power of mindful movement. She completed undergraduate work in biology and dance at Oberlin College, earned an MFA from University of Maryland as well as a CMA (movement analysis) from the Laban Institute and spent eight years at Johns Hopkins University, helping to develop and evaluate a yoga program for individuals with the chronic diseases of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, which became the basis for her PhD in public health. Along with ongoing research collaborations at the National Institutes of Health and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr. Moonaz is working to bring yoga to people with arthritis in communities around the country, as well as educating yoga professionals about the unique needs of this population. She currently leads Yoga for Arthritis CEU programs nationwide and serves as a mentor for several emerging researchers who are studying the effects of yoga for various health conditions. Dr. Moonaz proudly serves in a leadership role with the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health and advocates for evidence-informed practice and policy across integrative health fields.

Jim Whedon is the Director of Health Services Research at Southern California University of Health Sciences and Adjunct Instructor at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. He holds a Doctor of Chiropractic from Logan College and a Master of Science from Dartmouth College. He has authored 33 peer-reviewed publications. He is an advisor to the Project for Integrative Health and the Triple Aim, co-chair of the research working group of The Academic Consortium for Integrative Health, charter member of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine, and recipient of the Jerome F. McAndrews DC Memorial Research Fund Award from NCMIC Foundation.

Crina Gandila is a certified research administrator with more than four years of experience working with major government agencies such as NIH, NASA, NSF, and DoD. Crina has a Master of Science degree in Business Analytics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and an MBA with a specialization in Online Marketing from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. Crina believes that education and health are the two most important pillars of a society. As a research administrator for SCU, she provides administrative support to an exceptional team of researchers dedicated to advancing the research in integrative medicine and mentoring the researchers of tomorrow. Before entering the research world, she worked in public relations and marketing, and as a freelance copy-editor and translator for Brill Academic Publishers.

Anupama Kizhakkeveettil is an Ayurvedic Doctor from India, licensed acupuncturist, yoga teacher and Professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU). She is the Program Director for Ayurvedic Medicine at SCU and has been teaching and practicing Ayurvedic medicine over eighteen years–traveling extensively in various countries to propagate Ayurveda. She is actively involved in integrative complementary and alternative medicine research and has authored in various peer-reviewed journals. She serves as a peer reviewer for several research journals and has presented papers at various national and international conferences. She also serves on the Board of Directors for National Ayurvedic Medical Association, California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine, Council of Ayurvedic Research, Research Working Group Member of Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health, and an Action Board Member of American Public Health Association. In her clinical practice, she integrates diet, yoga, lifestyle counseling, herbs, and various bodywork therapies individualized to the patient’s condition. Her main interests are managing musculoskeletal condition, mental health, women’s health, and preventative care. She believes in an integrative approach for health and wellness care.

Sivarama Prasad graduated with a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine from Osamnia University, Doctor of Medicine from University of Kerala, India and received a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU). Dr. Prasad is a licensed acupuncturist in California and holds a Diplomate in Acupuncture from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. He is currently working as a Professor and Director of Capstone Research in SCU’s College of Eastern Medicine, as well as a Supervising Clinician at SCU Health System and at the Student Health & Counseling Center at California State University, Fullerton.

Dr. Prasad has over twenty years in clinical experience integrating Ayurveda, traditional Chinese Medicine, and western diagnostic methods to evaluate, assess, and manage patients. Additionally, he prescribes yoga/tai-chi and breathing practices to his clients. One of his strengths is providing dietary advice, based on Eastern traditional medicine, that is best suited for the patient’s condition. He focuses on managing internal medicine conditions, specifically gastrointestinal, respiratory, immunological, psychological, and cardiovascular conditions.

Jennifer Noborikawa is a part-time faculty member and Research Assistant in the College of Eastern Medicine at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU). She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from California State University, Fullerton and a Doctor of Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine from SCU. Dr. Noborikawa is currently a member of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and Academy for Integrative Health and Medicine. She works with many adult and pediatric patients and enjoys giving them resources to take back control of their health.