Discover the Heart of Our Organization: Dedicated to Authentic Ayurvedic Excellence.
AAAP is guided by a distinguished Board of Directors composed of highly accomplished professionals from diverse fields. Our leadership includes (BAMS, MD-Ayu, PhD-Ayu Ayurvedic Professionals) and experts in modern and integrative health sciences, naturopathy, acupuncture, Siddha medicine, and yoga therapy.
In addition to our Board of Directors, AAAP benefits from the guidance of an Advisory Board of seasoned professionals from the legal and allied fields, which ensure strong organizational governance and strategic growth.
Our directors and advisors have held leadership roles in prominent Ayurvedic organizations worldwide. Their dedication of time, expertise and resources reflect a shared commitment to preserving and promoting the authentic wisdom of Ayurveda.
Our broader membership represents a vibrant community of Ayurvedic professionals, many of whom actively advance Ayurveda on national and international platforms.
President
Vaidya Meenakshi Gupta, BAMS (Gold Medalist), MD (Ayurveda), is President of the American Association of Ayurvedic Professionals (AAAP) and a member of the NCAM Board of Directors. She is the founder of AyurRoots® Ayurveda Wellness in Plano, Texas, and co-founder of Ciamor® skincare.
A classically trained Vaidya and Panchakarma specialist, she has more than 25 years of clinical experience. Her work includes Ayurvedic nutrition, women’s wellness, and individualized diet and lifestyle guidance. She has more than 20 years of teaching experience in India and the United States, has developed courses in Panchakarma, Ayurvedic herbology, cosmetology, and medical yoga, and has delivered keynote addresses at Ayurveda conferences in the United States, India, and other countries. She has also completed studies in Nutrition Science and Child Nutrition through Stanford Center for Health Education.
Vaidya Meenakshi is Senior Editor of the Journal of Ayurveda and Holistic Medicine and a former co-editor of Ayurveda Mantra. Her recognitions include the Charaka Award, the Women Achiever Award (2021), and the Best Wellness Entrepreneur Award. She was also recognized by Top Pick Media in its Top 15 Women of the Year selections in 2019.
Vice President
Vaidya Deepa Bhatt serves as Vice President of the American Association of Ayurvedic Professionals (AAAP), President of the Texas Ayurveda Professionals Association (TAPAS), and a member of the NCAM Board of Directors.She holds a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and a Master’s degree in Panchakarma, is certified in Nadi Vijnana (pulse assessment), and is an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher. With over 24 years of experience in Ayurveda and Yoga, she is dedicated to education, community engagement, professional collaboration, and the preservation of traditional Indian sciences.She is a recipient of the Ashwini 2010 Award and has served as a speaker and panelist at seminars, conferences, and webinars in India and the United States. She is the Founder of AyurDhi Wellness and the Founder & Director of Sangeetha Sammohana Pathashala, an institute dedicated to Indian Vedic sciences and classical arts, and has over 19 years of experience teaching Indian classical music. She is also the Founder and Director of WE DÉCOR LLC.
Treasurer
Dr. Amit Gumman is Treasurer and a past President of the American Association of Ayurvedic Professionals (AAAP). He also serves as President of NCAM. He is the founder, president, and chief clinician of Harmony Healing Center in Oklahoma City, where he has practiced since 1994.
His clinical work brings together Ayurveda, acupuncture, herbology, naturopathy, and yoga. Over more than three decades, he has built an active integrative practice serving thousands of people.
Dr. Gumman graduated in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from the Government Ayurvedic Medical College in Hyderabad, India. He also holds a diploma in naturopathy and is certified as a yoga instructor. His community work extends to disability services, home health care, and interfaith understanding.
Board of directors
Dr. Shanmugamurthy Lakshmanan (Shan) serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Ayurvedic Professionals (AAAP). He is Vice Chancellor of the Vetha Center for Transdisciplinary Studies and holds a PhD in Applied Physics from Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
His research explores connections among science, consciousness, Ayurveda, and contemplative practices. He serves as Vice President for International Research, Scientific Advisor, and Head of the Indian Medicine, Sciences and Culture Division at the World Institute for Scientific Exploration. He has published in international journals and books, founded and edited two peer-reviewed journals, and served on the editorial boards of eight others.
Dr. Lakshmanan is also a member of the scientific committee of the Integrating Spirituality with Organizational Leadership Foundation and a founding member of SKY-USA. His honors include the Aryabhatta Award for Ayurveda research, an ISOL community program award, the Star of the Universe Award, and the Real Hero Award for his contributions to education.
Board of Directors
Dr. Prachi Garodia, MD, serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Ayurvedic Professionals (AAAP). She is a physician with five board certifications and is also a nationally board-certified health and wellness coach. Her certifications include internal medicine, integrative medicine, and lifestyle medicine.
Dr. Garodia pursued extensive training in Ayurveda, acupuncture, yoga therapy, and meditation alongside her medical career. Her work brings these perspectives together with functional and lifestyle medicine. She has worked with thousands of people and offers consultations, workshops, and professional training to communities in the United States and internationally.
Her background in both conventional medicine and Ayurveda brings a valuable perspective to AAAP’s work in professional education and integrative health.