Pioneering Ayurveda: Transforming Wellness through Tradition and Innovation!

Prof. Dr. G.G. Gangadharan, an authority in the field of Ayurveda, has consistently emphasized the vital role that traditional knowledge systems like Ayurveda play in enhancing modern healthcare. He highlights Ayurveda’s holistic approach, which goes beyond treating symptoms to focus on balancing the body, mind, and spirit for overall well-being. He notes that Ayurveda is not just about medicine, but about understanding life and health in a deeply interconnected way. In his view, the wisdom of Ayurveda offers valuable insights that can offer effective treatment solutions for a host of health care problems that we see today and also complement modern medical practices, especially in the realms of degenerative diseases, preventive care and maintaining balance in the body.

Dr. Gangadharan has also been a proponent of integrating Ayurveda with contemporary scientific research. He believes that the future of healthcare lies in the harmonization of traditional and modern systems, where Ayurveda’s ancient knowledge can guide advancements in medicine, such as personalized medicine and treatments tailored to an individual’s constitution. Furthermore, he has extensively worked on the preservation and promotion of Ayurvedic practices, including medicinal plant conservation, local health traditions and standardization of clinical protocols, to ensure Ayurveda’s relevance and efficacy in the modern world.

Education

Ayurvedacharya [BAMS]
Ayurveda College, Coimbatore
1978 – 1985
A first-of-its kind unique 7½ years residential Ayurveda Medical Degree ‘Ayurvedacharya’ [BAMS] from Madras University delivered in the traditional Gurukala format with emphasis on personality development, imparting traditional values, principles, and deep-rooted knowledge.

Fellow of Ashoka Innovators for the Public (FAIP)
Ashoka Foundation, USA
1999
An international fellowship offered by US based Asoka Foundation, having the largest network of leading social entrepreneurs in the world, who are selected after a rigorous process with each member committed to championing new patterns of social good.

PhD
Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune.
2006 – 2013
Doctoral study involved developing a standardized clinical protocol for Ayurveda clinicians based on Ayurveda theory and clinical practice for rheumatoid arthritis.

Master of Management
McGill University, Canada
2012 – 2014
A two-year hybrid (online and residential) International Masters in Health Leadership (IMHL), a post-doctoral international management program for outstanding senior health leaders.

Fellow of the Rashtriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth (FRAV),
Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India
2022
Fellowship given by Ayush Ministry to felicitate eminent scholars and Vaidyas for their significant contribution for the progress of Ayurveda in the fields of education, research, literature, and health care.

Work Experience

Chairman and Chief Medical Officer,
Ayurvedamaritham Health Centre and Dr. GG’s Ayurveda Chikitsalaya, Bangalore
2023 – Till date

Ramaiah Indic Specialty Ayurveda – Restoration Hospital
Founder Director
2014–2023
Established a state-of-the-art 100-bed NABH Ayurveda restoration hospital from the ground up. Manage a multi-specialty and multi-disciplinary healthcare center offering premium Ayurveda based outpatient and inpatient clinical services. Initiate, lead, and manage impactful research
initiatives in collaboration with other reputed governmental and nongovernmental research organizations.

IAIM Healthcare Centre/FRLHT Trust
Medical Director/Additional Director
2003–2014
As Additional Director and a part of the top leadership, was involved in steering the organization and guiding the major research activities and programs. As medical director, involved in founding, establishing, and managing the NABH-accredited 100-bed integrative healthcare
center since its inception.

Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP), Coimbatore
Technical Director and Vice-President
1986–2003
Centrally involved in development of new dosage forms and traditional Ayurveda formulations – classical as well as proprietary. As a technical director at Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, continued to practice Ayurveda and actively lead many initiatives to promote Ayurveda and sustainable use
of medicinal plants.

Awards & Recognition

• Commendation from Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for authoring a book on Ayurveda (attached as Appendix)
• Award for the Best International Awareness Building on Ayurveda from Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore.
• Award for proficiency in clinical application of Ayurveda Shastra from Vaidya raj Datar Panchaboutik Chikitsa and Samshodhan Kendra, Sangli, Maharashtra.
• Shri Mathuradas Parikh Award for Excellence in Ayurveda Profession awarded by Indian Association for the Study of Traditional Asian Medicine, Pune.
• Certificate of Honor in recognition and grateful appreciation for exemplary contribution to Ayurveda – The science of life by Ayurved Sutra, Jaipur
• Recognition as `Guru` for outstanding contribution to Ayurveda by Indic Academy, Bangalore
• Certificate of appreciation in recognition of valuable contribution to AYUSH research and development by Savitribai Phule Pune University
• Recognition as `Guru` by Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (National Academy of Ayurveda), New Delhi

Contributions to the field of Ayurveda

1. Research around the genetic basis of Prakriti, the Ayurveda concept of constitutional body types. Principal investigator for a multi-center initiative that examined the relationship between Prakriti and biological determinants including physiological characteristics and cellular/molecular signatures that are known to distinguish between groups of individuals and are related to differential susceptibilities to disease. Role involved the formulation of research questions based on the understanding of Ayurveda concepts of Prakriti and the importance of Prakriti in susceptibility to diseases, diagnosis of disease and clinical management. Also contributed to the expert clinical assessment of Prakriti as a senior Ayurveda physician in the published works
2. Coordinated (1995 – 2003) a pan-India program on Local Health Traditions and Ayurveda which made significant contributions to the revival of ISM and LHT in India by the name Lok Swasthya Parampara Samvardhan Samiti (LSPSS).
3. Was the editor of a well-known journal of Ayurveda in India – ANCIENT SCIENCE OF LIFE. Co-authored books on medicinal plants and has many research papers to his credit.
4. Made significant contributions to bring Ayurveda into limelight through Global Ayurveda Festivals (GAF) a prestigious biennial event and was instrumental in bringing the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Sri. Narendra Modi twice to inaugurate the vision conclave of GAF in 2016 and for the virtual event in 2021.
5. A regular Consultant for departments of AYUSH, DST and NMPB (Govt. of India) on Medicinal Plant related Projects (Proposal and Work evaluation). Member of multiple technical committees in the capacity of senior advisor in the government and private sector involved in the
   promotion of Ayurveda and medicinal plants.
6. Centrally involved in the conception and execution of a landmark event on national biodiversity called the Indian Biodiversity Congress. Also, was instrumental organizing several major events including ‘Annam’ on food security focused on India’s wholesome food traditions.
7. Delivered numerous invited lectures on Ayurveda across India and abroad on topics related to treatment of lifestyle diseases, Panchakarma and promoting use of herbs in primary healthcare. Conducted a 3-day Panchakarma workshop at Columbia University, New York in 1996