About Us
IIA OFFERS AYURVEDA WITH A HEART
THE IIA TEAM
Joseph Rich, CYT, MCLC
Chairman of the Board
Victor Briere, A.D.
Chief Academic Officer
Joe Rich is a co-founder of the International Institute of Ayurveda. He has been a practitioner and teacher of Kundalini yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan since 1998. Joe is a KRI certified teacher as well as possessing a degree in health care management, a background in counseling emotionally disturbed inner city teens, running group homes for at-risk youths, and working as an epidemiologist for the CDC.
Victor Briere, A.D., is a co-founder of the International Institute of Ayurveda, where he serves as a NAMA-recognized Ayurvedic Doctor and Kundalini Yoga Teacher. Victor is a gifted pulse reader specializing in ayurvedic diagnostic techniques and health counseling. He the author of Pulse Unveiled. He is the primary clinician and the Chief Academic Officer of the Academy.
Jennifer Day, CYT
Chief Financial Officer &
Head of Women's Studies
Jennifer is the head organizer of personal and group retreats focused on yogic and ayurvedic practices. She is a certified yoga instructor, and has been teaching classes since 2015. Jennifer also has extensive experience in business operations & management, and organizes the financial operations for IIA
FACULTY
Dr. Korde is a lead Ayurvedic Doctor and tenured professor at Gomantak Ayurvedic University and Hospital, Goa’s number one Ayurveda facility approved by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers.
Dr. Korde treats both bodily and mental diseases from a spiritual foundation and emphasizes that these elements are inextricably interconnected. He is extremely involved in spreading the genuine wisdom of Ayurveda throughout the world and takes it upon himself to convey the authentic message of healing with intensity and purity.
One of his specialties includes sound and music healing. He performs intensive research on the primordial sound of "AUM" and its effects on our entire being.
Neelesh Korde BAMS, MD
Senior Faculty and Physician
Dr. Gaurav Desai is one of the senior facutly at Gomantak University and Hospital in Goa where he did his BAMS. He earned his MD in Ayurvedic Toxicology at KLE's Shri B.M. Kankanwadi Ayurveda University. Dr. Gaurav is a teacher at heart. He is not only willing to share everything he knows with great refinement, but also creates a community of teachers around each and every student. He runs his clinics in Panjim and Margao (Goa) with great care and professionalism.
He is extremely well connected in the ayurvedic community and finds creative solutions to all sorts of challenges that his students meet by connecting them with the right doctors.
Gaurav Desai BAMS, MD
Ayurvedic Toxicology
Dr. Deepika Desai is brilliant and kind. She received her BAMS from Gomantak University and Hospital and her Post Graduate Degree in cosmetology from the Institute of Laser and Aesthetic Medicine. She helps her rogis become beautiful on both the inside and out, helping them heal in every way possible. She runs advanced panchakarma protocols from her clinics in Panjim and Margao (Goa). She is always excited to share her knowledge and teaches in a natural and graceful manner.
She has a wealth of knowledge and wisdom about ayurvedic beauty formulations, recipes, internal remedies, and external applications. She is a talented counselor, addressing rogis with both confidence and gentleness.
Deepika Desai BAMS, PGD
Ayurvedi Cosmetology
Dr. Sumod Khedekar has helped thousands of children heal from everything from a stuffy nose to severe diseases. Using ayurvedic principles of child development, he also helps all children, healthy or sick, grow to be vital and resilient. He received his BAMS from Gomantak University and Hospital, his ayurvedic MD in Pediatrics from National Institute of Ayurveda in Jaipur and his PhD from Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Eductation and Research, Nagpur.
He is an extremely enthusiastic teacher and believes that first hand experience is the best way to learn with children and parents. He demonstrates this daily in his clinics. He also developed an advanced ayurvedic formula especially for the development of children called Bal Rasayana.
Dr. Sumod assists in child delivery and helps children grow healthy and strong from preconception all the way to adulthood.
Sumod Khedekar BAMS, MD, PhD
Ayurvedic Pediatrics
Dr. Pratamesh Karpe is the head of ayurvedic surgery at Gomantak University and Hospital. He has performed thousands of procedures over his years of practice using the highly refined surgical techniques that Ayurveda developed thousands of years ago. He received his BAMS from Gomantak University and Hospital and his ayurvedic MD from Kedari Redekar Ayurveda Medical College in Maharashtra. He prepares extremely advanced surgical medicines such as ksharasutra, medicated threads uses for specific surgical techniques. He practices agni karma and viddha karma on a daily basis. If you don't know what those are then he will be more than happy to teach you!
He gives lectures and talks to both allopathic and ayurvedic doctors all over the world teaching us that many of the lesser know ayurvedic surgical techniques are still alive today and highly effective, especially post surgical recovery.
Pratamesh Karpe BAMS, MD
Ayurvedic Surgery
Dr. Nandan Lele has a BAMS from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences)has more than 12 years of clinical experience. He has successfully completed the Certificate course of Yoga from a renowned institute: Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute & Research Centre, Lonavala.
Dr. Nandan Lele is the 3rd generation of Ayurvedic physician in his paternal family while 2nd generation in his maternal family. Since the beginning of his Ayurveda studies he developed special interest in the effectiveness of Panchakarma therapies in prevention and ability to cure chronic illnesses. Under the expert guidance of his father (Dr. Avinash Lele , a world renowned authority in the field of Panchakarma) Dr. Nandan Lele continued to excel in this field.
Nandan Lele, BAMS
Dr. Neetika Kundailia has committed her life to kindness. She is a pioneering researcher of Ayurveda completing her BAMS from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Science Bangalore, Karnataka and later her MD from one of the prestigious, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, as the top of her class. Her research has inspired hundreds of studies on the benefits of meditation and other mind-body techniques. She devotes herself to bringing this holistic, natural healthcare system to her daily practice. Through various highly effective Ayurvedic therapies, profound knowledge, and wide experience, she not only intends to make Ayurveda a powerful tool of healing but also a lifestyle for sustainable well-being. Her key expertise is in chronic ailments like Cancer, Kidney, Liver disorders, etc. Dr. Neetika has authored International publications in esteemed Scientific Research journals and participated at National and International platforms of traditional Indian systems of medicines. She is also the part of the Advisory and scientific committee for various research journals.
Neetika Kundailia, BAMS, MD (Ayurveda)
Dr. Vikas approaches Ayurveda with passion. He is an herbalist par excellence, preparing custom formulations for each client who walks through his door. He has truly embraced the principle of Ayurveda that promotes a tailored approach to each person. He teaches Ayurveda with pure joy and plenty of knowledge to boot. Full of life and kindness, he performs advanced panchakarma in Dharamshala, India, for acute and chronic, severe cases of disease. What better to allay illness than humor, love and joy? This is his philosophy and he lives it fully. He has devoted his life to healing and teaching and has made him home in the Himalayas - the root of ayurvedic wisdom.
In addition to his healing work at his clinic, he runs an herbal manufacturing business committed to creating customized formulas for each rogi.
Vikas Saroch, BAMS, MD (Ayurveda)
Dr Ankita has achieved the level of PhD in women's health, the highest possible education in India. She is currently the chief clinician at Shree VishwAngad Ayurveda and a professor at D.Y. Patil Ayurveda University in Pune, Maharashra. Beyond university, he also learned Ayurveda extensively through Gurukul Parampara under the guidance of traditional ayurvedic teachers for 6 years. Dr. Ankita is an expert in women's and children's health, lifestyle oriented diseases, detoxification procedures and Garbha Sanskara (pregnancy). She believes friendliness helps build up her rogis' confidence which is essential to their healing.
As a teacher she impresses on her students that lifestyle is vital for any healing to happen, medicines must be tailored to the individual's needs and is known for saying that, "the kitchen is the best pharmacy.” In fact, her PhD thesis is on the topic of foods for women's health.
Ankita Shirkande, BAMS, MD, PhD
Women's Health
Dr. Geeta Patki is the head of the gynecology department at Gomantak University and Hospital. She performs advanced ayurvedic therapies for women every day and guides them towards health with her cheerful and wise disposition. She obtained her BAMS from Mubai University, Maharashtra and her MD from Gujarat University.
She teaches profound wellness and healing techniques to hundreds of BAMS students each year, guiding rogis through therapies, panchakarma, and lifestyle protocols on a daily basis.
Always willing to share, teach and serve, Dr. Geeta Patki is a treasure to Ayurveda. Her devotion supports mothers and children before, in, and after the delivery room.
Geeta Patki, BAMS, MD
Ayurvedic OBGYN
Dr. Rahul Kumbhar, a dedicated ayurvedic physician, focuses profoundly on autism spectrum disorders, bringing extensive experience and expertise in applying ancient ayurvedic principles for optimal well-being. He completed his doctorate from GOA University and has a background working in a specialized ayurvedic hospital for special children under the Government of Kerala.
Presently, he serves as the Chief Consultant for Autism & other Neurodevelopmental disorders at Urban Ayurved in Mumbai & Gujarat. His specialized focus encompasses individualized treatment plans, Ayurvedic dietary counseling, herbal medicine prescriptions, mind-body therapies, yoga, Viddhakarma, and advanced panchakarma tailored to ASD disorders. Dr. Rahul's philosophy revolves around a holistic understanding of each patient, addressing not only symptoms but also delving into root causes. He is passionate about empowering individuals with autism to lead fulfilling lives by embracing the profound wisdom of Ayurveda.
Rahul Kumbhar, BAMS
Autism and Developmental Disorders
JV Hebbar BAMS, MD
Ayurveda Pharma
Dr. Hebbar is a writer, author, public speaker and passionate practitioner of Ayurveda, elevating the quality of lives with the ambrosia of Ayurveda. He received his BAMS from RGUHS in Bangalore.
Dr. Hebbar reaches over 30,000 people every day through his work with easyayurveda.com and ayurmedinfo.com, which he created for pursuers of Ayurveda outside of the BAMS circles in India. Dr. Hebbar has taken it upon himself to provide high quality, and intensive training to those who wish to pursue careers in Ayurveda outside of India.
Dr. Hebbar has published 18 books in four languages, including English, and continues to produce more each year. He is a perennial teacher of the highest caliber. He is currently located in Mangalore where he teaches and practices Ayurveda daily. He undertook the incredible task of opening his 30 bed ayurvedic teaching hospital in 2023.