Symposium 2025
Speakers
List of Speakers
and many more…
Padma Shri
Dr. B. N. Gangadhar
Chairman, National Medical Commission, New Delhi
Padma Shri Dr. B. N. Gangadhar is the current Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC), New Delhi. He is a renowned psychiatrist and formerly served as the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). With over 30 years of experience in mental health, Dr. Gangadhar has contributed significantly to clinical research and education in psychiatry.
He earned his MBBS from Bangalore Medical College in 1978 and completed his MD in Psychiatry in 1982. Following this, he joined NIMHANS as a faculty member and later became its Director. His work has been recognized with the prestigious Padma Shri award for his contributions to medicine and mental health.
As the Chairperson of the NMC, Dr. Gangadhar is responsible for overseeing medical education and professional standards in India. His leadership is expected to drive transparency, ethical medical practices, and improvements in healthcare education and regulation
Prof. Harald Walach
K S University, Vilnius, Lithuania
Prof. Harald Walach is a clinical psychologist, philosopher, and historian of science. He is currently a Professorial Research Fellow at the Next Society Institute of Kazimieras Simonavicius University in Vilnius, Lithuania. His work spans psychology, philosophy, and complementary medicine, with a focus on consciousness studies, mindfulness, and alternative medicine research.
He holds a PhD in Philosophy and History of Science from the University of Vienna and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Basel. Over his career, he has held various academic and research positions, including at the University of Northampton (UK) and Europa Universität Viadrina (Germany). He has contributed significantly to research in complementary medicine, particularly regarding homeopathy, meditation-based therapies, and integrative health practices.
Walach has been involved in controversial research, such as studies on COVID-19 mask effects and vaccine efficacy, which led to some scrutiny and retractions in the scientific community.
Dr. Wayne Jonas
Professor of Medicine, Georgetown University, USA
Dr. Wayne Jonas, MD, is a widely published investigator, practicing family
physician, and professor of medicine at Georgetown University and at
Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. He is also a retired
lieutenant colonel in the Medical Corps of the United States Army. Dr.
Jonas was the director of the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National
Institutes of Health from 1995 to 1999 and led the World Health
Organization’s Collaborative Center for Traditional Medicine.
Prior to that, he served as the director of medical research fellowship at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He now advises national and international organizations on ways to implement evidence-based healing practices in their medical systems. He serves as the President of Healing Works Foundation.
Dr. Ramji Singh
Executive Director, AlIMS Kalyani
Prof. (Dr.) Ramji Singh is the Executive Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Kalyani. He has held this position since May 2020. AIIMS Kalyani, established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), is an Institute of National Importance aimed at improving regional healthcare and medical education in India. Under Dr. Singh’s leadership, AIIMS Kalyani continues to expand its medical services, including super-specialty departments and a focus on AYUSH systems of medicine.
Dr. Andrew Newberg
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital,
Philadelphia, USA
Dr. Andrew Newberg is a professor at Thomas Jefferson University and the director of research at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health. He is board-certified in internal medicine and nuclear medicine. His research primarily focuses on neurotheology—the study of the relationship between the brain and religious or mystical experiences. He has used brain imaging techniques to explore how religious practices such as prayer and meditation affect brain function and overall health.
Dr. Newberg has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles and 14 books, including How God Changes Your Brain and Neurotheology: How Science Can Enlighten Us About Spirituality. His work has been featured in major media outlets like Newsweek, Time, National Geographic, and The New York Times.
Prof. Sunil Kumar Khare
Director, IISER Kolkata
Prof. Sunil Kumar Khare is the Director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata. He took on this role in 2024 and has an extensive background in biochemistry and interdisciplinary research. Before joining IISER Kolkata, he was an Institute Chair Professor at IIT Delhi. He is also the President of the Association of Microbiologists of India and Vice President of the Biotech Research Society.
Prof. Khare has emphasized interdisciplinary and collaborative research, particularly in disease management, climate studies, and artificial intelligence applications. Under his leadership, IISER Kolkata has been actively working on multiple national and international research projects, including collaborations with AIIMS Kalyani and West Bengal National University of Judicial Sciences.
Dr. Madhavan Chandran
Associate Professor, Physiology, AIIMS Kalyani
Dr. Madhavan Chandran is an Associate Professor of Physiology at AIIMS Kalyani and the In-charge of the Diagnostic EEG Lab at the institution. He holds an M.B.B.S and M.D. in Physiology from Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, along with an M.Sc. in Yoga Therapy from Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University. With prior academic roles at JIPMER and AIIMS, he has contributed significantly to physiological research, particularly in sleep studies, autonomic function, and yoga therapy. His research also includes studying the effects of music on the brain, specifically the impact of listening to the Indian raga Bhimpalasi on EEG power spectrum in healthy adults.
His ongoing projects explore AI-based neonatal cry analysis, genetic influences on sleep, and transcranial magnetic stimulation in depression. Dr. Madhavan has authored Physiology Residency Made Easy and co-edited Lippincott Illustrated Reviews of Physiology (2nd South Asian Edition, 2023). He has delivered invited talks on neuroplasticity, reproductive physiology, and yoga research, and has conducted workshops on EEG techniques. A member of prestigious organizations like the American Physiological Society and the Indian Society for Sleep Research, he continues to advance the field of physiology through teaching, research, and professional collaborations.
Dr. Sukanto Sarkar
HOD, Psychiatry, AIIMS Kalyani
Dr. Sukanto Sarkar is an accomplished psychiatrist currently serving as the Additional Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS Kalyani. He holds an MBBS, DPM, and MD in Psychiatry and has accumulated over 18 years of experience in the field. His professional journey spans work in both mental hospitals and general hospital psychiatry units, where he has gained extensive expertise in handling adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry cases. His specialization includes psychiatric emergencies, deaddiction, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and community psychiatry.
As an educator, Dr. Sarkar has been actively involved in teaching undergraduate, postgraduate, and nursing students. He has chaired various academic sessions, including seminars, case conferences, and journal clubs, contributing to the overall development of psychiatric education. His research acumen is evident in his extensive publication record, with more than 30 research papers published in national and international indexed journals. He has also led and participated in several funded research projects, focusing on the neurobiological basis of psychiatric disorders.
His primary areas of interest include neuropsychiatry, the etiology of mental disorders, research methodology, and medical education. Dr. Sarkar’s research contributions include studies on alcohol dependence syndrome, transcranial magnetic stimulation in addiction treatment, depressive disorders in schoolchildren, and sleep deficits in schizophrenia patients. His work has been widely recognized, earning him prestigious awards such as the Leelabati Bholanath Award (2008) for his research on sleep architecture in schizophrenia patients, Best Poster & Paper Awards at SBV Research Week (2016 & 2017), and a Gold Medal for academic excellence in a postgraduate diploma in health professional education (2018).
Beyond academia and research, Dr. Sarkar is known for his disciplined and efficient administrative skills, ensuring optimal patient care and fostering a collaborative work environment. His contributions to psychiatry continue to influence both clinical practice and academic research, making him a respected figure in the field.