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Founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

A non-profit university with on-campus and online degree programs

Home of Consciousness-Based Education

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

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Founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

A non-profit university with on-campus and online degree programs

Home of Consciousness-Based Education

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Request Info > Apply > Visit Us >
Request Info > Apply > Visit Us >

Advanced Graduate Certificate in Integrative Ayurveda for ABOIM Certified Physiciansonline • part-time

Enhance your integrative medicine skills with advanced training in Integrative Ayurveda, the oldest system of natural medicine in the world.

Discover a new paradigm

Discover a new paradigm

Our certificate program focuses on Consciousness-BasedSM healthcare, where the full holistic evolution of both physician and patient are placed front and center. You will also study a new way to think about botanical medicine, through an understanding of the science of Ayurvedic pharmacology.

Learning to assess Ayurvedic pathogeneses will provide you with an in-depth explanatory model for analyzing disease processes that may otherwise be difficult to comprehend through an allopathic paradigm.

Acquire new skills

Acquire new skills

You will learn the art of pulse diagnosis, allowing you to detect and treat imbalances in physiology at the earliest stages, before they have manifested as disease. In addition, you’ll discover how Ayurveda uses food as medicine, featuring individualized prescriptions tailored to each patient’s unique prakriti, or body type.

Study at home with a flexible schedule

Study at home with a flexible schedule

Our two-year, part-time online certificate program requires about 5-6 hours per week of study largely on your own time and schedule.

You will learn side by side with our Integrative Medicine and Ayurveda fellows but with a full focus on the Ayurvedic component of the curriculum.

You’ll avoid the strain typical of graduate degree programs and continue your clinical practice while enrolled in the program.

You’ll meet biweekly with your instructors for live clinical sessions. Once per year, you’ll have the opportunity to come for a week of residential study and experience on the MIU campus.

Get started by contacting Noreen

Noreen Dillman, admissions counselorNoreen Dillman is this program’s admissions counselor for US students. Noreen will provide you with all the details of becoming a student, including connecting you with the program director or faculty.

Contact Noreen >

Contact Noreen >

International applicants may connect with us through our international inquiry form.

Next entry: Aug 2024Apply Now >
Next entry: Aug 2024Apply Now >

Featured faculty

arti prasad

Arti Prasad, MD, FACP, ABOIM – Director

arti prasad

Arti Prasad is Adjunct Professor, College of Integrative Medicine at Maharishi International University and Chief Strategic Development Officer, Hennepin Healthcare
Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota

“As a founding member of the American Board of Integrative Medicine and as a practitioner, teacher, and leader in the field of integrative health, I believe this is the first time in the nation that the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda as a whole system of medicine will be highlighted and integrated with modern medicine.”

charles elder

Charles Elder, MD, MPH, FACP – Executive Director

charles elder

Charles Elder is Executive Director of the Fellowship MS in Integrative Medicine and Ayurveda for Medical Professionals; Senior Investigator at the Center for Health Research; and Emeritus Physician in the Department of Internal Medicine at Kaiser Permanente Northwest.

“Learning Maharishi AyurVeda helped transform my clinical practice, and I am eager to share with fellows and colleagues the novel, time-tested, and science-based approaches that can improve outcomes, optimize both patient and clinician health, and reinvigorate medicine.”

Sankari Wegman

Sankari Wegman, PhD – Assistant Director

Sankari Wegman

Sankari Wegman is Assistant Professor, College of Integrative Medicine, at Maharishi International University.

“Over the last 20 years in my professional practice, I have seen firsthand how Maharishi AyurVeda has transformed the health and well-being of patients. I am excited to be a part of this program that will equip healthcare practitioners with tools to provide their patients with whole person care from the different modalities of Integrative Medicine, while also placing an emphasis on practitioner self-care.”

Leslie Elder

Leslie Elder, MDAdjunct Associate Professor of Physiology and Health

Leslie Elder

Dr. Leslie Elder is Adjunct Associate Professor, College of Integrative Medicine, at Maharishi International University.

“Maharishi AyurVeda empowers us to not only be the healers we always dreamed of being, but additionally gives us the knowledge of how to best care for ourselves. It’s been my dream for many years to be able to share this knowledge with other health care professionals. I’m thrilled that this fellowship has now come to fruition.”

All Department Faculty

Guest faculty

Cheryl Ritenbaugh

Cheryl Ritenbaugh, PhD, MPH

Cheryl Ritenbaugh

Cheryl Ritenbaugh, PhD, MPH, is Professor Emerita of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona. Trained as a medical anthropologist, she has been active in federally-funded research into complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CIM) for more than 20 years, and was among the first to define and then implement whole systems research in CIM. She has mentored researchers in the field, and continues her involvement through consultation in major research projects.

Ing-Jun Hwang

Ing-Jun Hwang, DACM, MS, MA

Ing-Jun Hwang

Ing-Jun Hwang is a licensed acupuncturist certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and the State of California Acupuncture Board. She holds a doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and a Master’s in Maharishi Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. With over 30 years of translation/interpretation experience between Mandarin Chinese and English in Taiwan and the U.S., she is also a certified medical Mandarin interpreter for CCHI and NBCMI.

Kate Shafto

Kate Shafto, MD, ABOIM

Kate Shafto

Kate Shafto, MD is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Integrative Medicine, having completed the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine Fellowship in 2017. She is an Associate Professor with the University of Minnesota Medical School and Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, MN where she works in Integrative Chronic Pain care. With the Medical School, she is the Course Director for the small group, case-based learning course Foundations of Clinical Thinking for preclinical students. She serves as a subject matter expert in the areas of Integrative Medicine, non-pharmacologic chronic pain care, group medical visits, food/food systems and nutrition. She also teaches a culinary medicine, food systems and nutrition course for health professional graduate students and practicing providers which she co-created with a chef/MPH colleague.

Susan Wieland

L. Susan Wieland, MPH, PhD

Susan Wieland

Dr L. Susan Wieland is Director of the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA. She is faculty at the Department of Family & Community Medicine and has a guest appointment at the Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. Dr Wieland is a research methodologist and has been a member of the Cochrane Collaboration since 2001, leading several Cochrane and non-Cochrane evidence synthesis projects focused on non pharmacological interventions such as acupuncture, yoga and dietary supplements. Dr Wieland is a member of the Cochrane Climate Health Working Group and the GRADE Working Group and holds editorial positions at several integrative medicine and evidence synthesis journals.

May Wang

May Wang, MD, ABOIM

May Wang

Dr. Wang is a Senior Physician and Physician Acupuncturist in the Department of Family Medicine at Kaiser Permanente Northwest. Dr. Wang is originally from Florida, born to parents who emigrated from Taiwan. She went to college and medical school in Miami, Florida and then moved to Portland, Oregon in 2001 to do her residency training in family medicine at the Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU). Prior to coming to Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Wang worked at a Native American community health clinic for several years. She is an experienced physician acupuncturist. Dr. Wang currently lives with her husband, daughter, and cat in Northeast Portland.

Meena Makhijani

Meena Makhijani, DO, ABOIM

Meena Makhijani

Dr. Meena Makhijani is triple board certified in Geriatric Medicine, Family Medicine, and Integrative Medicine. She is also a certified Ayurveda Practitioner, having studied at the Ayurvedic Institute under Dr. Vasant Lad, and SCU (Southern California University). She also completed 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in AyurYoga. As a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), the concept of whole person care is core to her training. She uses an integrative perspective to optimize health in her Geriatrics practice at UCLA; as well as utilizing her medical knowledge in her Ayurveda practice. She also enjoys maintaining her spiritual and meditation practice, and is a professional Indian classical dancer and tabla player trained by Zakir Hussain.

Colonel Brian Rees, MD

Dr. Rees received his medical degree and master’s degree in public health from Tulane University and is a board-certified family physician. He retired from the US Army Reserve as a colonel after 37 years of commissioned service. A graduate of the US Army War College, Dr. Rees is a veteran of five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and spent eight years in hospital commands. He has also researched and written about the promotion of soldier resilience and resolution of PTSD, most recently as lead author of two published studies about the effects of Transcendental Meditation practice in resolving post-traumatic stress in Congolese refugees. Dr. Rees directs all operations of TM for Veterans, promotes visibility and acceptability of the application of TM for PTSD and resilience, and cultivates, implements and expands partnerships with VSOs, the VA, DoD and others for both TM programs and research.

ramakanth vemuluri

Ramakanth Vemuluri MD, MRCPsych, FAPA, FASAM ABOIM

ramakanth vemuluri

Dr. Ram is a board-certified psychiatrist. After graduating from medical school, he completed his initial psychiatric training in Scotland. Dr. Ram obtained an esteemed membership in the Royal College of Psychiatrists, London. He briefly worked as a consultant psychiatrist in London before moving to America. Dr. Ram completed his residency from the combined program of Creighton University and the University of Nebraska. Dr. Ram is a fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists. Following residency, he went into private practice and had a successful private practice before he moved to Atlanta. Dr. Ram was the first psychiatrist to introduce TMS and ketamine treatment for treatment-resistant depression and OCD in Central Alabama. Dr. Ram is board-certified in addiction medicine and has exceptionally high success rates in treating addiction. Dr. Ram is a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Dr. Ram has completed a master’s program in Ayurveda and an integrative medicine course. Dr. Ram completed a one-year fellowship in integrative psychiatry, and he is currently board-certified in integrative medicine.

danna park

Danna Park, MD, FAAP, FACP, ABOIM

danna park

Dr. Danna Park specializes in Integrative Medicine, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Dr. Park received her M.D. degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA. She is Board-certified in all three specialties.

Dr. Park is a graduate of the University of Arizona Residential Fellowship in Integrative Medicine. She currently serves as a Clinical Mentor for Integrative Medicine Fellows in training at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Park is the director of Mountain Integrative Medicine, PLLC in Asheville, NC where she provides integrative medicine consultations for adults and children with a variety of medical conditions. Dr. Park has specialized training in integrative cancer care, mind-body medicine, vitamins and supplements, and nutritional approaches for brain-based disorders. Dr. Park works closely with specialists and primary care providers to make sure an integrative plan meets the needs of the patient, addresses the concerns of their physicians and fits within the conventional medical plan in a safe way.

In addition to being a mother of two teen boys, Dr. Park shares a passion for flying airplanes with her husband and is currently fulfilling a lifelong dream of learning to play the harp.

geeta maker clark

Geeta Maker-Clark, MD, ABOIM

geeta maker clark

Dr. Geeta Maker-Clark is the Director of Integrative Nutrition and Advocacy at NorthShore University Health System and Clinical Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Culinary Medicine program at the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. Geeta has spent two decades studying integrative medicine, nutritional science, botanical medicine, mind-body medicine, and natural childbirth in health clinics all over the world. She started the Food is Power program on the South Side of Chicago in Chicago Public Schools to empower youth with health literacy, through a curriculum that focuses on decolonized food education, food justice and sovereignty. Geeta was recognized as a national leader in food justice activism with a Castanea Fellowship from 2019-2022 and the Mesa Refuge Michael Pollan Fellowship in Food Journalism in 2021. She believes that food, plants, dance, music, and art are necessary, daily medicines.

Dr. Maker-Clark works with the South Asian domestic violence organization Apna Ghar to teach classes that feature culturally favored foods, and is in partnership with Urban Growers Collective- a Black- and women-led non-profit 11 acre farm in Chicago, having created several food as medicine programs that reach thousands.

Dr. Maker-Clark believes in transforming the way we think about medicine and looks to the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda as well as the modern struggles of her patients as opportunities to heal with the medicines that are all around us. As a woman of color, a community organizer, and integrative physician and leader in the food as medicine movement , her work aims to help communities be well nourished- the heart of healing in our society and country. She maintains her spiritual practice by mantra meditation and as a performing dancer with Ayodele Drum and Dance Company in Chicago.

Amit Shah

Amit Shah, MD

Amit Shah

Dr. Shah is the founder of Palmetto Medical Group and Integra Wellness Center. He is a board certified in Internal Medicine with a special board certification in Integrative Medicine.

His goal is to provide Integrated personalized care with a focus on Prevention and lifestyle modifications with Ayurvedic approach whenever possible.

Dr. Amit Shah has obtained his medical degree from Municipal medical college in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India and was trained at Yale University affiliated residency program at St. Vincent Medical Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He also has obtained special certification by American Board of Integrative Medicine. His passion is in a truly integrative model of care which is being provided by Integra Wellness Center and his medical practice. He balances the application of Ancient wisdom of Ayurveda with modern medical science.

Currently, he is practicing as an Independent Integrative physician at Palmetto Medical Group, located Indian Land, SC which is part of greater Charlotte area. He is also affiliated to MUSC-Lancaster as a consulting medical staff in Palliative Care. He is currently serving as a Medical Director of a community hospice.

His interests include visual arts, creativity, yoga, travel, and community outreach locally as well as internationally. He also is nominated as a Chair of Ayurveda Consortium by incoming president of AAPI.

Aravind Kumar

Aravind Kumar, MS

Aravind Kumar

Aravind Kumar is an Ayurvedic physician specializing in ophthalmic disease. A citizen of the US, after completing high school education in the United States, based on his personal experience with Ayurveda, he opted to learn Ayurvedic medicine and completed undergraduate degree, B.A.M.S (Bachelor of Ayurvedic medicine and Surgery) and postgraduate degree, M.S in Ayurvedic ophthalmology from the School of Ayurveda, Amrita University, in India.

Currently he is pursuing PhD in Physiology and Health from Maharishi International University and works as a Research Coordinator with Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Research and Development Institute, a premier organization that specializes in the Ayurvedic management of ocular disease.

Featured courses

World,Health,Day,Concept:,Human,Hands,Holding,Earth,Global,On

Introduction to Integrative Medicine and Integrative Ayurveda

World,Health,Day,Concept:,Human,Hands,Holding,Earth,Global,On

Students learn to practice tools for self-care that will form the basis for integrative patient care. These include principles and practices of mind-body and lifestyle medicine from Ayurveda, meditation, and Yoga. The paradigm of consciousness-based health and foundational concepts of Ayurvedic anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment are introduced. Finally, we discuss how modern discoveries of Integrative Medicine and traditional insights into natural health care can be woven into contemporary clinical practice in a science-based, holistic framework called Integrative Ayurveda.

egg avocado salad

Introduction to Nutrition and Diet

egg avocado salad

This course offers in-depth knowledge of the scientific basis for healthy eating patterns from an Integrative Ayurveda vantage point. The course explores how and why Integrative Ayurveda emphasizes the digestive process to facilitate absorption and utilization of nutrients, while minimizing toxic byproducts. Students learn simple protocols for Ayurvedic cooking, when and how to eat, and how to personalize dietary recommendations for an individual mind-body imbalance or mind-body type.

hiker in woods

Lifestyle Medicine

hiker in woods

In this course students expand their understanding and clinical skills in lifestyle medicine, including sleep, exercise, and substance abuse. The course reviews normal sleep patterns as well as common sleep disorders and their management from the Ayurvedic perspective. We introduce Yoga asanas as traditional movement therapy, and students learn how to tailor exercise and movement prescriptions to the patient’s mind-body type.

The curriculum presents the evidence for utilizing meditation and other integrative methods for substance abuse. Finally, there is an in-depth discussion of chronobiology, based on both modern and traditional principles, leading to detailed prescriptions for health promotion through daily routine in accordance with chrono rhythms.

All courses may include

  • Introduction to Integrative Medicine and Integrative Ayurveda
  • Introduction to Whole Systems of Health
  • Introduction to Mind-Body Medicine
  • Introduction to Nutrition and Diet
  • Integrative Medicine Business and Legal Issues
  • Lifestyle Medicine
  • Environmental Health
  • Five Sense Therapies
  • Botanical Dietary Supplements
  • Integrative Approaches to the Musculoskeletal System
  • Integrative Approaches to the Cardiovascular and Renal Systems
  • Integrative Approaches to the Gastrointestinal System
  • Integrative Approaches to the Respiratory System
  • Integrative Approaches to the Articular System
  • Integrative Approaches to the Endocrine and Reproductive Systems
  • Integrative Approaches to the Immune and Hematologic Systems
  • Integrative Approaches to the Nervous System, Mental Health, and Skin
  • Integrative Approaches to Obstetrics and Pediatrics
  • Integrative Approaches to Aging and Longevity
  • Integrative Approaches to Palliative and End of Life Care
  • Research and Scholarly Activity
  • Clinical Webinars
  • Residential Clinical Weeks

Entrance requirements

  • Must be a licensed physician who is board-certified in integrative medicine
  • Completion of the MIU admissions process, including submission of appropriate documentation and an admissions interview

Additional requirements

English language verification

International applicants must submit official English proficiency test scores within the past 2 years of at least 110 on Duolingo, 6.5 on IELTS Academic, 90 on TOEFL iBT or 58 on PTE.

Before your first class

All MIU students practice the Transcendental Meditation® technique. If you have not learned it yet:

  • Once accepted as a US student, the cost of TM instruction is covered through a grant offered by MIU
  • Applicants are encouraged to learn before beginning the program or within the program’s first month during the self-care module.
  • Contact your admissions counselor for details
  • Find information on the TM technique or search for a TM teacher at TM.org

Cost, 2024-25

US Students

US Advanced Graduate Certificate in Integrative Ayurveda for ABOIM Certified Physicians

The duration of the program is two years (4 semesters plus a summer term).

Semester cost (5 months)
Tuition$4,500
Tuition, other fees, scholarships, and financial policies are subject to change prior to the entry date. For more information, contact us at finaid@miu.edu for a quick reply — normally one business day — or see more about financial aid.

International Students

International Advanced Graduate Certificate in Integrative Ayurveda for ABOIM Certified Physicians

The duration of the program is two years (4 semesters plus a summer term).

Semester cost (5 months)
Tuition$4,500
Tuition, other fees, scholarships, and financial policies are subject to change prior to the entry date.

FAQ

How many hours per week should I expect to spend on this program?

On average, you’ll study about 5-6 hours per week, at your own time and pace.

How is this program structured?

Program study is part-time, online over two years. Plus, there is one week per year of residential clinical training at the MIU campus in Fairfield, Iowa.

The program is delivered online using asynchronous study materials plus live clinical webinars every two weeks with expert medical faculty.

You will learn side by side with students enrolled in the Fellowship MS in Integrative Medicine and Ayurveda for Medical Professionals, but you will learn only the Ayurvedic component of the curriculum.

When and how do I participate in the in-residence training?

The residential clinical training takes place one week each year at the MIU Center for Integrative Medicine in Fairfield, Iowa. The cost of instruction, housing, and meals for residential clinical training is included in your tuition; other expenses, such as travel, are the responsibility of the student.

Will in-residence training be offered at international sites?

Yes, if there is sufficient demand, we’ll offer residential clinical weeks in Europe and/or Asia for residents of those regions.

What are the benefits of taking this program?

  1. Facilitate whole person health. This includes mind, body, spirit, and environment.
  2. Practice self-care for your mind-body health and wellbeing. Prevent clinician burnout.
  3. Hone your skills in relationship-centered care
  4. Utilize all appropriate approaches of healthcare – conventional, complementary, and supportive methods.
  5. Emphasize the most effective, least harmful healthcare methods to facilitate the body’s innate healing response.
  6. Move prevention and health promotion to the foreground.
  7. Practice science-based integrative healthcare.
  8. Practice personalized Integrative Medicine
  9. Foster community, society, and planetary health.
  10. Develop expertise in the knowledge and practice of Integrative Ayurveda – a sophisticated and time-tested system of natural health care. Integrative Ayurveda specializes in simple, natural, practical and personalized methods to restore balance on all levels leading to whole person health.

What is Ayurveda, Maharishi AyurVeda, and Integrative Ayurveda?

Literally translated, Ayurveda is the Science (Veda) of Life (Ayu). Ayurveda derives from the ancient Vedic civilization of India. As such, it is widely regarded as the world’s oldest comprehensive system of natural healthcare.More than 40 years ago, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of MIU and the Transcendental Meditation technique, worked with leading Ayurvedic scholars, teachers and practitioners to revive the ancient, complete knowledge of Ayurveda in light of modern science. This restoration, called Maharishi AyurVeda, is based on profound insights into the universal and timeless laws of nature that govern our mind, body and environment and their basis in the field of consciousness. In this view, consciousness is the fundamental basis of mind and body. Further, disease or disorder arises when there is a loss of balance between this inner intelligence or consciousness and its expressions in mind, body and environment. The goal of Maharishi AyurVeda is to restore balance to all of these domains or levels of health to foster whole health for the individual and society.

Integrative Ayurveda is based on principles of Maharishi AyurVeda applied to contemporary Integrative Medicine clinical practice.

How do you make the online learning experience effective and fulfilling?

Years of experience of teaching Integrative Ayurveda at MIU shows that health professionals find using our online learning platform engaging and rewarding. To complement this, the program offers opportunities for co-learning amongst students and one-on-one interactions with our Integrative Medicine and Ayurveda faculty.

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