Dr. Nayana Rao from the Amrita School of Ayurveda was recently honored with the Rashtriya Chikitsak Ratan Award. Translated as the National Gem of Physicians’ Award, this award is given annually for excellence in the fields of Ayurveda and Yoga by the Nation’s Health and Education Development Association. This year the award ceremony was organized during a seminar by the Nation’s Economic Development & Growth Society. In all, 28 outstanding individuals from various fields were honored.

Dr. G.V.G. Krishnamurthy, Former Chief Election Commissioner, presented the award to Dr. Nayana Rao. He lauded her contribution in enhancing India’s image abroad by introducing and popularizing the concepts of ayurveda and yoga in foreign countries like South Africa, New Zealand and Switzerland in the past decade. Dr. Nayana Rao did this mainly through her work with Ayurveda Sanctuary, a registered NGO. Currently, she serves as in-charge of the International Patient Services at the 300-bed Amrita Ayurveda Hospital attached to the Amrita School of Ayurveda in Amritapuri.

Dr. Nayana Rao’s novel and innovative work in the fields of ayurveda and yoga, particularly in perfecting the techniques of Panchakarma and Therapeutic Yoga, has been recognized at several international forums also. We congratulate her on this achievement.

June 30, 2009
School of Ayurveda, Amritapuri