Microbiome and Metabolic Syndrome

Chaitra is a first-year medical student. She graduated from The University of Southern California undergraduate program in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and the master’s program in Global Medicine. Raised by a mother who trained in Ayurvedic Medicine, Chaitra believes that the future of medicine will benefit from an evidence-based integrative approach to inform patient care. Chaitra is excited about writing content that will inform both healthcare providers and patients about emerging topics and developments in the field of dermatology. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, baking, and spending time with her Goldendoodle, Luca.

LaToya is a passionate advocate for access to affordable, non-invasive healthcare. She is a third-year naturopathic medical student at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. LaToya brings over a decade of business experience to her naturopathic journey. Her background is in strategic leadership, software and infrastructure deployment, and project and portfolio management.

LaToya’s medical interests include integrative dermatology, oncology and chronic disease. Her goal is to decrease the disparities in life expectancy that exists among varied socio-economic levels by influencing systematic change that can positively impact social determinants of health. In her free time, you can find LaToya serving her community alongside her sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where she implements initiatives that focus on cultivating academic achievement towards post-secondary education, building economic literacy and empowering others to improve their health and wellness.

LaToya also strives to build community and support naturopathic medical students in her role as Vice President of Membership for the Naturopathic Medical Student Association. Skin Philosophy: Once we learn to speak the same language as our bodies, we can promote lasting healing that emanates on our skin and throughout our bodies.

Dr. Raja Sivamani is a board-certified dermatologist and practices as an integrative dermatologist at Pacific Skin Institute. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the University of California, Davis and Director of Clinical Research and the Clinical Trials Unit.He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the California State University, Sacramento and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at California Northstate University, College of Medicine.He engages in clinical practice as well as both clinical and translational research that integrates bioengineering, nutrition, cosmetics, and skin biology. With training in both Allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine, he takes an integrative approach to his patients and in his research.He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research manuscripts, 10 textbook chapters, and a textbook entitled Cosmeceuticals and Active Cosmetics, 3rd Edition with a passion for expanding the evidence and boundaries of integrative medicine for skin care.