Guru Sandesh Singh Khalsa, N.D. has been appointed Dean of the University of Bridgeport’s College of Naturopathic Medicine commencing August 1, 2004.Most recently Dr. Khalsa served as Interim President, in addition to his role as Chief Academic Officer of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, leading the College through a difficult and challenging time. He has filled several roles at the College, including two different periods in administration, teaching (many different courses), clinical supervision, and private physician shifts.
G.S.S. Khalsa graduated from National College in 1978 with an N.D. degree. When he entered NCNM in the fall of 1974, students at that time spent their first two years learning basic sciences in Wichita, Kansas where they were students of both NCNM and Kansas Newman College. Students then came to Portland for their last two years of study for their clinical training.
Dr. Khalsa joined NCNM’s faculty and staff in 1979. He was promoted to the rank of Professor in 1994, has held faculty positions for the past 23 years at NCNM, and has served in several different roles in the administration. He served as the College’s Interim President (2001-2002), Chief Academic Officer (1997-2002), Dean of Academic Affairs (1996-2001), and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs (1994-1996). Looking further back, Dr. Khalsa was also Interim Dean of Academic Affairs (1983-1984), Dean of Curriculum and Instruction (1981-1983, and Chair of the Clinical Sciences Department (1980-1981). He was in private practice 1978-1979 in Medford, Oregon.
Dr. Khalsa is a licensed Naturopathic Physician who also holds a Bachelor’s degrees in Physics from Occidental College and in Human Biology from Kansas Newman College. His experience includes more than a decade of extensive work with HIV/AIDS patients. He was an advisor on the use of federal funds to fight the disease, including serving for seven years on the Ryan White Title II State Advisory Consortium. In private practice, Dr. Khalsa focuses on endocrine and immune disorders. He also taught at Portland’s Oregon College of Oriental Medicine.
>From August 1998 through August 2001, Dr. Khalsa served as the President of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), the accreditor for the naturopathic profession. He has also served as the College representative to the CNME for a number of years. Dr. Khalsa is also a seasoned evaluator of ACAOM, the professional accrediting agency representing Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in the U.S.
Known for having a special affinity for bears, Dr. Khalsa also loves nature and climbing mountains (especially in the Canadian Rockies), and enjoys traveling with his wife, Linda Northrup, L.Ac., a licensed acupuncturist.
Dr. Khalsa’s appointment follows a national search to replace Dr. Peter Martin who returned this past spring to the presidency of Palmer West, of the Palmer College of Chiropractic. As the only comprehensive institution of higher education in the U.S. with a Naturopathic College, we look for the next stage of its development to be guided by Dr. Khalsa, a nationally prominent figure in Naturopathic Medicine.
Please welcome Dean Khalsa to the UB community and provide him with any assistance he may need. We are very pleased to have him as a member of our team and look forward to his leadership as the Dean of the University of Bridgeport’s College of Naturopathic Medicine. Dean
Kahalsa can be reached at 576-4112.