Dr. Scott Gerson M.D., Ph.D., Founder,
Chief Āyurvedic Consultant and Physician
Dr. Scott Gerson founded his private medical practice in 1982, and since that time has integrated Āyurveda with conventional allopathic medicine. Currently, Dr. Gerson is the only Westerner to hold both the postgraduate M. Phil. (Ayu) and a Ph.D. degree in Āyurveda--the highest level of Āyurvedic education--and the only physician in the United States to have complete formal training in both conventional and Āyurvedic medicine.
Dr. Gerson is proud to be a Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine where he helps develop and teach aspects of Āyurveda and integrative medicine to medical students and faculty. He does not travel extensively except for trips to India once a year. He prefers to remain as quiet and still as possible and to assist his patients with their understanding of their health conditions. The primary activity in his life is to be available as an Āyurvedic consultant and physician for his patients in his office, which is now in Dunedin, Florida. He also travels to New York City offering consultations several times a year.
For Dr. Gerson’s extensive biography, please visit our “About” page.
Alma Harrison, Senior Āyurvedic Therapist, Therapist Supervisor, Senior Administrator
Formerly Alma Manzo Valencia, Alma’s interest and training in holistic healing, plant medicines, and human energetics are deeply rooted back to four generations of Healers (a.k.a. “Curanderos” or “Sobadores”) from Mexico on her father’s side of the family. From an early age she learned and assisted her father in the treatment of patients, diagnosing and treating the root causes of disease through traditional and natural methods. Alma received her BA degree from Meredith College in North Carolina, in Psychology and Religious and Ethical Studies, and subsequently began work as a licensed massage therapist for many years.
Alma’s exceptional natural abilities, compassion, and deep love of plants has led her to work alongside Dr. Scott Gerson at the Gerson Institute of Āyurvedic Medicine, where she continues her passion to help people heal on all levels of their being. Alma, like all selected GIAM therapists, was personally trained by Dr. Gerson in the traditional guru-shishya parampara (teacher-student tradition). She has passed rigorous theoretical and practical exams to earn the position of Senior Āyurvedic Therapist.
Apart from her career, Alma thoroughly enjoys practicing yoga, organic gardening, hula dancing, raising her two sons, and spending time with her family.
Heather Stuart, Director of Yoga
Heather Stuart is an experienced Āyurvedic Yoga Therapist and the Director of Yoga for the Gerson Institute of Āyurvedic Medicine. Her lineage of teaching is based on Krishnamacharya’s Yoga Therapy and the principles of Ayurveda. She began her studies in 1996 and has been teaching yoga since 2000 both privately and publicly. Heather has a broad background in Holistic Medicine, specializing in Āyurvedic Yoga. She is a Classical Homeopath and is currently studying Tibetan Medicine.
Heather’s approach is both simple and powerful, bringing awareness to our mind-body connection in a therapeutic manner. She guides each student with ease and grace allowing for the true healing potential of Yoga to awaken within.