Our Team at GCSMR
Guiding Siddha Medicine Research and Integrative Healthcare for global health.
Daivamani Sivasailam has a B.E in Civil Engineering from College of Engineering, Guindy and a M.S. in Transportation Engineering from Virginia Tech. Since 1984 he has worked in various aspects of Transportation and currently is a Manager at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
He has devoted most of his free time for the Tamil Community in the US at the national level and local level. For the past 15 years he and a few friends have run a Tamil School in Maryland and over 250 students are currently enrolled in the school.
He is also involved with Tamil Nadu Foundation, a charitable organization founded in 1974 for the past 34 years and was the immediate past President. He successfully implemented a number of rehabilitation projects during helping the people affected by the 2015 floods. He believes in the effectiveness of Siddha Medicine which has its roots in Tamilagam of Sangam era and feels the knowledge should be spread to all.
Mrs. Senthamarai Prabhakar (goes by Thamarai), former president of FeTNA (Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America).
www.fetna.org
Served as a Director in the Board, Joint Secretary, Secretary, Vice President, and President in FeTNA from 2011 to 2018.
Also served as President in the local Tamil organization, Greater Charlotte Tamil Association, a registered non-profit organization in North Carolina between 2011 and 2014.
www.cltts.org
Key volunteer in the formation of Tamil schools (Arasinagara Tamil Palli) and an active volunteer teacher till now
https://arasinagaratamilpalli.org/
Active volunteer in various Charitable organizations working on Social, Cultural, Environmental, and Empowerment of Women.
Currently working as a Research Scientist at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
Ph. D. (Endocrinology): A. L. Mudaliar Post-Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Taramani, Chennai.
Postdoctoral Fellow: Population Council, NY, USA.
Professional Experience: Published several research articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals in Endocrinology and Diabetes.
They can be found in the below link: https://tinyurl.com/3rscrfen
Community Activities:
Ever since I migrated to the US, I have been volunteering for various Tamil & Indian organizational activities.
Since 2000, I have been actively contributing to the Tamil Sangam of Carolina and served as Secretary (2016-2018).
From 2007, have been actively contributing to the Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America (FeTNA) and served as Secretary (2016-2018).
Currently serving as Treasurer of American Tamil Media, A media solely focusing on Tamil language heritage and the well-being of Tamil Diaspora across the globe.
Also, have been serving the Global Center for Siddha Medicine and Research (GCSMR) since its conception and recently has been given an opportunity to serve as Joint Secretary.
I have a MS in Economics from AVVM Sri Pushpam College, Poondi, Thanjavur. Have been living here in USA about 20 years. Currently working at Duke University Children’s hospital in Finance department of Patient Revenue management.
Although far from home, I have always had passion for serving Tamil community here in US and back home in Tamilnadu. Most of my time is spent on serving the Tamil community. I served as a Board member, Secretary and President in Carolina Tamil Sangam, NC.
My passion for Tamil community and the Tamil language has driven me to help Pollachi Thai Tamil Palli (School) for the past several years. This has been instrumental in the lives of several kids in the school. I have always been a strong supporter and practice natural therapy. I have great interest in Siddha medicine and its outcomes in the growing interests of integrative medicine. It is an honor and great opportunity to serve GCSMR.
Sornam Sankar (also known as Sornam Sankarapandi)
Currently working as Vice President of Enterprise Architecture in a Multinational Bank in the US. Living in Ellicott City, Maryland. Education.
Ph. D. (Biophysical Chemistry): Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai Research Fellowship, Cardiology: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
M. S. (Computer Science): Johns Hopkins University School of Engineering, Baltimore, USA
Professional Experience:
1990-1993 Visiting Assistant Professor (Chemistry): The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA 1994-1995 Science Journalist, Down To Earth & Freelancing in New Delhi
1995-1999 Research Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA 2000-2018 Deutsche Bank, Baltimore, Maryland, USA Research Publications:
Published a number of research articles in Peer Reviewed Journals in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Medical Sciences. They can be found in the below link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=fjyRD-QAAAAJ
Popular Science Publications (few samples):
Had some experience in writing popular science stories and news articles for magazines & newspapers in India. Following are few examples:
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/elementary-order-27367
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/cracking-the-cancer-code-32385
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/can-the-grim-reaper-wait-please-27696
More articles (subscription required)
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/author/s-sankarapandi-1204
Community Activities:
Ever since I migrated to the US, I have been volunteering my free time for various Tamil & Indian organizational activities.
Following are few highlights:
In 1991, when computer networking started just before the internet, a few friends joined together to start the first internet Tamil discussion group called “Soc. Culture. Tamil” which was then managed by Indiana University (now Google).
Since 2000, I have been actively contributing to Washington Tamil Sangam and Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America as a Life Member in organizing many Annual conferences on Tamil Language & Literature (Thirukkural, Purananooru, Kurunthokai).
One of the Founders and Teachers at Tamil Language Education & Training (TALENT), a weekend Tamil School in Maryland (near Washington DC) which has about 260 students. 2002-Current.
Co-Founder of American Tamil Academy (ATA), an organization for the harmonization of Tamil Schools in the USA
Co-Founder of “Tamil Manam,” the portal that aggregates all the Tamil Blogs.
Served (2014-2016) as Treasurer, International Forum for Information Technology in Tamil (INFITT).
Currently serving as Secretary for Tamil Chair Inc., which successfully raised the funds for Harvard University Tamil Chair (2015-Current).
Served as Founder President in International Educational Foundation. Editor in International Medical Health Organization (2004-2009).
Founding Member, United States Tamil Political Action Council Secretary, World Thamil Organization (2008-2011).
I was born in southern India, and after completing medical school, went to the United Kingdom for further medical training. After living there for four years, I moved to the United States and have been here for the last 10 years. Living in three different continents has been a great experience both professionally and personally.
My focus is primarily on cardiovascular diseases, a major illness responsible for the sufferings of many patients. I chose this specialty as I felt that it gives me the opportunity to improve the quality and quantity of life of our members. I practice general cardiology, which includes managing coronary artery disease, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, and performing diagnostic cardiac cauterization procedures.
My special interest is in cardiac imaging, such as echocardiograms and nuclear cardiac scans. I strongly believe in the prevention of disease. I also have a special interest in the role of complementary medicine in managing heart disease. I am acquiring more knowledge on the role of supplements, complementary therapies, and I look forward to practicing integrated medicine that provides the opportunity to get the best of both worlds. My other area of interest is the use of technology to improve healthcare quality. In addition, I am interested in telemedicine and the use of this technology to provide excellent care to remote areas of the country and the rest of the world.