PORTLAND, Ore. (March 17, 2014) —National College of Natural Medicine announced today the election of two new board members. Joining NCNM’s board are NCNM graduate Winston Cardwell, ND, LAc, president of the Georgia Association of Naturopathic Physicians and Mohan Nair, chief innovation officer at Cambia Health Solutions. Cambia is a family of companies that provide a wide range of products and services, including healthcare IT and software development, retail health care, health insurance plans that carry the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand, life insurance, pharmacy benefit management, consumer engagement and wellness.
Nair brings a depth of business experience and acumen to NCNM’s board. A technology entrepreneur, educator, strategy consultant and healthcare innovator, he has played key roles in successful emerging businesses throughout this career, including Protocols (sold to McAfee), and ABC Technologies (sold to SAS), Mentor Graphics and Intel. In addition to his role at Cambia, Nair was an adjunct professor of management at Kellogg School of Management for 10 years.
He joined Cambia in 2004 as executive vice president and chief marketing executive, accountable for product development, brand management, consumer-directed health systems and e-business. As chief innovation officer, Nair directs Cambia’s approach to healthcare transformation as it explores innovation, incubation and the creation of new businesses. His most recent book, Strategic Business Transformation, is a unique exploration of the intersection of personal transformation and cause-driven servant leadership within the market aspects of business transformation. Nair holds a master’s degree in computer and information science from the University of Oregon and received accreditation in advanced management from Stanford University.
Cardwell received degrees in naturopathic and Chinese medicine in 2005 from NCNM and has advanced training in integrative cardiology and oncology. After graduation, he completed a postdoctoral clinical internship at the distinguished Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in China, where he trained in pediatrics, neurology and gynecology. Cardwell is the founder of Atlanta Integrative Medicine in Roswell, Ga., where he practices primary care medicine. He is president of the Georgia Association of Naturopathic Physicians, a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the American College for the Advancement of Medicine, and the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
In announcing NCNM’s new directors, NCNM President David J. Schleich noted the board service of many illustrious and legendary naturopathic physicians throughout its long and storied history.
Schleich observed that, “NCNM has always used a long lens in looking to the future. Mr. Nair and Dr. Cardwell will join the ranks of those on NCNM’s board who fought long and hard through the years to keep the profession of naturopathic medicine alive and well. With his expansive knowledge of health care, along with his focus in innovation and transformation, Mohan will bring an astute understanding of the marketplace that will be immediately beneficial to our future.”
Schleich added, “Winston’s successful practice in the deep South as a naturopathic and Chinese medicine practitioner, as well as his inside knowledge of NCNM from his student years are necessary and important adjuncts to board governance.”
Schleich noted that Nair and Cardwell will join the board at a pivotal time in the college’s history. “As Americans undergo the initial stages of the most significant transformation in health care and healthcare management in nearly a half-century, natural medicine is poised to play a significant role in preventive medicine and the maintenance of health as more individuals and families seek out experts trained in naturopathic and Chinese medicine to help them,” Schleich said.
“We welcome Mr. Nair and Dr. Cardwell to NCNM. We expect they both will play important roles in the future of our board and our quickly growing college. We are blessed to have them join us.”
