At the age of 42, Ather Ali, ND MPH MHS, passed away of complications from metastatic esophageal cancer on October 26, 2017. Ather was a humble, intelligent, generous, soft-spoken and gentle human being. He was loved by many and will be remembered by all who were touched by his life. Ather was truly selfless. He graduated from Bastyr University in 2003 with a degree in naturopathic medicine.

He was one of very few naturopath physicians in North America who became truly integrated into an academic medical center and assume a leadership position in integrative medicine. He was the founding director of the Yale Program in Integrative Medicine. He was an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Yale and was at the time of his death the Medical Director of Integrative Medicine at Smilow Cancer Hospital. He died at Smilow, the Center he poured his heart and soul into.

He was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar, NCCIH F32 postdoctoral fellow, and recipient of a K23 Career Development Award. He consulted to the Turkish Ministry of Health on Traditional Medicine Practices and was a visiting fellow in the Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine. He was a national and international leader in integrative medicine and health. He completed innovative research on irritable bowel syndrome, Lyme disease, nutritional interventions, diagnostic testing, fibromyalgia, and the microbiome.

He truly loved his Academic Consortium friends and colleagues, and always expressed gratitude for the mentorship and guidance he received. His contributions to the Consortium were numerous and included serving as Research Working Group Chair, At Large Board Member, lead on website redesign, and Conference Planning Committees. He provided wise and thoughtful guidance on our direction. He spoke many times of his appreciation to be part of our community.

SCHOLARSHIP DESCRIPTION

The Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health (Academic Consortium) Ather Ali Scholarship for NDs was established with support from the Samueli Foundation to honor the life, work, memory and spirit of Ather Ali, ND, MPH, MHS.

A $2,500 scholarship will be provided to support the travel expenses (hotel, registration, transportation and meals) for one Naturopathic Physician to attend the Academic Consortium's International Congress which takes place every other year. This scholarship is available to any individual that is a Naturopathic Physician; or training to become one.