Sonoran University Celebrates First Endowed Department Chair

Major Philanthropic Contribution Made by Integrative Medicine Pioneer, Dr. Soram Khalsa, Wife Caroline, and Daughter Siri

March 19, 2026

TEMPE, Ariz. – Sonoran University of Health Sciences is honored to advance its commitment to environmental medicine with the establishment of an endowed chair thanks to the generosity of the late Dr. Soram Khalsa, wife Caroline, and daughter Siri. The Dr. Soram and Caroline Khalsa Chair of Environmental Medicine will benefit the public through patient care and training the next generation of practitioners in the field. In gratitude of this significant contribution and the family’s longtime support of the institution, the University has named the on-campus library the Dr. Soram and Caroline Khalsa Health Sciences Library.

Endowed positions are among the highest honors that universities can bestow upon faculty who have achieved great distinction. They drive institutional reputation and support the culture of academic excellence and social responsibility that is paramount at Sonoran University.

“We are deeply grateful to the Khalsa family for their extraordinary generosity in establishing this endowed chair. At a time when environmental medicine has never been more vital, this endowment strengthens Sonoran University’s commitment to advancing whole-person, natural healthcare. The expertise it supports will not only enhance our academic and clinical programs but also empower our graduates to improve the health and lives of thousands of patients for generations to come.”

– Dr. Lise Alschuler, President & CEO, Sonoran University

“Our family is honored to establish the Dr. Soram and Caroline Khalsa Chair of Environmental Medicine at Sonoran University in support of the University’s commitment to advancing research and education, and to carry on the legacy of Dr. Khalsa’s long career in medicine and holistic healing. This endowment reflects our belief in the importance of understanding how environmental factors shape health outcomes and our hope to foster innovative, interdisciplinary scholarship that benefits both present and future generations. We are grateful to the faculty, students, and leadership of Sonoran University, and it is our sincere wish that the work of this chair will drive discovery, inform practice, and contribute meaningfully to medicine and the healing sciences for the benefit of all.”

– The Khalsa Family

Soram Singh Khalsa, M.D., was a board-certified internist and a distinguished leader in integrative medicine.

Dr. Soram Khalsa and Dr. Paul Mittman

A graduate of both Yale University and Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, he blended the best of conventional practice with nutrition, acupuncture, phytotherapies, environmental medicine, and homeopathy for more than 50 years. Dr. Khalsa was board certified in internal medicine, a founding member of the American Holistic Medicine Association, and the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. He also held a clinical professor faculty appointment at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and served as an associate physician in the Division of Internal Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Khalsa was an accomplished author of The Vitamin D Revolution and a sought after consultant in integrative medicine. He mentored allopathic and naturopathic medical students, including at Sonoran. He helped shape the University’s Department of Environmental Medicine and supported the development of its wing in the Sonoran University Medical Center through his friendship with Dr. Walter Crinnion and with the philanthropic contributions of his patients. He passed away on Sept. 24, 2024 and is survived by his wife, Caroline and their daughter, Siri Trang Khalsa, as well as all those whose lives he helped through medicine.

About Sonoran University of Health Sciences

Formerly known as Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Sonoran University shapes a healthier future through the healing power of nature. The University has three pillars: education, community engagement, and research. Sonoran University of Health Sciences shapes a healthier future by supporting students as they train to excel as healthcare professionals, by enhancing the health and well-being of our patients and communities, and by discovering effective treatments for humanity grounded in the healing power of nature.

Sonoran University’s Community Health Program is funded through donations from Sage Foundation for Health.

Sage Foundation is an Arizona Qualified Charitable Organization (QCO). Tax credit donations can be made at sage.sonoran.edu.

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