Gena Kadar DC, MS, EdL, CNS

Associate VP of Program Innovation & Dean, College of Nutrition and School of Mental Health

About

Dr. Gena E. Kadar is Associate Vice President for Program Innovation, Founding Dean of the College of Nutrition and the School of Mental Health, and Professor at Sonoran University. A future-facing innovator with entrepreneurial savvy, she is recognized for bridging academia, integrative healthcare, and industry, leading the end-to-end development of workforce-aligned programs, embedding simulation and AI across curricula, and launching telehealth innovations, such as the Virtual Center for Personalized Nutrition.

Beyond program development, Dr. Kadar strengthens the connection between academia and industry through thought leadership and governance. She is the author of A Manner of Living, has published in peer-reviewed journals, developed a nutricosmetic line, and is a sought-after speaker with invited lectures across the U.S., as well as internationally, including Australia, Greece, and Italy.

An active board member, her service includes membership on the Board of the Accreditation Council for Nutrition Professional Education (ACNPE), the SupplySide Fresh Advisory Board, and as a Trustee of the Missouri Historical Society. Her previous board leadership includes service to the Orange County Chiropractic Association, the Standard Process Advisory Board, and the American Holistic Health Association. Dr. Kadar has also served multiple times as an accreditation site team member and as a lead for regional and programmatic accreditation with five different accrediting agencies.

Recognized with awards for research, teaching, leadership, and service, including two ACC Research Agenda Conference Clinical Research Awards and a Teaching Award from the Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine, she also served four terms as Faculty Senate President at Southern California University of Health Sciences. Trained as a DC, with a CNS, an MS in Medical Education Leadership, and a PhD in progress, Dr. Kadar leads with integrity and creativity, harnesses data-informed innovation, promotes a “remote but not alone” ethos to support students and galvanize dispersed teams, and turns vision into measurable, scalable impact.

Education

• Massachusetts General Hospital’s Institute of Health Professions, PhD, Health Professions Education and Leadership, 2027
• University of New England, Master of Science in Medical Education Leadership, 2016
• Southern California University of Health Sciences, Doctor of Chiropractic, 2001
• McGill University, Bachelor of Arts in Anatomy and Humanistic Studies, 1998
  • With studies at the University of Salamanca and the Sorbonne University of Paris

Publications:

2. Kizhakkeveettil A, Rose K, Kadar GE, Hurwitz E. (2019) An exploratory analysis of gender as a potential modifier of treatment effect among patients in a randomized controlled trial of integrative acupuncture and spinal manipulation for low back pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2019 Mar – Apr;42(3):177-186.
   1. Recipient of 2017 Conference Clinical Research Award at the ACC Research Agenda Conference.
3. Kadar, GE, Thompson, HG. (2019) Obesity bias among pre-clinical and clinical chiropractic students and faculty at an integrative health care institution: a cross sectional study. J Chiropr Educ. 2019 Mar;33(1):8-15.
4. Kadar, GE, Thompson, HG, O’Toole, E, Kilgore, D. (2019) Advancing nutrition education through a single interprofessional education intervention. (Publication pending)
5. Thompson HGR & Kadar GE. (2018) Metabolic and Endocrine Dysfunction. In: Integrative Family Medicine. El’Hashemy S. (Ed). CCNM Press. (Publication pending)
6. Kadar GE, Thompson HG (2017) Assumed or Assessed? The Affective Domain in Health Care Education. J Nutr Health Food Eng 6(4): 00207.
7. Kizhakkeveettil A, Rose K, Kadar GE, Hurwitz E. (2017) The effect of an integrative approach of chiropractic and traditional Chinese medicine care on low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. Mar 1. pii: S0161-4754 (16)30077-X.
   1. Recipient of 2016 Conference Clinical Research Award at the ACC Research Agenda Conference.
8. Rose, K, Kizhakkeveettil, A, Kadar, GE. (2017) The effect of chiropractic treatment for smoking cessation: a randomized clinical trial. J Chiropr Med. Mar;16(1):41-48.
9. Kadar GE. (2016) Clinical Nutrition Management of Cardiovascular Disease. Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists. (Available at www.cbns.org)
10. Kadar GE, Thompson HGR. (2015) Clinical Nutrition Management of Obesity. Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists. (Available at www.cbns.org)
11. Kadar, GE. (2014). A Manner of Living: An Evidence Based, Realistic and Sustainable Approach to the Art of Eating Well, Living Well and Being Well for Life, GVPL Publications.  1 ed. ISBN-10: 0692264264
12. Kadar GE, Vosko A, Sackett M, Thompson HG. (2014) Perceptions of interprofessional education and practice within a complementary and alternative medicine institution.  J Interprof Care. Oct 7:1-3.
13. Kizhakkeveettil, A, Rose, K, Kadar, GE. (2014) Integrative complementary and alternative medical care for low back pain: a systematic review, Global Adv Health Med. 3(5):49-64.

Link to PubMed-indexed publications:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Kadar+GE

Professional Associations:

1. American Nutrition Association (ANA)
2. American Society for Nutrition (ASN)
3. American College of Nutrition (ACN)
4. Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS)