DR. DENNIS ANHEYER
BSc, MA, PhD

Research Fellow, University of Witten/Herdecke & University Hospital Tübingen | Adjunct Fellow, National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, Southern Cross University (Australia)

Dr. Dennis Anheyer is a German researcher and academic with over a decade of experience in integrative medicine, psychology, and clinical research methods. He has contributed extensively to ISCMR, serving previously as Administrative Secretary, Secretary, and currently as a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors. He holds a Doctorate in Medical Science (Dr. rer. medic., summa cum laude) from the University of Duisburg-Essen, and currently holds research fellow roles at both the University of Witten/Herdecke and the University Hospital Tübingen. His expertise includes biostatistics, meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis, and he has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles in areas such as mindfulness, herbal medicine, yoga, and pediatric integrative health. Dr. Anheyer is also active on editorial boards of several leading journals, and is the recipient of numerous awards including the ISCMR Scientific Article Prize (2019) and the ACIMH Young Investigator Award (2018).

Candidate Statement

"With great enthusiasm, I submit my application for the position of President Elect of ISCMR. Over the past six years, I have had the privilege of serving the organization in various capacities: first as Administrative Secretary, then as Secretary, and currently as a BOD Member-at-Large for the past three years. These roles have allowed me to gain a deep understanding of ISCMR’s mission, operations, and potential.

My longstanding commitment to ISCMR has been driven by a vision to strengthen its global impact and relevance. As President-Elect, I aim to build upon the solid foundation laid by past leadership, fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability across our activities. I believe ISCMR is uniquely positioned to be a thought leader in integrative and complementary medicine research, and I am eager to contribute to strategic initiatives that will grow our membership, expand our visibility, and enhance our scientific influence.

I bring not only institutional knowledge and leadership experience but also a collaborative spirit and dedication to meaningful progress. I see this next step as an opportunity to help ISCMR evolve in a rapidly changing global research landscape—embracing new technologies, strengthening interdisciplinary networks, and ensuring long-term organizational sustainability.

My vision for ISCMR is as a leading global platform for high-quality, interdisciplinary research in integrative medicine. My goals for ISCMR include expanding international membership and engagement, strengthening support for early-career researchers, and promoting transparency and methodological excellence in research. Central to this vision are sustainability—ensuring long-term organizational stability through strategic partnerships—and growth, by increasing the Society’s global reach and visibility, enhancing collaboration across research sectors. I am committed to positioning ISCMR as a credible, diverse, and future-ready research society."

DR. JEREMY Y NG
MSc, PhD

Scientist, University Hospital Tübingen & Robert Bosch Center for Integrative Medicine and Health | Associate Professor (Adjunct), University of Technology Sydney

Dr. Jeremy Y. Ng is a Canadian health research methodologist with over a decade of experience across diverse domains in health and medicine. He earned his PhD in Health Research Methodology from McMaster University and an MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Toronto. Dr. Ng has held research and academic positions in Canada, Germany, and Australia, and is currently based at the University Hospital Tübingen and University of Technology Sydney. His research focuses on improving the rigour, transparency, and impact of health research - particularly in the field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM). He specializes in systematic and scoping reviews, research ethics, policy analysis, and bibliometric studies, and is widely published, with over 100 peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Ng is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, sits on over 10 editorial boards, and was recently invited to join the WHO Topic Group on Traditional Medicine under its Global Initiative on AI for Health. His research has been featured in Nature, Scientific American, and The Lancet Digital Health, among other outlets.

Candidate Statement

"Please accept my nomination for the role of President of the International Society for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Research (ISCMR). I have been a longstanding member of ISCMR continuously since 2014 and served as the Society’s Social Media Communications Coordinator from 2016 to 2022. Over the past decade, I have remained engaged in the field of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) and have had the privilege of collaborating on research projects with both past Presidents and former Board of Director members; these experiences have reinforced my dedication to the Society’s mission. As an established and experienced health research methodologist, I am committed to utilizing my skillsets to advance the rigour, quality, transparency, and impact of research in the TCIM field.

If elected President, I will work to strengthen global engagement across ISCMR’s membership and deepen collaborations with journals, institutions, and regional, national and international societies and organizations which have a vested interest supporting, promoting, and enabling high-quality TCIM research. I am particularly committed to exploring new and sustainable strategies for securing funding to support ISCMR’s operations and growth, identifying opportunities to engage student assistants to support the Society’s administrative functions, finding and creating publication opportunities for our members, and developing strategies to grow and expand our international membership. These efforts will help build organizational capacity, amplify our global impact, and better serve our members. It would be a privilege to lead ISCMR into its next chapter with transparency, innovation, and a deep respect for our community’s strengths."

DR. MEHDI PASALAR
MD, MPH, PhD

Assistant Professor, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran | Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine

Dr. Mehdi Pasalar is an experienced physician and academic specializing in traditional and integrative medicine. With over 10 years of clinical and research experience in holistic healing, herbal therapy, and natural health approaches, he is committed to bridging traditional wisdom with modern medical practices. Dr. Pasalar serves as an Assistant Professor at the Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. He is an editorial board member of multiple journals in the TCIM field, a mentor to over 30 thesis dissertations, and a frequent keynote speaker at international events. He has also been an invited contributor to the WHO’s Global Traditional Medicine Strategy (2025–2034) and participates in several national and international councils on TCIM policy and integration.

Candidate Statement

I am honored to stand for President or President Elect for ISCMR. My motivation stems from a passionate commitment to advancing the global understanding of whole person healing and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration across diverse healthcare systems. I believe that traditional, holistic, and integrative approaches offer valuable insights into health and well-being, often complementing modern medicine to improve patient outcomes.

Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to bridging scientific research with traditional practices, fostering multidisciplinary dialogue, and advocating for evidence-based integration of diverse medical systems. I see the potential of ISCMR to serve as a platform that elevates research, encourages innovation, and supports practitioners and scholars worldwide in their quest to expand accessible, culturally sensitive, and effective healthcare.

As President, I aim to strengthen ISCMR’s role as a leader in promoting rigorous scientific inquiry into integrative medicine, facilitate collaborative projects, and enhance global dissemination of research findings. I am committed to fostering inclusive, respectful dialogue among diverse voices and ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of advancing whole systems healthcare for a healthier, more resilient society.

Together, we can promote understanding, innovation, and collaborative progress in the field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine, ultimately benefiting people worldwide through holistic approaches that honor the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit."

DR.TETSUHIRO YOSHINO
MD, PhD, FACP

Project Assistant Professor, Center for Kampo Medicine, Keio | University School of Medicine (Japan)

Dr. Tetsuhiro Yoshino is a physician-scientist specializing in Kampo medicine and integrative clinical practice. He is a Project Assistant Professor at the Holistic Kampo Diagnosis Lab at Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Yoshino earned his MD (2008) and PhD (2016) from Keio University, holds an ECFMG certificate, and is board-certified in both internal medicine and Kampo medicine. He has held various academic and clinical positions, including as a visiting scholar at Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute. His research has earned recognition such as the ISCMR Trainee Poster Award and the ACP Global Physician Scholar Program Award (2025). He currently serves on ISCMR’s Research Advisory Committee and is an associate editor for Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health. Dr. Yoshino is committed to bridging Eastern and Western medical paradigms and integrating Kampo medicine into modern healthcare systems.

Candidate Statement

"I am honored to express my interest in serving as President or President Elect of ISCMR. As a physician-scientist based in Japan, my research has focused on the clinical application and evidence generation of traditional Japanese Kampo medicine. In parallel, I have been actively involved in educating medical students and residents in both TCIM and conventional Western medicine at a leading academic institution.

I have been a member of ISCMR for over ten years and have served on the Research Advisory Committee for the past five. My work sits at the intersection of academic research, clinical practice, and education, and I understand both the importance and complexity of fostering interdisciplinary and intercultural collaboration. While I am currently one of the few active members from Japan, I see this not as a limitation but as an opportunity. Rather than focusing solely on promoting Japanese modalities, I am committed to serving as a bridge between diverse members and regional chapters, working to strengthen collaboration and cohesion across this vibrant global research community.

This is a pivotal time to unite traditional wisdom with modern science. If elected, I will strive to enhance inclusivity, deepen cross-cultural partnerships, and promote meaningful dialogue across TCIM traditions. I am committed to advancing ISCMR’s global mission through respectful leadership and active engagement, and it would be a privilege to contribute to this vision."

DR. LINDA LD ZHONG
MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Nanyan Technological University (NTU), Singapore | Director, Biomedical Sciences & Chinese Medicine | Director, NTU Chinese Medical Clinic

Dr. Linda LD Zhong is a leader in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) research and education, currently serving as Associate Professor at NTU Singapore and Director of both its Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine programs. She integrates clinical trials, AI, and drug discovery in her research, with a focus on functional gastrointestinal disorders, chronic pain, obesity, and post-COVID rehabilitation. She holds an MD from Shanghai University of TCM and a PhD in Clinical Research from the University of Hong Kong. Dr. Zhong has held visiting positions at Harvard Medical School, University of Toronto, and UTS in Australia. She has secured over S$30 million in competitive research funding and has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers (H-index: 28). Dr. Zhong also serves as Vice-President of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies’ Committee for International Standards and is a Board Director of the Good Practice in TCM Research Association. Her editorial roles span top journals like Phytomedicine, Frontiers in Medicine, and BMC Chinese Medicine.

Candidate Statement

"With a bachelor’s degree in Chinese Medicine, a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Integrative Medicine from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Research on Chinese Medicine from the University of Hong Kong (HKU), I have accumulated over 25 years of experience in Chinese Medicine clinical studies and education.

I have served as a Visiting Professor in Integrative Medicine at the University of Toronto, a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Medical School, and a Board Member of both the Good Practice in TCM Research Association (London, UK) and the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR). These roles have broadened my perspective on integrative medicine and strengthened my leadership capabilities. Before joining the ISCMR board, I actively contributed to its China Chapter and participated in Canadian Interdisciplinary Network for Complementary & Alternative Medicine Research (INCAM). In 2022, I was appointed Director and Associate Professor of Chinese Medicine at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Additionally, I serve as a Committee Member of Singapore’s Ministry of Health, advising on TCM Research and Development as well as the Healthier SG initiative.

My career spans clinical practice, research, and teaching across Shanghai, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Singapore, providing me with extensive cross-cultural experience. I am eager to apply for this position and contribute to strengthening collaboration among China, North America, and Southeast Asia in Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) research. My goal is to help establish an international platform for clinical research and education in this field."