Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
President/Medical Director
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., is the President and Medical Director of the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation in Tucson, Arizona, the original voice in the integrative or holistic medical approach to the prevention and treatment of memory loss. Dr. Khalsa graduated from Creighton University School of Medicine in 1975, and received his postgraduate training in anesthesiology at the University of California, San Francisco where he was chief resident. As chief resident, he conducted highly acclaimed research on anesthesia for cardiac surgery and obstetrical anesthesiology. He is also a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Acupuncture for Physicians Program, and has studied mind/body medicine at Harvard Medical School‘s Mind/Body Medical Institute. Dr. Khalsa is board certified in anesthesiology and pain management.
Chris Walling, PsyD, MBA, C-IAYT, FABP
Vice President
Dr. Chris Walling, PsyD, MBA, C-IAYT, FABP, is Associate Professor in the School of Professional Psychology & Health at the California Institute of Integral Studies where he serves as Core Faculty in the Somatic Psychology program. A licensed clinical psychologist and board certified psychoanalyst, he is the Research Chair & Past-President of the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy. Dr. Walling has previously served as Executive Administrator in the Department of Psychiatry and the Aging and Memory Research Center at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and as Executive Administrator in the Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He serves as Vice-President of Education & Outreach at the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation.
Dr. Walling is a Clinical Research Fellow at the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at Kinsey Institute for Research on Sex, Gender and Reproduction located at Indiana University, Bloomington and serves on their International Advisory Council. Dr. Walling has lectured throughout the world on the intersections of the somatic psychology and the mind-body connection. Dr. Walling has presented at multiple conferences both nationally and internationally, including chairing the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation’s Brain Health Symposium, and the Biennale Congress of the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy.
Dr. Walling is a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis and serves on the American Psychoanalytic Association’s Committee on Gender & Sexuality. His peer-reviewed works are published in the American Psychological Association‘s Journal of Psychotherapy and the International Body Psychotherapy Journal. He is a member of the American Psychoanalytic Association, the American Psychological Association, and the New Center for Psychoanalysis, where he also serves on both the Faculty Committee and Diversities Committee. His clinical interests survey the fields of relational psychoanalysis, somatic psychotherapies, human sexuality, and trauma psychology. Dr. Walling maintains a private practice in Los Angeles, California.
Bert Beatty, MHA
Treasurer
Bert is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has worked in healthcare and related service industries for over four decades. Trained in healthcare administration at the University of Washington, Seattle, (MHA, 1987) Bert worked as Director of Administration for a large blood center, Executive Director in the home health/hospice field, Marketing and Finance Director for a drug rehab center, among other positions. Throughout his career the theme of consultative management can be seen with a focus on productivity, program and operational system development, regulatory compliance, and community relations. Fortunately for ARPF, his career path was changed while at university: after gaining 4 years experience in direct patient care, his focus turned from pre-law to the healthcare administration field.
Since retirement in 2014, Bert has enjoyed playing music for church activities, fundraising and entertainment. He serves on his church’s finance committee as well as Treasurer on the ARPF Board.
Kirti K. Khalsa
Secretary
Originally from Rome, Italy, Kirti is the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of the Board of the ARPF. Before moving to the USA, she worked for a multinational pharmaceutical company in the export, marketing and Regulatory Affairs departments in their offices in Italy, USA, and Switzerland. She speaks five languages and was responsible for single-handedly implementing, managing, and overseeing the opening of a new branch office in Neuchatel, Switzerland.
Kirti is also involved in supporting her community by fighting illiteracy through her Rotary Club and supporting the local Senior Companion Program. She has been a yoga practitioner for over 30 years and a yoga teacher to seniors and people with disabilities for 20 years. She enjoys gardening in her spare time.
Diane Ventura-Goodyear, MBA
Member
Diane Ventura-Goodyear, MBA comes from a large corporate background and earned her MBA in Technology Management at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She has been a Rotarian since 2007 and has served in Rotary in many different capacities most recently in 2020-2021 as District Governor.
Diane’s strong sense of service drives her to help others and spread compassion. She encourages her community to develop active and healthy lifestyles by providing programs, education, resources, and mentorship to the underserved.
In 2017, Diane traveled to Uganda as part of a Vocational Training Team (VTT) focused on “Empowering Women” and currently serves on The Rotary Vocational Fund of AZ (TRVFA) Board and the Ride to End Polio Committee.
Diane taught Computer Science at Pima Community College for 12 years and has been the owner and operator of The ComputerNanny business for over 20 years. She is also a Yoga Instructor with a focus on health and well-being for all ages and enjoys computer-generated machine embroidery.
Originally from Upstate, NY, she and Gordon, her husband of 35 years, have lived in Canada, England, and the United States. They have 2 children and love the South West.
Fletcher Wilkins, BSE
Member
Fletcher lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. He has a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Michigan and has been working in the nuclear industry for over twenty years. Having a daily Kundalini Yoga and Meditation practice allows him to work in a highly stressful environment and remain calm.
Fletcher has been a Yoga practitioner since 1995 and became a certified Level 1 Kundalini Yoga and Meditation Teacher in 2004.
“I am honored to be a member of the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation Board and help share these lifestyle-based concepts. I know what it is like to see a close family member succumb to Alzheimer’s and the toll that it can take on the family. My hope is to get the work that we are doing more into the mainstream and help others.”
