Karma Yoga Honorees 2026
Each year HSCI recognizes individuals whose service embodies karma yoga — action offered without attachment to its fruit. The 2026 Karma Yoga Honorees are Abhijit Dam and Payal Sawhney, with Rita D. Sherma as Keynote Speaker.
Abhijit Dam, MD, PhD
2026 HSCI Karma Yoga Honoree
For his pioneering work in Hindu palliative/hospice care and related nursing training in rural eastern India. Dr. Dam is the author of The Quantum Connection in this issue.
Payal Sawhney, LCSW
Community-Building Sevika, Karma Yoga Honoree
Executive Director, Saahas for Cause, Southern California. Honored for providing trauma-informed lifelines to South Asian immigrants.
Rita D. Sherma, PhD
Keynote Speaker · Past Honoree, 2021
Past HSCI Karma Yoga Honoree, 2021, Dr Rita Sherma is a pioneer whose determined, decades-long effort has established Sanātana Dharma studies with genuine academic rigor across the American higher-education landscape.
Alumni Who Inspire
Sharad Patel (CHT 2025) · Rajinder Gandhi, MD (CHT 2025). Both write in this issue — Sharad Patel in What They Taught Me… and Rajinder Gandhi in The Joy of Serving.
Past Honorees
Full citations for every year are on the Wall of Honors.
| 2025 | Chinmay Pandya, MD for community leadership Dilip Amin, PhD for pioneering interfaith marriage guidance |
| 2024 | Mukund Acharya, PhD for community service Mihir Meghani, MD for community leadership |
| 2023 | Naras Bhat, MD for exemplary community education Sulochina Lulla, MD for her chaplaincy work and community service |
| 2022 | Padmashri MR Rajagopal, MD for pioneering palliative care in India Madan Arora for exemplary community service in Hindu samskara guidance |
| 2021 | Rita Sherma, PhD for pioneering Hindu academic studies Seifu Anil Singh-Molares for promoting global spiritual care |
| 2020 | Mahesh Bhavana for selfless volunteer services Chaplain Bruce D. Feldstein, MD, BCC for selfless Chaplaincy services and mentoring |
Chaplain Feldstein is co-author of The Anatomy of a Spiritual Care Visit. Full citations for every year are on the Wall of Honors.