Susie Ellis Scholarship for Equity in Wellness
Applications for the 2026 Summit will open January 1, 2026.
The Susie Ellis Scholarship for Equity in Wellness promotes greater inclusivity within the wellness community by providing financial support for individuals from underserved populations to attend the annual Global Wellness Summit (GWS). The scholarship empowers recipients to become wellness industry leaders, bringing valuable insights back to their local communities.
Recipients of the scholarship will receive
- Full Registration to the 20th Annual Global Wellness Summit.
- Event dates: November 2026
- Venue: To be announced on November 21, 2025
- Roundtrip Airfare and Transfers to and from the Summit ($1,500+ value)
- Hotel Accommodations for the duration of the Summit ($1,800 value)
- One-Year Ambassadorship with the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) ($1,000 value)
- Exclusive Access to four days of insights from global wellness leaders
- Networking Opportunities with industry influencers and innovators
The scholarship honors Susie Ellis, Chair and CEO of the Global Wellness Institute and Global Wellness Summit, recognizing her enduring commitment to equity and inclusion in wellness. This initiative bridges the gap for deserving individuals who may not otherwise have the financial means to participate in the Summit, widely regarded as the premier international conference in the wellness sector.
The Susie Ellis Scholarship Fund was generously established by initial contributions from Katrine and Bill Formby, Rick Stollmeyer, Lynne and Victor Brick, and the Szekely Family Foundation. Since its inception, the fund continues to thrive, supported annually by the live auction at the GWS gala event.
Meet the 2025 Recipients
Resonating with the global movement for equality and inclusion, the fourth year of the Global Wellness Institute’s (GWI’s) Susie Ellis Scholarship for Equity in Wellness welcomed an astounding 300+ applications from over 60 countries.
Aida Kandil, Co-Founder & CEO of MyTindy, is a Moroccan entrepreneur dedicated to empowering artisans across Africa through digital inclusion and sustainable commerce. With a passion for ethical entrepreneurship, she leads MyTindy — an e-commerce platform connecting African creators with global markets — helping preserve cultural heritage while promoting economic independence. Aida combines her background in business innovation and social impact to build bridges between tradition and technology, making African craftsmanship accessible to the world.
Winnie Xu is a globally trained somatic coach and psychotherapist-in-training redefining the language of healing. She weaves Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, yoga, breathwork, and meditation to bridge Eastern ancestral wisdom with Western psychology. Her mission is to help humanity remember its innate wholeness and self-worth through embodied, heart-centered transformation.
Dr. Amulya Murthy Aku is an Ayurvedic physician with an M.D. and currently pursuing a Ph.D. on sleep and obesity. Her research spans yoga, mental health, antenatal wellness, chronobiology, chrononutrition, oxidative stress, inflammation, gut health, and lifestyle medicine. With 15 publications, 3 book chapters, 2 research projects, and over 50 presentations (including a WHO–TDR selection), she has attended 250+ conferences and summits. A certified yoga instructor, she integrates Ayurveda, Yoga, and lifestyle medicine through her wellness centre promoting holistic, evidence-based health.
Amireh Leila Mirdamadi is passionate about advancing healthcare, business strategy, and innovative wellness on a global scale. Earning diplomas from Cornell University and Institut Villa Pierrefeu, she is currently pursuing her M.S. in Global Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, serving on the USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health Student Advisory Council and as Vice President of the Medical Humanities Interest Group. As a Mexican-Iranian, she is committed to enhancing culturally-tailored patient care within medicine and wellness hospitality.
