In Memoriam – SS Dr. Soram Singh Khalsa

January 9, 1948 – September 28, 2024

A Life of Devotion and Service

Originally Published in the Los Angeles Times on October 6, 2024 

Dr. Soram Singh Khalsa, a pioneer in integrative medicine, passed away surrounded by love and grace on September 28, 2024. Known by so many as “Dr. Soram,” over his nearly 50-year medical career, he treated and healed tens of thousands of people from his Khalsa Medical Clinic in Beverly Hills. He was 76 years old and had contracted pneumonia, following several years of a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Soram began his practice in Los Angeles in 1977 and was one of the first medical practitioners in southern California to weave together Western clinical approaches with holistic and natural interventions like acupuncture, herbal remedies and homeopathy. Over time, the Khalsa Medical Clinic grew to become Beverly Hills’ preeminent destination for integrative care, both because of the effectiveness of his treatments as well as his personal attention as a doctor. He was dedicated to his patient’s well-being and had a way of making each patient feel important, cared for and heard. He was always most happy when he had a full day of patients, energetically racing around his office, sometimes seeing more than 25 people per day. He was cheerfully seeing patients in his office just days before his passing, doing the thing that he loved best.

As an intelligent, curious and driven child, Soram knew from the time he was five years old that he wanted to be a doctor. He graduated from Yale University in 1970 and then went on to medical school at Case Western Reserve University in his native Ohio. Dr Soram married Caroline (Kulwant) in 1971, and they shared a life of dedication and service to their community. He was a devout yogi and a man of great faith, adopting the Sikh religion in his early 20s. His daily mediation practice was the cornerstone of his work as a healer.

Dr. Soram’s commitment to leadership and service shone through in his work with the American Holistic Medical Association and the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. In 2007, he was chosen by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America” and in 2009 he authored the book, “The Vitamin D Revolution.”

Earlier this year, Dr. Soram accepted an honorary Doctor of Naturopathic Sciences degree from Sonoran University of Health Science in Arizona, where he and Caroline endowed a new medical library. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Soram shared the heart of his work with new graduates:
“Really caring about your patients makes all the difference in the quality of the work we do. Being genuinely concerned for their well-being, their humanity, their lives, their hopes and dreams… this is a rarity in today’s fast-paced world of medicine.”

For many years as an Assistant Professor at UCLA Medical School he taught a course called “Doctoring” to train future doctors how to establish rapport with their patients and how to interact one-on-one in the most effective and caring way.

Dr. Soram’s love and dedication to his patients was unwavering, and so many credit him with comforting them through illness and life-changing healing. Dr. Soram loved his work – and his patients – dearly, many of whom remained in his earnest care for decades. His unique blend of keen intellect, curiosity, confidence and openness also made him a favorite with his many professional colleagues. We are so grateful that he was able to shine his light of service until the very end of his earthly days. May his life and legacy be an example of what one person can do in the service of others.

Dr. Soram is survived by his wife of 53 years, Caroline (Kulwant) Khalsa and their daughter Siri Trang Khalsa, as well as all those who were touched by his light.

A public memorial service is being planned for January so that all those who knew him may have a chance to gather together to celebrate his life.

Donations in his name can be made to The World Central Kitchen, and cards can be sent to 150 N Robertson Blvd. Suite 150, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

A Fond Farewell to our “Doctor of the Stars”

by MSS Guruka Singh Khalsa

Three months ago, Doctor Soram Singh was honored with a PhD from Arizona’s Sonoran University. As he courageously addressed the graduating class of 2024, he said, “Throughout my career I may very well have been accompanied by angels.”

Looking back through the years the truth of that statement becomes clearer than ever. As both his patient and his friend, I (and I’m sure many of you) experienced his deep intuition and the healing presence of Guru Ram Das Ji.

Everyone was welcomed equally in his Beverly Hills office and everyone there, patients and staff alike, was elevated by the celestial sound of Singh Kaur singing “Guru Guru Waheguru, Guru Ram Das Guru,” and that energy infused his entire practice.

During his address, Doctor Soram encouraged the audience of graduating doctors to stay curious about each patient, to listen deeply and not fall into mere procedural medicine, as many doctors do these days. Most importantly, he said “The secret of caring for a patient is to care about that patient. Be genuinely concerned for your patients’ well-being, their humanity, their families, their hopes and their dreams. When you treat your patients in this way, they will come to appreciate you for your kindness and your caring.”

Doc was always curious, learning and growing, excited about the latest medical discoveries and techniques, and eager to share them and put them into practice. Above all, it was his kindness and caring as he served the God within each patient, that characterized the Doc more than anything else for me. He genuinely cared deeply for each of his patients. It was through his awareness, sensitivity and compassion that many were healed, both physically and spiritually, by the grace of Guru Ram Das.

And now, our “Doctor to the Stars” (as Yogi Ji fondly called him) has become doctor amongst the stars.

Thank you for all you are, Doc, and Godspeed.

Note: If you’d like to learn more about Doctor Soram Singh in his own words, you can listen to his short address to the graduating class at Sonoran University here.