Alumni Speaker Profile

JoAnn Yanez, ND

JoAnn Yanez, ND, currently serves as head of government relations for the New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians and is a passionate advocate for wellness, prevention and access to high quality healthcare services. Dr. Yanez is regularly called upon to represent state and national organizations at conferences and has presented to US senators, congressmen, governors, state elected officials and experts in the fields of medicine and health. Her persistence in building coalitions of corporations, individuals and elected officials is driven by her hope to create a wellness-based model of healthcare. She was awarded SCNM’s 2006 Legacy Award and the 2007 NYANP Physician of the Year award for contributions to the community at large. Dr. Yanez has just joined the advisory board of the Children’s International Obesity Foundation, an exciting new organization fighting against the obesity epidemic and crisis. Be sure to check out her new blog on healthy living.

Dr. Yanez is a graduate of the University of Miami, where she was a recipient of the National Hispanic and University of Miami Scholarships, a member of the Rho Lambda and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Societies and was awarded the National Kappa Kappa Gamma Treasurer Award two years in a row. She gained an appreciation for the connection between the mind and body while researching post-traumatic stress impacts on children after Hurricane Andrew and while volunteering matching developmentally disabled people with college students. Dr. Yanez went on to graduate from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, where she delivered her class commencement address and served as adjunct clinical faculty and alumna representative. During her time at SCNM, she was in charge of patient care at Aids Project Arizona and a clinical practice focusing on chronic disease. While Dr. Yanez was at the clinic, Aids Project Arizona was recognized with an award from the Mayor of Phoenix.
 
Since 2004, Dr. Yanez has served as nomination committee chair and board member of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (the federally recognized accrediting body for naturopathic medical colleges in the US and Canada). She has been instrumental in revising accreditation standards, setting the process in motion for review of naturopathic residencies and maintaining quality naturopathic medical education that adheres to the guidelines set by the United States Department of Education.

Dr. Yanez has regularly appeared in print and on television and radio since 1979 and, thanks to her multicultural background, is fluent in Spanish and speaks basic conversational Yiddish. She maintains active naturopathic licenses in Connecticut and Arizona.

 
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