Bastyr University(July 2009) - During this period of economic challenge, it’s encouraging to witness the continued growth of naturopathic medicine and of the AANMC-member schools in a number of different areas.
Campus expansion
Providing the physical resources that dedicated students and faculty need to flourish is key to the continued advancement of naturopathic medicine. Three of our AANMC schools have ambitious plans underway to do just that.
- Bastyr University, for example, recently broke ground on 11 eco-friendly cottage-style residences. The new construction at the Seattle-area campus is well underway, and the buildings are expected to be ready for occupancy in the summer of 2010.
- Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences (SCNM) recently expanded its campus by acquiring a new 42,000-square-foot building in Tempe, Ariz. The new facility will co-locate the school’s medical center, expanded natural pharmacy and a new laboratory. The new medical center will serve patients and prepare naturopathic medical students to become primary care family practice physicians. The clinic will also create space for expanded research capacities, building on existing collaborations with the Arizona Biodesign Institute, the University of Arizona and the Translational Genomics Research Institute.
- Major development plans are underway in Oregon, where National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) is beginning to chart aggressive expansions on several of its properties. These visionary plans to create an integrated Portland campus include new clinic space, student housing and a large herb garden featuring plants to be used for botanical medicine coursework.
Success stories such as these require significant resources and stability, and they are a testament to the enduring nature of the schools and their continuing commitment to naturopathic medicine.
Leadership and talent
The AANMC and the profession of naturopathic medicine are vastly fortunate to have the leadership of numerous dedicated individuals. Several of our leaders have recently taken on new and exciting roles.
- Mr. Alexander Cortina is now president and executive director of Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (BINM). Formerly the school’s dean of student affairs, Mr. Cortina brings a wealth of wisdom and energy to his new role; he is prepared and eager to lead the school, along with its very passionate leadership team, through to the next stage of its development. Patricia Wolfe, ND, will continue to offer dedicated support to BINM in her new role of president emeritus.
- The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) director of research and epidemiology, Dugald Seely, ND, MSc, has just become editor in chief of the International Journal of Naturopathic Medicine (IntJNM). This publication is a peer-reviewed journal that provides a benchmark to the international medical community and seeks to foster research and increase the profession’s evidence base. Says Dr. Seely, "IntJNM seeks to encourage a collectively built, experiential and evidentiary clinical practice that will both hone and extend our system’s unique, eclectic, and unified medical practice."
Proponents of naturopathic medicine thank these ambitious and dedicated individuals for their ongoing exertions in their field.
Integrative medicine on the rise
As naturopathic medicine continues to gain recognition, more and more medical institutions are working collaboratively with naturopathic physicians and administrators to incorporate naturopathic principles and procedures.
- National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) in Illinois has recently expanded its long-standing role in health career education to include a naturopathic medicine degree program. NUHS is the newest AANMC-member school, and the university promotes a truly integrative learning experience for all its students. The school’s campus and teaching clinic offer programs in naturopathic medicine, as well as chiropractic medicine, acupuncture, Oriental medicine and massage therapy. This multi-disciplinary environment prepares future NDs to understand and appreciate the innate connections between the various practices and, at the same time, fosters an awareness of
naturopathic medicine among other health care providers.
- University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine (UBCNM) and St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn., recently announced a new partnership that will enhance collaboration among future health care providers. UBCNM fourth-year students will now be able to join physicians, residents and medical students from St. Vincent’s on observation rotations and case presentations during daily grand rounds. These educational rotations will allow traditional and naturopathic physicians alike to benefit and learn from each other’s knowledge and experience.
Interested in a profession that’s stable and expanding? Take your first step toward a career in naturopathic medicine and request information from the ND schools of your choice.
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