Bastyr University(January 2009) - Not surprisingly, our seven accredited naturopathic medical schools have forged strongly ahead this past year, expanding academic courses, conducting new research programs and creating multi-disciplinary partnerships above and beyond the normal boundaries. A snapshot of the year’s activities at each of the AANMC-member schools follows.
On Campus:
BINM launches innovative new ND education track for part-time students.
Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine has instituted a new part-time six-year educational track for “unconventional” aspiring doctors of naturopathic medicine. This novel approach to medical education is a response to the growing number of students with additional daytime responsibilities, such as work, family, and other time commitments. The six-year diploma track was initiated in January 2009 and adheres to the same quality standards as BINM’s popular full-time ND program. Classes occur in the evenings and on weekends, and required weekly classroom hours range from 12 to 15.
NCNM, under new leadership, institutes multiple new and expanded academic programs.
National College of Natural Medicine has had an extraordinary year. The past twelve months have been notably marked by new and expanded academic programs: a new School of Allied Health Sciences was approved, allowing for the creation of new certificate and degree programs; the process of expanding continuing education, community and certificate education was begun; and a January intake was instituted for new students of both the Naturopathic Medicine and the Master of Science in Oriental Medicine programs. Also significant was the induction of Dr. David Schleich as NCNM’s new president and chief executive officer. Finally, the school has begun to acquire property for the expansion of offices and NCNM’s Helfgott Institute Research Center. Learn more about NCNM’s growing campus.
UBCNM ramps up student clinical training opportunities, offering its students a comprehensive perspective of medical care.
University of Bridgeport School of Naturopathic Medicine is proud to have established two new clinical training programs for its students: a pilot program for fourth-year students to participate in internal medicine rounds at St. Vincent’s Hospital, and a second-year residency program in cooperation with Yale-Griffin Hospital’s Integrative Medical Center. Both positions are important educational innovations in that they offer simultaneous training in both naturopathic and traditional medical settings. Such concurrent medical instruction is essential in promoting a truly integrated perspective of naturopathic medical care. Learn more about UBCNM's program with St. Vincent's Hospital.
Beyond Campus:
SCNM aids medical community by forging new cross-disciplinary partnerships.
In 2008, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine established several new and important collaborative associations: the SCNM research department allied with Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute, the University of Arizona, and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGEN), where SCNM students became the first in the naturopathic profession to perform genetic expression analysis; SCNM worked with the University of New Mexico’s College of Medicine to establish faculty development workshops; and for the first time, an SCNM student participated in the American Medical Student Association’s (AMSA’s) Humanistic Elective in alternative medicine, Activism and Reflective Transformation (HEART) rotation. Learn more about HEART.
Bastyr University continues to lead the way in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research.
As Bastyr University celebrated its 30th year as a global leader in the natural health arts and sciences, it continued to make important strides in CAM research. The university established the Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Clinic (BIORC) to provide naturopathic and traditional Chinese medicine treatment to cancer patients in controlled outcomes studies. In addition to completing several botanical medicine studies, Bastyr received national recognition for its findings on the use of St. John’s wort in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Additionally, Bastyr’s students continue to benefit from a National Institutes of Health (NIH) training grant that prepares them to become leading CAM research scholars and clinical investigators. Learn more about Bastyr’s research clinic.
CCNM crosses cultural boundaries to improve health care, studying the connection between naturopathic medicine and traditional aboriginal health practices.
This year, the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine conducted a preliminary study to examine the potential utilization of naturopathic medicine in improving health care provision to First Nations people. The study was commissioned by the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada. The modern medical services often provided to First Nations people have sometimes been at odds with the spirit of traditional aboriginal health practices, often alienating these peoples. CCNM’s study noted that naturopathic medicine could potentially serve as a philosophical bridge between traditional aboriginal health practices and modern medical services. Learn more about this and other CCNM research studies.
View our archives to track the progress of the seven accredited ND schools over past couple of years:
Issue #17: Naturopathic Medical School Milestones 2007
Issue #11: Naturopathic Medical School Milestones 2006
Meanwhile, beyond campus walls, the rest of the natural health world has been advancing as well. Read Top 10 CAM News Stories 2008.
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