Student Spotlight

Joshua Z. Goldenberg, ND Student, Research Scholar

Joshua Goldenberg came to naturopathic medicine in a rather unconventional way. Disillusioned by the "lab rat" position he'd obtained after earning a bachelors of science in molecular biology at the University of Philadelphia, he found himself on a soul-searching trip to Central America. It was there, seven months in, that a chance encounter with a perfect stranger set him on his path. He'd never even heard of naturopathic medicine, but once its concepts were explained, he knew it was his calling.

Soon after returning to the U.S., Joshua enrolled at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Wash., where his enthusiasm for learning, patients, and especially research became evident. This last passion recently earned him the 2011 Student Scientist Award at the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) Convention in Phoenix, Ariz.

Joshua’s goal is to work with patients on the mind-body connection, because "You can do good. You can be present with patients as they become well."

Fame and recognition
Student life on campus
Academics and clinical
The power of being present

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Fame and recognition

AANMC: How did it feel to be awarded the Naturopathic Student Scientist award at the recent AANP conference?

JG: I was incredibly surprised, very honored and humbled. This was my first naturopathic conference, and I was pretty blown away by the community that I experienced there, the energy and the love that everyone seemed to have for each other.

Being surrounded by so many seasoned naturopaths was incredible, and receiving that award felt like welcome from the naturopathic community. I went up to accept the award, and thanked them all for welcoming me into the community. I didn’t even know that there was even an award for students!

AANMC: Overall, what was the AANP Convention experience like for you?

JG: I can’t really emphasize enough how important and what a major impetus that convention was for me. Seeing that community in action, watching NDs in their 50s and 60s on the dance floor (in way better shape than I!), it was just amazing. I was just like, wow, this is such a beautiful, powerful thing to see; they really are living examples of their medicine. That is the best proof of what we do, and I really took it to heart.

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Student life on campus

AANMC: What is the reality of life as an ND student? Can you describe your typical day — before AND after school?

JG: It really changes a bunch between the first two years and the last two. During the first two years, I was in therapeutics every morning at 8 am, and then off to lab, or to study.

The latter two years you're in clinic more, and it’s very overwhelming in terms of time. I’m also involved in a lot of research activities, and trying to fit in the necessary schoolwork. It makes for a very long day.

AANMC: Now that you’re in those final two years, how to do you approach your clinical training sessions?

JG: I like to review the cases beforehand, so that when I’m interacting with the patient I already have a reference.

I see patients for four hours, accompanied by a fourth-year student and a supervising ND, both of whom give me feedback and guidance. From there, we go back to see the patient and provide the recommended course of action. Sometimes I already know what symptoms the patient is coming in for, and if that’s the case, I like to review several potential illnesses and courses of treatment prior to that patient's visit. Preparation really improves my learning, and makes the experience much richer.

AANMC: The first two years, how many hours per week did you spend in classes, labs, studying, working, personal pursuits, etc.?

JG: The first two years, I was in classes and lab eight hours a day. Then there were prep hours, post hours and review hours — so I was pretty much booked the entire day. I tried to take some personal time to unwind before bed, especially since weekends tended to be filled with school work.

AANMC: What has your student housing, or shared residency experience, been like?

JG: First two years, I lived in a co-op. Nobody else was a Bastyr student, which was great for me. I really liked having a lot of people around, getting that social interaction, being at home with other people. Plus, it was great to live with people who weren't in the same program as I was.

I now live in a house with two roommates, neither of whom is in my program. One roommate is in the midwifery program at Bastyr. Originally, I was thinking of getting my own place for the quiet, but I see now why that would have been a bad decision. There needs to be some balance once you’ve closed the books for the evening.

AANMC: How has transportation to campus or the clinic been?

JG: I was without a car the first two years, so I took a shuttle or bus, which amounted to three to four hours of commuting each day. It was completely insane, and stupid on my part. I was trying to help save the environment, but in reality I couldn’t study because I was transferring buses, and just wasting time.

Having a car has been a lifesaver. I live close the clinic, but can commute easily to and from campus, which lets me do things like take care of my dog and catch up on sleep. It has really helped me find more balance and time in the day.

AANMC: How have you found time to develop a social & community life?

JG: I moved to Washington specifically for ND school. I didn’t know anyone, having spent almost all of my life in Philadelphia, but moving into a co-op with 13 other folks (none of who were from Bastyr!) fixed that! I'm really glad I had that living situation for those first two years. When you’re immersed in ND school, it’s very easy to interact only with people from school.  After all, you see the same people each and every day.

So living with individuals not involved with your school is incredibly useful and valuable, because it helps you get outside the school bubble.

AANMC: How do you find time for sleep, eating well, maintaining balance?

JG: This is sort of funny for me. I view ND school as a learning experience for me as well as the patients that I’m counseling.

Before I began my studies, I lived a typical American lifestyle. Now, I’m incorporating all of the naturopathic concepts that I’m learning, and it's slowly changing various aspects of my life, such as the way I eat and how I incorporate exercise.

I feel a strong sense of responsibility to show myself as the naturopathic medical student that I am, and to make sure that I am optimally well. NDs have to be exemplars of optimal wellness. If I’m going to be part of this community, I have to have my own house in order.

AANMC: How do you suggest students tackle finances while in school?

JG: I don’t think working outside of school is feasible. Work study may be possible, for a maximum of five hours per week, but other than that it’s all about student loans. For many, it’s kind of a touchy subject.

AANMC: How do you deal with stress?

JG: Part of the process for me has being learning time management, and figuring out when to put the books down for the day. If it’s a nice, sunny day, I take 15 minutes to go outside and enjoy it.

Pick a daily time to stop working — when 9 pm rolls around, it’s time to wind down and get in a different mindset before bed.

Also, now that I have a car, it’s really easy to head out to the woods to hike with the dog.

I have also fully embraced guided imagery — doing recordings of myself reading scripts and listening to them at night to help me unwind.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day, something like "Your life should never be so busy that you can’t play with your dog." Having a dog forces you to interact with this beautiful animal, and to run around and have fun.  That’s what life is about, being playful.

AANMC: Is there any other lifestyle factor you can think of that really affects students?

JG: While you're a student, you have to remember that life is not medical school. These four or five years of your life are going to be over before you know it, and if all you’ve done is hit the books, then you aren't really living.

But of course, it’s hard to remember that amidst all the stress. What has worked for me is scheduling time to "live" outside of school.  To hang out with friends, walk the dog, go to the gym. It’s really important. Even making a study date with friends at a library or coffee shop helps, because you aren’t alone, or at home. That’s the real challenge.

AANMC: And how do the professors offer support to help you meet this challenge as a student?

JG: A first-year teacher once told my class, "I know you guys are totally wiped & exhausted, but do you really think your life is harder than that of a single mom with three kids who’s going back to school?" The point was, our patients are going to have hectic, stressful lives — and we're going to be asking them to make lifestyle changes, many of which will include the amount of time spent being happy.

It’s no excuse to say "Life is busy".  Everyone’s life is busy. Being present while you’re living is the important thing, no matter what the task is at hand.

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Academics and clinical

AANMC: What are the core differences between the first two years and the second two years of your ND education?

JG: Everything! I loved those first two years, the teachers and the content — I was totally blissed out. But now, actually seeing patients just blows my mind. It reminds me of why I'm here, and it’s just beautiful.

I've learned so much from my contact with patients, as far as what actually works and how I can help them make changes. These patients have serious medical issues, and these issues are so important that they've come to a clinic for help, to people they don’t know. You take them to this little room, and ask them to share all these deeply personal things, and then you tell them that you’ll try to help them. Being present with a patient, smiling at them and having that trust between you is amazing. It’s an incredibly sacred experience.

The third and fourth years are when the learning really begins, and the real beauty of naturopathic medicine becomes clear as day.

To break it down, I'd say the core differences are:

First two years:  Biomedical sciences — very book heavy, great material.

Second two years:  Clinic — starting to see patients and using your knowledge is just mind-boggling. It’s such a learning experience to help patients make changes and assist them with lifestyle modifications.

AANMC: What tutoring, study groups or other campus resources have aided you when you needed it the most?

JG: I had a very close friend in the program the first two years, and we did a lot of studying together.

There are a lot of big study groups available, and they were recommended to us when we first entered, but I think the trick is to know what kind of learner you are. If you like large groups, be sure to select your study partners wisely, and know what you expect to get out of it. For me, a study buddy worked.

I didn’t really use tutors or the class TAs, but they are definitely available for whoever needs them.

I learn from doing things physically, so I took advantage of opportunities that focused on that learning method. Spending time in open lab and going to the cadaver labs was very helpful for me.

AANMC: What degree of specialization is typically offered throughout ND school?

JG: The classes are much more general at the beginning; the specialized classes tend to come later in your education. But there is a plethora of student clubs on campus — so you can join these from the start and meet students that are further along in their educations. It's a great way to get more training earlier on in your education, and to be around people who have similar interests.

AANMC: What motivated you to follow the research path?

JG: I was interested in research before ND school, and I was on a research track before coming to Bastyr. It was one of the reasons that I chose this school. Bastyr has one of the larger research programs among ND schools.

My training had been in lab-based research, but now I’m very interested in the study of research methodology. A lot of that interest has been the result of what I've seen in the community, and the realization that more research trials are needed.  In my mind, there is a huge demand from the community to utilize research trials. However, because naturopathic medicine is such a small field, getting these trials done is incredibly difficult.

AANMC: Please share a few of the most meaningful or educational class, lab, research project, or patient experiences you’ve had.

JG: In my first year, I took a philosophy class in which the professor challenged us to go out into the community and do something to make the world better. To try and do something outside the naturopathic bubble that wasn’t to make our resumes look good, but would benefit many people. It was a very important lesson, and I began to volunteer at a hospice as a result. It has been an incredibly powerful experience, and I continue to do it.

During my third year, apatient came in with significant depression. When she filled out a depression inventory questionnaire, her score was very high.

It was really beautiful to counsel, listen to and aid her. After many sessions, she filled out another questionnaire, and her improvement was incredible. I so loved to see her transformation every week, to witness her heal herself. She was my first real patient.

AANMC: How did you come to choose the ND profession? What was your process to get here?

JG: Well, I was obsessed with science and research, and after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelors in molecular biology, I got a job in a molecular ecology lab.

Unfortunately, I hated it. The actual work was mind numbing, there was no interaction with human beings, and I was surrounded by four white walls all day long.

So I quit, got a backpack, took the money I had saved and went on a discovery trip. After about seven months, I met someone who told me that naturopathic medicine was what I was supposed to do. I view her as my oracle, as I had never even heard of this field before.

A month or two later, I was flying home and setting up interviews at all of the U.S. ND schools.

The idea that I could help people, be involved in science and research, and do it all in a natural way is what made naturopathic medicine the ideal choice. To have a mind, body and spiritual connection is just amazing to me.

AANMC: Why did you choose Bastyr University?

JG: I visited the four AANMC schools that existed in the U.S. at the time. I was attracted to Bastyr because it had the largest research contingent, with both clinical and laboratory-based research.

The environment at Bastyr is incredible: the trees, the parks, the campus is gorgeous. And it’s not too huge, but has lovely surroundings and amenities — cafeteria, gym, nutrition kitchen, and a research center. It's a beautiful community that has so many different tracks of students, all of whom are interested in holistic health. With all the different programs, you get to meet some amazing students studying different tracks.

When I went to Bastyr for the first time, I took the wrong bus and ended up being dropped off at a trailhead. I followed it through the woods, realizing that it was a state park and at the end of it was the Bastyr campus. That was the day of my interview, and I was sold.

AANMC: And have your expectations been met so far?

JG: I am pretty much completely obsessed and in love with Bastyr. I feel incredibly blessed to be at this school.

AANMC: Why do you do it all? What’s the reward for you?

JG: I can do good. Good will happen. I can be present with patients as they become well, and I get to work on my own health and happiness. After all, I too am a work in progress. It’s about lifestyle transformation for the doctor as well as the patient.

AANMC: What do you see for your future as an ND?

JG: Though 50 percent research, 50 percent clinic is still the goal, I will probably do family practice. That way, I'll be able to see everyone, and touch on mind-body elements and modalities. Basic lifestyle changes will be the focus. And I plan to stay in the Seattle area to practice.

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The power of being present

Joshua has fully embraced all there is to learn at naturopathic medical school. His level of enthusiasm is contagious, whether it’s focused on research, patient-centered care, or getting his own internal house in order. He is passionate about" walking the talk" and truly embodying the ND lifestyle.

Joshua plans to pursue a balance between research and a clinical practice that welcomes all age groups — from pediatrics to geriatrics, as well as end-of-life care. His ultimate goal is to increase the awareness of naturopathic medicine among the masses, via clinical trials and research.

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Sandra Watson is a Seattle-based freelance writer with a strong interest in helping others gain knowledge on achieving life balance and happiness. Sandra also serves as events coordinator for the AANMC.

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