FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2017
Maryland University of Integrative Health to Open School of Naturopathic Medicine in Fall 2018
Graduate program will be the first of its kind in the mid-Atlantic region
Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH), a national leader in the education and practice of natural medicine, announced today that it will welcome its first class of naturopathic medical students in the fall of 2018.
“In establishing our School of Naturopathic Medicine, MUIH is taking a bold step to address some of the most challenging issues in healthcare,” said Steven Combs, president and CEO of MUIH. “We expect the graduates of this program to help fill the gap caused by the shortage of primary care physicians and to provide patients with cost-effective, compassionate care based on preventative and natural methods. Patients are demanding this approach and our nation needs these graduates.”
Naturopathic medicine is a general practice discipline that emphasizes lifestyle medicine, wellness, and optimal health. It mobilizes the wisdom of nature to support the body’s inherent healing ability. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) diagnose and treat disease, and use traditional therapies combined with modern medical practices to help restore and maintain health. NDs place patients at the heart of a relationship-centered care model, empowering them with education and tools to take charge of their own well-being.
The School of Naturopathic Medicine at MUIH will be the first in the mid-Atlantic region and one of only a handful of ND schools in the nation that operate within a regionally accredited university. It will offer students highly progressive models and best practices for evidence-informed medical education and will incorporate digitally-enhanced learning, interactive classroom experiences, hands-on and virtual laboratories, and a wide variety of clinical experiences including community-based healthcare. Learning is designed to foster critical thinking and clinical reasoning through a student-oriented curriculum that establishes a foundation in biomedical sciences, naturopathic philosophy, and integrative therapeutics and will include emerging trends in genomics, bioinformatics, and personalized medicine. The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program will prepare graduates to practice as first-contact providers with expertise in botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, counseling and coaching, and manual therapies designed to address the whole person.
“This is the right time and MUIH is the right place to advance the education and practice of naturopathic medicine,” said Elizabeth Pimentel, ND, dean of the School of Naturopathic Medicine. “As students progress through the program, learning is focused on the clinical applications of the art, science, and wise practice of medicine, and the transformative process of becoming an effective doctor, compassionate healer, and integral member of a healthcare team that places the patient at the very center.”
The number of naturopathic doctors has tripled in the last 10 years1 as more and more states provide licensure opportunities for NDs. Today, 19 states, including Maryland and the District of Columbia, license NDs and several more are in the legislative process toward licensing. The career outlook is extremely promising for graduates of MUIH’s School of Naturopathic Medicine, as NDs are increasingly in demand at integrative health practices, hospitals, medical centers, specialty clinics, and research centers.
For more information about the School of Naturopathic Medicine or MUIH, please visit www.muih.edu/academics/doctoral-degrees/doctor-naturopathic-medicine, or contact Kristen Zatina at [email protected] or phone 410-243-3790.
About Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH)
Maryland University of Integrative Health is one of the nation’s leading academic institutions for natural medicine. For nearly 40 years, MUIH has educated and informed practitioners and leaders in health and wellness through transformative and relationship-centered programs that draw from traditional wisdom and contemporary science. Progressive graduate degrees in a wide range of disciplines are offered both on campus and online. In the on-campus Natural Care Center and community outreach settings, MUIH provides compassionate and affordable healthcare from student interns and professional practitioners, and delivers more than 30,000 clinical treatments and consultations each year. For staff and faculty, MUIH offers a collaborative and vibrant work environment that is mission and values-driven. For more, please visit www.muih.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT
Kristen Zatina
[email protected], 410-243-3790
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1. “FAQ.” Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges. Accessed July 7, 2017. https://aanmc.org/naturopathic-medicine/faq/.
