NCNM Kicks Off Free Summer Lecture Series for Garden Enthusiasts

The Min Zidell Healing Garden Features Community and Continuing Ed Classes

PORTLAND, Ore. (Aug. 2, 2012) —The National College of Natural Medicine will offer free weekly community and continuing education lectures through mid-September in its Min Zidell Healing Garden. NCNM will host Tuesday evening community lectures on topics showcasing the benefits of herbal gardening. On Thursday evenings, the college will present continuing education lectures for naturopathic doctors and other medical professionals on topics including herbal interactions, first aid and nature cure. All of the 90-minute lectures begin at 6 p.m. The medical college’s botanical healing garden, donated by Portland’s philanthropic Zidell family, is located adjacent to the NCNM Clinic at the west end of the Ross Island Bridge.

Speakers for both series include respected local botanists and members of the NCNM faculty, such as Glen Nagel, ND, among other noted experts.

Herbal gardening has a growing and dedicated following in the Portland area. NCNM has long waited for an opportunity to begin to offer educational opportunities to the wider Portland metro community, said NCNM’s Vice President of Advancement, Susan K. Hunter. The Garden offers an ideal setting, she said, for such unique educational opportunities.

“We’re delighted to share the beautiful setting of our new Garden as a place of respite on these lovely summer days. At the same time, we’re now able to provide educational benefits to everyone in our community who want to learn about medicinal herbs, and how to cultivate and grow botanical herb gardens of their own,” Hunter said.

The college is located at 049 SW Porter Street. While both series are free of charge, there is a suggested donation of $10–15 to benefit upkeep of the new Garden.

ABOUT NCNM
Founded in Portland in 1956, NCNM is the oldest accredited naturopathic medical school in North America and an educational leader in classical Chinese medicine and CAM research. NCNM offers four-year graduate medical degree programs in naturopathic and classical Chinese medicine, and a Master of Science in Integrative Medicine Research degree. Its community clinics offer low-cost or free medical care throughout the Portland metropolitan area, and, in addition to the campus-based NCNM Clinic, NCNM practitioners attend to approximately 33,000 patient visits per year. NCNM’s Helfgott Research Institute conducts rigorous evidence-based research to advance the science of natural medicine and improve clinical practice. Until July 2006, NCNM was known as the National College of Naturopathic Medicine.