PORTLAND, Ore. (Dec. 12, 2012)— Kevin Wilson, ND, was the recipient of the third annual “Living Legends” award by National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) and the Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OANP) at a banquet held Dec. 6 in Portland. NCNM and the OANP selected Dr. Wilson to be honored with the prestigious Living Legends award for his demonstrated leadership, commitment to excellence and selfless contributions in the advancement of natural medicine.
Wilson, a 1983 graduate of NCNM, was appointed to the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Examiners (OBNE) by Governor Barbara Roberts, which he chaired from 1990–1992, and where he continues to serve as chair of the OBNE Formulary Council.
A well-known figure in the naturopathic profession, Wilson provided early leadership to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians—serving as a board member, and delegate and Vice Speaker to the AANP House of Delegates. He has also held various positions locally on the board of directors of the OANP, including serving on the legislative committee for nearly 30 years.
He is known to Oregon legislators for several key naturopathic initiatives over the years, including his tireless advocacy for passage of SB 327 in 2009, which expanded the naturopathic formulary to include all pharmaceuticals needed in a primary care setting. Other legislative efforts he championed paved the way for naturopathic doctors to treat workers’ compensation and Medicaid patients, and to practice as primary care physicians in the state of Oregon.
“Oregon naturopathic doctors have one of the broadest scopes of practice in the country,” explained Sheryl Estlund, president of the OANP. “Oregonians who see NDs have Dr. Wilson to thank for it!”
In addition to his private practice in Hillsboro, Ore., Wilson was also instrumental in advancing the fields of naturopathic pain management and therapeutic injections. He is a founding board member and core faculty member of the Naturopathic Academy of Therapeutic Injections; he has also taught on the faculty of NCNM. He is a member of the Clinical Management Committee for Complementary Healthcare Plans and is a member of the steering committee of the Pain Society of Oregon. He also serves on NCNM’s Board of Regents.
NCNM’s president, David J. Schleich, PhD, expressed his gratitude to Wilson for his decades of service to the profession of naturopathic medicine. “All of us are indebted to the doctors who built the tradition of natural medicine in the Northwest with quiet determination, continuously helping patients improve and maintain good health.”
The Living Legends award dinner also celebrated the accomplishments of four other accomplished NCNM alumni, Paul Herscu, ND, DHAMP, MPH; Tori Hudson, ND; Martin Milner, ND; and Jared Zeff, ND, who were inducted into the NCNM Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was established to honor members of the natural medicine community who play a vital role in the advancement of natural medicine’s reputation, prestige and pursuit of excellence.
Herscu is the author of the homeopathic classic—The Homeopathic Treatment of Children and co-founder of the New England School of Homeopathy in Connecticut, where he has taught thousands of medical professionals for more than 25 years.
Hudson is celebrated for her work in women’s health and is the nationally recognized author of the Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, a classic text on women’s health and natural medicine.
Milner is the CEO and medical director of Portland’s Center for Natural Medicine, the first and largest multi-disciplinary healthcare facility in the Northwest. He recently co-founded the Naturopathic Institute of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Medicine, dedicated to postgraduate training and certification.
Zeff has been in private practice in Oregon and Washington, and is the recipient of numerous awards for his contributions the development of naturopathic clinical theory and medical education. Zeff enters the Living Legends Hall of Fame with distinction—he was previously inducted in 2011.
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 provide low-cost medical care throughout the Portland metropolitan area. In addition to the campus-based NCNM Clinic, NCNM practitioners care for approximately 37,000 patient visits per year. Until July 2006, NCNM was known as the National College of Naturopathic Medicine. The name change reflects the diversity of the college’s programmatic degree offerings.
ABOUT OANP
Founded in 1909, the OANP is the oldest naturopathic association in North America. Its mission is to support naturopathic doctors and improve the health of Oregonians through the advancement of naturopathic medicine.