As a postdoctoral researcher at NUNM, alumnus and practicing ND’s current research looks at shamanism as a clinical intervention.

With the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) gearing up to host Research Week from April 29 to May 3, we’re shining a spotlight on the work of our researchers.

Dr. Matthew Hicks ’18

Postdoctoral Researcher

Degrees: Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND); Master of Science in Integrative Medicine Research

Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri 

While there are many ways we can help make the world a better place, I ultimately determined that my path would involve naturopathic medicine, research, and psychedelics.

NUNM was a great place to get clinical training, but the clinical research graduate program, and the Helfgott Research Institute in general, really set it apart. I had a lot of interests that I had opportunities to explore, but halfway through my training at NUNM, I developed a passion for psychedelic therapy.

After a few years in practice, I have come back to NUNM as a postdoctoral scholar doing psychedelic research. My projects aim to make psychedelic therapy more effective, accessible, and equitable.

My current work includes a systematic review of shamanism as a clinical intervention, a qualitative analysis of interviews with indigenous psychedelic shamans, and a pilot study that will treat low-income adults with depression using group psilocybin therapy, among other related collaborations.