Dr. Matthew Hicks (ND-MSCR ’18) to provide recommendations on statewide psychedelic treatment services.

Dr. Matthew Hicks, a National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) alumnus and affiliate research investigator at Helfgott Research Institute, was appointed by Gov. Tina Kotek to the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board (OPAB). 

Hicks will join the Board as a practicing naturopathic physician and postdoctoral scholar at NUNM’s Helfgott, where he conducts psychedelic research aimed to make psychedelic therapy more effective, accessible, and equitable.

“I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be joining the next iteration of the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board,” said Hicks in a social media post. “I look forward to this opportunity to help Oregon’s innovative program adapt to the needs of our community in the years to come.” 

In this role, he will work with OPAB for a four-year term to provide recommendations to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), based on research into the safety and effectiveness of psilocybin for treating mental health conditions and the delivery of psilocybin services statewide.

Hicks earned his Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and Master of Science in Clinical Research degrees from NUNM in 2018.

As president of Synaptic Institute, an integrative mental health practice, he recently launched an inaugural pilot study within OHA’s Oregon Psilocybin Services model, focusing on group psilocybin-assisted therapy.