MSGH alumnus reflects on the interconnection of ecosystems and personal values.
Graduate Reflections were collected by the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) as part of an ongoing series to highlight 2025 Commencement.
John-Michael McCaskill ’25
Program: Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH)
John-Michael McCaskill, a fifth-generation Coloradan, was raised with a deep respect for the land, its people, and the interconnectedness of natural systems.
After earning his Associate of Arts from Central Arizona College and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Mississippi State University, McCaskill spent more than 15 years working at the intersection of sustainability, conservation, and community service.
He has managed citywide organizing campaigns, run a community art gallery in Denver, and supported public health initiatives in India.
Now a graduate of the Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH) program at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), McCaskill plans to complete his remaining prerequisite coursework and enroll in the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program at NUNM.
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John-Michael McCaskill recently spoke with NUNM about his journey to the MSGH program and how it strengthened his commitment to creating lasting, meaningful change in the communities he serves.
NUNM: What inspired you to pursue your field of study?
McCaskill: My motivation for global health comes from personal experiences, professional growth, and a commitment to helping others. Living in rural communities showed me that health extends beyond access to medicine; it is shaped by our environment, community, and culture.
The path to global health emerged at the intersection of my own health challenges and supporting family members grappling with mental health and substance use issues. Navigating fragmented care systems exposed the structural inequities that many people encounter. It became clear to me that to make a difference, I needed to work upstream where policy, environment, and public health converge.
During my global health fieldwork project, I observed how local realities consistently influence global outcomes. These experiences inspired me to integrate my background in business, conservation, and social enterprise with a mission to advance health equity on a global scale.
Was there a particular class or moment at NUNM that impacted you?
During my first year at NUNM, I encountered a moment that fundamentally shifted my perspective and continues to guide my purpose. A faculty member recommended David Groenfeldt’s, “Water Ethics,” a book that challenges readers to examine their personal value systems in relation to water—and by extension, to their entire ecosystem.
Before reading this book, I believed I had a general understanding of environmental systems and their components. But I had never explored the origins of my own values around water, food, or land. I hadn’t realized that, much like our relationships with people, our connection to the natural world is shaped by values that are often unspoken and rarely examined.
“NUNM has profoundly expanded my understanding of natural medicine and opened new pathways for personal and professional growth.”
— John-Michael McCaskill, MSGH ’25
In the book, Groenfeldt uses global case studies to illustrate how the absence of these values in decision-making can have profound consequences on human and ecological health. While these insights prompted me to question my role within larger systems, they also revealed that a deeper understanding of our personal environmental values can strengthen our connection to ourselves and the world around us.
That reflection sparked a new question I now carry with me: How can we help others improve their health and well-being by reconnecting with the values they hold toward their environment?
This question continues to shape my approach to global health—an approach grounded in ethics, introspection, and the belief that healing our ecosystems and ourselves are fundamentally intertwined.
What literature, quotes, or rituals have supported you while at NUNM?
NUNM has profoundly expanded my understanding of natural medicine and opened new pathways for personal and professional growth. Learning to address the whole person can be overwhelming without a framework. Having a safe and supportive space to explore diverse modalities, such as nutrition, Ayurveda, immunology, and systems thinking, has had a lasting impact on my daily life practices.
Cultivating a more intentional relationship with food—how it is produced, who is involved, and where it comes from—has given me a deeper appreciation for how nourishment impacts both personal health and wider ecological systems. This awareness has enriched my insight into nutrient uptake and its effects on local and global communities.
Ayurvedic practice, in particular, has taught me the value of slowing down with purpose. Incorporating ritual and self-care into my routine has helped regulate my mental health, supporting more grounded, harmonious relationships with my family, friends, and environment. Similarly, coursework in immunology has challenged me to rethink wellness, especially through the lens of gut health, inspiring me to deepen my knowledge with curiosity and intention.
Ultimately, systems thinking has evolved into a powerful tool. It has helped strengthen my ability to think critically and holistically, comprehending the interconnection of cultural, political, and environmental systems. I’m now better equipped to grasp the complexities involved in global health challenges.
Written by Ashley Villarreal, NUNM Marketing Content Specialist, in collaboration with John-Michael McCaskill, NUNM Alumni ’25.