Future clinical facility to be named the Peterson-Shelley Center for Integrative Medicine
Portland, Ore. – February 27, 2026 – Some gifts build buildings. Others build possibility. The National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) announces a $1.5 million philanthropic gift from alumnus Dr. Noel Peterson, ND ’78, and his wife, Teresa Shelley, a gift that will help bring NUNM’s next chapter to life.
A significant portion of the gift has already been received and is actively advancing Phase 1 of NUNM’s campus development, including academic and administrative build-out and key infrastructure improvements. Their early support has accelerated progress at an important moment, allowing NUNM to move forward with momentum and confidence.
In recognition of their extraordinary generosity and long-standing partnership, NUNM’s future clinical facility, part of Phase 2 of the campus expansion, will be named the Peterson-Shelley Center for Integrative Medicine. The new health center will serve as the home for integrative clinical care, interprofessional education, and community engagement, strengthening NUNM’s ability to deliver accessible, whole-person healthcare to the region while training the next generation of providers.
Dr. Peterson and Teresa Shelley’s support is rooted in a deep family legacy within naturopathic medical education. Shelley’s mother, Kathleen Shelley, PhD, played a key role in advancing naturopathic medical education nationwide. She was instrumental in hearings before the U.S. Department of Education and in proceedings related to federal recognition of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education. Her lasting impact continues to inspire Dr. Peterson and Teresa Shelley’s commitment to the future of the profession.
“Transformational projects don’t happen without people willing to step forward at the right time,” said Carrie Baldwin-Sayre, ND ’04, Vice President of Advancement and Strategic Communications at NUNM. “Dr. Peterson and Teresa Shelley did exactly that. Their early investment helped us move Phase 1 ahead with confidence, and their gift ensures our future Health Center will be a lasting home for clinical excellence, student learning, and community care, deeply aligned with NUNM’s mission and values.”
“NUNM shaped the way I understand medicine and the way I serve my patients,” said Dr. Peterson. “Teresa and I believe in a future in which healthcare is personal, integrative, and accessible. Supporting this next chapter of NUNM’s campus is our way of investing in the students, clinicians, and communities who will carry that vision forward.”
Dr. Peterson has remained closely connected to NUNM since graduating in 1978. Over the past four decades, he has built a career grounded in regenerative and whole-person medicine. His enduring dedication to the profession and to this institution reflects a belief in what’s possible when education, care, and community come together with purpose.
The Peterson-Shelley Center for Integrative Medicine will stand as a place where learning meets practice, where students become clinicians, and where patients find care that honors the whole person.
This gift marks a significant milestone in NUNM’s campus transformation and a powerful example of what is possible when vision meets generosity.
About National University of Natural Medicine
The National University of Natural Medicine, founded in 1956, is the longest-standing accredited naturopathic medical school in North America. Located in Portland, Oregon, NUNM offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in naturopathic medicine, Chinese medicine, nutrition, integrative health sciences, and research. The university is also home to NUNM Health Centers, a teaching clinic that provides accessible, patient-centered integrative primary care to the Portland community. Learn more at nunm.edu and nunmhealthcenters.com.