Interested in a Career as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine?
That’s wonderful! At NUNM, we believe it’s our responsibility, as a community of healers, to support and grow the next generation of healers. It’s a wonderful, dynamic, and caring community to be a part of.
We also understand that choosing to study to become an ND is a big decision, and an even bigger commitment.
You deserve the best possible information about what the world of naturopathic medicine is like, so you can decide if it’s right for you.
No singular type of person is best suited to become an ND, but there are plenty of important factors to consider when choosing this career path.
What Is an ND’s Approach to Wellness?
Becoming a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine means choosing a healthcare career built on a different foundation than conventional medicine.
How is Naturopathic Medicine different? Instead of just treating symptoms, as conventional methods often do, NDs take a whole-person approach to healthcare.
NDs focus on preventing disease and addressing the root causes of disease and chronic illnesses using natural therapies and remedies wherever possible.
This means it focuses on restoring and optimizing a person’s health by evaluating not just observable physical conditions, but also a person’s emotional well-being, diet, environment, and social factors that can be barriers to good health.
Naturopathic Medicine is an art, science, and philosophy centered around the holistic prevention and treatment of disease.
How to Know if an ND Career is Right For You
A career in Naturopathic Medicine isn’t for everyone, but for those who are drawn to the profession, it is a rewarding journey filled with lifelong learning and deep community relationships.
And if you’re on the fence, here are some questions worth considering:
- Am I a people person?
- Am I interested in combining scientific observations with personalized care?
- Am I committed to being a lifelong learner?
- Am I someone who has the entrepreneurial drive to build a practice?
As with any medical or healthcare role, being a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine requires people skills.
As an ND you build close relationships with patients in order to understand their experience as a whole person.
This means empathy, curiosity, and sensitivity to the nuances of people’s lives, including those with cultural, religious, ethnic, and lifestyle experiences different from your own.
It means considering their unique social, emotional, and environmental histories into account when searching for the root causes of their health conditions.
This also means that you need to be a strong communicator and an equally strong listener.
Honing these skills will make you a better practitioner, and lead to better outcomes for your patients.
ND students at NUNM hone these communication, observation, and treatment skills at our on-campus clinic, where they’ll spend over 1,200 hours in clinical training.
At NUNM, ND students begin clinical training in their first year, where they’ll observe how experienced NDs apply integrative medicine techniques to optimize a patient’s wellness.
Student responsibility in the clinic grows over time, always guided by a more experienced practitioner, to help them develop their communication, examination, and care delivery skills.
What to Remember Before Choosing a Career as an ND
Earning an ND is Rigorous. A career in Naturopathic Medicine is rewarding but demanding. Earning your degree is no different. NUNM is built on an engaging, supportive community, but we take our work seriously.
Building a successful career as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine requires more than just passion. You need academic training, clinical experience, sharp communication, leadership skills, and, if you plan to open your own practice as many of our graduates do, an understanding of things like people management, business operations, and marketing.
We’re seeking to innovate the practice of medicine. Our goal is to optimize wellbeing in every community possible and change the mindset around what healthcare can be in North America. This means we’re looking for the best and brightest students who not only want to practice naturopathic medicine, but can be great ambassadors of the profession.
Does this sound like you?
We’re not here to scare you off. In fact, we want to inspire you to take the next step. Do you believe in the value of preventive, whole-person medicine? Do you want to help people overcome the pain and stress of their chronic conditions?
We’d love to hear from you, learn more about your goals, and help you better understand how NUNM turns bright students into amazing doctors.