The NUNM community is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Regina Dehen, ND (’96), MAcOM (’95), a gifted physician, educator, administrator, researcher, mentor, and advocate. Throughout her career, Dr. Dehen embodied a deep commitment to healing, education, and the advancement of natural medicine. Her contributions to NUNM, our students, and the profession will continue to inspire and shape future generations.
Dr. Dehen passed away on June 29 after living for many years with metastatic breast cancer. Throughout that time, she continued to lead, teach, and advocate for others living with breast cancer. She spoke openly about the realities of metastatic disease and worked tirelessly to increase awareness, improve support, and encourage greater investment in research. Along the way, she also became a certified yoga instructor, sharing the practices that helped sustain her own strength and resilience.
Cancer was only one chapter of Regina’s remarkable life. Long before her diagnosis, she had established herself as an accomplished clinician, educator, and leader whose career was guided by scientific curiosity, compassion, and a deep commitment to improving healthcare.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Reed College, Regina began her career as a National Institutes of Health research fellow and later as a research associate at Oregon Health & Science University. She went on to pursue dual degrees in acupuncture and naturopathic medicine, earning her Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 1995 and her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1996. She later completed a naturopathic obstetrics residency in Portland.
Her unique background in both naturopathic and Chinese medicine shaped a career that bridged disciplines. Regina spent nearly two decades at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, serving as faculty member, Chair of Clinical Studies, and Chair of Research Education. She was deeply committed to evidence-informed medicine and inspired countless students through her teaching, mentorship, and leadership.
In 2013, Regina returned to her naturopathic alma mater as Chief Medical Officer of NCNM Clinics. Two years later, she became Dean of Clinics, overseeing clinical operations across the university while continuing to teach and practice as a primary care physician.
Her leadership extended far beyond policies, accreditation standards, and clinical operations. She inspired those around her by the example she set every day.
“Few people understand that true mentorship is not about telling others what to do. It is about modeling what is possible. She did that every day, with quiet strength, genuine joy in the work, and a fierce commitment to making our profession better than she found it.”
– Melanie Henriksen, ND, President, National University of Natural Medicine
Regina’s commitment to healthcare also reached far beyond the walls of NUNM. She served on advisory panels for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), contributed to research that advanced integrative medicine, published in peer-reviewed journals, and was appointed by Governor Kate Brown to Oregon’s Medicaid Advisory Committee, where she helped shape healthcare policy for the state.
Impressive as her résumé was, those who worked alongside Regina often remember something else first. They remember her generosity as a mentor, her infectious curiosity, and the joy she found in solving problems. She held high expectations for herself and for others, but she paired those expectations with kindness, patience, and encouragement. Whether she was welcoming new employees during orientation, mentoring students in clinic, or guiding faculty through change, Regina had a gift for helping people become more confident and capable.
In a 2014 profile, Regina reflected on the questions that had inspired her since childhood.
“The most interesting questions lie at the gray edge between things—where we came from, how we got here, where are we going?”
She believed science was more than the pursuit of knowledge. It was a way to understand life more deeply and, ultimately, to make life better for others. That philosophy shaped every role she held throughout her career.
Outside of medicine, Regina found joy in family, lifelong learning, movement, and the natural world. She is survived by her husband, Dan, and her children, Tessa and Finn, whom she loved deeply.
Dr. Dehen leaves an extraordinary legacy. Thousands of patients received her care. Hundreds of students learned under her guidance. Colleagues throughout Oregon and beyond benefited from her steady leadership, thoughtful mentorship, and unwavering belief that healthcare could always be better.
Perhaps her greatest legacy, however, is less tangible. She showed those around her what thoughtful leadership, scientific curiosity, compassion, and resilience look like when practiced every day. She helped build stronger clinics, better physicians, and a profession that continues to grow because of her work.
Her influence remains woven into the fabric of NUNM. It can be seen in our clinics, our commitment to quality and patient-centered care, and in the many physicians, faculty members, students, and alumni whose lives she touched.
We extend our deepest condolences to Dan, Tessa, Finn, and all who loved Regina. We are grateful for the many gifts she shared with our university, our profession, and our community. She will be deeply missed, and her legacy will continue to inspire all of us.
You can view Dr. Dehen’s obituary and share you memories at the link below.