The future of learning at the National University of Natural Medicine continues to take shape through the generosity of alumni who believe deeply in the institution that helped shape their own lives and careers.
As part of our ongoing donor recognition series, NUNM is honored to celebrate two remarkable gifts that will leave a lasting impact on our new campus and generations of students that pass through its halls. Through their generosity, two important learning spaces within the new campus now bear the names of alumni whose lives reflect a lifelong commitment to natural medicine, education, and service.
Cronin Hall
NUNM is proud to announce that the university’s largest lecture hall has been named Cronin Hall in recognition of a generous gift from Michael Cronin, ND (’80) and Kyle Cronin, ND (’81).
Spanning more than 3,100 square feet, Cronin Hall will be a place where ideas are shared and future practitioners are inspired. It will also host one of the university’s most cherished traditions: the annual White Coat Ceremony, where incoming Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine students receive their white coats and begin the next chapter of their professional journey. Generations of students will create lasting memories in a space that reflects the generosity of alumni who once sat where they now will.
“Since discovering NCNM in 1976, naturopathic medicine has been the greatest force for good in our lives. It has given us the highest opportunity to serve humanity, evolve the medicine, earn a good living, and provide for our family.” – Michael J. Cronin, ND
Over more than four decades, Dr. Michael Cronin has helped further the naturopathic profession through leadership, education, advocacy, and research. He has served as president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, founded Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, now Sonoran University, and helped establish both the Naturopathic Physicians Research Institute and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Dr. Kyle Cronin, co-founder of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, has built a career grounded in compassionate patient care and a commitment to the principles of naturopathic medicine. Throughout her career, she has shared the vision of expanding access to whole-person care while supporting the education of future generations.
Together, Drs. Michael and Kyle Cronin have dedicated their careers to expanding access to naturopathic medicine and supporting the institutes that prepare future practitioners. Their gift ensures that generations of students will gather in a space that reflects their own values: leadership, curiosity, growth, and service.
The Dr. Babbie Stern Botanical Medicine Suite
NUNM is also honored to announce that the Herb Lab classroom has been named the Dr. Babbie Stern Botanical Medicine Suite in recognition of a generous gift made in her honor.
A 2006 ND and MSOM graduate of the National College of Natural Medicine, Dr. Stern has built a career rooted in botanical medicine, naturopathic primary care, and acupuncture. As the founder of Healing Seeds in Utah, she has spent her career helping patients reconnect with the healing power of nature while remaining deeply connected to the principles she first developed as a student at NUNM.
The naming of the Botanical Medicine Suite recognizes both Dr. Stern’s enduring commitment to the university and the lasting influence of botanical medicine within naturopathic education.
Reflecting on the future of the profession, Dr. Stern shared:
“As we navigate these changing tides and shifts in consciousness, it is clear to me that the medicine of the future will be a deep remembering that Nature is truly the best medicine. NUNM is uniquely poised to provide the foundational principles, research, and partnerships that will carry us into the next iteration of healthcare. I am honored to be a part of the change we wish to see in the world.”
Legacies That Live On
Named spaces are more than places on our campus map. They become part of the daily experience of every student who studies within them and every faculty member who teaches there.
Cronin Hall and the Dr. Babbie Stern Botanical Medicine Suite represent more than generous gift. They reflect a belief that education creates lasting change and that investing in future generations of whole health professionals is one of the most meaningful ways to strengthen the university’s mission.
We are deeply grateful to the alumni and supporters whose generosity continues to shape NUNM’s newest chapter, creating spaces where learning, discovery, friendships, and healing will thrive for years to come.