Growing up on the Oregon Coast, Dr. Melanie Henriksen’s passion for naturopathic medicine began early, inspired by her own family’s experiences with health challenges. She witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of integrative medicine and recognized that patients were best served when interdisciplinary healthcare teams and providers who could come together in a collaborative way.  

Determined to support the health of patients and the planet, Dr. Henriksen moved to Portland, Oregon after high school, earning a biology degree from Portland State University before enrolling at NUNM. It was there that she found her calling in women’s health, and an unexpected love of impacting change through policy and administration.  

After graduating NUNM with a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, Maters in Classical Chinese Medicine, and a certificate in Natural Childbirth & Midwifery, Dr. Henriksen was selected for a two-year year residency at NUNM. With the intent of developing a practice that incorporated the best of conventional and natural medicine, she then pursued a Master of Nursing degree from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). 

By 2009, Dr. Henriksen had graduated from OHSU, achieved certification & licensure as a Nurse Midwife and was offered the role of director of NUNM’s residency program. Looking back, she often reflects on the importance this role played in her own professional growth. She continued to build her administrative focus through serving in multiple educational leadership roles, including as NUNM’s Dean of Naturopathic Medicine. She notes her gratitude for being able to serve in numerous leadership positions within the naturopathic profession, including: President of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical College (AANMC), Chair of the Council Postgraduate Naturopathic Medical Education (CPNME), Chair of the Council of Chief Academic and Clinical Officers (CCACO), member of the Naturopathic Coordinating Council (NCC), member of AANP, and Residency Consortium Committee chair for the Institute of Natural Medicine (INM), to name just a few.  

In 2017, feeling the need for increased attention on her clinical practice, Dr. Henriksen left NUNM to work as a midwife at Kaiser Permanente. She notes “working within the Kaiser system was a fantastic experience. I worked with incredible, dedicated colleagues in a fast-paced work environment. It was an opportunity to further hone my clinical skills, particularly in women’s health, prenatal and postpartum care, routine gynecological care and minor procedures.” 

However, her time away from NUNM was brief. She returned on a part-time basis to provide support as a Chief Medical Officer, eventually transitioning to the role of interim president in October 2020.   

In July 2021, Dr. Henriksen accepted a permanent position as President and CEO of the National University of Natural Medicine. She states with pride that “NUNM has always been my home” and goes on to say: 

“Each time I have stepped away from this institution, something has drawn me back in. My love for this place is undeniable and whether I’m working on policy decisions, participating in graduation, or working with students and faculty to build on our institutional impact, my professional satisfaction is profound. Like all professions, those represented at NUNM have room for growth. However, I hear the patient testaments, I see the passion of our students, and I see the difference we do make: We are able to change lives, and that drives me to figure out how we can do more and how we can better serve our students and the profession.”  

Today, Dr. Henriksen reflects with gratitude and pride that the NUNM community continues to grow and transform to meet the needs of students and patients in an ever-changing landscape.  

Outside of her professional world, Dr. Henriksen treasures time with her family. Married to her high school sweetheart, she finds joy in watching their daughters grow into accomplished young women. She states that the best weekends are those where she is able to spend time on a bike or kayak, or getting lost on a trail while embracing the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.