Maryland university to launch new naturopathic program

The Maryland School of Integrative Health (MUIH) is establishing a new school of naturopathic medicine and will begin enrolling students for the Fall 2018 semester, according to a August 10 press release published by the college.

The School of Naturopathic Medicine at MUIH will be the first in the mid-Atlantic region and one of only a handful of naturopathic doctor (ND) schools in the nation that operate within a regionally accredited university, according to university officials.

The program will offer students highly progressive models and best practices for evidence-informed medical education and will incorporate digitally-enhanced learning, interactive classroom experiences, hands-on and virtual laboratories, and a wide variety of clinical experiences including community-based healthcare, school officials say. Learning is designed to foster critical thinking and clinical reasoning through a student-oriented curriculum that establishes a foundation in biomedical sciences, naturopathic philosophy, and integrative therapeutics and will include emerging trends in genomics, bioinformatics, and personalized medicine.

The number of naturopathic doctors has tripled in the last 10 years as more and more states provide licensure opportunities for NDs. Today, 19 states, including Maryland and the District of Columbia, license NDs and several more are in the legislative process toward licensing.

“This is the right time and MUIH is the right place to advance the education and practice of naturopathic medicine,” said Elizabeth Pimentel, ND, dean of the School of Naturopathic Medicine. “As students progress through the program, learning is focused on the clinical applications of the art, science, and wise practice of medicine, and the transformative process of becoming an effective doctor, compassionate healer, and integral member of a healthcare team that places the patient at the very center.”