Historical image of a patient undergoing hydrotherapy treatment. I am saddened to report that not only was I misled, but so were hundreds of legislators, thousands of students, and tens of thousands of patients.
#Doctors in training diagnostic exam professional#
Based on my educational and professional experience as an accomplished member of the naturopathic community, I can say that naturopathic medicine might be a distinct form of something, but it is not any form of primary health care. Naturopathic medicine is marketed as a “ distinct form of primary health care.” This phrase is ubiquitous: it appears on the websites of naturopathic medical schools, on materials published by practicing naturopaths, and on lobbying documents to promote the unfettered licensure of naturopaths and to expand eligibility for federal loan repayment programs.
When I completed my residency, I remained at this clinic for a brief time before moving to Arizona to practice until 2014.ĭuring my time in Arizona, I realized that my profession had severely misled me. I passed the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX) and landed a competitive, one-year residency in family medicine and pediatrics at an out-patient clinic in Seattle. In 2011, I graduated from Bastyr University with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine. See also ND Confession, Part II: The Accreditation of Naturopathic “Medical” Education. Her insights into the pseudoscientific medical system of naturopathy, her reasons for becoming a naturopath, her reasons for leaving naturopathy, and, most importantly, her inside knowledge of naturopathy, will provide compelling reading. Through her contact with Jann, she has agreed to contribute occasional blog posts to us. Hermes is a former naturopath who came to doubt naturopathy.
Her new blog was mentioned by Jann Bellamy last week.
Editors’ note: With this guest post, we welcome Britt Marie Hermes to the SBM blog.