This past holiday break was one of the best! Not only did I get
to spend quality time with my friends and family, I was able to
meet my boyfriend's family in Boston! Being a Midwest girl, I had
no idea what to expect in "Bean Town." I swallowed my first oyster
out of a half shell, walked along the Freedom Trail and went to a
New England Patriots football game! I was hoping to have a Boston
accent after the trip… but my friends back home gave me a hard time
when I tried to incorporate the term "wicked" into normal
conversation!!
The one thing that surprised me was how many people know about
naturopathic medicine. One of my boyfriend's classmates from
college shared with me her father's story of his battle with colon
cancer. He utilized alternative medicine including acupuncture and
naturopathic medicine in addition to traditional treatments. Her
father is in full remission currently and now the whole family
seeks alternative medicine practitioners for their health care
needs. This was only one of the many people I spoke with who have
been recently looking for a natural health care doctor. This got me
thinking more seriously about practicing in a licensed state, as I
want to utilize all of the modalities I have been trained to do.
There are several states in the Northeast that currently license
naturopathic medicine including Connecticut, DC, Maine, New
Hampshire, and Vermont.
Helpful Websites
One website that I have found particularly helpful in seeking
future job opportunities is the American Association of
Naturopathic Physicians. This website will advertise
naturopathic doctors in any state as long as they have graduated
from an accredited program, passed the NPLEX board exam Part 1 and
Part 2, and hold a license in a licensable state. This site also
lists job opportunities around the country for naturopathic
physicians. Another way to search for employment is good old
craigslist. My close friend Sarah was recently hired at an
integrative practice in Joliet, Ill., and she found the job listing
on craigslist! It goes to show that with a little research there
are opportunities out there.
Clinic Expansion
Clinic has been getting busier every week as we are starting to
establish a larger patient base. With our new clinician on staff,
Julie Martin, ND, we are able to see more patients at one time,
which will allow greater flexibility for our patients. In addition,
we are adding a naturopathic shift on Saturday to increase our
availability in clinic. While this will be more work for interns,
we are excited to bring in more patients and practice naturopathic
medicine!
I hope everyone had a nice and restful break!