When I returned to campus after attending the Naturopathic Medical Student Association (NMSA)/ American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) Annual Conference (July 16-18) in Madison, Wisconsin, I felt invigorated and rejuvenated. To say that conferences remind you that you are part of something far bigger than your individual classrooms is an understatement-and, this year’s conference was no exception. The theme for 2026 was One Gathering. Endless Impact.
We Are the Champions!
At the conference, we participated in the annual Trivia Tournament against other naturopathic medicine schools. Our Cups Team competed, and I am still grinning when I reminisce about the experience: we took first place!! NUHS last received the trophy eight years ago. This year, we were undefeated throughout the entire tournament, which made for both an exhilarating and anxious experience. Sitting under the lights with question after question coming at you certainly keeps your heart racing! However, it was also one of those moments when you realize just how much you really have learned.
To my teammates Latonya Brinson, Mackenzie McCoy, Alyssa Doolittle (who was truly our MVP) and our team captain Keyzamar Roman-Ramizer, I would like to extend a huge CONGRATULATIONS! It was truly a special opportunity to be able to compete along with you on behalf of the University.
In addition to extending a big congratulations to my teammates, I would like to give a special shout out to Marie Green for taking time out of her busy schedule to coach us prior to class on multiple Fridays. Your investment in our preparation paid off! Also, congratulations on receiving the President of the Year Award by NMSA among all the schools represented at the conference. It was great to see your commitment acknowledged on such a grand scale.
I would like to thank Dr. Polina Robinson for meeting with us prior to the tournament. Dr. Robinson provided guidance regarding what we should expect, how to prepare and how to get the most out of this experience as members of the Cup Team. In hindsight, a lot of her guidance helped us enter the tournament with confidence.
Kudos All Around
We celebrated further during the reception on Friday evening with some fun games and physical challenges. The NUHS Orange Team consisted of Wylie Allen, Hassan Ramos, Ciara Cook, Dr. Christopher Rivera, ’24 and Dr. Bradley Bush. Dr. Bush received the GOAT Award after participating in competition against teams in attendance. Seeing numerous individuals representing NUHS receive recognition throughout the weekend made me extremely proud to be a member of this community.
But Wait…There’s More!
Some of my favorite experiences occurred outside of competition and involved strolling through the Exhibit Hall and speaking with representatives from companies, organizations and practitioners about their work. I brought home samples of various products to test, additional resources to investigate and a significantly greater appreciation of the diverse ways our profession is continuing to expand. The conference bingo game was also a surprisingly enjoyable means of connecting with others I likely wouldn’t have spoken with otherwise. Thursday evening’s reception created an excellent setting in which to connect with students from other naturopathic schools.
One lecture that has continued to resonate within me was Dr. Lorinda Sorensen’s presentation on clinically relevant interactions and adverse effects in psychopharmacology. It greatly enhanced my desire to study more about research relating to integrative mental health, specifically focusing on the growing body of evidence supporting psychedelic-assisted therapies. I now feel a strong desire to continue learning not only the scientific aspects of these therapies, but also how they will eventually be incorporated into a truly integrative model of care. Growing amounts of research are emerging on substances such as psilocybin and MDMA in carefully controlled clinical trials for conditions including Treatment-Resistant Depression, PTSD and End-of-Life Anxiety. This is an area of medicine that will be especially interesting and important as our knowledge of mental health continues to expand.
I also want to express sincere gratitude to my professors for allowing me to complete my exams upon returning from the conference. Having the ability to do so allowed me to be completely immersed in the experience without having to worry about what I was missing once I returned to campus.
As I transitioned into week eleven, I felt surprisingly refreshed and prepared for school. While there are many more assignments and exams ahead, the conference reinforced how much progress we have made collectively. When you spend every day in lectures and studying, it can be difficult to appreciate how much you have grown until you are placed in a situation where you are forced to apply what you have learned. This weekend provided me with that frame of reference, and I am entering the remainder of this trimester with increased confidence and appreciation for this journey and for the opportunity to share it with others.
