National University’s Bonnie Brock, a recent graduate of the naturopathic medicine program, also finished a unique clinical clerkship at True North Health Center in Santa Rosa, California.  True North offers in-patient care from an integrative medical team that includes MDs, DCs, NDs, RDs, massage therapists and more. The Center has a distinct health philosophy that incorporates a plant-based whole foods diet along with medically supervised water-fasting.

“A typical work day consists of patient rounds in the morning with one of the staff doctors – either an MD, DC or ND. Interns are responsible for taking patient vitals and conducting a short patient interview,” reports Bonnie. “Rounds are followed by updating patient electronic medical records. Then interns usually have an instructional session with Dr. Michael Klaper or Dr. Alan Goldhamer, or attend a doctors’ meeting where each patient case is discussed by doctors and staff.”

“The afternoon usually offers lectures provided for both interns and patients by one of the True North doctors or dietitians, or vegan cooking classes by the True North chef,” says Bonnie.  “Interns are then responsible for early evening rounds on all the patients and performing entrance interviews for new patient arrivals. True North provides housing for the interns and all meals. Meals are salt-free, sugar-free, oil-free, gluten-free vegan, as is in line with the True North lifestyle. ”

“My education from National University has prepared me well for this internship, particularly my study of biochemistry, pathology and Evaluation & Management classes,” she says.

Bonnie also says,”This experience has completely changed the way I will practice medicine. I’ll now focus more on the mental-emotional component of disease. I have also received great insight into how to run an in-patient facility, and will consider doing so in the future.”

True North also offers a residency for those who have graduated from an ND program. One of the requirements for the residency is that the student has been a previous intern at True North.

“The True North Health Center is one of two sites approved for intern rotations through our Clinical Clerkship Program. ND interns who have completed certain requirements may apply to do a rotation through these sites,” says Dr. Fraser Smith, assistant dean for naturopathic medicine at National University.