Naturopathic Medical Students Receive Loan Forgiveness

Oregon Grants Forgiveness Loans to NUNM Naturopathic Graduates

Long recognized by the State of Oregon for its programs and naturopathic doctors, NUNM is thrilled to be the recipient of the Scholars for a Healthy Oregon—Naturopathic Physicians Opportunities (SHONPO) Scholarship. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has awarded NUNM $250,000 in student scholarships through 2020, with the possibility of a renewal in funding. NUNM is the only natural medicine university to be offered state support in the form of tuition loan forgiveness funds for naturopathic students with grants up to $35,000 in tuition reimbursement per student each year. The State of Oregon has historically been on the leading-edge of healthcare innovation. NUNM is grateful to receive the ongoing confidence in the quality of our medical education and training from state and other local health authorities.

How to Qualify

NUNM third- and fourth-year naturopathic students are eligible to apply for the SHONPO Scholarship. Scholarship recipients must commit to providing healthcare services to Medicaid patients in rural and under-served areas of Oregon for a minimum of three years in exchange for a tax-free award that amounts to 50% of a student’s tuition loan balance—up to $35,000 per year. Part-time providers also qualify with a three-year service commitment in exchange for 25% of their qualifying tuition loan balance—up to $25,000 per year.

High Demand for Health Professionals in Oregon

There are few guarantees in life, but this may qualify as one of them. “In Oregon, more than half of our state is designated as having a health professional shortage, covering more than 40% of our population,” said Marc Overbeck, OHA’s Primary Care Office director. “These incentives attract more providers to Oregon and help establish providers in the communities that need them the most.” The need for primary care medicine is substantial, and there has never been a better time to directly impact healthcare disparity than by providing naturopathic medicine to those in need.

More Money, More Research Possibilities

Since 2013, NUNM has received over $3 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), making it the #1 recipient of NIH grants in natural medicine in the United States. NUNM has built a strong and respected reputation for research through funding by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health. That support has helped NUNM become a leader in complementary and integrative health research, as well as a pioneer in relationship-building within the integrative medicine community. In addition, the rigorous science and deep philosophy employed in the studies conducted at NUNM’s Helfgott Research Institute has set a standard for integrative medicine research the world over. NUNM has formed research collaborations at major regional medical research centers like Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Washington. Through its clinical trials and observational studies, NUNM is building a compelling evidence-based research database from study protocols that can be adapted to different research questions, thus helping drive integrative medicine research forward while continuing to hone excellent patient-care—the ultimate result of well-designed research.

State Credentialed, Patient-Centered Primary Care Homes

Widely recognized for research, on-site clinic and curriculum, NUNM is carving out new frontiers within the healthcare system. The Lair Hill and Beaverton Health Centers are Tier 4 Patient-Centered Primary Care Homes (PCPCH), a prestigious recognition of excellence in medical care, which sets them apart from other naturopathic medical schools. This means that NUNM clinics are accessible, accountable, comprehensive, continuous, and patient- and family-centered. NUNM students enter clinics in an observational capacity and begin preceptorships within their first year of school.

NUNM is proud to offer primary care with a heart, serving the under-served in our urban university clinics. It’s also something that makes NUNM graduates unique and special. Graduating naturopathic physicians enter practice stronger and more prepared, having worked with patients presenting a wide variety of chronic and acute conditions. Students and doctors provide a holistic approach to health by working in unison with MDs and other medical practitioners, including specialists, behavioral and mental health providers, and a large community of partners. At NUNM we believe the future of health care is working together.

 

 

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