Guided by Excellence: Celebrating the 2026 Student Choice Honorees

Courses Taught: Botanical Materia Medica

Bastyr University | San Diego

“Dr. Weeks is one of the best professors I’ve ever had. She goes above and beyond to help students feel engaged and like they are truly learning. She has also been very understanding and flexible and really wants her students to do their best.”

Courses Taught: Maternity and Pediatrics

Bastyr University | San Diego, CA

“She always goes above and beyond to meet students where they are. Whenever she can she even makes herself available outside of her usual hours for one-on-one appointments to help strengthen any areas of concern – I know she certainly did that for me. She is an extraordinary clinical supervisor and a wonderful mentor/role model.”

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“Dr. Gruska is not only a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, she truly cares about our profession and approach to patient healthcare. She continues to utilize the foundations of health and reminds us of the importance of looking at cases through a naturopathic lens. Dr. Gruska is an amazing professor and clinician and deserves this award.”

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“Dr. Gruska is an incredible doctor and teacher. She embodies the roots of naturopathic medicine and cares so much for all of her patients. She truly creates space for each of her patients and students and empowers both of them in her practice. She further empowers her students to create healing plans that are individualized to the unique person sitting in front of them, which has resulted in nothing but success and healing.”

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“I would like to nominate Dr. Gruska for the Best Teacher Award. She is truly one of the most impactful professors at Bastyr University. Dr. Gruska embodies the principles of naturopathic medicine in both her teaching and her presence. She consistently reminds us of the meaningful difference we can make in our patients’ lives and in the broader community. Her passion for the medicine is evident in every lecture, and it inspires students to show up with the same level of care and purpose. Beyond her knowledge, she creates an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to grow. She fosters curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking, making the learning experience both engaging and empowering. Dr. Gruska is not only an exceptional educator but also a role model for the kind of physician many of us aspire to become. Her impact extends far beyond the classroom, and she is truly deserving of this recognition.”

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“I would like to nominate Dr. Janice Gruska for this award because she has truly shaped our experience as students and future doctors. She teaches across our pediatrics, maternity, and female reproductive courses, and brings such a strong blend of detailed academic knowledge and real-world clinical experience. As both a naturopathic physician and midwife who has delivered many babies, she adds a level of depth and insight that you just can’t get from textbooks alone. In clinic, she creates an environment where we are encouraged to think and act like doctors, actively participating in patient care and building our confidence. Her vitalistic approach, combined with how much she genuinely supports and challenges us, has made a huge impact on how prepared we feel going into practice.”

Courses Taught: Physical Medicine

Bastyr University | Seattle, WA

” A true naturopathic doctor and an inspiring teacher that leads by example and cares for the profession, the community and students deeply.”

Courses Taught: MSK Anatomy & Neuroanatomy

Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine | Toronto, Ontario

“The one professor at CCNM in my first year experience that teaches with passion. She is one of the reason myself and my peers have been motivated to study & learn in one of the hardest courses of first year at CCNM (BMS100). Her work ethic, time management, superior organization, and amazing lectures (which are extremely detailed, educational, & interactive) have been a keystone to our learning & success in this course. Dr. Lumsden won’t move on from a topic until she assures her class understands. The way she has organized and taught MSK anatomy has been fundamental to my knowledge base. She deserves a lot of credit for the amount of time and effort she has put into the organization and delivery of the entire course of BMS100.”

Courses Taught: BMS

Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine | Toronto, Ontario

“Best instructor at CCNM!”

Courses Taught: Botanical Medicine

National University of Health Sciences | Chicago, IL

“Dr. Sorenson’s passion for botanical medicine is evident to any of her students. She demonstrates an extensive, almost encyclopedic knowledge of botanicals. Additionally, she enhances the learning experience by bringing in locally wild-harvested botanicals when in season, as well as tincture preparations for students to sample. She inspires students to deepen their knowledge and discover their own passion for botanical medicine.”

Courses Taught: Clinical Education

National University of Health Sciences | Chicago, IL

“Dr. Green has been the Chief Clinician at NUHS since 2022 and has helped to reshape the clinic to be even more integrative and collaborative. Since Dr. Green is an ND who is also a DC, she has been able to team up with other departments to ensure complete patient care. Dr. Green challenges her interns, but also remains humble and down to earth in terms of the learning experience. We really appreciate all Dr. Green has done to help the NUHS clinic experience grow for not only ND students, but the DC students as well, pushing for more ND/DC combined visits, to provide a truly comprehensive experience for patients.”

National University of Health Sciences | Chicago, IL

“She is an amazing teacher and teaches so many classes, all across the program so she has the opportunity to get to know us as her students from first tri and the basic sciences, all the way through Phase 2 and Clinical science classes. She also just lost her mother this past trimester (spring trimester – the very first week of the new year after the holiday). She still made sure to come back to teaching when most would be succumbed by grief of such a deep loss- she still showed up for us as her students during such a hard part of her life. She is my favorite teacher because she is so down to earth, incredibly smart, and funny! She makes all of her students feel seen and heard, and doesn’t make any of us feel silly for asking questions. She holds space for all of us. She is truly the type of ND I hope to be someday!”

“Where do I even begin? I have had the privilege of learning from Dr. Dybala several times throughout my program, and from my very first class with her, she sparked something in me, and in our entire class. I still remember so clearly that first day, when there was a line of students waiting after class just to ask her more questions and learn from her a little longer.

She brings not only an incredible depth of knowledge and clinical experience, but also a presence that is warm, welcoming, and genuinely safe. With her, you never feel judged or hesitant to ask a question. She treats every student with the same level of respect and encouragement, and you can truly feel that she wants each of us to succeed. She challenges us in the best way; by pushing us to think deeper, make connections, and become better future physicians for our patients.

As if that alone were not enough, she has also faced unimaginable personal loss recently, losing both of her parents in such a short time. Even in the midst of that grief, she remained steady and present for her students. She never wavered in her dedication, continuing to show up fully and give 100 percent to us every single day.

She laughs with us, meets us where we are, and consistently brings out the best in each of us, trimester after trimester. It is because of all of this, and so much more, that I would like to nominate her for Best ND Professor of the Year. She truly, wholeheartedly deserves this recognition.”

Courses Taught: Clinical Education

National University of Natural Medicine | Portland, OR

“Most genuine and underrated professor. Genuinely cares about students, puts our well-being first. Takes time to meditate in class. Always asks and makes it a discussion if we are feeling overwhelmed. Always willing to listen to student feedback, learn from students on topics, makes space for all students from different backgrounds and identities. She is the type of professor to send an email to you privately appreciating your thoughts in class. Not performative, I know she genuinely cares about us and wants us to not just do well in the program, but mentally and spiritually.”

Courses Taught: Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology

Sonoran University of Health Sciences

“Dr. Mundt’s passion for anatomy is incomparable! She is so knowledgeable and always finds a way to make the information we are learning more digestible. Her positive energy and genuine desire to help us thrive makes her such a special instructor. We are so lucky to have her!”