Reasons to Become an ND Resident
One of the most important aspects of naturopathic medical training is the opportunity to work with patients in hands-on, clinical settings. AANMC member schools offer clinical experiences throughout the four-year course of study. However, in the interest of furthering their education and area of focus, many naturopathic doctors also choose to complete residencies upon graduation.
Why complete an ND residency?
MENTORSHIP
A residency provides one on one supervision and mentoring that manifests results in all areas of growth: clinical, business, and future professional opportunities.
You will receive mentorship in the following areas:
- Case management of acute and chronic cases
- Structured and consistent guidance on difficult cases
- Larger volume of patients including increased case complexity
- Managing professional interactions with colleagues and staff
- Opportunities for CEU trainings and seminars
- Guidance aligned with your areas of clinical interest
- Built-in collegial support and relationships
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Accredited residencies provide an expanded patient population and increased patient/clinical exposure. More patient experience results in a rapid learning curve and sharpened clinical acumen earlier in your career.
Grow your clinical skill further.
- Increase clinical skills, especially in focused areas.
- Gain extra experience and a solid post-graduation plan.
- Enhance your learning and skill building in focused areas through guidance from a seasoned clinical mentor
- Gain early career exposure to more clinically diverse patients and greater volume than typical when starting out on one’s own.
- Use residency as a pathway for specialty society board certification
CONFIDENCE
92% of respondents from a 2023 AANMC Resident Satisfaction Survey reported increased clinical confidence after completing an ND residency. Residencies can open up multiple career paths: clinical practice, academic medicine, writing, speaking, consulting, and employment in the healthcare world at large.
- In the words of a resident, “Residency allowed me to practice in a safe space. This helped my confidence, knowing that my clinical team had my back, supporting me along the way.”
- A 1-3 year residency builds confidence through mentorship, clinical skills and professional development that puts a resident in an excellent position to be a successful thriving N.D.
- Deepen the knowledge you gained in ND school through patient continuity and volume.
COMPETENCY
Residency fosters greater competency and clinical exposure. Choose residency training to deepen your learning as a primary care or specialty/focused ND provider.
- A residency rapidly shortens the learning curve for acute and chronic case management.
- Residency provides a setting for integrating naturopathic medicine principles, and non-pharmaceutical therapies can be utilized instead of and/or along with pharmaceutical therapies.
- Residency can fill gaps in naturopathic training and provide real-world naturopathic principle application examples.
Residencies teach you how to work successfully with MD/DO/NP/ allied practitioners, PCPS and specialists in the community on behalf of your patients and in building a successful career.
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
80% of respondents from a 2023 AANMC Resident Satisfaction Survey shared that residency positively supported their professional growth.
- Postgraduate success can be improved with further experience in successful residency placements.
- Improved capacity of graduates to meet increasing demands of primary and specialty care employment settings.
- Residency can provide more ‘real world’ business experience vs. academic clinical medicine.
- A residency can provide you the training ground for successful coding, insurance billing and practice management
- School based residencies and non profit status clinics can provide years towards public service loan forgiveness (PSLF)
NETWORKING
Through the guidance and support of the clinic and mentor, a residency will introduce you to organizations, institutions, clinicians and opportunities that will make a difference for the rest of your career.
- A residency can provide the opportunity to join a successful naturopathic practice.
- Residencies may provide discounts on CE, professional libraries, malpractice, professional memberships, and journal memberships.
- Mentors have a key role in introducing you to academic and professional experiences, and opportunities that make a difference for your future.
“Residency has been an incredible opportunity to further my learning in a supportive environment,
helping me solidify my skills, build confidence and grow as a physician.”
– B.W.
Thinking of applying?
It’s never too soon to begin fostering mentorship and educational relationships. Here are some steps successful future residents take.
1. Create an account on the AANMC Residency Portal
Do this early on in your student experience to begin to understand the process and requirements.
2. Review existing and prior residency sites on the AANMC Residency Portal
Contact residency locations you may be interested in and see if they accept preceptors.
3. Seek out your own opportunities
Do you have a specific area of care you are interested in? A geographic location you are set on moving to? If so, look up conventional and naturopathic doctors who meet your needs. If they are not yet a participating site, they can apply to become a new site.
Connect them to residency@aanmc.org to start the process.
4. Foster academic and clinical relationships for references
You will need at least three recommendations when applying.
5. Start your application early
Remember, soliciting references, writing personal statements and gathering some of the background materials takes time. The deadline is sharp. Know all deadlines and plan accordingly.
“Residency was an amazing learning experience for me and I think that ND students should strongly consider applying upon graduation. My residency allowed me to further my education and be exposed to cases that I may have not seen otherwise. My clinical knowledge has grown immensely throughout my time as a resident and has allowed me to become a more well-rounded physician.”
– T.S.
*Residencies are not required for licensure and practice (except in Utah), however many NDs elect to complete residencies for one to three years before striking out on their own. New NDs find the mentorship and patient interactions available in a residency setting invaluable in furthering their clinical expertise.
*Each sponsor school must meet stringent requirements, which can be reviewed in the Handbook on CNME Postdoctoral Naturopathic Medical Education Sponsor Recognition Process and Standards Licensed medical professionals and graduates of AANMC member schools are eligible and welcome to apply to host naturopathic medical residencies.
*Graduates of AANMC member schools are eligible and welcome to apply for naturopathic medical residencies.
