Faculty Spotlights

We recognize the outstanding contributions of Dr. Paul Mittman to the field of natural medicine, as well as his enduring impact on the success of students at Sonoran University of Health Sciences. We thank him for his service to the profession and role in founding AANMC.

Kale is a nutritional superfood, rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that offer a wide range of health benefits. From supporting bone health and detoxification to fighting inflammation and boosting …

As an athlete, I struggled with chronic stress fractures and eventually fractured my pubic bone. After a lack of answers from medical specialists, I was forced to search on my own for the underlying cause, which ultimately led me to a career in Naturopathic and Chiropractic Medicine.

I’m a clinical supervisor at NUNM’s main teaching clinic, in addition to supervising students at one of our partner clinics that supports patients as they recieve treatment for substance use disorders.

Dr. Sweet’s recommendation to future students is bring your curiosity and motivation. Keep an open mind and nurture a willingness to learn.

Dr. Yalda Shokoohinia, Sonoran University faculty, states, “One of my main goals in the educational process is to transfer an interdisciplinary experience to students including chemistry, biology, and clinical aspects of pharmacology.”

Dr. Bose serves as a full-time attending clinician throughout all clinical courses at NUHS and serves as a mentor to her students. “Many times, students know the information, but just need a little push to realize they are capable. Confidence develops with experience and the right mentorship. I hope I provide that mentorship to my students.”

I honestly didn’t know that naturopathic medicine existed! I was looking for something in healthcare where I could spend a good amount of time with patients and not feel rushed. I also considered Teacher’s College! So, when I found out about naturopathic medicine, it seemed like a great fit. NDs are already teachers by nature with their patients, and I’m fortunate to also do it formally at CCNM.

I left a PhD program in Pharmacology to pursue an ND because I wanted to do research on lifestyle and non-pharmacologic interventions. Before I left Duke University to go to ND school, the Heart Health Study was published by Dean Ornish, MD, demonstrating advanced cardiovascular disease could be stabilized by lifestyle changes. Upon learning about that study’s findings, I decided I didn’t want to study drug mechanisms anymore, and instead I wanted to learn how to help people create health.

Dr. Ashleigh Lane, BSc, ND  is a clinic supervisor with a focus on Women’s Health at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine – Boucher Campus. She shares her path to naturopathic medicine and advice for future ND students.

Elizabeth Rice, ND is an assistant professor at Sonoran University of Health Sciences. Dr. Rice teaches Hahnemannian homeopathy and is a visionary of online education at Sonoran University. She shares her path to naturopathic medicine, focus on mental health and self-care, and advice for future ND students.

Jamine Blesoff, ND is an Instructor in the Clinical Sciences department for the Doctor of Chiropractic and Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine programs at National University of Health Sciences (NUHS). Dr. Blesoff specializes in preventative care for pediatrics and women’s health.

Tammy Ashney, ND is an associate professor at National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), attending physician at NUNM Clinics, clinical supervisor for residents and student interns, and the medical editor for Women in Balance Institute monthly newsletter. She shares her path to naturopathic medicine that started with a baccalaureate degree in Anthropology and a minor in Women’s Studies. Her practice has come full circle, building on her undergraduate passions.

Zeynep Uraz, BSc, ND is an associate professor at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) – her alma mater. She teaches Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Integrative Fertility. She also leads the fertility-focused clinical program at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic. Dr. Uraz shares her path to naturopathic medicine with a focus on fertility.

Debrah Harding, ND, FABNO is an assistant professor and clinical supervisor at Bastyr University in San Diego, California. She shares her path to naturopathic medicine, practice focus on naturopathic oncology and advice for future naturopathic medical students.

After practicing as a chiropractor for 15 years, Dr. Hubsher changed his career to naturopathic medicine. Learn about his specialty in educating students in outreach practices to underserved communities and his advice for future naturopathic doctors.

“I have an insatiable hunger for learning, a passion to empower my patients on how to find optimal health, and a powerful drive to teach the best naturopathic doctors of the future. I love being part of a diverse and passionate community of naturopathic colleagues who are not only devoted to helping guide their patients, but also bettering this world as a whole.”

“Moving our research from the laboratory to patient care changed my career. The outcomes of my research directly improve people’s lives. No longer is my research ‘trapped’ and lost after being published in a journal, but rather it is being used to improve the field of botanical medicine and the options available for treatment.”

“Each day my goal is to transfer my passion for the medicine and guide my students on what it means to stay true to the profession.”

“I was captivated by a profession that strives to find and treat the underlying cause of disease and that treats the whole person, aspects of my own personal health care that had been missing.”

“The qualities that make a strong ND student are the same as those that make a strong ND in practice. Foremost is integrity. Compassion, equanimity, passion for lifelong learning, and a broad mind are all required to excel as a naturopathic doctor.”

“Being a naturopathic doctor gives me a sense of congruence in my life – my work is an expression of my values, and that allows me to provide a service to my patients and students that feels deeply meaningful. So much of what we do boils down to respect and love: for our environment, for our communities and, perhaps most importantly, for ourselves. The more I learn about medicine, the more I learn about the world and my place in it.”

For Cynthia L. Anderson, ND, CNM, teaching has truly been a life’s calling that has taken her around the world. She shares her passion in educating the future generation of NDs at the University of Bridgeport School of Naturopathic Medicine – her alma mater.