Online Program

330213
What do NDs do anyway? Clinical Competencies of the Naturopathic Graduate


Monday, November 2, 2015

JoAnn Yanez, ND, MPH, AANMC, Oxon Hill, MD
Naturopathic medicine is defined as a primary health care profession that focuses on the holistic diagnosis and management of disease and dysfunction through the utilization of natural therapies that support the self-healing capabilities of the human body. With the consistent growth of public interest in complementary and alternative medicine and integrative health care, the profile of naturopathic medicine has developed and expanded over the past half century. Naturopathic practitioners are currently involved in primary care practices, integrative care teams and other aspects of health care systems in North America. As such, the seven accredited institutions of naturopathic medicine recognized the need to develop a set of universally accepted core competencies for the graduating naturopathic student. In 2012 the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical College’s (AANMC) Council of Chief Academic and Clinical Officers (CCACO), which is comprised of the educational administrative teams from the seven representative institutions, convened to develop these competencies, with the intent of guiding naturopathic medical programs and opening future access of medical physicians to the growing opportunities in health care. In this presentation, the author will discuss the competencies and the working groups process of developing them, along with methods of application, assessment and obstacles to implementation.

Emphasis on naturopathic physicians in public health will be reviewed as well as the role of NDs as part of an interdisciplinary health care team.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe clinical competencies of graduates of accredited naturopathic medical programs. Describe scope and training of graduates of accredited naturopathic medical colleges. demonstrate knowledge of the role of a licensed naturopathic physician in integrative primary care and interdisciplinary settings.

Keyword(s): Accreditation, Wellness

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Executive Director of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges and was primarily responsible for overseeing the completion of the Clinical Competencies of the Graduating Naturopathic Medical Student.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.