Seroyal to Champion the Foundations
of Naturopathic Medicine Project
Support for Advancing Naturopathic Scholarship
Seattle, Washington.—The Foundations of Naturopathic Medicine Project (FNM) and its academic home, National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM), accepted a landmark gift over five-years from Seroyal, a preeminent natural pharmaceutical company founded in 1984 by Rosetta Raso. Committed to natural medicine’s important role in health care, Seroyal’s CEO, Carmen Fortino, and general manager, Yves Yau, announced their generous donation on May 27, 2008. In partnership with Seroyal, FNM can move confidently ahead in its mission to bring traditional naturopathic concepts and practice together with frontier science through advancing scholarship within the naturopathic medicine community.
Seroyal’s generosity helps build a naturopathic medicine community of scholars on three levels. As the Champion and President’s Circle sponsor, Seroyal’s financial commitment is powerfully sustaining for FNM. It keeps them on course to accomplish their primary goals of publishing a seminal textbook codifying the philosophy and principles of naturopathic medicine, sponsoring an international symposia series, and guiding an educational resource development project on the emunctory system, a distinct naturopathic framework for elimination of toxins.
“Seroyal’s commitment to funding research for emunctorology,” acknowledges FNM editor Thomas A. Kruzel, ND, “underscores renewed interest in an old and honored naturopathic tradition. Despite the advances in medicine, there are basic elements in the restoration of health, prevention, and treatment of disease that never change. These are finally being recognized as critical parts of the healing process.”
As a growing international community of scholars, with over 200 naturopathic doctors in six countries and thought-leaders from related disciplines participating in writing the Textbook of Naturopathic Medicine, FNM is weaving a network of scholarly inquiry among the profession’s schools, associations, and agencies. “People support what they help to create,” affirms Mr. Fortino, excited to be a part of such a dynamic effort to elevate naturopathic medicine globally.
From the strong platform of NCNM’s institutional support and Seroyal’s longtime service and dedication to community building and health, FNM continues to escort a burgeoning naturopathic scholarship. For more information about the Foundations of Naturopathic Medicine Project, contact Pamela Snider, ND, executive and senior editor, at plsnider@comcast.net, or visit the Web site at www.foundationsproject.com. At NCNM contact Susan Hunter, associate VP advancement at shunter@ncnm.edu—visit their Web site at www.ncnm.edu. At Seroyal contact Yves Yau, general manager at yyau@seroyal.com—visit their Web site at www.seroyal.com.
Stephen P. Myers, ND, BMed, PhD; Leanna Standish, ND, PhD, LAc; Iris Bell, PhD, MD; Wayne Jonas, MD, PhD;
Jim Sensenig, ND; Jared Zeff, ND, LAc; and (not pictured) Pamela Snider, ND.
Vis Deliberations Drive Dialog
News Update NDNR, December 2007. Foundations of Naturopathic Medicine Project (FNM) textbook writers are heading down the final stretch before their final manuscript submission deadlines, while executive and senior editors anticipate digging into their final draft editing process. In the meantime, Foundations members have been involved in various projects from expanding dialogue on naturopathic philosophy to bridging gaps between science and theory, to enhancing educational resources.
During this year’s AANP conference opening plenary session, Leanna Standish, ND, PhD, LAc, FNM associate editor (Science) presented her perspective on Dr. Mitchell’s provocative chapter, "The Vis I and II," outlining his thesis on the Vis Medicatrix Naturae. Dr. Standish’s presentation set the stage for an FNM sponsored panel entitled, “Landscapes of Naturopathic Thinking: A Dialogue with Naturopathic Scholars on William A. Mitchell’s, ‘Equation on the Healing Power of Nature.’” She suggested that “We don’t have to agree on the definition of the ‘Vis Medicatrix Naturae’ but we must come to consensus that it is a core and distinguishing concept for naturopathic medicine. The next step is to discover, using the scientific method, exactly what the Vis is.”
The panel, including Carlo Calabrese, ND, MPH, senior investigator at NCNM’s Helfgott Research Institute; Christa Louise, MS, PhD, FNM associate editor and NPLEX agency liaison; James Sensenig, ND, AANP founder, SCNM faculty, and FNM senior editor; and Jillian Stansbury, ND, NCNM adjunct faculty, moderated by Pamela Snider, ND and Jared Zeff, ND; executive and senior editors. In a room packed with convention participants, an engaging discussion followed, providing opportunity to broaden input and feedback on characterizations of the Vis considered by participants at last spring’s international editors retreat.
From this discussion arose a compelling distinction between theorists and scientists. As a research scientist, Dr. Calabrese called for the recognition of a division in responsibilities within the science of naturopathic medicine—those who develop theories (as do FNM project editors) and those who conduct experiments to test the theories. “This is the conversation:” suggests Calabrese, “you propose and we test for the next century. In a hundred years, we could go far, doing good things in the world.”
In November, Drs. Zeff and Snider presented notions for a metaparadigm theory of naturopathic medicine at the Naturopathic Societies’ The Gathering held this year at Bastyr University. This was yet another opportunity to broaden discussions originating among FNM editors and other retreat participants last spring. Also present were FNM agency liaisons Joe Holcomb, ND, Naturopathic Society International; William Franklin, SCNM Naturopathic Society; and Julia O'Sullivan, Bridgeport Naturopathic Society; and student consultants Brewster Scott, BINM; Serron Wilkie, NCNM; Deborah Epstein and Kelsi Ervin, Bastyr, from the editors retreat.
By Kate Williams, Word Turners
Published in NDNR, December 2007
Association News NDNR, April 2008. FNM continues to build international relations in an effort to not only create a codifying textbook of naturopathic foundations, but also strengthen the medicine’s impact on global health care solutions.
Invaluable Resource Donated to FNM
Mitchell Bebel Stargrove, ND, LAc, a scholar, leader and history associate editor, generously donated the IBIS and Interactions projects’ resources, a database including over 20,000 articles and abstracts covering relevant topics such as medicine, science, history, and culture, to be used by FNM editors and writers. Eventually, Dr. Stargrove wants to make the database available to the profession, including colleges. To extend, expand, and secure the database online, FNM has established a fellowship held by Zora DeGrandpre, MS, ND. Kris Ritchey (NCNM 2008), currently developing a natural medicine fellowship program, will be working closely with FNM and Dr. DeGrandpre to pilot and develop the program.
BNA Recognizes Senior Editor
Roger Newman Turner, ND, DO, BAc, an FNM senior editor, was one of five NDs awarded a fellowship from the British Naturopathic Association last year. The first of its kind, the award reflects “naturopathic principles, a spirit of renaissance and the five elements in a design that evokes the spiral of life, the flow of water, the growth of plants, the flight of imagination, the flame of love, the mystery of the universe and, above all, the inspiration that each Fellow has given to so many NDs.” The award went to individuals having made an outstanding contribution to naturopathic medicine. Dr. Newman Turner, practicing since 1963, has authored many books on health and diet, and lectured internationally.
UK Sponsor Marks Growing International Support
FNM sponsors now extend beyond our continent, heralding a global promise of collaborative naturopathic healthcare. United Kingdom’s Nutri (Imports & Exports) Ltd, the first international donor, generously gifted $10,000. FNM leaders hope to visit the UK to hear from students, faculty, professionals, and other industry friends sharing their mission.
On Track with Textbook’s Timeline
Authors have worked diligently to meet the March 31 deadline for drafts. As the book’s publishing date draws nearer, FNM’s international crew of authors and editors are making streamline use of Moodle, the online communication management system donated to the project by NCNM. Senior and associate editors will continue taking advantage of Moodle’s global networking ability to share with contributors their introductory section chapter drafts for feedback, making final draft completion efficient and thorough.
New Associate and Senior Editors Welcomed
Several new authors have joined FNM’s team of editors. FNM is honored to add Hans Baer, PhD (University of Melbourne) and George Cody, JDI, MPA (Bastyr University) to the history editors’ team of Jared Zeff, ND, LAc, (Bastyr) and Mitchell Bebel Stargrove, ND, LAc (MedicineWorks.com). Baer’s years of scholarship, writing, and vast knowledge of medical anthropology, sociology, medical history and naturopathic medicine; and George Cody’s expertise in naturopathic history and public policy will boost the already adept team. Pauline Baumann, ND, is now associate editor for spirituality, bringing her vision and precision, and Roger Newman Turner, ND, DO, BAc, has joined the nature cure editors’ team of Cathy Rogers, ND, and Letitia Watrous, ND. Don Warren, ND, DHANP (Canada) rounds out the international leadership as a senior editor.
New Books by FNM Authors
Two FNM authors continue to advance natural medicine: Dr. Stargrove is coauthor with Jonathan Treasure, and Dwight L. McKee, MD, of Herb, Nutrient and Drug Interactions: Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Strategies (published by Mosby Elsevier). Leon Chaitow, FNM lead author, is editor of Naturopathic Physical Medicine: Theory and Practice for Manual Therapists and Naturopaths (Elsevier).
Contact FNM at www.foundationsproject.com or at 206-517-4527 for more information. The Foundations of Naturopathic Medicine is a project of the National College of Natural Medicine.
By Kate Williams, Word Turners
Published in NDNR, April 2008
Academic Home and Partners Program
National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM)
The FNM Project has its academic home at NCNM in Portland. NCNM’s commitment to the project through its Partners Program has been important to the long-term strength of FNM as a catalyst for professional formation.
