President's Message: A Summer of Community

By Carl Hangee-Bauer, ND, LAc
AANP President

May was a wonderful month for the AANP and the naturopathic profession. Our annual Federal Legislative Initiative (aka the DC FLI) and our historic meeting with the AMA were significant successes. Thankfully, there has been a period of calm in my AANP duties before beginning to ramp up our summer activities, culminating with the ever-wonderful AANP Convention in August. It’s always good to have these more quiet times to reflect on all the trends and projects in progress, as well as take a few deep breaths. Having just returned from a Hawaii vacation, I feel refreshed and ready to focus on the next steps, and to see you all in August.

Summer is a season where we tend to get out more and be with others. The longer days and warmer weather foster opportunities like picnics, beach time, barbeques, and other activities that reinvigorate and deepen our connections with friends and family.

The naturopathic community reflects this greater seasonal trend. In early summer, the various elements of our profession begin to communicate more frequently as August approaches. Committees of both the Board and House of Delegates are meeting in preparation for the business of the convention. Our scientific community is busy preparing for the Naturopathic Research Summit on August 16. Students and NDs are preparing for the ZRT Cup.

At least as important as these formal relationships is the gathering of our tribe. This year we find ourselves back at the Biltmore in Phoenix, the most popular site for the AANP Convention, as well as at the East Coast remote convention site in Stamford, Connecticut. At both venues we will come together to learn new skills, find out what’s new in our field, be exposed to new products and diagnostic tools, have fun, and reconnect with our old friends and acquaintances. The latter is one of my favorite reasons for attending the convention. It is the one week each year that I can immerse myself in my profession and deepen my relationships with my colleagues. This always leaves me reinvigorated when I return to my practice.

Whether you are an AANP member or not (why not?), please join us at either site and experience the uniqueness of our community and the joys of being together.

A few reminders:

Vote! This year we are electing a new Treasurer to the board as well as three board positions. We have eight people running for these three positions so it will prove to be a competitive election. Packets containing candidate statements and other materials will be mailed to Members shortly. Voting will begin online on July 17 and continue into the Convention until August 19.

Nominate one of your colleagues for an award. The AANP is calling all of its members to nominate qualified candidates for the 2011 AANP Physician of the Year, Corporation of the Year, VIS, and New!!! Champion of Naturopathic Medicine Award (the "Champion Award"). This year's award recipients will be recognized at the closing banquet of the AANP's 26th Annual Convention and Exposition on Saturday, August 20, 2011, in Phoenix, AZ. All nominators and nominees must be members of the AANP in good standing. Click here to learn about the individual awards and download the nomination forms.

I am already thinking about who will get this year’s Presidents Award. So many deserving choices…

Our unity is our strength, and our community – represented by the AANP – is the vehicle we have to tell the wonderful story of naturopathic medicine. I invite all of you to help us build it even better. There is much to do. So, with all of the changes in health care, advances in medical knowledge and trends, and successes in our profession, the AANP Convention is the place to be to digest, absorb and grow – and connect.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Inherently Political: Student Leadership and Legislative Success

By Carrie Runde, 2011 ND Candidate
AANP Student Representive for Bastyr University

Drs. Jamey Wallace and Jane Guiltinan (center) with the entire student
contingent from Bastyr University at the 2010 DC FLI.
Photo by Clark Porter.

This May marked my 3^rd year attending the AANP’s DC Federal Legislative Initiative (DC FLI), and I am excited to report that this year’s event was the best by far. I was proud to lead the group of 34 Bastyr ND students, from all years in the program, to Washington, D.C. Our crew had been tirelessly fundraising since last fall, generating over $15,000 to offset the travel and accommodation costs associated with the trip. I am incredibly impressed by the effort all members of the group contributed to our cause. Despite the distance from Seattle and the trip’s proximity to midterm exams, I heard only positive feedback from the Bastyr students who attended. Everyone was so glad to have made the trip, as it was a truly unbelievable learning experience.

When talking to students about participating in the DC FLI, I commonly hear claims that they are uninterested in, or overwhelmed by, general politics. My response to that is simple: the FLI teaches us about specific legislation and political issues pertinent to naturopathic medicine. Once they learn about the politics that directly affect them as students (such as loan repayment programs), as future physicians (like state licensure and scope of practice), and their patients (such as access to supplements), students become interested in the political work of the AANP and our home state affiliates. The first two days of training sessions ignited the students with a curiosity that translated into very effective lobbying on the third day of the DC FLI.

One thing that resounds clearly at each DC FLI is that students have a powerful voice in the legislative process and the future policies of naturopathic medicine. The passion, intelligence, and perspective that we bring to conversations on health care are true mediators for change. The work that we have done in the past is paying off. As AANP President Dr. Carl Hangee-Bauer pointed out in a previous post, this year’s FLI was remarkable because healthcare staffers on Capitol Hill now know the AANP. We spent less time educating them about naturopathic medicine, and more time discussing how we can best be utilized in our nation’s healthcare system. I have specifically experienced this over the last three years in meetings with Massachusetts Senator John Kerry’s health care staffer, who is encouraged by visits from a positive group of people so dedicated to health and wellness.

The student presence at the FLI is, in my slightly biased estimation, the most important. This year, 100 of the 171 participants were ND students representing four U.S. naturopathic schools! We need to continue to increase our numbers at the event each year. The FLI has a greater political impact because students represent many home states, thus allowing us to deliver our message to as many representatives as possible. The FLI helps students as well. It allows us get outside of our medical school bubbles and into the real environment in which we will someday practice our medicine. Despite the challenges associated with missing class and clinic rotations, the FLI gives a new perspective on naturopathic medicine and recharges students when they return to the daily grind of medical school. The FLI also acts as a catalyst for involvement with the AANP, setting students up to be leaders at our respective schools and to become involved in state legislative work early in their careers.

The work that the AANP does for our profession is invaluable, and my personal goal is to increase student involvement in the organization. The more students that have the opportunity to attend the DC FLI and get involved with the AANP, the stronger the AANP will be in the future. The success of our professional organization has a huge impact on our future as naturopathic physicians, and students are a vital part of the equation. I hope that political work, like that done at the DC FLI, will become part of the naturopathic curricula at all schools because, as Dr. Bastyr was known to say, being a naturopathic physician is inherently political. Each year the FLI leaves me with the oft-quoted Margaret Mead adage in my head: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

Carrie is a 3^rd year ND student at Bastyr University and is originally from Baltimore, Maryland. Carrie is the Bastyr student representative to the AANP and can be contacted at AANPrep@bastyr.edu.

Federal Policy Priorities for the Naturopathic Community: Reflections on the DC FLI

By Carl Hangee-Bauer, ND, LAc
AANP President

The Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill.
Photo by cliff1066^TM via Flickr, used under the Creative Commons License.

Here it is, mid-May already, and it’s been a busy time at the AANP.

I’m sure you have read Karen Howard’s report on this year’s DC FLI. It was a busy four days in Washington, D.C., as over 150 people, including more than 100 naturopathic medical students, met on Capitol Hill to refine our leadership skills, meet with legislators and their staff, and create a visible presence in our nation’s capital. For a profession as small as ours, we have managed become known in the Halls of Congress. This year was my 3rd DC FLI, and I noticed that we spent much less time explaining what naturopathic medicine is and who we are and more time discussing issues important to our profession, our members and our patients.

One of our key messages involved inclusion of naturopathic doctors in various loan repayment programs created or extended under the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It’s ironic really. Both the Department of Education and the Carnegie Institute classify the ND degree as a First-Professional Degree on par with MDs and DOs. All naturopathic medical schools are accredited by the CNME which is recognized by the Department of Education and each of our schools are regionally accredited by authorities recognized by the Dept. of Ed. Naturopathic medical students are eligible for the same federal loan programs as MDs and DOs. Yet, naturopathic doctors are not named in a number of federal programs which allow us to serve in underserved communities and are excluded from participation in all federal loan repayment programs, including the Public Health Workforce, the National Health Services Corp, and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. This is clearly unfair and is a significant barrier to NDs participating in federal programs, and in the meetings I attended, this was clearly heard by the health staff people with whom we spoke.

Our doctors and students also advocated for a consensus definition of “Integrative Health Practitioner,” a term used but left undefined in the health care reform language, and reminded legislators of our support for DSHEA, which frequently comes under attack from various legislators and agencies.

I think that at least as important as our messages and issues discussed is our presence in D.C. and the building of relationships with legislators, their staffs, and the various regulatory agencies that oversee the transformation of bill language into laws.

On another note, members of the AANP should be receiving their elections packets from the AANP very soon. This year a number of candidates have stepped up for Board positions and for the first time ever we have a competitive election for AANP President-Elect. I am impressed by the quality of our candidates and the wealth of experience, knowledge and dedication to the profession that they all bring to their candidacies. Please read over the candidates' statements and vote for your choice of our next AANP leaders. Your interest and participation are critical to the future of the AANP.

Finally, watch for materials coming soon about the AANP convention in Portland, August 11th-15th. It should be a great one as we celebrate the AANP's 25th anniversary, learn from some of the elders in our profession, and spend time with old and new friends. I hope to see all of you there.

President's Message: Advocating for Naturopathic Medicine

By Carl Hangee-Bauer, ND, LAc
AANP President

American Medical Association headquarters in Chicago, IL. Photo by Steve Silverman via Flickr, used
under the Creative Commons License.

It’s been quite a busy time over the past few weeks, with trips to Washington, D.C., and Chicago to educate and advocate for the naturopathic profession.

2011 DC FLI

In late April, I flew to Washington to spend three days at DC FLI followed by our Spring Board meeting. This was my fourth DC FLI and I have to say it is one of the most fun and interesting events put on by the AANP. Most of us come together at our August conventions, but this gathering has its own flavor.

150+ people were in attendance this year, and at least 100 were students from the naturopathic colleges. There were a number of our more experienced doctors present, many of whom are active in either state licensing or federal legislative issues, as well as AANP Board members and some NDs local to the East Coast and D.C. area.

We started Saturday morning with a meeting of the State Alliance, where general trends and issues were discussed affecting state licensing efforts. There were some great conversations and sharing as we learned from each other’s gains and obstacles. For me, the most interesting part was when a representative from each state where licensing or scope expansion is being sought updated the group on their progress so far this year. It is very encouraging to hear the gains that have been made recently, and I am certain that, by following the lead of North Dakota, we could see as many as three to five states successfully gain licensure in the next year or so. The momentum is palpable and all of the due diligence that has been carried forward in different states by dedicated naturopathic doctors and their patients appears to be on the cusp of paying off.

Saturday afternoon began in earnest with presentations by representatives from the chiropractic profession, sharing with us their lessons learned in the legislative arena and overviews of the current political landscape in D.C. On Sunday, we spent the day reviewing our key messages and goals for this year’s federal political agenda, largely around two topics: offering a definition of “integrative health care practitioner” (described but not defined in numerous sections of the PPACA passed last year), and seeking sponsors or co-sponsors for a bill amending the Public Health Services Act to ensure equity for naturopathic physicians in federal loan programs, scholarships, and primary care residencies funded by the federal government. Of course, while these are our stated goals, our ongoing agenda is to inform and educate legislators and their staff members about naturopathic medicine and the role we play in our health-care system. It’s about building relationships.

On Monday, we fanned out across Capitol Hill, carrying our messages to congressional offices as well as other agencies including the Veteran’s Administration (the largest managed care system in the world) and the National Institutes of Health. From the feedback I’ve heard so far, we were well received and our messages were heard. And, as always, our reception In the Rayburn Foyer was a huge success with many staffers and a few U.S. Representatives present. One experience I can briefly relate was watching Rep. Dennis Kucinich arrive and make a beeline to Dr. Joseph Pizzorno’s table. I was told that Rep. Kucinich is a great admirer of Dr. Pizzorno’s books, keeping them in his living room at home.

The success of DC FLI is in large part due to the tremendous enthusiasm of our naturopathic medical students who take time away from their studies, fundraise, and make the long journey to D.C. to be a part of the change in the health-care system this profession promises. In many ways they are our strongest voices, and there is no doubt that the future leaders of our profession are cutting their teeth at DC FLI.

AMA Meeting

After a few days back in San Francisco seeing patients and getting a bit of rest, it was off to Chicago for our meeting with the American Medical Association (AMA). Karen Howard and I represented the AANP as part of the Coalition for Patient Rights (CPR), a group of 35+ health professions who came together in response to the AMA’s Scope of Practice Partnership (SOPP) campaign. This campaign is part of the AMA’s goal to educate their state constituencies and state legislators about scope of practice bills, largely opposing other health-care professions who seek either expanded scope or independent practices. One of the data series produced by the SOPP concerned naturopathic medicine and was filled with many inaccuracies about our training and practice.

Karen and I were joined by representatives from other groups including the American Nurses Association, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, American Psychological Association, and American Physical Therapy Association. Our group met with some of the top brass at the AMA including the Chair of the Board of Trustees and CEO.

I’m happy to say it was a cordial and respectful meeting on all sides, and I believe it is a start to a productive dialogue with our medical colleagues. There was general consensus in the room that we all need to work better together in integrative and collaborative settings, and this starts with thoughtful communication and a willingness to engage in productive dialogue. Our coalition gave specific feedback that I believe was heard.

I left the meeting encouraged but realistic. These issues won’t change overnight and it will take a lot of further conversation and willingness on both sides to effect the change we are all working toward. This meeting felt to me a bit like a first date; getting to know one another and seeing where things can go. But the conversation was elevated from the usual and I’m optimistic that we can build on this start.

DC FLI Report

Written by Michael Cronin, ND, AANP President

But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.  It behooves you, therefore, to be watchful in your States as well as in the Federal Government. 

- Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address
March 4, 1837

The AANP had its 9^th DC Federal Legislative Initiative May 7, 2012. It was attended by nearly 140 NDs and students with 529 visits organized.  Our goal is to find legislative allies to work with to improve federal recognition of NDs which will empower our state legislative efforts.  

Our legislative asks at the DC FLI were simple and straight forward. We asked legislators to write a letter on our behalf urging Secretary Sebelius, of the Department of Health and Human Services, to include naturopathic physicians in all HHS programs.  When NDs are recognized by HHS, jobs for NDs in community health centers, tuition forgiveness and federal programs may begin to open up. We also requested legislators to contact Secretary Shenseki and recommend that NDs be included in the Department of Veterans Affairs programs. We could still use your help. Please take action and contact your Members of Congress today!

The Affordable Care Act enables the “inclusion of licensed naturopathic physicians as full participants in all federal initiatives and programs relating to citizen access to health care is in alignment with the federal government’s goals concerning access to health care.” Implementation of Articles 2706 (non-discrimination), 3502 (medical homes), and 5101 (workforce) would increase choice, potentially leading to citizens choosing less costly interventions and providing greater access to those clinicians capable of providing those interventions.  NDs can play an important role in addressing the national shortage of primary care providers which is expected to significantly worsen in the immediate future.

Good work is being done with your membership dollars. We recently saw a great success with the inclusion of NDs in the Indian Health Services Loan Repayment Program.

NDs are a small but effective community with a large mission. The AANP needs more members so that we can do more. Help the naturopathic profession’s progress by asking your colleagues to join our AANP.

If you read this, please drop me a note at mjcronin@earthlink.net.

Michael Cronin, ND

AANP President

AANP's DC FLI Sets New Records

By Karen Howard
AANP Executive Director


This year's annual Federal Legislative Initiative (DC FLI) topped all records.

• Over 170 visits to Congressional offices representing 38 states and the District of Columbia.
• 171 attendees of whom 100 were naturopathic medical students.
• 1,500 emails were sent in one day from 'virtual' lobbyist across the country using our electronic CapWiz program to write to their Members of Congress.

A special recognition goes to the students of the University of Bridgeport for winning the "Bring a Founder to the FLI" contest and receiving the AANP's first traveling trophy for school spirit.

This year we focused on how Congress can address the critical shortage of primary care physicians by accessing naturopathic medicine. Our specific requests included inclusion in all federal loan repayment programs and defining the term "integrative health care practitioner."

The term, "integrative health care practitioner" is used throughout the health care reform law and is not defined in the statute. Our objective is to encourage Congress to ensure Americans have access to the best, most qualified providers - many, if not all, of whom are underutilized in federal programs. As you may recall, the Coalition for Patients Rights, of which the AANP is a member, represents 3.3 million such practitioners. Our proposal uses language from the original H.Con.Res 406 and H.Con.Res. 58 (introduced by Congressman Langevin) and reads as follows:

"An Integrative Health Care Practitioner, acting within the scope of that provider's license or certification under applicable State law, addresses the underlying causal factors associated with chronic disease; improves individual health and increases individual capacity to engage in activities of daily living through lifestyle change, including strategies relating to diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and stress reduction; and provides patient-centered care that:

1. addresses personal health needs;
2. uses a multidimensional approach to encourage patients to improve their own wellness through lifestyle changes and the use of scientifically based therapies and outcomes based treatments that facilitate the inherent ability of the human body to maintain and restore optimal health; and
3. utilizes clearly defined standards to determine when the implementation of wellness and health promotion activities will be useful for each patient based on the diet, exercise habits, individual health history, and family health history of the patient."

What happens now? Staff is working to mine the reams of data from these very valuable visits on Capitol Hill and will work directly with several of our state contingencies of NDs to create a successful strategy for our efforts. Capitol Hill is a tad weary on the topic of "health," in general, but preliminary work is beginning on what will constitute a technical amendment bill - and the appropriations process is also available as a possible vehicle for these changes. Our relationships continue to grow and deepen on Capitol Hill and our presence is clearly having an impact.

Doing the DC FLI

By Susan DeLaney, ND, RN

Susan DeLaney, ND, and Trevor Holly Cates, ND, feed body and mind at the
2010 DC FLI reception on Capitol Hill.

Washington in the spring is a lovely place to visit, especially when you get to do it with a mini-convention of naturopaths and naturopathic students from around the country. The first weekend in May each year, we gather at the Capitol to learn from each other, about the basics of politics in Washington and what we can do to move our message of naturopathic health care forward. This year's event is planned for April 30 - May 2!

Each year I go I learn something new, meet new people, and reconnect with old friends. For two days, we are listening to valuable speakers, sharing ideas, and practicing how to talk to legislators about our issues. The third day, we put into practice what we have learned. Traveling in groups, we visit our respective state Senate and House members in their offices. Locating their offices in the maze of the Capitol Buildings is a bit like a scavenger hunt. Most of the discussions are with their health-care staffers, who do listen and convey the information to the representative. Meeting face-to-face in their offices with legislators and staffers provides us an opportunity to have in-depth discussions about who we are and what we do.

At first I was not sure that what we did mattered until one staffer recalled that she remembered our visit from last year! It is truly the presence of so many doctors visiting Washington that makes such a difference. Before our first annual fly-in event, no one really knew who we were. Now they know faces and stories that connect them to naturopathic medicine.

And then there is the famous, late afternoon naturopathic reception where we have earned our reputation in D.C. as the best place to hang out with healthy food and wine. Smoked salmon, fresh fruits, nuts and a fabulous kale salad have really made us the toast of the Hill! They come early and stay late to enjoy the delicious food, and socialize with their constituent NDs and naturopathic students.

When the work is all done in the evening, we walk the city, enjoy fabulous meals with friends, stand before majestic monuments that are so beautifully illuminated every evening, and find ourselves filled with awe that we have the freedom to be there. We have the freedom to do this work, and by letting our voices be heard in the halls of Washington, we help grow naturopathic medicine.

Wishing you can all be there with me this year! Registration is FREE for all members, and closes April 15!  Click here for more information and to register today!

When “Physicians Who Listen” Exercise Their Voices

Michael Cronin, ND

AANP President

Photo by rpongsaj via Flickr, used
under the Creative Commons License.

I invite you to add your voice to those of the many NDs and patients who will be attending the 2012 AANP DC Federal Legislative Initiative(DC FLI) on May 5-7, 2012. The DC FLI consists of two days of legislative/advocacy education and training, and, a third day, putting those skills to work on Capitol Hill advocating for our patients and for our profession.

The AANP uses the DC FLI to broaden understanding of federal law-making and federal agencies’ rule-making processes (for example, rules to include NDs in: medical homes, healthcare workforce provisions, patient-centered outcomes research (PCORI) and tuition forgiveness). Additionally, we will include discussion of the “Non-Discrimination” language in Section 2706 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Providers- A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of that provider's license or certification under applicable State law (includes ERISA plans).

Board Committees: Expanding the Bandwidth of the Board

 I am pleased to announce that the AANP Board has established three committees to improve its overall effectiveness. The full board of 13 members has limited time to meet and smaller committees enable the Board to discuss our profession’s changing landscape in greater detail and with better understanding of our options. Committees enable us to bring in new perspectives and diverse experiences from members of the AANP, state associations, and the House of Delegates.

The committees include: State and Federal Affairs, Scientific Affairs, and Public Education and Media Affairs.

The AANP State and Federal Affairs Committee is chaired by Lorilee Shoenbeck, ND, an energetic and experienced legislative advocate in Vermont who has demonstrated her effectiveness by securing Vermont citizens access to Naturopathic care with equivalent insurance coverage to MDs. The Vermont ANP has been working to ensure NDs will be eligible to be directors of Medical Homes on an equal status with other physician types.

The committee is composed of Lorilee Schoenbeck, Michael Traub, Kasra Pournadeali, Pamela Snider, Bruce Milliman, Carrie Runde, Jennifer Bahr, Bruce Milliman, Laura Farr and me. The committee is consulting with our two lobbyists, Deborah Senn and Rick Miller, as well as Terri Deerr (AANP COO) and Gene McGill (AANP, Director of State Government Relations).

The committee has already helped the Board prioritize the federal legislative objectives. The staff, with the input of the committee, is establishing the goals and specific legislative requests for the DC FLI. More detail on the DC FLI schedule will be forthcoming.

Finally, I would like to give recognition and a hearty congratulation to OncANP for its first conference in Carefree, Arizona attended by over 220. Well done!

Yours in health,

Michael Cronin, ND
AANP President

Find Your Voice and Use It at the 2011 DC FLI

By Christine Girard, ND
2010 AANP Physician of the Year

The AANP will train you to become an advocate for naturopathic medicine.

This year, I’ve had the honor of testifying before the Arizona Senate Health Committee, regarding expanding the ND scope of practice, and the Iowa Senate State Government subcommittee on regarding ND licensure in that state. If you’re like me, speaking before legislators feels daunting - important, but daunting. It has taken me years to feel anything close to comfortable and I owe that to the DC FLI.

For those who aren’t familiar with the DC FLI, it is the Federal Legislative Initiative, that the AANP hosts in Washington, D.C., each May. The event is free for all members and serves as a great opportunity for students and physicians alike to connect with their legislators in Washington. If you’re new to the game, want to learn the ropes, and feel safer doing so with friends and colleagues, this is the way to go. The three-day event is well-organized and offers two days of interactive and comprehensive preparation for your day on the Hill.

In addition to the training, the AANP schedules your meeting with legislators and makes sure you are part of a small group so you don't feel out on a limb. Additionally, the will provide you with packets that include fact sheets about the issues, biographies of your legislators, and leave-behind materials. Your day on the Hill will culminate with a reception featuring organic food, wine and chocolate, an even that legislators and their staffers have come to know and love.

There’s an amazing energy about the FLI. Part of the it is generated by NDs coming together with purpose. The other part is the amazing experience of finding one’s voice – and using it!

Every year I attend the FLI, I am reminded of how important it is that we become or remain connected to our legislators. If we don’t state who we are as a profession or voice what is important to us, who will? No one or, worse yet, our opponents.

Join me this year. Raise your voice and feel the energy of purpose.