Pre-Medicine Preparation at UHMānoa: Naturopathic

 

Text compiled from the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges website,

NAAHP’s Medical Professions Admission Guide, and the UHM 2005-2006 Catalog

 

 

Medical doctors, or physicians, are highly trained healthcare professionals who perform medical examinations, diagnose illnesses, prescribe drugs, and treat patients suffering from injury or disease using a variety of techniques.

 

Physicians serve in all types of communities, from rural to inner city, and in a wide variety of settings, from private practice to clinics and hospitals. They also work in specialized settings, such as homeless shelters, schools, sports programs, prisons, nursing homes, third-world countries, and the armed forces. About one-third of the nation’s physicians are generalists, or “primary care” doctors, although that percentage is declining as more physicians choose to become specialists. Generalists include fields such as internists, family physicians, and pediatricians. Specialists focus on a particular system or part of the body; examples include neurologists, hematologists, cardiologists, and podiatrists, to name only a few.

 

Physicians also serve in research, studying and developing new treatments for disease, in academia, sharing their skills by educating medical students, in health organizations, pharmaceutical companies, medical technology manufacturing, health insurance companies, and in corporations with health and safety programs.

 

There are four main degrees in medicine: allopathic, chiropractic, naturopathic, and osteopathic. Allopathic physicians (M.D.s, Medical Doctors, or Doctors of Medicine) practice the most widespread type medicine, founded in Western scientific traditions and focused on diagnosing and treating injury and disease. Chiropractic physicians (D.C.s, Doctors of Chiropractic, or Doctors of Chiropractic Medicine) focus on the nervous system and the relationship between health and the alignment of the musculoskeletal structure. Naturopathic physicians (D.N.s, or Doctors of Naturopathy) emphasize maintaining health through physical and spiritual wellness and may incorporate nontraditional or non-Western methods, such as acupuncture, reflexology, and homeopathic remedies. Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s, or Doctors of Osteopathy) take a comprehensive, holistic approach, focusing on the total well being of each individual. The main difference between an M.D. and a D.O. today is that the D.O. receives training in manipulating the musculoskeletal system in addition to the core medical training.

 

Naturopathic medicine is a mixture of philosophy, lifestyle, and the practice of science, although some naturopaths do pursue research. Students who are considering applying to naturopathic medical schools should become familiar with all aspects of naturopathy, through volunteer or paid experience or by shadowing a naturopathic physician.

Naturopathic D.N. or D.N.M. Programs

 

Becoming a Doctor of Naturopathy (D.N.) or Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (D.N.M.) requires 8 or more years of education:

 

            Bachelors Degree (ca. 4 years);

            Naturopathic Medical School (4 years)

            Postdoctoral programs, or residencies (1+ years)

                                   

The first two years of naturopathic medical school are generally classroom lectures, problem-based learning, or a mixture of the two. The final two years are usually primarily clinical internships under the supervision of licensed professionals. In addition to the standard medical curriculum, naturopathic training includes nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling.

 

After graduating from naturopathic medical school, D.N.s must then pass a board exam for their state or jurisdiction of practice to become licensed as a primary care general practice physician. All physicians must be licensed to practice.

 

Physicians may choose to attend a postdoctoral residency program for further clinical training or specialization. Programs are certified by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education.

 

 

Prerequisites for Admission

 

Most importantly, remember that requirements vary from school to school! You must research (see below for references) to create a list of all the prerequisites you will need to apply to the schools you are interested in attending.  

 

The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) recommends students complete at least three years of pre-med training and earn a baccalaureate degree before applying. The following UHM courses are commonly required for admission to naturopathic schools:

 

Biol 171/171Lab and 172/172Lab             Introductory Biology I and II

(two schools require or recommend Biol 275/275Lab as well)

Chem 161/161Lab and 162/162Lab          General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II

Chem 272/272Lab and 273/273Lab          Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II

            (two schools require only the first semester of Organic Chemistry)

Phys 151/151Lab                                      College Physics I

            (one school requires no Physics; lab is optional for all but one school)

Math 140                                                  Precalculus

 

Additional requirements include English, other humanities, psychology, and other social sciences. Recommended courses include anatomy, biochemistry, medical ethics, microbiology, philosophy of science, physiology, public speaking, and statistics.

What makes a strong candidate?

 

Naturopathic school tuition, as high as it is, covers only a fraction of the cost of educating a D.N., which means that each new student represents a huge investment. Schools need to be certain that the students they accept will be capable of completing the curriculum and are likely to become good physicians.

 

Are you capable of completing the medical curriculum?

            Admissions committees are looking for students who have:

·        completed the prerequisites

·        a high overall GPA

·        a high science/math GPA

·        balanced their course load so it is challenging yet realistic

 

Are you likely to become a good physician?

            Admissions committees look for students who have:

·        demonstrated empathy, compassion, and a commitment to public service

·        high ethical and moral standards and a conscientious work ethic

·        demonstrated maturity (judgment, responsibility, dependability)

·        a broad liberal arts education that includes the humanities and social sciences

·        experience in the field and with what naturopathy entails

·        a well-rounded life that balances academics, community service, social activities, and personal interests (hobbies, skills, sports, etc.)

·        excellent oral and written communication skills

·        strong letters of recommendation

 

 

Standardized Tests

 

None of the accredited naturopathy schools currently requires a standardized entrance exam, but students should always check with individual schools to be certain.

 

 

The Application Process

 

There are currently five accredited naturopathic schools, and sixth is a candidate for accreditation. There is no centralized application service. Apply directly to each school you are interested in attending; applications can be ordered or downloaded online from the schools’ websites. All of the schools’ websites can be accessed through the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education at http://www.cnme.org/links.html.

 

Naturopathic schools usually require letters of recommendation (a guideline is available in PAC) and some require an interview. Students are responsible for all costs incurred while interviewing, including airfare, lodging, and meals.

 

Note: Deadlines and application procedures differ from school to school. It is your responsibility to meet all deadlines and follow all procedures; be sure to read all instructions carefully!

 

Tips on applying:

 

·        The more you know about the school, the better your chances of being accepted.

·        Contact individual schools’ Admissions Offices to find out how they handle:

§         advanced placement (AP) credits

§         College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) credits

§         courses taken at a community college

§         courses taken for credit/no credit instead of a grade

§         residency issues

§         time limits on acceptable science courses

§         coursework taken outside the U.S.

 

 

Additional Information

 

UHMānoa’s Pre-Health and -Law Advising Center (PAC) has reference books on health careers, volunteer opportunities lists, academic planning worksheets, and one-on-one advising by peers who can help you prepare for and apply to naturopathic medicine schools.

 

UHM’s Pre-Medical Association                                           www.hawaii.edu/premed

                                                                                             pre-med@hawaii.edu

 

UHM’s Biology Club                                                             www.hawaii.edu/biology/contact.htm

 

Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME)            http://www.cnme.org

 

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP)     http://www.naturopathic.org

 

Natural Healers                                                                      http://www.naturalhealers.com

            (includes links to a variety of alternative medicine programs in addition to naturopathic;  the site includes unaccredited programs)