History of the NMSA

The Naturopathic Medical Student Association emerged from the idea of a single forward-thinking student into the national organization we have today over the span of just a few years, but there have been more than a few bumps, hurdles, and victories along the way, both large and small. We invite you to read the story of our evolution!

In Fall 2004, the NMSA existed only as a glimmer in the eyes of the students attending the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) conference in Seattle; they had only one hour, most of which was spent presenting initiatives. This glimmer began to take shape when in 2005, NMSA cofounder Jonci Jensen attended the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) National Convention and realized the need for a similar organization for naturopathic students. She lobbied for full membership of naturopathic students to AMSA – a motion that was vociferously and almost unanimously declined, but led to the motion for a naturopathic interest group within the organization, which was tabled for the time being. Jonci was inspired, however, to organize the first annual Naturopathic Medical Student Conference that same year coincident with the AANP convention, with emphasis on what would become four of the five tracks of the NMSA conferences in the future: legislation, philosophy, professional development, and public health. The conference was attended by nearly 100 students from the five naturopathic medical schools at the time.

The organization of the Second Annual Conference provided the impetus for the creation of a board of founders, consisting of Alexis Chesney from UBCNM, Jaclyn Chasse from Bastyr University, Corinne Sell and Cheri King from NCNM, and Leila Fosdick-Turner and Jonci Jensen from SCNM. These founders created the present organizational structure, including the four chairs above as well as the track of leadership. Additionally, cofounder Leila Fosdick-Turner developed our first web-site and distribution list for email communication between naturopathic medical students. Formal bylaws and articles of incorporation were established which allowed the NMSA to legally incorporate in the State of Oregon.

In March 2007, at the AMSA Annual Conference, we achieved what seemed like an historical impossibility: naturopathic medical students were awarded the right to run for the Chair of the Naturopathic Interest Group. In late 2007, Cheri King took office as the first elected NMSA President. The NMSA became an official affiliate of the AANP, was accepted as a member organization of the Naturopathic Coordinating Council (NCC), was asked to participate in the student group portion of the Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care (ACCAHAC), and was granted an exofficio seat on the board of the Institute for Natural Medicine. Additionally, an official line of communication opened between naturopathic and allopathic medicine when the AANP and the NMSA became official liaisons with AMSA. For this achievement and contribution to the profession, Dr. Lise Alschuler awarded the NMSA the 2008 AANP President’s Award at their annual conference held at the Arizona Biltmore.

The 4th Annual NMSA Student Conference was also held in August 2008 at the Arizona Biltmore and was well attended by both students and doctors. The theme was “Celebrating Collaboration in Health Care” and the NMSA presented its first $500 Philosophy Scholarship award to UBCNM student Chris Deszynski, and honored NMSA cofounder Jonci Jenson with a certificate of appreciation for her outstanding dedication and commitment to the NMSA and to the profession. NMSA in cooperation with NCNM coordinated another major student event: the ZRT College Cup Competition. Six of the seven naturopathic schools competed in a quiz game for $13,000 in prize money. NCNM students took home first prize while Bastyr took second. AMSA’s Director of Student Programming, Rebecca Sadun MD, Ph.D. was also in attendance.

Meanwhile, under the direction of AMSA Naturopathic Interest Group Coordinator Hadas Hilewitz, resolutions passed (with much debate) to allow naturopathic medical students to run for positions in any AMSA Interest Group or Action Committee. In 2009, three ND students were elected and held offices within AMSA, and Dr. Amy Rothenburg, ND spoke at the 2009 AMSA National Convention, further strengthening AMSA’s naturopathic ties.

Presently, the NMSA discovered that it was developing at a rate that neither its elected officials nor its budget could sustain. In response, the organization revised its bylaws to include Local Chapters with elected officers and specific required positions in order to help shoulder the increasingly overwhelming responsibility. Additionally, newly elected president of 2008, Kelly Simms of SCNM, together with Dr Bill Benda, the AANP Board Liaison to the NMSA, submitted a proposal to the AANMC for support to help the NMSA grow its infrastructure. Armed with an AANMC grant, 2009 elected president Hadas Hilewitz arranged the first NMSA leadership retreat at Bastyr University, attended by the NMSA executive committee and chapter presidents. This team penned a new mission and vision statement for the organization. Meanwhile, in addition to the previously established ZRT Cup, NCNM and NMSA collaborated to organize the Bob’s Red Mill Intercollegiate Speech Contest at the August 2010 NWNPC (Northwest Naturopathic Physician’s Conference) in Portland, OR, where three students presented their speeches on “Food as Medicine”. Founder Bob Moore was so impressed with the speeches that he awarded $5000 to each contestant rather than a single prize winner and promised to continue the contest in the future.

Coincident with the 2010 AANP Convention, the NMSA sponsored a two-day leadership retreat with the generous support of NABNE for chapter presidents and the executive committee in August 2010, at which time the 2010 elected president Malea MacOdrum signed the lease for the NMSA International Headquarters in Portland, OR. At that retreat, sinews were laid upon the previously skeletal NMSA infrastructure, and what was only a glimmer in 2004 began, at last, to coalesce into a concrete reality. With the support of students from all seven naturopathic schools, we are excited to see what the future has in store for the NMSA!