When the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Education announced a national initiative to improve nutrition education in medical schools, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) saw an opportunity—and a responsibility—to act.
Nutrition is not a side note in health care; it is central to preventing, treating and even reversing chronic disease. For decades, naturopathic physicians have been trained to approach nutrition as a cornerstone of whole-person care. Yet, despite overwhelming evidence that dietary choices drive much of America’s chronic disease burden, nutrition education remains minimal or absent in conventional medical training.
On Aug. 29, the AANP submitted a formal letter to the HHS and the Department of Education, making the case that naturopathic medicine already offers the gold standard in physician-level nutrition training. In doing so, we underscored the essential role naturopathic doctors (NDs) play in building a healthier future—and the urgent need to expand licensure and remove federal barriers so that every American can access this kind of whole health care.
Nutrition Training: A Stark Contrast
One of the most striking disparities in U.S. medical education is the difference in nutrition training between naturopathic and conventional medical programs.
Naturopathic medical schools: An average of 155 hours of dedicated nutrition education within a comprehensive four-year medical curriculum, with some programs exceeding 220 hours of nutrition.
Conventional medical schools: An average of 19 hours, with many programs offering no required coursework at all.1 This discrepancy isn’t just academic—it has real-world consequences. With rising rates of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions, patients need physicians who understand how food and lifestyle drive health outcomes. NDs are already trained to provide this care.
The AANP’s Recommendations to Federal Leaders
In our letter, we positioned ND education as the nation’s most comprehensive model for physician-level nutrition training. But we also went further, urging HHS and the Department of Education to take actions that would transform access to whole health care in America:
1. Remove barriers to patient access. Thousands of NDs are already trained and ready to help patients improve their health through nutrition and lifestyle medicine, but state and federal barriers prevent many Americans from accessing this care.
2. Collaborate on curriculum. Federal agencies should work directly with naturopathic medical schools, the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC), and the AANP to establish evidence-based nutrition curricula and competencies that reflect what we already know works.
3. Support integrative models of care. Demonstrate commitment to whole health by funding pilot programs, evaluation efforts and federal action plans that include ND clinical practices.
Increasing the Visibility of Naturopathic Medicine
This advocacy effort is about more than nutrition. It’s about visibility. By engaging directly with federal agencies, the AANP is ensuring that naturopathic physicians are recognized at the highest levels of policy and leadership.
If our recommendations are adopted, they could establish NDs as recognized leaders in preventive and integrative medicine—cementing what patients already know: naturopathic doctors bring value, innovation and whole-person, patient-centered care to America’s health system.
Licensure: The Path to Whole Health for All Americans
Currently, not every state licenses naturopathic physicians, meaning millions of Americans are unable to access safe, effective, ND-provided care. This limits patient choice, prevents collaboration across health systems, and keeps highly trained licensed naturopathic physicians from fully contributing to national health priorities.
When NDs are licensed, patients benefit from:
• Expanded access to preventive care rooted in nutrition, lifestyle and whole-person medicine.
• Regulation and accountability, ensuring high professional standards and protecting patients from misinformation or untrained practitioners using the title “doctor.”
• Integration within health care systems, allowing NDs to collaborate more fully with MDs, DOs, NPs and other health professionals. In states that license NDs, they are increasingly integrated into conventional medical delivery, including working in community clinics, Federally Qualified Health Care Centers (FQHC), county health departments, hospitals, university clinics and government programs such as Medicaid. Here is just a small sampling of conventional medical institutions with NDs currently on staff:
0 Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, MA
0 Seattle Children’s Hospital, WA
0 University of Washington Osher Center for Integrative Health, WA
0 Manchester Hospital, CT
0 University of California, Irvine Samueli Integrative Health Institute, CA
0 Oregon Health & Sciences University, OR
0 Providence Health Systems, OR
0 Cleveland Clinic, OH
0 City of Hope Cancer Treatment Center, IL
0 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, WA
0 University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
0 Emory Winship Cancer Institute, GA
0 and so many more.
Licensure is not simply a professional issue—it’s a public health imperative. Without full licensure, the U.S. is leaving an essential part of the health workforce on the sidelines at a time when the burden of chronic disease continues to climb.
Modernizing Federal Policy to Expand Access
In addition to state licensure, removing federal barriers is critical to expanding patient access to naturopathic physicians who focus on nutrition and preventive medicine. A key step is to modernize the definition of “physician” in the Social Security Act to include licensed naturopathic doctors. This outdated definition prevents Medicare beneficiaries from accessing NDs, who specialize in the very lifestyle-based preventive medicine that is proven to lower costs and improve health outcomes. Updating this definition would correct a cascade of barriers, allowing Medicare patients to access NDs in private practice, hospitals, rural clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Similarly, federal policy should ensure that all states receiving Medicaid funding are required to cover services provided by licensed NDs. This would integrate a readily available workforce focused on nutrition and prevention into the public health system, helping to address workforce shortages. While a few states like Washington and Oregon have already seen great success—with hundreds of NDs serving a rapidly growing number of Medicaid patients—most states do not. Ensuring NDs are covered by government-sponsored insurance is crucial for supporting patient access to preventive, whole-person care.
Building a Healthier Future
This moment represents both opportunity and urgency. Patients are demanding more preventive, personalized and holistic options. Policymakers are searching for solutions to chronic disease and ballooning costs. Our nation is facing a dire shortage of health care providers.
Naturopathic medicine has the answers:
• Rigorous, science-based training as primary care providers with an emphasis in nutrition and lifestyle medicine.
• A philosophy that treats patients as whole people, not just symptoms.
• A track record of helping patients prevent disease, restore health and embrace “wellness.”
What’s Next
We will keep our community updated as we hear back from federal agencies, but regardless of how quickly policy shifts, the message is clear: naturopathic medicine belongs at the table.
Do you agree? Visit the AANP’s Take Action page at https://naturopathic.org/page/LegislativeActionCenter#/. As naturopathic and integrative physicians, we know that optimal wellness is achieved by addressing root causes, empowering patients, and prioritizing prevention. Our job is to ensure that patients everywhere—in all states and all health care systems—can benefit from this approach.
Reference:
1 Adams, Kelly M., Butsch, W. Scott, Kohlmeier, Martin, The State of Nutrition Education at U.S. Medical Schools, Journal of Biomedical Education, 2015, 357627, 7 pages, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/357627.
Taryn Ernest is the communications director for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), the professional membership association advancing the recognition of licensed naturopathic physicians to transform access to whole health naturopathic medicine in the U.S. With nearly a decade of dedicated service to the AANP, Ernest directs all communication efforts related to the Association’s initiatives, events and advocacy, effectively engaging a diverse membership of licensed naturopathic doctors. Ernest brings a passion for impactful communication to her role, overseeing the Association’s marketing and communications strategies. Her efforts have enhanced the visibility and reach of the naturopathic medical profession. Prior to joining the AANP, she gained valuable experience in advertising and marketing, equipping her with a well-rounded expertise in strategic communication and outreach.
