Medical doctors (MD’s) may be at the top of the food chain in the healthcare industry, but the training needed to become a physician and/or certain parts of the job itself are unappealing to some who’d still like to have direct patient contact. Some of the reasons for the purported shortage of MD’s are:

• Faulty forecasts that impacted residency programs paid by the federal government
• Decreases in applications to medical schools
• A moratorium on building new medical schools
• The impact of growing numbers of aging baby boomers who will continue to require increased medical care in their old age.

Naturopathic physicians may be able to fill some of the void and be a viable healthcare career option.

“Naturopathic physicians combine nutrition, exercise and stress reduction with conventional (prescription) and alternative (e.g., acupuncture and vitamins) therapies,” says Dr. Paul Mittman, President/CEO of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. “Given the epidemic of chronic diseases with roots in obesity and malnutrition, Naturopathic medicine is already helping improve health and healthcare in Arizona.”

Could naturopathic medicine be in your future?

PR.com, December 15, 2005