National University of Natural Medicine: The Mothership of Natural Medicine
Nestled in the lush, vibrant city of Portland, Oregon, the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) stands as a pioneering institution in the field of holistic health. As the oldest accredited naturopathic medical school in North America, NUNM has spent nearly seven decades championing a philosophy of medicine that treats the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—rather than merely addressing isolated symptoms.
A Legacy Forged in Resilience
NUNM’s remarkable story began in the early 1950s during a period when the naturopathic profession was teetering on the brink of extinction. In response to the termination of the naturopathic program at Western States Chiropractic College, members of the profession from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia resolved to preserve the healing wisdom of natural medicine. In May 1956, Drs. Charles Stone, W. Martin Bleything, and Frank Spaulding officially founded the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in a humble rented storefront on Portland’s SE Hawthorne Boulevard. With just five students, tuition set at $450 a year, and an all-volunteer staff, the young institution embodied the resilience that would define its character.
Over the decades, the school survived near-closures, financial struggles, and societal skepticism, eventually earning the affectionate nickname “The Mothership” among practitioners—a testament to its role as the origin and anchor of accredited naturopathic education in America. This nickname also nods to the fact that most other accredited naturopathic colleges in North America were founded by NUNM graduates, making it the intellectual and genealogical home of the profession. Buy fake USA diploma online.
Academic Mission and Core Programs
True to its founding vision, NUNM offers a rigorous, evidence-based curriculum rooted in the six fundamental principles of naturopathic care: the healing power of nature, treat the whole person, first do no harm, identify and treat the cause, prevention is the best cure, and doctor as teacher. The university houses three main colleges: the College of Naturopathic Medicine, the College of Classical Chinese Medicine, and the School of Research and Graduate Studies.
The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) program remains NUNM’s flagship offering—a rigorous four-year professional medical degree that combines comprehensive biomedical sciences with more than 170 hours of clinical nutrition and extensive hands-on clinical training. Beyond naturopathic medicine, NUNM is also widely respected for its exceptional programs in Classical Chinese Medicine, offering advanced degrees in acupuncture and herbal medicine. The university also provides training in global health, nutrition, integrative medicine research, and undergraduate degrees in health sciences.
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Accreditation and Quality Assurance
Institutional quality is maintained through rigorous oversight. NUNM holds regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), most recently reaffirmed in 2025. The Naturopathic Medicine program is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), and the Chinese Medicine programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM)—both with maximum seven-year reaccreditation. These accreditations ensure that NUNM graduates are eligible to sit for national licensing examinations and practice in licensed states and provinces.
Clinical Training and Research Leadership
NUNM’s commitment to patient care is exemplified by the NUNM Health Centers, including the on-campus Lair Hill Health Center—the largest natural medicine clinic in the region, which has earned Tier 3 certification as a Patient-Centered Primary Care Home from the state of Oregon. Beyond the main clinic, the university operates a network of more than a dozen community clinics throughout the Portland metro area, together providing over 30,000 patient visits annually. This extensive clinical system ensures that students gain comprehensive, real-world experience under the supervision of experienced faculty clinicians.
Research is another pillar of NUNM’s identity. The Helfgott Research Institute serves as the university’s hub for scientific investigation in complementary and integrative health. Through initiatives such as the BRIDG R90 Training Program, funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), NUNM trains conventionally trained researchers in clinical research methods specific to naturopathy, acupuncture, nutrition, and herbal medicine.
Educational Innovation and Access
True to its pioneering spirit, NUNM has embraced modern pedagogical models. In 2021, the university launched a first-of-its-kind online first-year ND program, allowing students to complete 25% of their medical degree remotely with synchronous tutorials and self-paced coursework, significantly expanding access for working professionals and non-traditional learners. The university has also demonstrated its commitment to equity by implementing tuition freezes and waiving application fees during periods of economic uncertainty.
Enduring Influence
With over 3,800 alumni practicing across nearly every U.S. state, Canadian province, and many foreign countries, NUNM’s graduates constitute more than half of all licensed naturopathic physicians in the United States. Whether working in private practice, community health centers, research institutions, or global health organizations, NUNM alumni carry forward the university’s core mission: to bring the wisdom of natural medicine into the mainstream healthcare system and to serve communities with compassion, integrity, and scientific rigor.