Explore how UWS faculty blend science, experience, and patient care to teach evidence-informed naturopathic medicine.

By Bryanna Somers

In naturopathy, being evidence-informed means leaning on the best available research while also considering a patient’s lived experience and the emerging science that hasn’t yet made its way into formal guidelines. In doing so, naturopathic doctors (NDs) meet patients where they are and create a plan that’s both safe and deeply personal.

To dig deeper into what evidence-informed medicine means in practice, we sat down with Marcia Prenguber, ND, dean of the Naturopathic Medicine program at University of Western States (UWS). A leader in integrative oncology and naturopathic medicine, Dr. Prenguber explains how evidence-informed care can support patients through diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.

What Evidence-Informed Care Means in Naturopathic Medicine

At its core, being evidence-informed means drawing on all the information available to make the best possible decision for a unique patient. In naturopathic medicine, that evidence can include:

• Published research from peer-reviewed journals
• Smaller-scale studies and observational findings
• Traditional knowledge of therapies used safely for generations
• Clinical wisdom from providers’ real-world experience
• Patient presentation and preferences, which shape how care should be delivered

Dr. Prenguber describes the evidence-informed approach as building a pyramid. Each layer of information—research, case reports, clinical wisdom, patient presentation—narrows the choices until the right approach for that individual patient becomes clear. “​​This allows us to build a picture of the person and what their conditions are,” she says. “By the time you reach the top of the pyramid, you have a treatment plan that’s grounded in science and also tailored to the whole person in front of you.”

Whole-Person Health in Naturopathy Training

A defining feature of the UWS naturopathic medicine program is its grounding in whole person health. Students are taught to see patients not as a set of symptoms but as complex individuals whose physical, emotional, social, and environmental realities all shape their health.

Dr. Prenguber shares an example: Two patients may arrive with the same respiratory infection. One is a young athlete living in a sunny climate; the other is an older patient living alone in a damp apartment.

“The condition might be the same on paper, but the treatment won’t likely be the same,” she explains. “It’s about who the person is.”

Evidence-Informed vs. Evidence-Based: What’s the Difference?

The terms “evidence-based” and “evidence-informed” are often used interchangeably, but in naturopathic medicine, they mean very different things.

Evidence-based care typically relies on standardized treatment protocols drawn from large clinical trials. It asks, “What intervention has been proven most effective for the majority of patients with this condition?” While this approach offers clarity, it can also leave out the unique circumstances, values, and lived experiences of individual patients.

Evidence-informed care, on the other hand, starts with the research but doesn’t end there. It also considers smaller-scale studies, clinical wisdom from years of practice, traditional knowledge, and (most importantly) the patient’s personal story, all of which contribute to whole person health.

Dr. Prenguber explains, “I can gather all the double-blind placebo studies, but those don’t always tell us what we need to know for this particular patient. Evidence-informed care asks us to listen, observe, and think critically about who they are and what will help them most.”

In practice, this distinction matters. Evidence-based care might recommend the same treatment for every patient with a digestive disorder. Evidence-informed care recognizes that one patient’s lifestyle, emotional health, and environment may call for a different approach than another’s, even if the diagnosis is the same.

“No study can tell us who this person is or what matters most to them,” Dr. Prenguber says. “We have to listen, observe, and think critically. That’s what evidence-informed means.”

The Naturopathic Toolkit: Homeopathy, Botanicals, and Beyond

Naturopathic doctors rely on an expansive toolkit that includes homeopathy, botanical medicine, nutrition, physical medicine, and lifestyle care. Each therapy comes with its own kind of evidence, and UWS faculty help students learn how to weigh it all.

Homeopathy, for example, is one of the most individualized therapies. “Two patients with the same respiratory infection might receive different remedies depending on how their symptoms present,” Dr. Prenguber says. “For example, maybe one wants to stay home in bed to recover, while another seeks activity and company.”

Botanical medicine requires creativity too. Students learn not just about single herbs but how to combine them into tinctures that have a driving force, supporting remedies and even considerations such as taste. Nutrition adds another layer of complexity, one in which countless dietary approaches exist, and the challenge is deciding which one best fits a patient’s needs and circumstances.

“We draw from conventional research,” says Dr. Prenguber, “but we also look at smaller studies, faculty and practitioner experience, and what we know about how a patient will respond. It’s about making smart choices based on all the evidence we have.”

This diversity of approaches ensures that UWS students learn to evaluate options, balance evidence, and adapt care to the person in front of them.

How UWS Prepares Students for Real-World Naturopathic Practice

UWS students begin their education with the sciences, including physiology, anatomy, and diagnostics.

As they progress in the program, they learn more about the symptoms that inform the condition (in courses such as gastroenterology, cardiovascular health, homeopathy, botanical medicine, and nutrition). What does it mean when two people share the same diagnosis but experience it completely differently? How does stress or environment change the way an illness unfolds?

By the time students reach the clinic, they’re ready to apply this learning with real patients. Here, they learn to treat diverse cases under the supervision of naturopathic physicians with different specialties.

“This hands-on training is where students learn to bridge the science they’ve studied with the human stories unfolding in front of them,” Dr. Prenguber says. This also helps students see firsthand that there are many safe and effective ways to approach a condition.

Evidence-Informed Care in Action

Dr. Prenguber recalls supervising a student who was working with a cancer patient. The student pressed ahead with clinical questions, even after the patient mentioned the recent loss of her father. With expertise in oncology, Dr. Prenguber took note, then said, “Tell me more about your experience navigating the death of your father.”

“Her grief around her father’s death was impacting her ability to heal,” Dr. Prenguber says. Grief was at the center of the patient’s healing journey, and addressing this grief became just as important as treating her physical symptoms. “Once we realized this, the student was able to help her navigate her grief with a homeopathic remedy, which then allowed her to focus on the health challenges she had with her cancer.”

Moments like these remind students that patient stories are a form of evidence, too. Evidence-informed education trains students to notice those details, to hold space for them, and to integrate them alongside science.

The Impact of Evidence-Informed Naturopathy on Students and Patients

As students grow more comfortable with the evidence-informed model, they begin to see themselves differently. “I see students light up when it clicks,” Dr. Prenguber says. “They walk into clinic and realize, ‘Oh, I can do this.’”

That confidence translates directly into patient care. When practitioners can explain the reasoning behind a recommendation and show how it fits the patient’s life, it builds trust, and that trust becomes part of the healing process itself.

Mentorship and Faculty Leadership in Naturopathy Training

At UWS, faculty are practicing naturopathic doctors with specialties ranging from homeopathy and botanical medicine to nutrition and lifestyle care. Each brings their own perspective into the classroom, which means students see that there are often many safe and effective ways to approach the same health concern.

“We talk openly about our own approaches,” Dr. Prenguber says. “If I get a sore throat, I might reach for one remedy. Another faculty member might do something completely different, and that’s OK. We model openness and humility in our choices.”

This diversity helps students learn to weigh options, evaluate evidence, and trust their clinical judgment.

“We want students to see that there isn’t always one ‘right’ answer in naturopathic medicine,” Dr. Prenguber adds. “What matters is learning how to evaluate evidence, apply it thoughtfully, and remain open to the patient in front of you.”

Faculty also serve as mentors beyond the clinic. They guide students in understanding the day-to-day realities of practice: how to manage uncertainty, how to communicate effectively with patients, and how to stay grounded in compassion when care becomes complex. Dr. Prenguber reminds students that their presence matters as much as their prescriptions: “Sometimes what heals most is that the patient feels heard, understood, and supported.”

Through these relationships, students begin to find their own voices as clinicians. They learn to balance rigor with creativity, to ask better questions, and to see patient care not as a formula but as an evolving partnership.

Ready To Explore a Career in Naturopathic Medicine?

If you’re ready to practice a model of care that sees the whole person, UWS can help you get there.

Learn how a whole-person, evidence-informed approach to care sets UWS students apart in the field of integrative health.

Explore the UWS Naturopathic Medicine program.

Joshua Rubinstein, ND, explains how naturopathic medicine programs blend science and natural care to prepare future doctors for whole-person health.

By Kim Smart

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Naturopathic medicine blends scientific training with natural, whole-person care to help patients address the root causes of illness.
• Strong naturopathic medicine programs combine rigorous coursework with extensive clinical experience to prepare students for licensure and practice.
• Graduates can pursue flexible careers in primary care, research, education, and integrative health settings.

Joshua Rubinstein, ND, associate dean of Clinical Education, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program at University of Western States, describes naturopathic medicine as a gentler form of medicine. “We’re excellent primary care providers,” he says. “We have so many tools and methods that, most of the time, are going to be gentler on the body. This can be especially helpful with patients’ long-term health goals.”

Naturopaths train on the foundations of health and in taking time to understand a patient’s diet, exercise habits, sleep patterns, and how they handle stress. When a patient makes changes in these areas, they often resolve many of their issues. Using both holistic practices and evidence-based research, naturopathic doctors connect emerging evidence with clinical practice, focusing on root causes of illness rather than just symptoms.

1. Why do future doctors choose naturopathic medicine over conventional medicine?

Naturopathic medicine attracts students who want to treat the whole person with natural, science-based primary care.

Naturopathic medicine is well suited for both doctors and patients looking for a more natural and individualized health care experience. “I think medicine, in general, aspires to treat the individual,” Dr. Rubinstein says,” but I feel like naturopathic medicine really excels at that, partly because we have so many different ways of working with that individual.”

“Naturopathic doctors have a comprehensive ability to address a problem, especially chronic conditions,” Dr. Rubinstein adds. “We have the training to put that primary care hat on.” An ND sees everyone from infants to the elderly with visits that are typically much longer than those in conventional medicine. This allows doctors and patients to develop a deeper and more trusted relationship.

2. What should prospective students look for in a top naturopathic medicine school or program?

Choose programs with expert faculty, strong clinical training, functional medicine, and accreditation.

Dr. Rubinstein recommends a program with instructors who’ve practiced naturopathy before, one that offers good clinical experience, and one that teaches students how to safely prescribe both botanicals and pharmaceuticals.

Learning functional medicine in naturopathy is also essential. “Functional medicine is woven into our naturopathy doctoral program, which sets our program apart from most.” Rubinstein explained. “Students learn to use evidence-based research to deliver specific protocols for a given condition. This gives our graduates confidence to go right into practice with the ability to address a wide variety of different concerns, knowing a protocol is backed by science.  Then, as they gain clinical experience, they can diversify and try varied approaches.”

Courses that focus on entrepreneurial and business practices are important for preparing you to have your own practice. And accreditation is essential for those who want to get licensed and practice as a naturopathic doctor. Dr. Rubinstein says UWS currently has candidacy status and hopes to take the last step in accreditation by the end of 2026.

3. How rigorous is naturopathic medical school, and what should students expect academically?

Expect a rigorous, science-based curriculum focused on anatomy, biology, chemistry, and clinical skills.

You should expect a naturopathic program to be rigorous, so a good science foundation will help prepare you. Admissions for naturopathic medicine tend to be similar across programs, typically requiring a completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher, and specific prerequisite science courses like biology and chemistry with labs.

“I love to encourage folks to take anatomy before they come here as well, because gross anatomy is part of that first-year push,” Dr. Rubinstein says. “That background helps you start on the right foot, because it’s a lot of memorization and the more familiar you are with a topic like that, the easier it’s going to be.”

Skills and coursework needed for ND programs may vary from school to school, but at University of Western States, you’ll have courses in the following areas:

• Philosophy and principles of naturopathic medicine
• Basic sciences
• Foundations of functional medicine
• Clinical, physical and laboratory diagnosis
• Environmental medicine
• Therapeutic modalities including nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, minor surgery, mind-body medicine, stress reduction therapies, injections and intravenous therapy and physical therapeutic procedures and modalities, including articular joint mobilization and manipulation, myofascial and soft tissue therapy.

4. How much clinical and hands-on experience will students get in a naturopathic medicine program?

Students complete more than 1,250 hours of supervised training with diverse patients in real clinics.

Anyone working toward a naturopathic medicine degree needs clinical experience, with an average of 1,100-1,200 hours of hands-on clinical training.

“Students get a lot of clinical experience here at [University of] Western States. We have a no-cost naturopathic medical clinic that allows us to see a wide diversity of income levels and people of different backgrounds who may not otherwise have access to naturopathic medicine,” Dr. Rubinstein says. “We also are in the process of establishing some different off-site clinical shifts that also will expand our ability to work with different communities in the greater Portland area.”

During your clinical rotations, you’ll see patients under the direction of a supervisor  who consults on your diagnoses and suggested treatment plans.

5. What skills and qualities help students succeed in naturopathic medicine?

Curiosity, empathy, organization, and communication skills drive success in naturopathic medicine.

Dr. Rubinstein mentions several indicators of success, starting with a strong academic background, especially in the sciences, and good organizational skills. “You have a tremendous amount of information to learn, so how do you effectively study it? How do you effectively organize the material so you can pull it up for reference later?”

You should also demonstrate a strong interest in natural medicine and possess qualities like empathy and curiosity. “A natural curiosity about the world and the body and how things work is essential,” he says. “Rather than just prescribing something, we really do aspire to understand the underlying physiology and the best ways we can help each patient.”

Good communication skills and a strong ability to connect with people are also important in naturopathic medicine. That’s because patient-centered care means you’ll be helping people feel safe and supported, as well as helping them clarify their objectives and goals.

“The best naturopaths are the ones who’ve been doing their own work on themselves, trying to figure out where their growing edge is,” he adds. “That’s because as you become more and more comfortable with yourself, you can be more present for your patient and really separate their issues from your own.”

Lastly, being comfortable promoting yourself and talking about naturopathic medicine goes a long way toward future success and happiness. “Those who succeed in their careers have a vision for how they want to practice,” he says.

6. What career paths and job opportunities can graduates pursue with a naturopathic medicine degree?

Graduates enter private practice, research, teaching, or public health with flexibility and independence.

The naturopathic doctor career path is wide and varied. “You really can chart your own path,” Dr. Rubinstein says. “Many of our graduates go into private practice, which allows you to determine how you practice, the hours you keep, and where you work. Those are all things you have a lot of freedom to decide for yourself.”

But there’s also much more beyond clinical practice. There are also academic roles, research, entrepreneurship, consulting, and public health, with positions in integrative clinics, hospitals, universities and various healthcare organizations.

“Part of what I love about it is that you’re never going to be bored in your career as a naturopathic doctor,” Dr. Rubinstein says. “There are always new modalities and ways to apply older ideas in a new and novel way, so you’ll never you’ll never run out of things to study and learn as a naturopathic doctor throughout your career.”

“I encourage all folks thinking about applying to our program to go talk to some practicing naturopathic doctors to hear what it’s like to be in practice and get some perspectives. And talk to more than one, because again, there’s a lot of diversity within our profression.” Then he added, “Go see a naturopathic doctor as a patient, too.”

Learn more about earning your naturopathic medicine degree

Ready to take the next step toward becoming a naturopathic doctor? Complete the short form below to connect with University of Western States and learn more about the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program. Discover how UWS combines evidence-based science and natural, whole-person care to prepare future doctors for licensure and meaningful careers in integrative health.

The CBCE program places students in internships and preceptorships that provide invaluable hands-on training and needed care to the communities they serve.

As is often the case with people who become chiropractors, Jessie Hrushka learned the value of the field as a patient. While studying nursing in college, she suffered a health issue that led her to seek a chiropractor’s care. “I was getting bad headaches in school and decided to go to a chiropractor,” Hrushka says. Having entered college looking to help others through health care, her positive experience with chiropractic led her to see the field as a potential path for herself. “I thought, ‘Oh, this is an option,’” she adds.

In addition to her experience as a patient, Hrushka encountered the chiropractic field as part of her nursing studies. “I was shadowing a chiropractor and loved it,” she says. Considering the field further, she realized that it aligned with her values as an aspiring health care practitioner. “I was interested in conservative care where I could help provide people with lasting results and not with pharmaceuticals,” she says.

Learning Through Practice

Ben Partridge, DC, a chiropractor Hrushka shadowed had received his degree from University of Western States. When it came time to apply to a chiropractic program, Hrushka was so sold on the UWS program that she never completed her applications to other schools. She says she chose the Portland program because it was more evidence-based than others she considered and because it focuses on the physical therapy and rehab aspects of chiropractic, not merely manipulation. “When I have my own practice one day, I would like to do a lot of the rehab and physical therapy and not just adjustments,” she says.

Hrushka secured her first internship through UWS’ Community-Based Clinical Education website. Looking for a practice near her family in Colorado Springs, she contacted Michael Macri, DC, of Evergreen Spine & Sports Medicine, who is participating in the CBCE program whom she had shadowed in the past.

“I really loved the way that he ran his practice,” Hrushka says. “They did a lot of physical therapy rehab, a lot of soft tissue as well as adjusting.” Additionally, Hrushka appreciated the scope of the practice, which included massage therapy, acupuncture, and a muscle relaxation technique called dry needling. “The literature says that the more modalities you use, the better results you get,” she says. After observing for her first week, she began performing adjustments. By the end of her internship, she was conducting most of the visit.

An Eye-Opening Journey

Having graduated from University of Western States in June 2025, Hrushka is currently completing her preceptorship at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Her experience in the VA system, which began in April and which runs through September, has been a stark contrast to her internship in Colorado Springs. The needs of the patients she sees now are much different than those she encountered during her internship, and the community she serves in Fayetteville faces a shortage of doctors.

Fayetteville is home to one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the country, so the chiropractic clinic is almost always at or over capacity, according to Hrushka. This makes it difficult for the two chiropractors on staff to see patients as often as would be best for their recovery. In addition, the VA’s patients are older, and most suffer from chronic pain, so their needs differ significantly from those of the young, healthy athletes Hrushka treated in Colorado Springs.

A typical day at the VA begins at 8:30 a.m. New patient visits begin with Hrushka taking a full patient history. “It’s the most thorough history ever,” she says. After this comes a physical exam and treatment. For follow-up visits, Hrushka asks patients how they have been since their last visit and, in addition to providing adjustments, Hrushka says, “We teach them exercises and stretches to do when they go home, because there’s such a long time in between visits.”

Takeaways for a Future of Service

The CBCE program offers students more than hands-on experience; it also provides flexibility in choosing internship locations, whether close to home or in areas where they hope to practice. This geographic flexibility is intentional, exposing students to varied patient demographics and regional health systems. As Patrick Battaglia, DC, assistant vice president of CBCE, explains, “In our community-based education program, students work with diverse populations, veterans, active-duty military, and Native populations. They’re exposed to a diversity of regions and health systems, big health systems like the VA and small private clinics. Students get a rich exposure across the diversity of the health care system that they will be operating in.”

For Hrushka, her experience in the CBCE program gave her a greater understanding of a chiropractor’s work as well as a grasp of how wide the patient experience can be, depending on the practice. Through the benefit of seeing a large number of patients, she gained confidence in diagnosing and treating people based on their varying needs. “In a sports clinic, if your population is all young, healthy people, you can make them feel fantastic and think, ‘Wow, I just healed this person,’” she says. “With other patients, it’s important to focus on, ‘I’m still helping them even if I can’t heal them 100%.’”

Looking ahead, Hrushka must take the fourth and last part of her board exam. She hopes to get licensed in Colorado and find a clinic to work for. “I am very passionate about the conservative care side of medicine,” she says. “It’s helpful to focus on what the patient can do for himself rather than going to a doctor every week for the rest of his life. I like to teach my patients the exercises and tools they can use for long-term relief.”

For more information on all programs at University of Western States, please fill out he form below.

Explore how UWS’s focus on whole-person health allows for a comprehensive approach toward patient care, considering all aspects of well-being including physical, mental, and social factors. Learn more about how we teach a whole-person approach for better overall patient care.

Whole-Person Approach to Patient Care

What is whole-person care? Whole-person care is a evidence-based and patient-centered approach, that evaluates the patient’s physical, mental, and social factors. The focus is to treat root causes of disease and dysfunction with holistic, individualized approaches to health and well-being. Teaching future medical professionals to consider the whole person in their evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and patient management, not just suppressing symptoms. This approach factors in physical, mental, and social wellness to guide treatments and patient care management.

Patient-Centered Approach to Nutritional Wellness

Human nutrition is the provision of essential nutrients in food and the process of transforming it into body tissue and energy. Proper nutrition supports good health and bodily functions, whereas poor nutrition can weaken the body and immune system. Poor nutrition typically stems from poverty, food security, or a poor understanding or execution of meeting nutritional requirements for the body.

University of Western States offers a Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine program with a professional certificate, Master of Science, and a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition degree. Each program builds students’ knowledge on how to take a whole-person approach to nutrition by using ​​natural methods, specifically diet, lifestyle, and mental or emotional health as a central focus. UWS teaches this comprehensive understanding of whole-person consideration and evidence-driven data as a forefront model for health care practice that seeks to address the causes of disease, dysfunction, and poor nutrition rather than suppressing symptoms.

Patient-Centered Approach to Mental Health Wellness

Mental health is the emotional and psychological well-being of an individual. It influences how one thinks, feels, and acts. This is why it is important to understand a patient’s mental health and how it may affect their stress, and relationships, as it can hinder any healthy habits.

UWS reinforces the whole-person approach in all graduate degrees, including our Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Our future mental health counselors learn to provide treatment to individuals, families, and couples for a range of mental health conditions that affect emotional health and relationships. CMHC graduates use a patient-centered approach to address concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief, low self-esteem, stress, and suicidal impulses. The methods and techniques for treating each condition are fully adapted to the individual—their life experience, lifestyle, current state of mind, and genetic factors that may contribute to mental illness.

Professional counselors use evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people confront the challenges that keep them stuck and develop healthier patterns. This process can be both cathartic and emotional, and counselors are trained to respond to crises such as suicidal thoughts or vocational burnout with skill and compassion. In addition, professional counselors may support clients in building creative outlets that promote well-being, such as exercise, meditation, or other activities that foster expression and creativity. At UWS, our program is uniquely aligned with sport and performance psychology, giving graduates the added ability to support athletes, military and tactical personnel, and other high-achieving professionals in both their mental health and performance needs.

Whole-Person Approach to Social Wellness

Social wellness is the relationships and interactions between people. Maintaining social wellness can be done through spirituality, contemplative practices, and building healthy relationships. Spirituality can be practicing religion or faith and applying the values to real-life scenarios. Contemplative practices include self-reflection and analysis for deep concentration and quieting the mind during times of distress. The goal is to explore the cause and effect of one’s emotions and reactions, breaking it down into understanding, and processing the next steps rather than being overwhelmed. Contemplative practices are practical, radical, and transformative for self-awareness and can be achieved through therapy, meditation, or other reflective practices. Building healthy relationships is made easier through awareness, intention, and boundaries. All of which heavily rely on honesty with oneself and the other, trust, respect, and communication.

If a patient is struggling in one area of physical, mental, or social wellness, it can make it harder to maintain wellness in the other areas. This is why future medical professionals need to take into consideration the whole person, pinpointing the cause of a condition, rather than suppressing the symptoms.

Using a Patient-Centered Approach in Your Career

The University of Western States offers a variety of graduate programs in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. We offer an accredited master’s degree in nutrition that combines holistic and integrative health. Start your journey as a future medical professional with a graduate degree that teaches a whole-person-health approach to patient care.