My Journey in Becoming a Naturopathic Doctor
As far back as my memory recalls, I have always wanted to become a doctor. When I was preschool-aged I remember playing doctor with my best friend Tommy; talk about envy--he had one of those Fisher Price plastic doctor kits. Along with that toy doctor kit, we borrowed our mothers’ turkey basters and performed many creative exams on one another with our “tools”!
During my undergraduate years at Gustavus Adolphus College I chose to major in Latin & Classical Studies in conjunction with my pre-medical requisites; the Latin focus was to make learning medical terminology easier, and I have a fondness and propensity for learning foreign languages. Because I studied in Rome, Italy during my senior year I postponed my MCAT exams and was perfectly fine with taking a “gap” year or two (not a commonly used term in the 90s). Shortly after college graduation, I started to become interested in natural and alternative medicine--perhaps because my then boyfriend and current husband was vegetarian?
Growing up I was afflicted with some pretty serious environmental allergies and allergy-induced asthma; taking 5 prescription medications to control the allergies and asthma was my norm. During my self-led natural medicine study, I read one of Andrew Weil’s first books and incorporated his dietary recommendations and core supplement protocol. Lo and behold, I was able to quit taking ALL my prescription allergy and asthma medications by making a few simple dietary changes like switching from Kool-Aid to water and switching from fish sticks to salmon, basically reducing/eliminating most (not all) of my processed foods and refined sugar.
During that time, I also had an abnormal pap. In the 90s we were aware that certain strains of HPV could cause abnormal paps and/or increase the risk of the severity of the situation. I had excellent insurance coverage at the time and requested that the doctor order HPV typing which he outright refused to do, claiming that it would not change the course of treatment; FYI there are naturopathic treatments for abnormal paps. In addition, I tried to have a conversation with that doctor and the gynecological oncologist to whom I was referred about why I had an abnormal pap and what dietary & lifestyle changes I could make to treat the current abnormality and/or prevent future abnormal paps. They blatantly scoffed at my questions and said their treatment was the only option.
Because of the way I was treated during that health crisis and my blossoming interest in alternative medicine, I actively sought out medical careers. Remember at that time, the web was in its infancy, so the world was not at my fingertips. I did explore osteopathic medicine and applied to one school in Maine which still adhered firmly to the osteopathic principles. Luckily while visiting friends near International Falls, I met a fellow whose mother lived in Washington state and his mom sought care from naturopathic doctors. From there my course was set. I found a naturopathic doctor in St. Paul named Helen Healy and started shadowing with her during my free time. I tracked down the phone numbers for the naturopathic medical schools in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington then applied to National College of Naturopathic Medicine (now NUNM) and took a whirlwind road trip with my boyfriend (now husband) for a tour and interview. As they say, the rest is history!
Rachel Oppitz, ND
