Naturopathic Residency Program

About

The Naturopathic Doctor Residency (NDR) Program at the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute (SSIHI) is a postgraduate naturopathic medical training program that offers unique integrative health teaching and mentorship at a nationally recognized academic institution. The program offers graduates of accredited naturopathic colleges opportunities to advance as integrative health specialists in an evidence-informed and supportive learning environment.

The SSIHI ND Residency Program is a Bastyr University-sponsored program and is accredited by the Council for Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). Each year, the program enrolls two post-graduate year one (PGY1) and two PGY2 ND residents, selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants. The program is designed to offer residents opportunities to advance as clinicians with an emphasis on evidence-informed, whole-person care that is team based and patient centered.

Curriculum

The residency program’s curriculum is organized around the philosophy of experiential learning and is reinforced with a robust didactic curriculum that is designed to challenge residents in achieving excellence in clinical and academic medicine. 

The clinical component is primarily direct patient care. Residents will have the opportunity to treat a broad range of conditions across the lifespan. In the clinic, residents will work closely with a team of providers that include physicians, naturopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, acupuncturists, massage therapists, dietitians, physical therapists, psychologists, health coaches, as well as a range of specialists at UCI Health, collaborating to optimize patient care.

The didactic component of the program emphasizes the importance of a strong foundation in medical and clinical sciences as a critical first step to training integrative health doctors. The program emphasizes cases-taking, standard and advanced diagnostics, clinical reasoning, and patient management in the context of whole-person, integrative and team-based care. Residents participate in weekly didactic sessions delivered by content experts and integrative health thought leaders, including UCI Health clinicians, UCI faculty – School of Medicine, and faculty researchers. Additionally, ND residents have access to an abundance of learning opportunities, including grand rounds, seminars and workshops, UCI community lectures and conferences.

Some unique aspects of the UCI SSIHI ND Residency Program

Research: ND residents are encouraged to participate in scholarly research activities and are supported in pursuing research interests.   

Education: As a leading academic institution, UCI offers unique opportunities for residents interested in medical education and teaching and is committed to supporting residents in preparing and delivering lectures to various audiences, including patients, peers, SSIHI providers, UCI students, as well as members of the profession. 

Clinical rotations: Select clinical rotations exist for ND residents to supplement their clinical training through shadowing to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic knowledge and skills. 

Community Medicine: ND residents work closely with the underserved community in Orange County and deliver integrative healthcare in a federally qualified community health clinic and gain valuable experience working with individuals and community members who have unique health and socio-economic challenges.

Integrative biofeedback certification program: The Integrative Biofeedback program was established in 2017. This program allows select residents the unique opportunity to be trained and certified in biofeedback therapy. Certification occurs through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA). 

Program Goals

  • Train excellent, patient-centered and compassionate naturopathic doctors who practice whole-person, integrative health
  • Train the next generation of integrative health leaders
  • Be a model for evidence-informed clinical care in the field of integrative health
  • Actively contribute to and participate in evidence-informed integrative health education
  • Be a model for collaborative and interdisciplinary residency education
  • Create opportunities for ND residents to actively participate in meaningful and impactful integrative health research
  • Provide increased integrative health access to underserved and disadvantaged populations and the community at large

Who Should Apply

Graduates of an accredited naturopathic doctoral program in good standing

Interest and/or experience in academic medicine, interprofessional education and collaboration, integrative and whole-person health, underserved communities

Program Commitment

The NDR Program is a two-year residency program. Progression to year two is contingent upon performance and successful completion of program requirements.

How to Apply

Information regarding eligibility and application process can be found at the AANMC Post-Graduate Naturopathic Residency website.   

Team

Arvin Jenab
Arvin Jenab, ND

Medical Director of Naturopathic Medicine |

Director of Naturopathic Medicine Residency Program |

Naturopathic Doctor

Kristen Ahn
Kristen Ahn

Administrative Director for Education