here, I respond to an "Open Letter to the Profession" written by ND DC Brady of the University of Bridgeport concerning the cessation of the ND program there:
001. at NDNR, ND Brady writes [*] in "Open Letter to the Profession: UBCNM Program Closure A Canary in a Coal Mine?" (2019-06; 2019 archived):
*prepare to be scolded, naturopaths.
"by now many of you are undoubtedly aware of the decision by
the University of Bridgeport (UB) to cease further enrollment and complete a 'teach-out' in its 20-year old naturopathic medical program [...]";
hey, I did that program for four years, and was in actually the third entering cohort in Fall 1998. I was told "science" by way of UB's literature and agents! First semester, I was taught that the heart of naturopathy is sectarian pseudoscience. What a strange position to be in. Induced, and trying to make the best of it...
"David M. Brady, ND, DC, CCN, DACBN, IFMCP, FACH [...]
given my
23-year association with the institution, including 12 years as Vice Provost
and then Vice President of Health Sciences [...] my VP role as the leader
of health sciences at UB [...] has 28-years of experience as an integrative practitioner and 24-years in health
sciences academia [...and an] associate professor of clinical sciences at UB in CT [...] a comprehensive university with many other types
of academic programming including many other 'hot' and 'in-demand' health science programs [...] our fine and noble profession [...]";
so many letters, to resemble MD fellow-types. SO MUCH VICE! The ND program was within that category, "science". Yes, that's a science subset sectarian pseudoscience actuality. And ND DC Brady was overseeing science, science, science but I really don't think an ND or a DC makes one competent in science and a scientist to then train / inculcate future scientists. But of course sCAM is a shortcut. I had ND Brady as an instructor for a couple of my naturopathic courses, I'll add. And I loved the 'because this worked on genetically modified rat tissue in micro-gravity on the International Space Station [I exaggerate], you should incorporate this _________(trade marked) supplement into your practice by using this _______(trademarked) laboratory sCAM test.' Fine, noble.
"many in the profession have reached
out to me for some reasoning or rationale for this decision [..]";
oh great leader and smiler, lead us through these tough times.
"there are issues in play [...] specifically in naturopathic medical education, that have contributed to the closure of
the UB College of Naturopathic Medicine (UBCNM) [...] the unfortunate reality is
that these issues are not unique to UB and the same outcome is likely to happen
elsewhere. The undeniable facts are that there has been a multi-year downward
trend in naturopathic medical program enrollment, with some exceptions, which
has stressed most of the programs, throughout North America [...] this downward trend in enrollment coincides with extreme pressure on
all academic institutions, particularly comprehensive universities like UB [...]";
ah, "undeniable facts." Like the fact that naturopathy, essentially, is an unethical sectarian pseudoscience. So, it's a good thing that they are in DECLINE. Historically, naturopathic medical education will be look at like Russia's failed biology. And by the way, the antithesis of 'comprehensive university' is such narrow, bizarre sectarianisms as naturopathy [and kind at UB, like a MS in TCM quackupuncture]. Because true scholarship is also self-critical: it does not seek to defend a position, it seeks to arrive at the best truth.
"I will get into
some of my opinions on the reasons for this a bit later in the article [like scolds...and he speaks of] deeper problems
facing the naturopathic profession at large [...] I am very afraid that if some of the
fundamental issues facing the profession and its academic programs do not
change for the better, they [other ND schools] ultimately will have to face them, and UB will not
be the only program to close up shop [...]";
ominous! Problems like: we've been found out, and the ship is sinking. If it weren't for those meddlesome kids...
"what are these deeper problems? [...] hordes of medical doctors (MDs) [...many of whom are not] sincere [...] the inherent cultural authority in our
society that the MD enjoys [...] the conventional medical apparatus in this region of
the country is still the most conservative and the most aggressively opposed to
all other forms and paradigms of health care [...]";
well, that's dehumanizing. What's in common with DCs and NDs often: MD bashing. It is right for medicine to be opposed to quackery.
"often with 'University' in their names to sound
more legitimate [...] which in reality are not academic institutions with
regional and programmatic accreditation standards to meet [...] graduates of these
kinds of programs often then utilize questionable commercial entities that
facilitate the ordering of all kinds of laboratory and diagnostic testing on
their 'clients' that allows them to essentially play doctor, offering
diagnostic opinions and treatment plans that greatly exceed anything that they
should be doing based on their level of training and competency [...] I have seen some scary
stuff out there, and I am sure most of you have as well [...]";
I'm dying from laughter at this unintended irony. As in university subset science subset unethical sectarian pseudoscience. I've often pointed out how UB naturopathy was fully accredited and licensed falsehood, scary.
"while concomitantly
putting them outside any legal and regulatory authorization [...]";
what's worse: authorized falsehood or yet to be regulated falsehood?
"where does this leave the modern, legitimate naturopathic
medical profession built around the comprehensive training of students through
a full 4-year medical program with required clinical internship, and rigorous
national board and licensing examinations? [...]";
well, since the schools pose patent science-exterior or -rejected trash as within science, well, that's not modern, professional, or comprehensive. Also, since the national licensing exam does similar, well, that's not rigorous. It's all a farce.
"the ND is professionally facing many challenges, as are
our academic programs by extension [...] the decision of many potential naturopathic students
to attend and invest a significant amount of time and money in a 4-year ND
program has likely been negatively influenced by the criticism and vitriol
expressed about the profession by one of our own - the former ND (Bastyr 2011)
and self-proclaimed naturopathic apostate, Britt Hermes [...]";
shout out to Britt!
"according to my conversations
with various admissions professionals in naturopathic academia, her blog, as
well as articles about her in the media, have had an impact in scaring away
potential applicants and influencing them to choose other paths. Her anti
naturopathic medicine propaganda has been entered into the debate by opponents in
states where either new or expanded naturopathic laws have been proposed [...]";
well, good. Now, Britt recently was co-awarded the 2018 John Maddox Prize by Sense about Science. How ironic for the Vice President of Health Sciences at UB which terms naturopathy categorically science to quite falsely to label the truth being told by a whistle-blower "propaganda."
"it
has been widely speculated that larger organized opponents of naturopathic medicine
have been directly supportive of her effort, and at a minimum have assisted in
amplifying her messaging [...]";
prove it.
"[and here comes the scold] I would be remiss if I did not honestly address the
role that I believe the profession and individual NDs have played in this
situation. I can say from my personal observations over many years that the naturopathic community has, in my estimation, been
somewhat insular and isolationist throughout this wellness revolution and
massive public interest in non-allopathic medical approaches [...] I have always
noticed that NDs have traditionally kept to themselves for the most part, often
only attending their own naturopathic state and national association conferences
and effectively staying in their own echo chamber [...] I believe that we can't collectively act like this as a profession and build
the clout and respect we deserve by rarely venturing out at our own comfortable
neighborhood, all the while complaining about how everyone is stealing 'our
medicine' [...] as my experience in Connecticut attests, NDs have a pitifully low rate
of joining and supporting their state and national associations and in
personally engaging in legislative initiatives that will benefit them and the
profession [...] they generally do not give
and support their own naturopathic program [...] and now our academic programs, which NDs may
have taken for granted for so long and which are the future life-blood of the
profession, are atrophying as well [...] we also need to make the effort to break out of our comfortable cocoons
and participate more broadly and represent naturopathic medicine outside of our
own bubble [...]";
well duh! It's sectarian, it's narrow-minded, it has to protect itself from the truths that erode its falseness. Ignorance is strength, they seem to embody. I'd replace atrophy with death, because the UB program is not just shrinking, it's ending.
"I also found it sadly predictable when an announcement from
one of our national organizations [...spoke of] 'unprecedented gains in the naturopathic profession' [...] honestly, it makes me ask what
they are looking at [...] to me this does not mean the profession is experiencing unprecedented
growth or that it is in a generally healthy state [...] our
well-meaning organizations [...] I
often see their reactions to the larger picture as essentially putting their
heads in the sand and fiddling while Rome burns [...]";
another 'I told you so, I'm so wise' positions. I've for years termed naturopathy thinking the naturopathillogical. So it never is healthy to pose falsehoods such as nonscience as science, articles of faith as scientific fact.
"it was a great 20-year commitment and ride for naturopathic
education at UB [...]";
unless you are interested in academic integrity. Then it was a travesty.
002. a search for Britt Hermes in NDNR:
reveals that this is the only article that contains >Hermes< through google.com.
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