The 2026 American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) Convention arrived in Madison, Wisconsin, under unusual skies. Wildfire smoke had drifted across the region, leaving the city enveloped in smoke and fog as naturopathic physicians, students, educators, exhibitors, and leaders from across the country began arriving.

Outside, the air was heavy. Inside the convention, however, it was a breath of fresh air for the profession.

Representing the NDNR Journal of Applied Natural Medicine at this year’s convention gave me an opportunity to experience the gathering from a different perspective. Moving between educational sessions, the exhibit hall, professional meetings, student events, and conversations in the hallways, I was reminded that the strength of naturopathic medicine rests not only in its clinical philosophy, but in the community committed to advancing it.

And by the time the convention drew to a close, the smoke and haze over Madison had lifted—a fitting metaphor for a conference characterized by renewed connection, optimism, and a clearer vision for the future.

Education, Innovation, and Community

At the heart of AANP 2026 was education. Speakers brought clinical experience, emerging research, and new perspectives to discussions spanning the diverse landscape of naturopathic medicine.

Just as valuable were the conversations that continued outside the lecture halls—in the exhibit hall, over meals, and among colleagues who may only see one another once a year.

On behalf of NDNR, I want to extend sincere appreciation to all of the speakers and educators who shared their expertise, as well as the vendors and industry partners who continue to invest in the naturopathic and integrative healthcare community. Likewise, the many professional associations and organizations represented in Madison highlighted the growing network supporting naturopathic medicine through education, specialty practice, research, advocacy, professional development, and legislative advancement.

Recognizing Leaders in Naturopathic Medicine

AANP 2026 also honored individuals and organizations whose work has helped advance the profession.

This year’s recipients included Todd Robinson, ND, FABNO, and the FNPA Legislative Team, recipients of the True Grit Award; Greg Yasuda, ND, VNMI, recipient of The Vis Award; Noel Peterson, ND, DAAPM, recipient of the Louisa & Benedict Lust Award; and Mary Bove, ND, RH (AHG), who was honored posthumously with the President’s Award.

Additional recognition went to Kibow Biotech as Corporation of the Year, Roland Gahler as Champion of Naturopathic Medicine, and Joseph Pizzorno, ND, as Physician of the Year.

These recognitions remind us that a profession advances because individuals are willing to teach, advocate, organize, innovate, and sometimes fight difficult battles on behalf of those who will follow them.

The NMSA Cup: From Competitor to Moderator

The Naturopathic Medical Student Association has always brought an important student presence—and a healthy dose of competition—to the annual convention.

For me, this year’s NMSA Cup was particularly meaningful. During my own years as a naturopathic medical student, I had the opportunity to compete in the Cup and be part of a championship team. Returning years later, this time as a practicing ND and moderator for the NMSA Cup competition brought the experience full circle.

Instead of being one of the students waiting for the next question, I now had the opportunity to watch a new generation of naturopathic medical students test their knowledge, work together, and represent their schools.

And this year’s result made the experience even more memorable.

Congratulations to the National University of Health Sciences NMSA team for capturing the 2026 NMSA Cup—the school’s first victory since 2018!

As an NUHS graduate and former NMSA Cup competitor and champion myself, watching the Cup return to NUHS was a proud moment. But the competition represents something larger than bragging rights between schools. Today’s naturopathic medical students are tomorrow’s clinicians, researchers, educators, association leaders, and advocates.

Generations Compete at the G.O.A.T. Games

The competitive spirit moved outdoors with the NMSA G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All time) Games at Lake Monona, where I traded my role as cup moderator for that of competitor.

The G.O.A.T. Games brought together teams representing different generations of the profession—naturopathic medical students, practicing NDs, and ND elders—for an afternoon of teamwork, athletic competition, strategy, and plenty of friendly rivalry.

And competitive it was.

There was something special about participating alongside students, fellow practicing physicians, and longtime members of the profession. Titles and years in practice took a back seat to competition, laughter, teamwork, and, naturally, bragging rights.

Medicine is serious work, but professional community is also built through experiences like these. Seeing multiple generations of naturopathic medicine competing side by side was a reminder that mentorship and professional connection don’t always have to happen across a lecture podium.

The competitive spirit continued during the convention with the Farm to Pharm Trivia, where the appropriately named ‘Horny Goat Weeds’ prevailed after a tie-breaker to claim the championship and bragging rights.

“One Profession. One Movement.”

The convention concluded with a keynote from Dennis Godby, ND, founder of Walk USA for Health Equity.

His presentation, The Courage to Walk Together: One Profession. One Movement. Endless Impact., challenged naturopathic physicians to take pride in their identity, speak openly about their work, and take meaningful action in their communities.

The core message was remarkably simple:

Do something.

For a profession that continues to navigate questions of licensure, scope, research, reimbursement, professional identity, and integration into the broader healthcare system, that message carries weight. Progress happens because individuals decide something needs to change and are willing to take the first step.

Leaving Madison with Clearer Skies

By the end of AANP 2026, Madison looked considerably different than it had when many of us arrived.

The smoke and fog had cleared.

It was difficult not to appreciate the symbolism.

Spending several days surrounded by students eager to enter the profession, physicians sharing decades of clinical experience, educators pushing the science forward, associations advocating for their members, and companies investing in integrative medicine provided plenty of reasons for optimism.

As the media representative for NDNR – Journal of Applied Natural Medicine, I was particularly grateful for the conversations throughout the convention—with colleagues, students, educators, association leaders, speakers, and industry partners. They reinforced the role professional media can play in connecting the different corners of our community and ensuring that valuable clinical ideas continue to circulate.

To the AANP board, staff, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, professional associations, NMSA students, volunteers, and everyone who made the trip to Madison: thank you 🙏.

A successful professional convention sends us home with more than CE credits and lecture notes. We leave with new ideas, new colleagues, renewed enthusiasm, and a stronger sense that we are part of something larger than our individual practices.

We arrived in Madison through wildfire smoke and fog.

We left under clearer skies—and, from where I stood, with a profession that felt a little more connected, energized, and ready for what comes next.

Sometimes, even when the air outside is heavy, what is happening inside can still be a breath of fresh air.