Node Smith, ND

Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians                      

Great news! Senate Bill 1547 passed over the weekend, despite a lengthy list of opponents. This bill allows NDs to sign off on “return to play” forms to clear an athlete for play after a head injury. The Legislature moved to include NDs, chiropractors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists to this expanded list of medical professionals.

Eligible providers will need to undergo a training course put together by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)

Please note: Under Senate Bill 1547, NDs and other newly eligible providers, will need to undergo a training course put together by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). This will be an online module with Oregon-specific details around concussion management, and it is currently being created. OANP will keep you updated once this training is available.

Thank you!

We would like to thank those of you that contacted your Legislators, sent emails, made phone calls, gave testimonies, and advocated for this. It is because of you that we are able to shape and improve the scope of practice for this profession, and we cannot thank you enough for your energy and support.

The OANP will provide information regarding the development and availability of the OHSU online module as information becomes available.

Node Smith, ND, is a naturopathic physician in Portland, OR and associate editor for NDNR. He has been instrumental in maintaining a firm connection to the philosophy and heritage of naturopathic medicine among the next generation of docs. He helped found the first multi-generational experiential retreat, which brings elders, alumni, and students together for a weekend camp-out where naturopathic medicine and medical philosophy are experienced in nature. Four years ago he helped found the non-profit, Association for Naturopathic ReVitalization (ANR), for which he serves as the board chairman. ANR has a mission to inspire health practitioners to embody the naturopathic principles through experiential education. Node also has a firm belief that the next era of naturopathic medicine will see a resurgence of in-patient facilities which use fasting, earthing, hydrotherapy and homeopathy to bring people back from chronic diseases of modern living; he is involved in numerous conversations and projects to bring about this vision