Quotes from The Gathering: Chicago 2012

Quotes from The Gathering: Chicago 2012

Every year the naturopathic student community holds a philosophical conference at one of the accredited naturopathic medical schools in North America. For three days, naturopathic medical students and “elders” – seasoned professionals in practice for about 20 years or more – gather together in an event called (fittingly) The Gathering to share philosophical insights about the art and practice of naturopathic medicine. I have personally attended twice: my first year, in 2011, it was held at our own Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) in Toronto, Canada, and this year, in 2012, it was held at the National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) in Chicago, Illinois. Both times it hasn’t failed to be less than inspirational. Here are some golden nuggets of naturopathic insight from three amazing naturopathic doctors:

(more…)

The Empowerment Models in Community Healthcare (Wo)Manifesto

As we often hear in our classes, one of the biggest risk factors for a variety of chronic, debilitating diseases, from diabetes to ADHD, is low socioeconomic status. Sadly, even in a country like Canada, in the year 2012, we see that socioeconomic status continues to be a vicious cycle that entraps its victims in a web of dis-empowerment when it comes to issues concerning health.

(more…)

Sometimes we forget that the textbooks are about the people all around us…

Sometimes we forget that the textbooks are about the people all around us…

I found this thought-provoking blog post from a 4th year North American medical student on the computerization of med school. As naturopathic medical students we like to think that we’re the only healthcare professionals that actually “care” about people. However, this is simply not true. I believe that most people get into medicine – any kind of medicine – for the right reasons, one of those reasons being a love for humanity. It’s only whether those reasons are still with us at the end of the 4 years that truly makes the difference.

(more…)

The Sunshine Award

The Sunshine Award

I want to thank Leanne at Eat and Get Moving for my 3rd blog award: The Sunshine Award.  Receiving this award today is fitting considering the fact that it’s currently pouring rain outside. It’s an honour to receive recognition from the blogging community, knowing that other people are reading and appreciating your work. So, thanks, Leanne! I highly recommend visiting her blog, which is another good source of sunshine!

(more…)

7 Reasons Why Summer Studying Doesn’t Have to Suck

It occurred to me during a lazy, yet productive, day at the Toronto Reference Library, among stacks of deliciously old-smelling books – this ain’t so bad.  Although I’ve taken to whining about it in previous posts, summer studying doesn’t really have to be that terrible.  Here are 7 ways to find beauty in sacrificing some our best months of the year for the sake of education:

(more…)

Creating Aha! Moments in the Clinic

As a summer English as a Second Langauge (ESL) teacher I often attend teacher training workshops.  In a recent training session I attended, a grammar workshop, it was impressed upon us the importance of creating a learning environment in which we allow students to experience the language rule for themselves, rather than simply standing at the blackboard, teaching it to them.

(more…)

Another Failed Attempt at Studying for NPLEX 1

Yonge and Bloor, downtown Toronto, Canada at approximately 2:00 pm.  Thursday, June 21.  I finish teaching ESL for the day and enter the Toronto Reference Library, a $5 Starbucks strawberry banana whey protein smoothie in hand, sunglasses resting on the top of my head and my First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 tucked under my arm.  NPLEX 1 is in t-minus 45 days.  Here we go…

(more…)

Spring Simplicity

Spring Simplicity

A few days ago I was faced with the challenge of moving out of the third floor of Nonna’s house.  This meant that I was going to have to complete the impossible task of squeezing the entire contents of an apartment-sized room into my modest-sized childhood bedroom.

(more…)

Pin It on Pinterest