| The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Canada's premier institute for education and research in naturopathic medicine. |
| Established | 1978 |
| Type | Graduate School |
| President | Bob Bernhardt |
| Dean | Dr. Nick DeGroot |
| Academic staff | 90 |
| Admin. staff | 100 |
| Students | 480 |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Campus | Urban |
| Nickname | CCNM |
| Website | http://www.ccnm.edu/ |
The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), founded in 1978, is a naturopathic medical school located in the North York area of Toronto, Ontario. CCNM is one of seven accredited schools of naturopathic medicine in North America, and one of the only two in Canada.
Contents |
The college offers a four-year Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) diploma. This program prepares graduates to become naturopathic primary care providers in each of the regulated jurisdictions, including British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and those states in the U.S. that regulate the practice of naturopathic medicine.
CCNM's doctor of naturopathic medicine diploma program develops doctors accomplished in the art and practice of naturopathic medicine. The curriculum integrates clinical naturopathic medicine and research with mind, body and spirit. Graduates of the program will be able to educate patients and the public in health promotion and disease prevention; manage the underlying spiritual, social, mental and physical causes of disease; practice in a manner that exemplifies professionalism, strong ethics and a commitment to the principles of naturopathic medicine; communicate effectively with patients; appraise and apply research in treating patients; integrate biomedical with clinical science knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis and management of patients; identify the need for urgent and emergent health care and direct appropriate resolution; establish and manage a naturopathic practice; manage chronic disease; demonstrate leadership in health advocacy and environmental stewardship; collaborate effectively and work in partnership with other health care practitioners; demonstrate commitment to the advancement of the naturopathic profession.[1]
A post-university professional program requires a bachelor's degree for admission. The ND program is a four-year program that includes more than 1,200 hours of clinical experience and involves more than 3,000 hours of classroom training. The college is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), the North American accrediting agency for naturopathic colleges and programs recognized by the US Department of Education. The three major areas of study are biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, and naturopathic therapeutics.[2]
The biomedical sciences segment of the curriculum provides a study of the human body through lectures and labs. Students take courses in anatomy (including gross anatomy, prosection, neuroanatomy, embryology and histology), physiology, biochemistry, immunology, environmental and public health (including infectious diseases), pharmacology and pharmacognosy.[3]
The clinical sciences segment of the curriculum thoroughly prepares students to educate patients and the public in naturopathic promotion and disease prevention. It also prepares them to diagnose the causes of a range of primary care conditions and to effectively help patients manage their conditions using a broad range of naturopathic therapeutics. Laboratory and clinical demonstrations are utilized to foster the development of practical skills.[3]
Diagnostics courses include physical and clinical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis, differential diagnosis and diagnostic imaging. A range of primary care issues are covered in courses ranging from natural childbirth/obstetrics to pediatrics. Primary care management is covered in the study of botanical medicine, homeopathy, emergency medicine, nutrition, physical medicine (including naturopathic, osseous and soft tissue manipulative therapy, physiotherapy, sports medicine, therapeutic exercise and hydrotherapy), psychological counseling, nature cure, acupuncture and Asian medicine and minor surgery.[3]
There are six major modalities (Asian Medicine/Acupuncture, Botanical Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, Homeopathic Medicine, Physical Medicine, Health Psychology and Lifestyle Counseling) that help to define naturopathic practice. Each is a distinct area of practice and includes diagnostic principles and practices as well as therapeutic skills and techniques. The integration of these modalities to effectively meet the individual health needs of each patient is one of the major outcomes of CCNM’s ND program.[3]
Located at the Leslie campus, the RSNC is a teaching clinic where ND's work with and train the naturopathic medical students. It is owned and managed by the college. The clinic features a botanical compounding room, a hydrotherapy suite, private consultation rooms, conference rooms and a laboratory for in house testing. In conjunction with other community service agencies the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic offers free and low-cost naturopathic medical care at five teaching satellite clinics around the greater Toronto area. The RSNC logs upwards of 25,000 patient visits each year. Fourth-year interns, under the supervision of clinic faculty, provide naturopathic care at these sites once a week, throughout the year. The satellite clinic program gives students and faculty the opportunity to bring naturopathic care to under-served populations and at the same time exposes them to a range of naturopathic medical conditions that they may not encounter at the RSNC main clinic.[4]
CCNM is a member of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges and is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education [5]