ND Licensure
National University: Hard at Work for ND Licensure
On Our Lombard Campus
One of the university's greatest moves forward this year has been in hosting key legislators on our Lombard campus for personalized tours of NUHS, highlighting the ND program.
So far, National University has welcomed 17 legislators for individual tours of its historic Illinois campus home. “After legislators visit campus, they are really quite enthusiastic about supporting us,” says Dr. Kristina Conner, chair of clinical sciences at NUHS and the current president of the Illinois Association of Naturopathic Physicians. “Our most recent group of cosponsors signed onto the bill as a result of their visit.”
National University of Health Sciences offers the only accredited naturopathic medicine degree program in the Midwest. As such, licensure for naturopathic physicians in Illinois is one of the institution's top legislative priorities.
Students, faculty and administrators are working on several fronts to support passage of licensure legislation and promote the profession. Whether at our nation's capitol, or in Springfield, or right here on our Illinois campus, National University is educating lawmakers on the strong advantages for licensing NDs.
In Springfield
At the Illinois state capitol, National University's lobbyist is working in coalition with a group of lobbyists representing the Illinois Association of Naturopathic Physicians (ILANP).
NUHS President Joseph Stiefel joined faculty, students and alumni at the ILANP Lobby Day in Springfield this spring. The group made 60 visits to legislators and their staffers supporting ND licensure. “We consider licensure for NDs one of our top policy objectives at the state level,” says President Stiefel.
The ND licensure bills have strong sponsorship in Springfield. Senator Iris Martinez, chair of the Senate Licensed Activities and Pensions Committee, is the lead sponsor of the senate bill. Co-sponsors include Senators Toi Hutchinson, Thomas Cullerton, and Michael Noland. Lead sponsors of an identical house bill are Representatives Robyn Gabel and Arthur Turner, with co-sponsors Rep. Sheri Jesiel and Rep. Stephanie Kifowit.
NUHS Joins ILANP in Springfield for Lobby Day
Ron Mensching and NUHS Students Visit Congressman Danny Davis in D.C.
17