Issue 3 Fall 2013
The Global Naturopath The Official Newsletter of Natural Doctors International
natural doctors international Inside this Edition: The DIOSA Project Pg. 4
NDI Brigaders In Action Pg. 11
Clinic Gets a Makeover Pg. 15
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The Global Naturopath
A Welcome Message from the Executive Director
Aug / Sept 2013 - Issue 3
NDI Staff Executive Director Dr. Tabatha Parker Co-Country Directors Angela Dinarte Kelly O’Hanlon 2013 Staff Physicians Dr. Dawson Farr Dr. Adam Friedman Dr. Patricia Beck Psychologist Lilliam Zacharias Medical and Research Director Dr. Patricia Beck Farming Director Nestor Guzman Development Coordinator Rebecca Zeff Student Representatives Erin Crossman - Boucher Kathleen Mahannah - BINM Juli Yelnick - NUHS Aubrey Shannon - Boucher Natiya Guin, Adam Silberman & Christina Yap - Bastyr, CA Kellie Moore & Brenna Regan - Bastyr, WA Ann Grimwood - CCNM Taylor Howell & Mallory Aye - NCNM Andy Hazel - Australia Newsletter Editor Christopher Cho
NDI Board of Directors
Susan White - President Laura LaDue - Treasurer Laura Farr - Secretary Seroya Crouch - Director Alison Carson - Director Tabatha Parker- Executive Director
By TABATHA PARKER Executive Director Welcome back! I should be saying. This 2012 – 2013 year has been quite a whirlwind. I have had the pleasure of working in the USA at Bastyr University California where my mentor, Dr. Moira Fitzpatrick has been a brilliant leader of our campus and students have taught me so much. All the while, I continued to run NDI and worked at creating collaborations that have proven to be incredible – like with the Clinton School of Public Service, thanks to Ellen Fitzpatrick we have a dynamic collaborative internship program that has brought so much to both the Clinton School interns and the NDI team. We have continued to grow our opportunities for doctors and students with our Global Health Courses and our new focus on grassroots causes such as the fight for anti-GMO in the USA with the formation of Naturopaths Against Monsanto. The facebook group is being led by Dr. Russell Marz, ND from Portland, Oregon who has a long history of social health justice work and Elijah McCarthy, Bastyr California student. Our team in Nicaragua has evolved and grown as well. Dr. Patricia Beck stepped up from Staff Physician to NDI Medical Director in 2012 and continues to head up NDI research in Arizona after finishing her 15 months of service on the ground in Nicaragua. She is very much missed by all of us here! Dr. Adam Friedman, worked in multiple roles in 2012 and 2013 and recently stepped out of his role as NDI Country Director, which we are so thankful for him for holding this past year, and has begun to pursue his
dreams of bringing exercise and nutrition – two of his passions – to locals. For her time with NDI, Dr. Rachelle Price showed a true dedication to patients as a NDI staff physician in 2012. Our very own Angela Dinarte has been promoted to Co-Country Director along with our newest edition to the NDI clan, Kelly O’Hanlon who is such a rockstar organizer and will be sharing the position of Co-Country Director with Angela. The two are an amazing team, only to be joined by one more woman who is absolutely phenomenal, Lilliam Zacharias – a Nicaraguan psychologist with a passion for women’s empowerment and the biggest heart and smile! And our family grows!!! As if that wasn’t enough, we are beyond lucky to have the amazing Dr. Dawson Farr, who has left his practice temporarily in Oregon to bring his whole family – Laura, Hazel and Sylvaine, and even the family dog (yes Henri, even you made it into the newsletter!!!). We have been honored and blessed to have a stellar group of interns as well this year. Now I am back in Nicaragua, reunited with my family and as happy as one could ever wish to be. Mostly, I want to thank each and every one of you reading this for your support, your interest and your heart. Thanks to all of you for making NDI what it is today – a truly amazing grassroots organization that is changing the health of our planet everyday. In health,
Say Hello to NDI!
Staff Members Tabatha Parker Executive Director
Tabatha Parker - Co-Founder and Executive Director of NDI, Tabatha is a writer, social justice activist, artist, singer, professor and dedicated wife and mother of two toddlers. In 2011 she was given the prestigious UTNE Reader Visionary of the Year award, alongside other global visionaries. She is happy to be back in Nicaragua with her family!
Angela Dinarte Country Director
Born and raised on the island of Ometepe, Angela Dinarte started working with NDI four years ago as technical and financial assistant, later serving as the Operations Manager and the Co-Country Director. She has worked on several important projects at NDI, such as the Ometepe Kids Race in collaboration with Fuego y Agua. She is proud to serve Natural Doctors International and the people of the island of Ometepe, always working under the vision and mission of NDI.
Kelly O’Hanlon
Country Program Director
Kelly O’Hanlon started volunteering with NDI in 2012 during her time with the Peace Corps as a health volunteer on the Island of Ometepe. Since then she has officially joined the NDI team as a co-country director and will be helping to execute our community outreach programs. Kelly has a diverse background directing cultural arts programs and working with international institutions.
Dawson Farr
Staff Physician Dr. Dawson Farr was born and raised in
Oregon. Before graduating from The National College of Natural Medicine in 2002, Dr. Farr worked in neurophysiology research at Oregon Health and Science University and has contributed to pain research published in peer reviewed medical journals. His main interest is finding the best combination of conventional and natural treatments to help improve the health of his patients.
Lilliam Zacharias
Staff Psychologist Lilliam Zacharias is a native of Ometepe. As a licensed psychologist, she treats patients in the NDI Clinic. Her work with women’s empowerment programs and anti-violence makes her a perfect fit with the vision and mission of NDI.
Volunteers
Adam Friedman
Development Coordinator
Adam Friedman is a graduate of Bastyr University’s Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine program, educated in the most rigorous and effective ‘evidence-based’ alternative medicine program in the world. Holding certifications as a Neuro-Cranial Restructuring practitioner, Massage Therapist, and Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Dr. Adam integrates massage and other body work into his practice, specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Rebecca Zeff
Development Coordinator
Rebecca Zeff had her first internship with NDI in 2006. That experience proved highly influential for her and was one of several key experiences that fed her interest in medicine as a career. Now she is completing Premed studies at Washington State University, Vancouver and plans to seek licensure as both an M.D. and a Naturopathic doctor. After her 2006 internship, Rebecca continued volunteer work in the States through Phi Theta Kappa.
Nestor Guzman Farming Director
Nestor Guzman was born on the island of Ometepe in Nicaragua and has been a farmer since his childhood. He has enjoyed teaching classes in campesino farming to NDI students for nearly 10 years. He is a dedicated father and husband and loves working the land. He has taught nearly 500 students and doctors about globalization and food justice since 2005.
Andrew Hazel
Brigade Coordinator Having volunteered at NDI in 2012, Andy Hazel, a naturopathic student from Australia, was chosen to be our brigade coordinator. He believes in the importance of bringing naturopathy out of the inner cities and into places where health needs are more numerous and profound and where health needs are not being met.
Patricia Beck
Research Coordinator
Dr. Patricia Beck received her naturopathic medical degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2005 where she graduated at the top of her class. She has been in the health care field for over 25 years, holding a degree in Physical Therapy as a geriatric specialist before going to medical school. Before coming to the Island of Ometepe, she practiced medicine in Phoenix and Prescott, Arizona.
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By KELLY O’HANLON Co-Country Director DIOSA, meaning goddess or beautiful woman in Spanish was founded in 2008. The idea was to combine empowerment education and quality women’s health services and treatments for Nicaraguan women. As the program developed it provided women with safe, clean, and respectful PAP exams, which became the hallmark of the program. Today, over 270 PAP’s have been performed which has increased the total amount in our municipality by 33% over 2 years. Patients also receive quality naturopathic and conventional care for women’s health issues. In addition, NDI sponsors International Women’s Day and other solidarity events
SPREADING THE WORD Lilliam and Mara giving a lecture to a women’s group about self esteem and violence.
throughout the year. Recently Lilliam, our psychologist, and Kelly, our new co-country director have started a women’s group in San Fernando, which covers violence, self-esteem and a variety of sexual and reproductive health issues. DIOSA is currently collaborating with two local NGOs, MoviCancer Nicaragua and REMO, to promote the 2013 International day for the elimination of violence against women (Nov 25th), a pap-promotion day at the NDI clinic and an island-wide women’s health awareness day! This event will cover topics such as cancer prevention, cancer awareness, and the importance of early detection. E-mail info@ndimed.org for more information or to get involved!!
Here’s What the Women of Diosa had to Say:
Florencia Vanega 54 years-old San Fernando, Ometepe, Nicaragua What are health problems that affect women in Nicaragua? Hemorrhages, and sometimes we find lumps in our breasts and need to check our bodies in order to protect ourselves. Also, violence is a big problem. This is why I want to learn more about these topics. Why is it important in your opinion to have a PAP exam PAPS are important in order to protect yourself and your overall health. It is very important to have a PAP every year. What do you like most about DIOSA? I am learning how to better treat myself and my children. I have learned that we need to talk about these topics in order to value ourselves and to learn who we are.
Maria Hernandez Gonzalez 48 years-old San Fernando, Ometepe, Nicaragua What are health problems that affect women in Nicaragua? The serious problems are breast cancer, HIV, and uterine cancer. We need a clinic on the island to detect all of these things in order to avoid dying from these diseases. Why is it important in your opinion to have a PAP exam? Because it lets me know that my vagina is healthy and that I am free from cancerous diseases. I am aware of the types of cancer that can affect women and want to stay healthy.. What do you like most about DIOSA? I love this group a lot because I am learning things I had not known before, both about myself and those close to me.
Maritza Paizano Ortiz 58 years-old San Fernando, Ometepe, Nicaragua What are health problems that affect women in Nicaragua? Many women appear to have uterine and breast cancer. The majority that have these diseases do not detect them on time. Why is it important in your opinion to have a PAP exam? It is important because you need to detect illnesses and catch them early. (13 Years ago Maritza had surgery to remove an intrauterine myoma and to extract her uterus and ovaries.) What do you like most about DIOSA? It is a space to talk freely and it helps us share and learn about different topics, such as learning about diseases and how we can look for help in order to remain healthy.
Staff Highlight: Lilliam Zacharias By KELLY O’HANLON Co-Country Director Lilliam Zacharías, NDI clinical psychologist and native of Nicaragua, received her degree in psychology from the UNAN-Managua in 2006. Before coming to NDI she worked for six years as a psychologist assisting victims of violence at the Women’s Action Center and with special needs children at the Los Pipitos Medical Institute. After her first child was born, Lilliam, a single mother, decided to return to her Island home to be closer to family. Here on Ometepe she has worked with Si A La Vida, a project which provides food, education and housing to young men from the streets of Managua. Here she provided the boys with general counseling and moral support while they were separated from their families. She is also an active force in the community; leading men’s youth groups at the local high schools, researching
how we can improve services to individuals with special needs by conducting an island-wide survey, and giving self-esteem lectures at women’s health workshops. Lilliam will also be leading DIOSA, a movement created by NDI to educate and empower the women of Nicaragua. She will be teaching the women of Nicaragua about violence, self-esteem, sexuality, gender issues and will cover a variety of women’s rights topics and women’s general health. Though women’s health is of extreme importance, Lilliam realizes that men’s groups are also imperative to create positive social change. She is hoping to organize a men’s youth group in the fall, which will address violence, gender issues and machismo. She hopes to work with youth on the island, which she hopes will act as a catalyst to one day break the cycle of violence. At NDI she will be working with all individuals from the community as our full-time psychologist and will act as a
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liaison between victims of violence and the Nicaraguan judicial system. This type of counseling is a first for the Isla de Ometepe and we believe that her talents and services will bring much needed support to the people of Nicaragua. Lilliam is excited to be a part of NDI, which allows her to do the work that she is most passionate about. Lilliam’s future goals are to study law and women’s rights.
LESSON ON PARENTING Lilliam leads an activity on the effects parental actions have on children.
Why are you working at NDI? Because it provides a free and appropriate space from which I can support people who need to find emotional and mental health. I can also express my thoughts on social justice and address a population that is much in need of support and assistance in different processes in their lives. What is your inspiration to work with DIOSA? One of my jobs in Managua was in a shelter for women that were victims of domestic and sexual violence. My job was to accompany them in their process of personal healing and empowerment. Being back on the Ometepe and seeing women that need guidance, I am committed to sharing my thoughts and feelings in different areas of health and social justice. I see the importance of doing something for other women, in a culture where machismo and the patriarchal system causes women to be dependent and submissive to the opposite sex. Women are refused rights in both physical and emotional aspects of life. With NDI, I can now immerse myself in the DIOSA program and make a difference. Who has been the most inspirational person in your life? My mother. She is a humble person, economically poor, barely literate, but very hardworking and motivated; she fought on par with my father to give all her children the academic preparation she never had. She always stressed the importance of women making decisions to change their lives. She understood that women needed to study and have a good job so as not to be economically dependent and manipulated by anyone in the future. What are your personal and professional goals? I plan to reach out to different communities on the island in order to make contact with other groups fighting for social justice and help people through the process of personal growth. I want to continue seeing patients at the NDI Clinic who need my support to improve their state of mental and emotional health. Also as a new project I want to continue studying, possibly the School of Law, which would allow me to help my patients through the legal system when needed.
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A Vision for Natural Medicine
By ANDREW HAZEL
Its importance both as a functioning Brigade Coordinator primary health care clinic and as a model for future projects cannot be As a naturopath and someone underestimated. intensely interested in the possibilities of When I volunthe wider application teered there in 2012, of natural medicine, it felt like a rare discovering Natural privilege both as a Doctors International naturopath and at a (NDI) was like a light deeper, personal level. bulb going off in my Whether staying for head. NDI was putting a two-week global into action ideas that health course as I did, seemed obvious to me or a longer internship, and other naturopaths, the opportunity to yet radical to many; develop professionto bring naturopathy ally, personally and out of the inner cities reinforce faith in the TAKING INITIATIVE Andrew Hazel and into places where heightens his passion for naturopathy power of the practice health needs are through hands-on experience. of natural medicine is more numerous and huge. profound and where I find it a privihealth needs are not lege to act as a conduit for Australians to being met. be able to work at NDI and would love The NDI clinic in Ometepe, to answer any questions and help enable Nicaragua is still a front line in the cause interested students and professionals to to bring a holistic, integrative and share the NDI experience on their culturally aware side to global health and upcoming Australian brigade. one that is growing its number of supporters and collaborators every month. Graphic Courtesy of HEALTH.COM
Board Member Highlight: Seroya Crouch By SEROYA CROUCH Board Director Dr. Seroya Pauline Crouch has been involved as an informal advisor and supporter of NDI since very near it’s beginning, and joined the board officially in 2006 as Chair. She has visited Nicaragua on three occasions, and acted as a clinical supervisor during two brigades. Seroya and Tabatha went to Milan in 2006 to participate in the WHO Consultation on Phytotherapy, COMPASSION to help develop Seroya holding an international orphaned and rescued educational guidekangaroo. lines for naturopathy, ayurveda, Chinese medicine and unani-tibb. Living outside Brisbane, Australia since 2011, Seroya works as Director of Education of
Endeavour College of Natural Health. The college offers Bachelor of Health Science degrees in six professions: naturopathy, nutritional medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicine and musculoskeletal therapy. Such Bachelor degrees are the standard in countries using the British system where medicine is an undergraduate degree (like Zambia and most former Commonwealth countries). Overseeing campuses in six cities across the country with over 4000 students in total, Seroya “reckons it might be the largest college of natural medicine in the English-speaking world”. Seroya has been a significant donor to NDI over the years and initiated the membership drive in 2010 and donates to NDI through the monthly automatic payment method. “I love this method of contributing since I don’t have to worry about it and it spreads the payments throughout the year so I can donate more than if I was doing a one-time donation. It’s also great for the organization as it provides consistent income.”
Naturopathy in Zambia: ZINARE Update By SEROYA CROUCH Board Director In 2009, as then NDI Board Chair I visited Zambia at the invitation of the Zambia Institute for Natural Medicine and Research (ZINARE) in Lusaka, to provide technical advice and be keynote speaker at the official launch of the institute. Since that time I have kept in contact with ZINARE’s founder, the intrepid and dedicated Dr. Lawrence Chanza. ZINARE will be graduating its first naturopaths this autumn! Having completed their coursework in Lusaka, the students are currently in Bangalore, India at a naturopathic college hospital finishing their clinical training and will be home the end of August. This first group of graduates will form the nucleus of doctors for the ZINARE clinic that Dr Chanza has built. This clinic will serve a diverse range of clients and raise money to further develop the school—which has been operating solely on student tuition and with volunteer staff. (It reminds me of NCNM in the early days!). ZINARE received a curriculum development grant from the WHO in 2005 as part of the Strategy For Traditional Medicine and Dr Ossy Kasilo, Regional Advisor on Traditional Medicine for AFRO (the WHO Africa Region), has said “naturopathic medicine provides a bridge between conventional medicine and traditional African medicine, and ZINARE is the best achievement of the Decade of Traditional Medicine (20012010) (Lusaka, WHO mission presentation 2009). Congratulation to Dr Chanza and his team!
Graphic Courtesy of MAPSOF.NET
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NDI Collaborates with the Clinton School of Public Service Away from Home and Serving the Community
By MARA D’AMICO
NDI INTERN I came to NDI for the summer of 2013 with rusty Spanish-speaking skills, no experience in Central America, and knowing next to nothing about naturopathic medicine. I walked away with new skills, significantly better Spanish-speaking abilities, and a deep gratitude to the women of Ometepe for their openness, warmth, and courage. As a student of public service, we learn that it is both paternalistic and unsustainable to come into a community assuming that we have all the right answers and that the community members should do what we say. After a series of conversations, it became clear that my skills would best be used to create a series of guides to facilitate charlas – group lessons and activities – on topics related to violence against women. My internship involved preparing a binder of these facilitation guides in both English and Spanish on the themes of the types of violence against women, contributing factors, impacts of violence, and ways to address the violence in our own communities. In the United States, I have spent time running support groups for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in shelters. Although many of the same themes are relevant here in Ometepe, there were some interesting differences as well. One of the more difficult tasks was creating activities that would actually work with groups of women here. It was important to figure out how to talk about machismo and gender norms in a culturally appropriate way. I wanted to ensure that the information was relevant to each woman’s life, and respected the realities of life on this island. As I move forward in my public service work, I will remember the lesson that was reinforced through this summer with NDI Diosa: service to others should come from a place of respect, understanding, and appreciation. Mara is a graduate student at the Clinton School of Public Service. In the summer of 2013 she completed a 3-month internship with NDI’s Diosa Program in Ometepe, Nicarauga. Graphic Courtesy of BLOXIMAGES.COM
By JENNA RHODES
“Enough” is a Relative Word
Sufficiente. Enough. This word has wrapped itself around my experience here in Nicaragua, in Ometepe, and at NDI. When I arrived on the island my ideas about what constitutes “enough” were very different than what they are now. I have come to appreciate a much different version of a happy and successful life than I had on my first day. In the United States I was focused on my career and school almost to the exclusion of everything else. But here I discovered a slower pace where family and friends are prominent parts of everyday life and everyone pitches in to help one another in times of need. My room at my host family’s house is very simple. My first reaction was “This is not enough for me.” After three months I look around my room and see more than enough for me. I have learned that I only need a few material possessions because these aren’t the things that bring me joy. It is time with my family, making memories with my friends that I have made here, watching the sun set, listening to a rainstorm on the tin roof, laughing by candlelight when the power goes out, dancing salsa at a birthday party, reading in a hammock and being part of something so much bigger than myself that fills my life with purpose. I am eternally grateful to NDI for showing me another path to happiness, fulfillment, and success.
NDI INTERN
If you are interested in a life-changing experience with NDI on the island of Ometepe please contact internships@ndimed.org. If you have a passion for public service and social change and want to learn more about the Clinton School of Public Service please contact admissions@clintonschool.uasys.edu.
Graphic Courtesy of WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Jenna is a second-year student at the Clinton School of Public Service. In the summer of 2013, she completed a 3-month internship program with NDI.
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NDI attends IM4US Conference.
2013 Tabatha Parker co-chairs the AANP Global Health Committe with Michael Crom and Dr. William Wulsin.
Tabatha Parker and Susan White meet Patricia Bragg, head of Bragg Health. Products and Books.
Angela organizes Calzado Kids Ometepe.
Brigade 33 arrives!
August 2012
September 2012
November 2012
January 2013
February 2013
Patricia Bragg, head of the Bragg Health Products and Books was generous enough to renew her scholarship program with NDI!
2013 Bragg Scholarship Recipients
Esther Tak
Venessa Madrigal
Christopher Cho
Ivelina Frantchechkova
Mara D’amico
Timeline Brigade 35 from NUHS arrives!
NDI helps Bastyr Students fundraise to attend the AANP DC-FlI 2013 in Washington D.C.
April 2013
May 2013
June 2013
Bragg Scholars Continued...
Jenna Rhodes
Brigade 36 arrives from NCNM, Bastyr and Boucher!
NDI receives an award from the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND).
Brigade 34 arrives from Boucher, Bastyr, and NCNM!
March 2013
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Natiya Guin
Adam Silberman
NDI hires Dr. Dawson Farr and Kelly O’Hanlon.
July 2013
August 2013
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NDI Brigade Q&A
What is a NDI Global Health Course? The NDI Global Health in Natural Medicine Course is a 10-day global service learning trip tailored to naturopathic, acupuncture, chiropractic, midwifery and herbalist students and doctors – or any other health care professionals interested in natural medicine and global health. What does my money go towards? The amazing thing about this course is that your money sustains all the work that NDI does and has done for the last decade. The NDI Global Health Course is a way for you to use your money as an activist, help a grassroots organization thrive, and receive an unforgettable experience in global natural medicine. Do I have to go on a course with my school? No, you can attend any course that is being offered. We encourage students to attend any course they wish. Each course has a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 24 people. If I am a doctor or student can I get CE’s? Yes – NDI Global Health Courses offer 60 CEU’s from the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine. How much time do I spend in the clinic? Doctor participants spend four 8-hour days in the clinic (seeing patients with a translator), students spend have six 4-hour shifts in the clinic (for a total of 24 clinical hours). Can I get clinic credit at my naturopathic medical school? Yes, students can obtain up to 24 clinic credits or preceptoring hours depending on the university. NDI is happy to work with any student to help the school receive NDI credits. Do I need Spanish to attend? While we highly recommend Spanish for our internships, we do not require Spanish for our NDI Global Health Courses.
NDI’s 10 Core Values
1. Respecting Culture 2. Honoring Roots 3. Giving Voice 4. Long Term Committment 5. Defending Mother Earth 6. Promoting Equality 7.
8. 9.
Fostering Change Through Activism Holistic Health is a Human Right for ALL
10.
Empowerment Solidarity
Meet the NDI Student Representatives of 2013!
Mallory Aye - NCNM Portland
Christina Yap - Bastyr California
Taylor Howell - NCNM Portland
Aubrey Shannon - Boucher Vancouver
Brenna Regan - Bastyr Washington Kellie Moore - Bastyr Washington
Juli Yelnick - NUHS Chicago
Ann Grimwood - CCNM Toronto
NDI Brigaders In Action
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By KELLY O’HANLON Co-Country Director NDI Global Health Courses are affectionately known as brigades, who are generally geared towards medical professionals, but are open to any interested persons. This highly interactive, cross-cultural exchange is unlike any other naturopathic field experience, which last ten days on the island of Ometepe, Nicaragua. NDI has the longest running sustainable naturopathic clinic in Latin America and a program that is incomparable to any other offered. These unforgettable experiences include five clinical
GIVE ME A SMILE!
Brenna Regan, Brigade 34 SAY CHEESE! NDI brigaders strike macho poses for a fun group photo. days, hands-on work in the fields or ‘campos’ with local farmers, courses taught by our medical professionals and free day to explore all that the island has to offer.
Graphic Courtesy of NHES.WORDPRESS.COM
I returned from this trip feeling as inspired by the amazing work that NDI is doing in the community as I was humbled and honored by the way the community and my host family welcomed us with open hearts. I am excited about what our medicine can offer people who are accustomed to a very hierarchical and power-centered doctor-patient relationship. No matter the context in which I have observed naturopathic medicine being practiced, it’s always magical to see the healing that occurs in a single visit when the patient realizes that the doctor is really there to listen and learn. The docs at NDI are as true to the principles in this way as any I’ve met, and a true inspiration.
What Our Brigaders Had to Say...
Juli Yelnick, Brigade 35 After spending the week at the clinic, I realized one major thing—I have never been appreciative enough of the health care that I have back home. Some of these patients traveled for hours, walking, taking buses, and hitching a ride, to have the opportunity to see the doctor. There are no guarantees that the clinic will have their needed medication that day or that they will arrive before the clinic closes for the day; there is no option to check in online and have a prescription refill ready upon arrival! Now I know that quality, natural health care is not a given. It takes the dedication of doctors and volunteers at clinics like NDI to make this a reality for people.
Taylor Howell, Brigade 34 This trip solidified my choice to pursue natural medicine. Witnessing the frequent chaos of the medical system, which lays the ground work for confused or uneducated patients who willingly depend on the voice of any Dr., taught me how valuable our roles were. Educating a pregnant woman in her 2nd trimester about the anatomy of birth, and watching her eyes go from confused and doubtful, to lit up with enthusiasm for her child to arrive was an empowering experience. Educating her on her rights and helping her feel empowered as well, that was invaluable.
Dawson Farr, Brigade 36
This was my second brigade having completed my first in summer 2012. How do you know you are doing the right thing? In the NDI clinic we are working partially blind both with our case-taking and our limited options for treatment. With no Google search and virtually no sophisticated lab or imaging studies, it is easy to question whether you are doing any good. In one moment I can just as easily convince myself that we are doing nothing for these people while 1 hour later I feel as if we have performed a minor miracle. I feel that we’re doing the right thing when I see the humbling degree of appreciation expressed by our patients on the Island of Ometepe.
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Reflections on the Calzado Kids Ometepe Marathon
By ANGELA DINARTE Co-Country Director
For three years, I have been assisting with the organization of this exciting event for the children of Ometepe, named ‘Calzado kids Ometepe’. This race, in which over 400 children participate, is organized through NDI and in coordination with Josue Stephens, founder and director of Fuego y Agua. This event is a different type of race in which all kids win; all receive a pair of sneakers, a raceday T-shirt, a medal, and a variety of food and beverages at the finish line. The kids race begins at the entrance to the Punta Jesus Maria in Esquipulas and ends at the square in Moyogalpa, which is roughly 4km in length. We prepare for two months
Congratulations
before the race, which starts with building a list of participants and searching for a representative from each village to help us select the children. This list will also include those children that are in need of sneakers, but this is not a regulation to run, anyone is open to participate and all will receive a shirt, medal and refreshments at the finish line. In the first year we had roughly 200 children in total, but in the last two years we have exceeded the target with over 400-500 children in the two municipalities of Altagracia and Moyogalpa, who started with a quota of only 30-80 children. Josue, who is the director of Fuego y Agua, is responsible for finding donors for pairs of shoes, shirts and medals. He has given Natural Doctors International the privilege and honor to coordinate this event for the past three years. Days prior to the big event we have to be prepared with all shirt sizes and a fitted-pair of shoes for each individual child with their names pre-printed on them, which makes it easier for coordinators deliver. Sometimes we lose hope that we will receive enough shoes for all of the partici-
Graphic Courtesy of MATSUGOV.ORG
pants, but with luck and a miracle of god, at the very last minute we always achieve the goal of providing everyone with much needed footwear. The children wait with anticipation to receive their shoes, as it sometimes proves difficult for families to provide their children with such items. We thank those who make this event possible, especially to all those organizations and the athletes of Fuego y Agua, as they are the ones seeking a way to bring these pairs of shoes from the most distant locations directly to the island of Ometepe, which brings hope and joy to all of the little athletes of Ometepe.
Calzado Voices
Anthony Jimenez, 8
Johnson Cruz Barrios won the 2013 marathon and was selected to train for the Olympics!
ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO! Children line up for the starting line of Calzado Kids Ometepe.
Marathon Participant My name is Anthony Jimenez. I am eight years old and participated in calzado kids ometepe. I like this race very much. It was a pleasure to participate because it was a beautiful experience that I never had before in my life. Being able to share that experience with many friends was great, but what I liked most about the event was the footwear that we received and also the food and drinks at the finish line. What I did not like is that we had no transport to return after the race. I thank all for the joy and the help you all provided to the children in need. And especially since sports are great for your health.
Jairo López Chavarría
Event Coordinator My name is Jairo Lopez Chavarria. I am from the community of Los Angeles and am the coordinator of Calzado kids Ometepe. My role is to look for the underprivileged children of the community, let them know the rules of the event and try to get all children to arrive the day of the race. Along with these things, I also need to organize the group so that everything goes according to plan, and motivate them to exercise because exercise is health and life. As coordinator I thank you from the bottom of my heart and the children of Ometepe, I ask that this event continues and each year more children are integrated into Calzado kids Ometepe.
Medical Herbalism in Global Health Upcoming Course
By TANIA NEUBAUER
Former NDI Staff Physician Natural Doctors International now hosts a new kind of clinical course: one focused on herbalism. With special faculty Paul Bergner, founder and director of the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism, and 7Song, founder and director of the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine, this course is coordinated by myself, Tania Neubauer, an ND/herbalist who formerly served as a staff physician for NDI. This course includes the typical course in the Ometepe Island clinic of NDI, with each clinic station including internationally renowned herbalist faculty who help course partici-
BUILDING BRIDGES 2012 herbalism team in Mira Flor with local herbalists.
pants practice case intake, analysis, and Nicaragua. Each person contributed from formulation on the spot with an incredible his or her area of specialty, learned from variety of health concerns. It also includes one other and exchanged valuable knowlthe option to come earlier and edge. We found plants known to spend time in mainland to our Northern herbalists Nicaragua, taking an intensive that our Southern colleagues Spanish course and meeting had never used, and vice with local herbal organizaversa. tions and community groups. Course participants have (Start date Feb 20th or 23rd included practitioners in depending on the option) practice for 20 years to those This initial part of the with zero background in trip resulted in an incredible herbal medicine. All have synergy last year. Our course much to learn and much to brought together a NicaraMAKING A DIFFERENCE offer. Our first delegation guan botanist, a founding included an intern who Internationally renowned member of one of Nicaraherbalist 7song joins an NDI stayed on and helped fagua’s medicinal plant founda- brigade. cilitate an organic farming tions who has been working intensive on the island of with plant medicine in Ometepe. The islanders who Nicaragua for over 30 years, families participated were so inspired that they from the nature reserve of Miraflor who spontaneously formed an association to have been working to document and bring promote organic agriculture in the village back plant medicine traditions at risk of where the NDI clinic is located! Come disappearing, our faculty and team, and join us in 2014! a videographer who recorded herb walks and interviews. To walk through the cloud Medical Herbalism forest with this cross-cultural congregation in Global Health 2014 of herbalists was one of my most amazing Option 1: March 1 - March 10 experiences in ten years of traveling to Option 2: Feb 23 - March 10
Food Sovereignty: NDI Plants a New Garden
By TABATHA PARKER
Executive Director There are few things more naturopathic than a garden – getting your hands in the earth, nursing small seeds, a sprout popping through the dirt – birthing life. Mother nature in your hands – it is like a dream to watch a garden everyday – grow like a child – into beauty and abundance. A garden in Nicaragua is no easy feat. Between the bugs, farm animals and chickens, dogs, heat and torrential downpours, we sought guidance from our NDI Farming Director, Nestor Guzman and a collaboration with PROJECT BONA FIDE and MITCH HADDAD developed. Thanks to the amazing Bona Fide crew (check out their permaculture courses at http://projectbonafide.com). Now we are well on our way to having a beautiful community garden. With Project
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have access to organic vegetables (which is nearly impossible to find where we are). In the spirit of NAM our garden is non-GMO! Second, this will be a teaching community garden and will help us address one of the most difficult parts of a naturopaths job – getting people to change their diets! This has really been a community effort – from the young Ometepe men who TEAMWORK TRIUMPHS The NDI staff and local residents work together to start up helped us dig double-deep beds, to all the a garden. students on Brigade 36 who shoveled cow manure for us, to the summer 2013 interns Bona Fide’s philosophy of food sovereign- who helped design and dig the garden ty – the collaboration is a great match with (Venessa Madrigal, Esther Tak, Alex BurNDI’s strong social justice philosophy and nett, Jenna Rhodes, and Mara D’amico)! Thanks again to Nestor Guzman, new NDI NAM activist group (NaturMitch Haddad and the Project opaths Against Monsanto). The garden Bone Fide interns that helped will serve two purposes. First it will help us get the garden in the us create food sovereignty for our NDI ground! team so we can stay healthy and
NDI Interns of 2013
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Kelly Bowen
Jenna Rhodes
Mara D’Amico
Ann Grimwood
Intern Voices
Alex Burnett See page 15. .
Christopher Cho
I speak with complete honesty when I say I had no idea what to expect when I stepped off of United Airlines and onto Nicaraguan soil. I had come to NDI the summer before my senior year of high school with two rather practical goals: to create NDI’s official newsletter and to stay in another country alone for the first time in my life. Admittedly, the tasks I had assigned myself were simple ones indeed. What I achieved during my stay here in Nicaragua, however, was far greater in magnitude than anything I had originally even considered: an awakening to the concept of happiness. The Nicaraguan people live a nation decreed the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, making the material comfort and health care services that we Americans often take for granted severely limited. Yet the people are among the most generous, open, and contented that I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. It is my enduring belief that my time on Ometepe has helped cultivate a certain sense of maturity and appreciation for everything I am fortunate enough to have, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Esther Tak
I’ve seen and heard about what health care is like in third world countries and had the opportunity to attend a couple medical brigades during high school and college. When I first learned about an opportunity to observe naturopathic medicine being practiced in this type of setting, I immediately signed up for the brigade and the internship. The month that I spent in Ometepe opened my eyes to the poverty and deprivation that surround many parts of this world. Not only did I have a hands-on experience with naturopathic medicine here, but I also learned the importance of promoting global health and knowing the effects of globalization. This experience has taught me so much that it is hard to come away from it without being inspired to make a change and a difference in this world. My experience with NDI has deepen my passion to serving others and hopefully one day I will return to Ometepe to give back to those who have given me an opportunity of a lifetime.
Venessa Madrigal
My internship this summer with Natural Doctors International (NDI) has been full of surprises! I finished my second year in the Naturopathic Medicine (ND) program at National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) in June, participated in the NDI brigade from July 5 to July 14, and will complete my 6-week internship at the end of August. Before I came to Nicaragua, I set an intention to be open-minded to whatever opportunity might arise and to submerge myself in the culture. At the clinic, we have seen patients with the flu, urinary tract infections, skin conditions, backaches, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Although these conditions are commonplace in the US, the treatment options are limited here based on donated supplies. My time with NDI has been so fulfilling and I am so grateful for the support of my friends and family. The passion inside of me to become a conduit for guiding people onto their own healing path has been reinvigorated!
Graphics Courtesy of FEWALLPAPERS.COM and STOCKIMG.COM
A New Face to a Familiar Building By ALEX
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BURNETT NDI Intern
One of my greatest desires for a long time has been to go on a service mission outside of the US. I promised myself, that once I was in medical school, I would leap at the first opportunity to come my way. Hearing about NDI, the experiences previous brigaders and interns had to share, was just too enticing to pass up. The chance to live in the homes of the residents in the town and get to know them personally was a great bonus and the hands on experience working in the clinic on Ometepe with patients and in the medicinary was of immense value. By pure chance perhaps, I learned that Tabatha wanted a mural on the clinic wall. I literally leapt out of my seat with excitement, as my undergraduate degree and background is in fine arts – specifically painting and drawing. I spoke with Tabby the first moment I could and my excitement quickly became hers as well. The only thing standing in the way was the extremely limited amount of time I had left to actually design, prepare, and then paint the mural… one week. I sat down with Tabby and Kelly, discussing the theme they wanted to share. I knew that the mural needed several images and scenes of faces - people and faces speak to me more than words or landscape. I searched through different sources with pictures for ideas and came across an advertisement of a woman whose hair was styled in a giant beehive, with credits throughout her hair. Inspiration hit. That was the touchstone. I could finally start sketching. I started with the face of a women – no one in particular, partially drawn from a random picture – to get proportions right. Everything else just flowed piece by piece, which oddly enough happened to foreshadow the message of the mural. From this women and her hair everything else comes... birds & wildlife, the sun that illuminates and feeds the earth, the children she nourishes, the community that strengthens each other. The scenes were structured with images unique to Nicaragua and to Ometepe – archeological artifacts and indigenous life throughout. As for the colors, they had to be bright and bold, it’s the Nica way! I
PAINTING WITH A PASSION Alex transforms the NDI clinic with a vivid mural depicting the traditional life and the cultural vitality of the Nicaraguan people. sketched and designed in a very deliberate and graphic “paint-by-numbers” format due not only to the limited time, but also with the intention to involve as many as were willing to join in the real fun of painting. Things did not start very smoothly. Essential materials arrived several days late leaving only one day to prime and prepare the wall to be drawn out that evening and one more to paint. After the primer dried, at dusk I set up NDI’s projector and a laptop outside, illuminating the clean white walls with my drawing... I was unaware that I had unwittingly created an event. I had imagined outlining the picture all alone in the dark but very quickly a crowd of children gathered wanting to stand in the bright colors of the projector and touch the face on the wall. Laughing, giggling, and running around ensued. Parents soon joined the children’s impromptu celebration, and soon other fellow interns came out to keep me company well into the night. It was a village party!
Early at dawn the painting of colors began. Once again I started out alone, but as morning progressed more fellow interns, a local friend and little helpers came to be a part of the parade of colors slowly marching onto the wall. Soon, there were so many people helping out that I ran out of jobs for people to do! The mural quickly took shape with only touch-ups left for the following morning. It took a total of 9 painters and 20 hours for the mural to be drawn out and filled in! Without doubt the “1 day” mural would not have been finished and completed just hours before my departure from Ometepe without the help of SO many! It was an empowering experience completed with faith, endurance, and a lot of patience. Most importantly, the mural was accomplished through the support and teamwork of strong dedicated women and men whom I admire greatly. Thank you so much for allowing me to leave a part of myself behind as a token of my highest regard for a very special people in a very special place!
10 Ways YOU Can Help NDI!
Like us @ facebook.com/ndimed 1. 2. Take an NDI Global Health Course! 3. Become an NDI recurring donor! 4. Lead/start an NDI Chapter Join our cause! causes.com/ndimed 5. 6. Nominate us at www.greatnonprofits.org!
7.
Set your homepage to Goodsearch and choose Natural Doctors International (NDI).
Everytime you search, NDI gets a donation!
8. Adopt a program! 9. Join NAM! facebook.com/NaturopathsAgainstMonsanto 10. Volunteer or join the board!!! Upcoming NDI Events: Keep up to date at www.ndimed.org
February 2014 November 2013 • Feb 8 - Fuego y Agua Ultramarathon • Nov 25 - International Anti-Violence • Feb 9 - Calzado Kids Ometepe Against Women Day • Feb 7 - 16: CCNM Brigade 39 March 2014 December 2013 • Mar 1 - 10: NAIHM Medial Herbalism in • Dec 1 - 10: Australia Brigade 38 Global Health Brigade 40 • Dec. 15 - Jan. 5: NDI closed • Mar 8 - International Women’s Day • Mar 28 - April 6: Spring Break Brigade 41 April 2014 • Apr 1 9- 28: NUHS Brigade 42 July 2014 • July 12 - 21: Brigade 43 Sept 2014 • Sept 1 - 10: Brigade 44