Past Graduates Testimonials from our "Natural Medicine in Global Health" Courses
My time with NDI was the most influential part of my education during medical school both personally and professionally. Not only did I realize I could shape the way medicine is delivered on the international level but I strive to give every patient access to quality, timely care. I use my experience in Nicaragua every day even in the States, whether it is through working with Spanish-speaking patients, determining low-cost solutions to health problems or sharing stories with the medical students I teach to enrich their education and training. I had no idea when we organized the first brigade how far-reaching the effects would be, but I can only see now that many lives will be touched far into the future."
Funda M. Gulmen, N.D., M.S. Bridgeport, Connecticut
1st NDI Brigade, June 2006
University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine Graduate
Spending time with NDI in Nicaragua really opened my eyes to the potential that we as naturopaths have to make a difference in the world. Not only was I given the opportunity to develop my clinical skills, but I also gained incredible insight into global issues: past, present and future! I was so touched by the families that opened their homes to us as well as the people we met in the numerous villages we volunteered at. Although the living conditions are incredibly different to what we are used to in North America, I felt so honored to be a part of Nicaraguan life in every aspect. Tabatha is an excellent mentor who passionately educates and inspires those interested in working in international health. I recommend this trip to anyone with a desire to authentically experience what it is like to live and work in a developing country.
Lindsay Samuelson Toronto, Canada
4th NDI Brigade, February 2007
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Graduate
To me the brigades and NDI show us that the whole world is our sisters and brothers. It’s an experience you can’t do justice by telling the story. It’s something you have to do yourself to get the full richness of the experience. I cannot applaud NDI enough for their incredible work and dedication in making the world a better place not by providing handouts, but instead by educating and empowering.
Cheri King
6th NDI Brigade, July 2007
National College of Natural Medicine
Portland, Oregon
During a hot, sticky, humid day in August of 2007, the ferry docked at the island of Ometepe and I set foot on the land to meet the people of Nicaragua and help them with their health concerns. As a naturopathic student eager to learn and take in the beautiful culture around me, I did not realize how much of an impact I could have on their lives, and how much this experience could impact my life. The experience with NDI changed my perspective forever on health and disease and helped me develop compassion for suffering I could not see here in North America. Mostly, taking part in a medical brigade with NDI gave me the gift of courage and love.
Melanie Kusznireckyj Toronto, Canada
7th NDI Brigade, August 2007
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Student
My experience with NDI on the island of Ometepe is one that will stay with me forever. Before going down there I had just begun my journey down the path of natural medicine. As an undergraduate volunteer working with NDs and medical students, I was given the opportunity to see what NDs do and how their medicine is different than conventional medicine. I observed many patient consultations at the clinics and hospital and noticed how each patient was given equal amounts of time and treated as a whole person -- mind, body, and spirit. NDI not only works in the hospital, but also provide services throughout the community, working in the fields to harvest crops and educating the citizens about personal hygeine, home healthcare, and other important issues. NDI also taught our group about the philosophy behind naturopathic medicine, international health concerns, and how to take action on global issues. My time with NDI, though only 10 days, taught me more about healthcare, poverty, and compassion than ever before. I am now enrolled in the ND program at Bastyr University and I hope to follow a similar path as those Tabatha and others have in starting NDI. Ashley Raiche St Josephs, Minnesota
Undergraduate student
College of Saint Benedict
7th NDI Brigade, August 2007
Going to Nicaragua with NDI was the richest educational hands-on experience I have had. The island was breathtaking, the people I worked with were inspiring, the family I stayed with welcomed me like a daughter. We had the opportunity to work in two clinics as well as the only "hospital" on the island and attended 188 patients in 4 days There were so many patients who wanted to be seen that we had to give out numbers! I had the chance to shadow an ND one-on-one, to assist in treatment plans using homeopathics, herbs, immune boosters, teas, and salves. We saw colds, scabies, autism, epilepsy, kidney stones and infections, tuberculosis and several unplanned youth pregnancies. Each day, after all of the heavy eye-opening information and experiences, we would focus on sharing our thoughts, feelings, and goals, helping me to digest everything. Experiencing the lifestyle of local families while learning about economic policies in classes really helped me reevaluate my lifestyle in the US, and think about how I could bring about a change.The people in Nicaragua showed me how to enjoy life despite hard circumstances, focusing on the people we love and the beauty around us, such as sunset, when everyone would be out in the street socializing with family and neighbors. For me, this trip confirmed that naturopathic medicine is what I would like to devote my life to.
Pauline DeLange Shell Beach, California
8th NDI Brigade, December 2006
Undergraduate
My experience with NDI has catapulted my drive, my passion, and my self-knowledge to a much higher level of awareness and excitement. The gift of being on the Island, being exposed to the gratitude of the local peoples, and the love and expertise that Dr. Parker has to offer has been exponential in my growth toward serving others. There truly is a power in serving others. Thank you for offering a much-needed opportunity to our communities both locally and globally.
Cheryl Sly Phoenix, Arizona
9th NDI Brigade, February 2007
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine Graduate
In the short span of 10 days, 10 students, with our minds saturated by school, learned more about the world, our medicine and ourselves than we could have anywhere else. NDI provided a meaningful exploration of the breathtaking beauty, and sometimes heartbreaking reality, of Nicaragua. Through a concise, inspiring program, we were gently forced to peel away the layers of our material-rich lives and to stare into the decaying heart of globalized healthcare, while being inspired to make an immediate difference in the lives of the grateful, beautiful people that inhabit La Isla de Ometepe. Working and living with the people juxtaposed harsh global realities with an indelible human spirit…real-life yin vs. yang stuff. These polarities swirled together to unveil a socio-economic reality that was as awe-inspiring and daunting as the massive volcano that dominates the landscape of the island itself. NDI facilitates an understanding of the intricate relationship between global economics and public health and provided us the opportunity to make direct connections between global economic policies and their impact on the health of the impoverished communities that we were working in. This provided a context that allowed for a deeper appreciation of the state of our patients’ health, and the health of our world. In this context, the state of healthcare in developing nations stands out as unacceptable and preventable. I am simply inspired to help make change happen. This is where students of naturopathic medicine can make an immediate impact, and gain invaluable experience, while still in school. Thank you!
Rich Vuksinic Toronto, Canada
9th NDI Brigade, February 2008
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Student
My time with NDI was the most influential part of my education during medical school both personally and professionally. Not only did I realize I could shape the way medicine is delivered on the international level but I strive to give every patient access to quality, timely care. I use my experience in Nicaragua every day even in the States, whether it is through working with Spanish-speaking patients, determining low-cost solutions to health problems or sharing stories with the medical students I teach to enrich their education and training. I had no idea when we organized the first brigade how far-reaching the effects would be, but I can only see now that many lives will be touched far into the future."
To me the brigades and NDI show us that the whole world is our sisters and brothers. It’s an experience you can’t do justice by telling the story. It’s something you have to do yourself to get the full richness of the experience. I cannot applaud NDI enough for their incredible work and dedication in making the world a better place not by providing handouts, but instead by educating and empowering. 
During a hot, sticky, humid day in August of 2007, the ferry docked at the island of Ometepe and I set foot on the land to meet the people of Nicaragua and help them with their health concerns. As a naturopathic student eager to learn and take in the beautiful culture around me, I did not realize how much of an impact I could have on their lives, and how much this experience could impact my life. The experience with NDI changed my perspective forever on health and disease and helped me develop compassion for suffering I could not see here in North America. Mostly, taking part in a medical brigade with NDI gave me the gift of courage and love. 
My experience with NDI on the island of Ometepe is one that will stay with me forever. Before going down there I had just begun my journey down the path of natural medicine. As an undergraduate volunteer working with NDs and medical students, I was given the opportunity to see what NDs do and how their medicine is different than conventional medicine. I observed many patient consultations at the clinics and hospital and noticed how each patient was given equal amounts of time and treated as a whole person -- mind, body, and spirit. NDI not only works in the hospital, but also provide services throughout the community, working in the fields to harvest crops and educating the citizens about personal hygeine, home healthcare, and other important issues. NDI also taught our group about the philosophy behind naturopathic medicine, international health concerns, and how to take action on global issues. My time with NDI, though only 10 days, taught me more about healthcare, poverty, and compassion than ever before. I am now enrolled in the ND program at Bastyr University and I hope to follow a similar path as those Tabatha and others have in starting NDI.
Going to Nicaragua with NDI was the richest educational hands-on experience I have had. The island was breathtaking, the people I worked with were inspiring, the family I stayed with welcomed me like a daughter. We had the opportunity to work in two clinics as well as the only "hospital" on the island and attended 188 patients in 4 days There were so many patients who wanted to be seen that we had to give out numbers! I had the chance to shadow an ND one-on-one, to assist in treatment plans using homeopathics, herbs, immune boosters, teas, and salves. We saw colds, scabies, autism, epilepsy, kidney stones and infections, tuberculosis and several unplanned youth pregnancies. Each day, after all of the heavy eye-opening information and experiences, we would focus on sharing our thoughts, feelings, and goals, helping me to digest everything. Experiencing the lifestyle of local families while learning about economic policies in classes really helped me reevaluate my lifestyle in the US, and think about how I could bring about a change.The people in Nicaragua showed me how to enjoy life despite hard circumstances, focusing on the people we love and the beauty around us, such as sunset, when everyone would be out in the street socializing with family and neighbors. For me, this trip confirmed that naturopathic medicine is what I would like to devote my life to. 
My experience with NDI has catapulted my drive, my passion, and my self-knowledge to a much higher level of awareness and excitement. The gift of being on the Island, being exposed to the gratitude of the local peoples, and the love and expertise that Dr. Parker has to offer has been exponential in my growth toward serving others. There truly is a power in serving others. Thank you for offering a much-needed opportunity to our communities both locally and globally.
In the short span of 10 days, 10 students, with our minds saturated by school, learned more about the world, our medicine and ourselves than we could have anywhere else. NDI provided a meaningful exploration of the breathtaking beauty, and sometimes heartbreaking reality, of Nicaragua. Through a concise, inspiring program, we were gently forced to peel away the layers of our material-rich lives and to stare into the decaying heart of globalized healthcare, while being inspired to make an immediate difference in the lives of the grateful, beautiful people that inhabit La Isla de Ometepe. Working and living with the people juxtaposed harsh global realities with an indelible human spirit…real-life yin vs. yang stuff. These polarities swirled together to unveil a socio-economic reality that was as awe-inspiring and daunting as the massive volcano that dominates the landscape of the island itself. NDI facilitates an understanding of the intricate relationship between global economics and public health and provided us the opportunity to make direct connections between global economic policies and their impact on the health of the impoverished communities that we were working in. This provided a context that allowed for a deeper appreciation of the state of our patients’ health, and the health of our world. In this context, the state of healthcare in developing nations stands out as unacceptable and preventable. I am simply inspired to help make change happen. This is where students of naturopathic medicine can make an immediate impact, and gain invaluable experience, while still in school. Thank you!