When I joined NDDR – which at that time was affiliated with the OAND and known as the Anti-Racism Working Group, I knew I would be learning and contributing more ways to support other naturopathic doctors with their anti-racism work. What I did not expect was that working with the NDDR would quickly impact my relationship to my own culture and my patients.
Dismantling Racism: One Naturopathic at a Time
For over the past year I’ve been working with Naturopathic Doctors Dismantling Racism (NDDR) in order to learn more and do more to address systemic racism within our profession. Several colleagues in the group encouraged me to share my personal anti-racism work experience, and while that resulted in a great deal of anxiety about being vulnerable on such a large professional scale, drawing attention to the need for us as naturopathic doctors to prioritize this work, was worth it.
We know it’s not easy to do and we know NDs are busy enough as it is. But my co-author, Dr. Erika Ristok ND (inactive), RSW, MSW, and I hope that by sharing our experiences and ways naturopathic doctors can implement anti-racism work into practice, we may contribute to open & respectful conversations that can shift our profession and community towards prioritizing social justice and health equity for all.
