Washington, DC, June 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The vast majority (74 percent) of naturopathic physicians are satisfied or very satisfied with their career choice, according to the 2016 Graduate Success and Compensation Study, conducted by the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC). Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession that combines the wisdom of nature with the rigors of modern science, focusing on whole-patient wellness.
The study also shows that a strong majority (77 percent) of naturopathic medical professionals overall feel successful in their careers.
For professionals using their degree full-time, the mean salary after graduating from naturopathic medical school is about $90,000 in the U.S. and $74,000 in Canada – more than double their annual pay prior to entering school, according to the study.
More than nine out of ten (92 percent) are using their naturopathic medical college degrees, and in a wide variety of positions, including primary care physicians, specialists, medical/health/wellness consultants, writers, public speakers, medical faculty and administrators.
“Those who pursue a naturopathic medical education and career are driven by the desire to know their patients from a whole-body perspective so they can identify and treat the root cause of an illness, not just its symptoms,” said Dr. JoAnn Yanez, executive director of AANMC.
“As our study confirms, focusing on that self-healing approach is satisfying both professionally and personally to naturopathic medical practitioners, as well as their patients who benefit from it,” added Dr. Yanez.
The primary reasons cited for their career satisfaction include:
- Working directly with patients and spending meaningful time in interactions with them
- Aligning their career with personal philosophies and ethics
- Matching up their orientation towards altruism with their career
- Attaining a healthy work/life balance
- Achieving financial success and professional growth
Additional findings include:
- Seven in ten graduates (70 percent) in the naturopathic medical field are satisfied or very satisfied with their work/life balance, compared to only four in ten (41 percent) MDs in the U.S. and five in ten (49 percent) in Canada.
- The most common areas of practice focus are digestive/GI disorders (60 percent), nutrition (58 percent) and women’s health (54 percent).
AANMC’S 2016 Graduate Success and Compensation Study was conducted by Marketing General Incorporated, specialists in marketing and research for professional and trade associations, based on responses from 1,289 surveys completed by graduates of AANMC member schools.
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About AANMC: Since it was established in 2001, the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (http://www.aanmc.org) has supported its seven member schools and colleges in various ways, including:
- Promoting and growing the naturopathic medical profession
- Improving the quality of education, operations, research and patient care at member schools
- Building visibility for each of its member schools
- Encouraging collaboration between member schools and organizations with compatible interests to accomplish mutual goals
AANMC’s member schools are: Bastyr University (Seattle, Washington and San Diego, California), The Boucher Institute (British Columbia, Canada), Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (Toronto, Canada), National College of Natural Medicine (Portland, Oregon), National University of Health Sciences (Chicago, Illinois), Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences (Phoenix, Arizona), University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine (Bridgeport, Connecticut).