Dr. Valerie Nelson​​
Board Certified Natural Integrative Doctor
While she was a student, Dr. Valerie Nelson was certified in natural health so she worked with clients to assist them to a better state of health.
She received her Doctor of Naturopathy Degree in 2008.
She is currently Board Certified in Integrative Medicine through the American Association of Integrative Medicine. Member #1199. This review board consists of multiple types of health professionals including medical doctors.
She has earned 2 additional degrees (Master Herbalist and Certified Nutritional Counselor) with an accredited school through the American Naturopathic Medication Accreditation Board.
There is a law that will become effective in January 2018 in which her title will change from Naturopathic Doctor to Board Certified Doctor of Natural Medicine through the American Naturopathic Medical Certification Board.
This law that was passed forces all "Traditional" Naturopathic Doctors to change their titles.
There are some Naturopathic Doctors that went to "Medical Naturopathic Schools" which are claiming that all "Traditional" Naturopathic Doctor's education was not through an "Accredited" School. This is false information which is a ploy to try to dominate the market place. The passing of this law only benefited about 20 - 30 Naturopathic Doctors in the state, but was designed to strip the "Naturopathic Title" away from about 250 Traditional Naturopathic Doctors. This law was pushed through under false pretense that it was going to "benefit and protect the citizens of Pennsylvania", but, in essence, it greatly limits the choices that the citizens of Pennsylvania have in Naturopathic Doctors.
For instance, now, in Pennsylvania, you only have the choice to go to one of about 30 Naturopathic Doctors instead of over 250. This makes the "Medical Naturopathic Doctors" very happy because they deceived the citizens that the passing of this law was a good thing, in an intention to gain more patients for themselves.
Fortunately, there are national organizations that can see through all of this hogwash and have stepped up to the plate to protect the "Traditional Naturopathic Doctors". In order to retain a professional title, we are offered the opportunity to take a naturopathic board certification test that is applicable to all "Traditional" Naturopathic Doctors who went to accredited schools with thousands of hours of study. Yes, our title will change, but our same passion for offering the Pennsylvania citizen's natural choices in healthcare will remain.
The new law that requires "Medical Naturopathic Doctors" to be registered DOES NOT APPLY to "Traditional Naturopathic Doctors". They are not required to be registered with the state. They can, however, become "Board Certified" through strict review boards. This law will become effective January 2018.