Re: ND vs NP

Dear Kelly,

I got in late on this discussion.

To our unnamed M.D., I would say that I am very familiar with Dr. Stephen Barrett, who runs Quackwatch.com. In my multiple attempts to engage him in evidence based medical discussions he has demonstrated no interest in the scientific method. Please examine his wholehearted condemnation of postmodernism before citing him as a medical authority.

Rather than shouting about who is better, it should be recognized that an ND and NP career are not interchangable. They are fundamentally different tracks. One involves using primarily alternatives, the other involves using primarily conventional treatments. One is generally not covered by insurance, the other is. One is relatively free from regulations regarding extent of treatment, the other is a highly regulated, integrated part of the standard medical model.

There is no wrong here, only choices. Whatever anyone may say, it is Kelly's choice what she will do. Yelling at her ignores her need to make multiple choices relatively quickly.

1) Where do you want to practice?

2) How do you want to practice?

3) How do you live yourself (all organic to twinkie muncher)? This gives a reality check to whether you will feel more comfortable treating the vegan crowd or the endless stream of metabolic syndrome patients.

4) Are you able to support yourself by other means after school. (NDs do not usually come out into established salaries). I have recommended to those with large families to support that they not become NDs for that specific reason.

5) Where do you see yourself ten years from now? When I examined my options, which included M.D., D.O., P.A., N.P., D.C., LaC, and others, I made a decision to do what was most consistent with where I wanted to be in fifty years. Based on those criteria, my wife and I figured that if I treated only her weekly we would recoup the cost of all my school expenses.

I will also say that I was well on my way to standard medical training, and my Harvard Medical friend is the one who convinced me otherwise. Spending time in Brigham's intensive care ward was more than enough to convince me that this was not where I wanted to be. I also have a dear relative who is becoming one of the top urologists in the country and a cousin M.D. who lives on the lake in upper Maine. Neither one is happy. Driven, excellent, but not happy. I'm happy.

I hope this is helpful.

Christopher Maloney, Naturopathic Doctor
Augusta, Maine www.maloneymedical.com.
Informational only, I cannot treat or diagnose via the web.

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