My Journey to Becoming a Naturopathic Doctor
Long before I had any real idea what naturopathic medicine was, I knew I wanted to be a doctor.
Some of my earliest memories are of “playing doctor” with my best friend Tommy—we’d borrow our moms’ turkey basters and combine them with his prized Fisher Price doctor kit. Our exams were definitely creative, if not entirely accurate!
Fast forward to college at Gustavus Adolphus, where I blended a major in Latin and Classical Studies with pre-med coursework. I’ve always loved languages (they just click for me), and Latin gave me a head start in understanding medical terminology. I spent my senior year studying abroad in Rome—a life-changing experience that led me to delay taking the MCAT and embrace a (then-rare) “gap year.” What I didn’t realize at the time was that this detour would change my life entirely.
Around that same time, my curiosity for natural and alternative medicine began to grow—possibly influenced by my now-husband, a dedicated former vegetarian. I started reading early works by Dr. Andrew Weil and began making small dietary changes: switching from Kool-Aid to water, swapping fish sticks for salmon, cutting back on sugar and processed foods. The result? I was able to stop taking all five of my allergy and asthma medications. After years of relying on prescriptions, I was blown away by the power of food and lifestyle to support my health.
But it was a more personal medical challenge that ultimately lit the path to naturopathic medicine.
In my early 20s, I had an abnormal Pap smear. At the time, the connection between certain strains of HPV and abnormal Paps was just coming into public awareness. I had excellent insurance and asked my doctor to run an HPV test. He refused—flatly stating that it wouldn’t change the course of treatment. When I pressed further, asking about nutritional or lifestyle changes I could make to improve my outcome or prevent future abnormalities, he and the gynecologic oncologist dismissed me entirely.
I felt ignored. Unheard. And most of all, I felt like my body wasn’t being treated as a whole.
That experience cemented something inside me. I wanted to be the kind of doctor who listens. Who educates. Who empowers. Who treats the whole person—not just the symptom or diagnosis.
At the time, naturopathic medicine wasn’t widely known (and Google was barely a thing!). But while visiting friends near International Falls, I met someone whose mom received care from a naturopathic doctor in Washington state. That conversation sparked a fire. I found a local ND, Dr. Helen Healy in St. Paul (recently retired), and began shadowing her whenever I could.
Next came the phone calls to the few naturopathic schools that existed—first to Portland, then Seattle. I applied to the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (now NUNM), packed the car, and headed west on a whirlwind road trip with my boyfriend (who’s now my husband). I toured, interviewed, and never looked back.
As they say—the rest is history.
Why I Practice the Way I Do
My journey has shaped every aspect of how I practice today. I understand what it’s like to feel dismissed or overlooked. That’s why at Itasca Naturopathic Clinic, I take the time to understand your full story—your health, your goals, your life.
Naturopathic medicine is about more than treatment plans. It’s about caring for the whole you: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Whether you’re navigating menopause, struggling with digestive discomfort, or searching for answers your labs haven’t explained, I’m here to listen—and to help you find your way back to balance.
Here’s to your journey—may it be supported, empowered, and deeply healing.
In Health,
Rachel Oppitz, ND
