Continuing my series of blogs on the principles of naturopathic medicine, our next principle, which explains why NDs make an effort at every single visit to educate their patients: Doctor as Teacher.
The origin of the word ‘doctor’ comes from the Latin word ‘doctor’ which means ‘teacher’, which in fact originates from the Latin verb ‘docere’ = “to teach”. I was not aware of this fact until my undergrad years, when I chose a course purely out of interest, about the Latin and Greek origins of English words. What a fascinating fact this was! However, I only truly understood the meaning of the word doctor and this principle, once I had joined naturopathic school.
Now, having been in clinical practice for over 10 years, it is obvious to me why my duties as a doctor are intertwined with that of an educator. And for you see it as obviously as me, I just listed the primary responsibilities of a traditional teacher inspired from my daughter’s wonderful school teachers:
Now, if you were to go back and read those responsibilities and replace the word ‘student’ with ‘patient’, it easily explains the why the Doctor is also a Teacher. The curriculum and goals are unique to each patient!
As a naturopathic doctor, I educate my patients about their health, actions they can take to correct a deficiency, to improve their energy, to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke and sometimes about something as simple as home care remedies for fighting off a cold. I allow them to ask questions and provide answers when I can, or refer them to specialists when necessary. I make them aware of various health resources available to them and how they can be used to their benefit. It is also my role to monitor their progress and explain what they need to change. Besides providing a treatment solution, I also provide ongoing support and coaching, so they can implement their treatment plans and achieve their health objectives.
I would like to end this blog, with a special note for my patients. As much as I am a ‘teacher’ for them, each & every patient has been a teacher for me! I have learned from my patients about resilience, inner strength, happiness, the ability to fail and yet keep going and most importantly, the importance of being compassionate and need for constant learning. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to be part of your healthcare team.
Sign off for today !
