Letter from the Executive Director
NDI is about building relationships, community and action. We are about reaching out, sharing and collaborating, promoting volunteerism and service. We are a collaborative, interdisciplinary organization that is bringing natural mediciine to global health through 3 main arenas - SERVICE, RESEARCH AND POLICY.
Phase one in our development was to establish a naturopathic health care clinic to show the efficacy of naturopathic medicine in a developing country public healthcare setting. Since 2005, our clinic on the Island of Ometepe has provided over 17,000 patients free naturopathic medical care by volunteer naturopathic physicians and nearly $500,000 USD of medicines. Now that we have successfully implemented this demonstration project, we will be moving into more global policy work and expansion of NDI into other areas of the world over the next few years. We are now ready to actively bring in full time acupuncturists, herbalists, chiropractors, midwives and allied health professionals. If your interested in helping to develop a interdisciplinary global health clinic - you have come to the right place!
If service is your passion, our volunteer opportunities for doctors and students are growing. We challenge volunteers to step into another culture and experience from within by building personal relationships and walking a mile in another person’s shoes. This direct experience of the often harsh economic imbalances present in the developing world, allows our volunteers to serve and act – not from afar, but in solidarity with their brothers and sisters around the world. Through cultural immersion and collaboration, volunteers gain first hand experience of global disparity, giving participants an understanding of how their own personal choices impact the larger global community.
Dr. Tabatha Parker
