Joseph E. Pizzorno, Jr., N.D.

Professional Profile

 

Salugenecists:           President

                                POB 25801

                                Seattle, WA 98165-1301

                                Phone: (206)368-5403; Fax (206)368-8570

              drpizzorno@salugenecists.com

 

Bastyr University:      President Emeritus

              Bastyr University

              14500 Juanita Drive, Kenmore, WA 98028-4966

              Phone:(425) 602-3003; Fax (425)602-3196

              President_emeritus@bastyr.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The most pervasive and silently accepted crisis in America today is the ill health of our people.  We must change our fundamental approach from a traditional disease-driven, treatment-oriented medical model, to one that deals with the real problem of
 improving people's health."

 

 

 

A Practical Visionary

Creating a new vision of health care

A pioneer in the field of natural medicine, Joseph E. Pizzorno, Jr., N.D. is a practical visionary who has dedicated his life to improving the health of the human community.  His work is devoted to changing how the world views health and encouraging others to become agents for change.  His expertise and accomplishments have established the foundation for a bold vision, while his initiatives contain the building blocks needed to move toward that vision. 

Building a new model for health care delivery

Dr. Pizzorno's groundbreaking efforts established Bastyr University, the first accredited, multidisciplinary university of natural medicine in the United States.  His initiative and commitment inspired the creation of the first comprehensive government-run natural medicine clinic in the country.  He is also the only licensed natural medicine doctor to ever serve on a county board of health.  Dr. Pizzorno's political savvy has helped propel the profession of Naturopathic Medicine from obscurity to national prominence.

Making his vision a reality

Proven leadership, pioneering work, and natural medicine expertise make Dr. Pizzorno a force for changes that will make a positive difference in the health of the human community.  His vision reflects a new model of health care delivery in America, one that emphasizes wellness through the comprehensive integration of conventional and natural medicine.

Utilizing natural health concepts to improve health

Realizing that corporate America, which pays 65% of the health care dollar, will ultimately determine the healthcare system, Dr. Pizzorno has begun working on ways to improve employer access to the benefits of natural healthcare.  In 2001, Dr. Pizzorno founded Salugenecists, Inc. to bring natural health concepts to corporate health promotion programs. Based on 30 years of experience, Dr. Pizzorno has lead Salugenecists to create unique, innovative self-care strategies and technologies that will dramatically change corporate wellness and health promotion programs.

A Health Care Pioneer

Transforming the study of natural medicine

Since co-founding Bastyr University in 1978 as the first science-based institution of natural medicine, Dr. Pizzorno has helped produce an entire generation of licensed naturopathic physicians and other natural medicine practitioners.  Under his vision and leadership, Bastyr became the first accredited, multidisciplinary university of natural medicine in the United States, attaining international recognition as the leader in the study and research of science-based natural medicine.

Creating tools for educational advancement

When Dr. Pizzorno co-founded Bastyr, no mechanism existed to objectively establish credibility for schools of natural medicine.  In response, he helped established the pathway to accreditation.  When he discovered that no modern textbooks for the study of natural medicine existed, he collaborated with Michael Murray, N.D. to create A Textbook of Natural Medicine.  This comprehensive, 200 chapter textbook with 10,000 citations to the peer-reviewed scientific literature remains the international standard for the education of natural medicine physicians. 

Building a world-renowned research institute

Recognizing the need to subject natural medicine theories and practices to objective, scientific evaluation, Dr. Pizzorno facilitated the formation of the Bastyr University Research Institute and worked to secure research funds to become one of the first natural medicine research centers funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Establishing standards of educational excellence

Bastyr University exemplifies educational excellence for institutions of natural medicine throughout the world, with a health sciences faculty of over 150 qualified educators and researchers, including naturopathic physicians, Ph.D.'s, medical doctors, acupuncturists and nutritionists, among others.  Over 1,000 students per year enroll in degree programs in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Nutrition, Applied Behavioral Sciences, Psychology and Naturopathic Medicine. 

A Force for Social and Policy Change

Advancing and leading change at the national level

Appointed in December 2000 to the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, Dr. Pizzorno has been a strong voice for effective and responsible inclusion of CAM professionals, CAM institutions and natural health care products into the health care system. Created to advise the Congress and President on how to integrate alternative and complementary medicine into the health care system, this historic Commission is playing a critical role in helping shape the future of health care in the United States. In November 2002 Dr. Pizzorno became the first natural medicine doctor to be appointed to the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee.

Advocating consumer education, access and choice

Dr. Pizzorno recognizes the need to institutionalize change.  That's why encouraging progressive public policies and advocating marketplace reform to create a new model of health care delivery form a significant focus of his time and attention.  Dr. Pizzorno is dedicated to instituting a comprehensive political and marketplace model within which health care practitioners can better serve the needs of patients.

Working for change within established systems

Dr. Pizzorno's 1996 appointment to the Seattle-King County Board of Health distinguishes him as the first non-conventional medical expert in the country to serve in such a capacity.  In this position, he has initiated a dialogue about natural medicine solutions to public health issues that has inspired the Board of Health to investigate the possible public health use of the trace mineral selenium to reduce the risk of cancer.  In 1999, he was reappointed for a third two-year term of service. 

Creating new guidelines and standards

As part of his long-standing effort to establish scientific standards for natural medicine education, Dr. Pizzorno co-founded the Council for Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) in 1978.  He wrote the standards and spearheaded CNME's successful effort to secure accreditation from the U.S. Department of Education in 1987. 

Lending expertise to legislative dialogue

Dr. Pizzorno is a familiar voice in national discussions on credentialing.  At numerous state legislatures across the country, he provides testimony in favor of strong licensing and rigorous educational standards for Naturopathic Physicians and other health care providers.  His early work to establish a "scope of practice law" in Washington State helped transform a wary legislative environment into one that now boasts the most comprehensive "every category of provider" insurance statute in the nation.

A Collaborative Innovator

Coordinating projects through the integration of ideas

Dr. Pizzorno has spent more than 30 years building relationships with leaders in the fields of health care, insurance, government, education and natural medicine.  He understands the importance of uniting others around a common goal; creative collaboration is a key ingredient in each of his achievements.

As the largest consumer of health care in America, the way business addresses employee health benefits establishes many consumer expectations and attitudes about health care.  Recognizing this, Dr. Pizzorno is currently involved in new company that demonstrates the best strategies for integrating alternative care into established company health programs and insurance coverage.

Building connections throughout the United States

Dr. Pizzorno has also devoted time to building connections with business, provider and consumer groups.  He serves on health advisory panels for well-known companies, is a familiar face at industry trade shows, works closely with national consumer groups and provides his expertise as a member of numerous editorial boards of health and medical publications. 

Providing expertise on national issues

Dr. Pizzorno is regularly called upon to share his expertise with members in both houses of Congress.  He has provided input and testimony to the National Institutes of Health, the Federal Trade Commission and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's Health Care Reform Task Force.  Dr. Pizzorno regularly speaks about national health care policy issues, including the 1998 push to establish the National Institutes of Health's Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  He also makes presentations to numerous advisory boards and has addressed panels at several federal agencies. 

An International Writer and Speaker

Improving the health of the human community

As co-author of the best-selling Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (over a million copies sold in six languages), author of Total Wellness and senior editor and co-author of the internationally acclaimed A Textbook of Natural Medicine, Dr. Pizzorno has introduced and taught credible natural medicine to medical and lay audiences throughout the United States, South America, Canada, Europe, Asia and the South Pacific.  Dr. Pizzorno is not the author of co-author of six books.

Sharing his expertise with an international audience

An esteemed lecturer, Dr. Pizzorno is committed to bringing science-based natural medicine to broad audiences around the world.  He participates in about 25 speaking engagements and media interviews each year.  He has engaged medical, public and corporate audiences in Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan and Thailand.

Dr. Pizzorno's Vision in Action

Dr. Pizzorno's accomplishments can serve as models for bringing the vision of integrative medical care into practice.  Three examples include:

 

Bastyr University: A Powerful Agent for Change

Dr. Pizzorno developed Bastyr University into much more than just the preeminent natural medicine university.  The university also strives to be a powerful agent for change.  Bastyr not only trains skilled practitioners but also commits significant resources to serve as a public voice in advancing its mission to improve the health of the human community.  The university regularly collaborates with public and private interests to demonstrate, in practical terms, the power of integrating natural and conventional medicine. 

 

Health Care Policy Roundtable Series

Among its many programs, Bastyr University hosts a Health Care Policy Roundtable Series that brings some of the nation's leading opinion leaders and policy makers together to discuss critical issues that affect the future of health care delivery in America.  The series seeks to improve health care policy and decision making by deepening the understanding of facts, issues and options central to the debate around integrative care. 

 

From its initial Comprehensive Health Care discussion with U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) to its Roundtable on Designing the Doctor of the Future with leaders from the natural and conventional medical professions, Bastyr seeks to be a central force in the evolution of integrated medical care. 

King County Natural Medicine Clinic: A Model of Integrative Care

In yet another display of practical innovation, Dr. Pizzorno and Bastyr University are at the forefront of the national movement toward fully integrated medical care with participation in a unique demonstration project.  In 1996, the traditionally conservative King County Council awarded Bastyr University, in joint venture with the nonprofit Community Health Centers of King County, a $750,000 grant to start the country's first fully integrated, publicly funded conventional and natural medicine clinic. 

 

At the King County Natural Medicine Clinic, conventional and natural medicine doctors work side by side co-managing patient care.  The Clinic has a staff of two family medical doctors, a physician's assistant, a nutritionist, two naturopathic physicians and an acupuncturist and practitioner of traditional Chinese medicines.  In its first two years of operation, the Clinic logged over 5,000 patient visits.  Community Health Centers of King County continues to operate the clinic and is considering expanding natural medicine services to other sites.  Building on this successful experience, Dr. Pizzorno is discussing other joint ventures and integration demonstration projects with other hospitals and clinics in the Northwest. 

Developing Academic and Industry Standards

Dr. Pizzorno has worked for decades to establish science-based natural medicine as a credible complement to conventional medical care.  This hallmark of his overall vision is evident in every aspect of his work, from drafting accreditation standards and writing dietary supplement industry guidelines, to establishing research guidelines and designing training curriculum for health food stores.

 

Dr. Pizzorno spearheaded efforts to establish modern, educational standards for naturopathic physicians, which were approved by the U.S. Department of Education in 1987.  The accreditation program involves a four and five year curriculum with over 4,000 hours of instruction to students who have already completed pre-med.  Medical science and clinical diagnostic skills are taught during the first two years.  Students also undergo extensive, supervised clinical training in outpatient naturopathic clinics.  Graduates of an approved program are eligible to take the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam (NPLEX).  The results of this exam are used by all states that license individuals to practice naturopathic medicine.

 

Dr. Pizzorno continues to initiate projects that add understanding, credibility and predictability to complementary and alternative medicine.  One example is the creation of the Bastyr University Dispensary Standards.  This manual provides natural products consumers with extensive information about the contents, production and quality control standards of natural products.  It gives consumers the critical information they need to determine which products are most likely to safely provide the health benefits they are seeking.

Public Policy Activities

 

2002-2004                   Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee

Member

 

2000-2002                   White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy

Commissioner

 

1996-2002                   Seattle/King County Board of Health

Member

 

1993-94, 2002-03       U.S. Federal Trade Commission

Expert Consultant

 

2000-2002                   Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium

                           Member

 

2000                            Josiah Macy, Jr, Foundation, Conference on Education of Health Professionals in Complementary and Alternative Medicine

                                    Invited participant

 

1999-2001                   American Public Health Association

Chair, Special Primary Interest Group (SPIG) on Complementary and Alternative Health Practices

 

1996-2000                   Washington Health/University of Washington, Dept. of Public Health

Editorial Advisory Council Member

 

1998                            Microsoft Corporation

Health Care Advisory Council Member

 

1995-97                       NIH Office of Alternative Medicine Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research in Asthma and Allergy

Advisory Council Member, University of California, Davis

 

1995-96                                  Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska

Alternative Health Care Advisory Committee Member

 

1996                                          NIH Office of Dietary Supplements

Ad Hoc Advisory Committee Member

 

1993-94                                  United States Congress

Advisory Panel on the Safety and Efficacy of Dietary Supplements member, Office of Technology Assessment

 

1993                            Role of Naturopathic Medicine in Health Care Reform

Expert Witness, First Lady Hillary Clinton's Health Care Reform Taskforce

Publications

 

2005                            Dunne N, Benda W, Kim L, Mittman P, Barrett R, Snider P, Pizzorno J. Naturopathic medicine: what can patients expect? J Fam Pract. 2005;54:1067-72

2005                            Murray MT, Pizzorno JE and Pizzorno LE: Encyclopedia of Healing Foods. Simon & Schuster

2005                            Pizzorno JE and Murray MT, A Textbook of Natural Medicine, Elsevier, New York (3^rd edition)

2002                            Murray MT, Pizzorno JE, Reily P and Birdsall T, Natural Medicine for The Prevention and Treatment of Cancer. Penguin Putman

2002                            Pizzorno, LE, Pizzorno JE, and Murray MT, Natural Medicine Instructions for Patients. Elsevier

2002                            Commentary, Alternative Therapies

2001                            Pizzorno JE, Murray MT and Joiner-Bey H, Handbook on Natural Medicine for Physicians, Churchill Livingstone, London, New York

1985-98                       Pizzorno JE and Murray MT, A Textbook of Natural Medicine, John Bastyr College Publications, Seattle, WA (Updated quarterly)

1996, 1998                  Pizzorno JE, Total Wellness, Prima, Rocklin, CA

1990, 1998                  Murray MT and Pizzorno JE, Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Prima (Best seller ~ 1,000,000 copies), Translations: Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Yugoslavian

1994                            Pizzorno JE, The Naturopathic Physician. Miami Medicine, 65:25-26

1993-94                       Bimonthly Column (with Lara Pizzorno), Veggie Life, Concord, CA

1993                            Monthly Research Review Column, Choices, Seattle, WA

1991-92                       Bimonthly Column, Vegetarian Times, Oak Park, IL

1987                            Barrie SA, Wright JV and Pizzorno JE: Effects of garlic oil on platelet aggregation, serum lipids and blood pressure in humans. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, 1:15-21

1987                                          Barrie SA, Wright JV, Pizzorno JE, Kutter B, and Barron PC: Com‚parative absorption of zinc picolinate, zinc citrate and zinc gluconate in humans. Agents and Actions, 21:223-8

1977                            Pizzorno JE: Phytolacca Decandra. Journal of Natural Medicine, 1:26-7

1974                            Simkin PA and Pizzorno JE: Transynovial Exchange of Small Molecules. Journal of Applied Physiology, 36:5

Editorial Responsibilities

 

2002-present               Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal

                                    Executive Editor

2002-present               Alternative Medicine Magazine

                                    Editorial Board

2004-present               Alternative Therapies

                                    Editorial Board

2004-present               Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants

                                    Editorial Board

2001-2003                   CAM for Practitioners, Great Britain

                                    Medical Advisory Board

1996-present               Natural Health Magazine

Advisory Board

1995-2002                   Nutrition Science News

Editorial Advisory Board

1994-2003                   Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine

Editorial Board

1993-present               Complementary Therapies in Medicine

International Advisory Board

1987-present               Let's Live Magazine

Medical Advisory Board

1998                            Textbook of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Associate Editor

1994-97                       Alternative & Complementary Therapies

Senior Medical Advisor

1992-96                       Health News & Review

Editorial Board

1993                                          Naturopathic Medicine: Contributions to Health Care Reform

Co-Author/Editor, Presented to Clinton Health Care Reform Taskforce

1993                            Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide

Editorial Board

1992-93                       Natural Foods Education Program

Senior Editor

1988-92                       Journal of Naturopathic Medicine

Executive Editorial Board

1979-81                       Journal of the John Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine

Editor

Selected Speaking Engagements

 

2006                            Micronutrients in Health: A Clinician's Prespective. Food as Medicine Conference, Baltimore, MD

2006                            Digestion. CAM Expo for Professionals, New York, NY &Los Angeles, CA

2005                            Detoxification. CAM Expo for Professionals, New York, NY &Los Angeles, CA

2005                            Micronutrients in Health: A Clinician's Prespective. Food as Medicine Conference, Berkeley, CA

2004                            Micronutrients in Health: A Clinician's Prespective. Food as Medicine Conference, Berkeley, CA

2004                            Scientific Basis for Natural Therapies. Japanese Food Manufacturers annual conference, Tokyo, Japan

2004                            A Physiological Approach to Botanical Medicine. Mountain State University. Beckley, WV

2004                            Digestive Physiology: Enhancing Function. University Arizona, College of Medicine. Tucson, AZ

2004                            Natural Medicine in the United States. NNFA Japan. Scheduled for May in Tokyo

2004                            Recent Advances in Therapeutic Nutrition. Center for Mind Body Medicine. Scheduled for June in Berkley

2003                            Natural Medicine in Cancer Care. Los Angeles Times Health Symposium. Los Angeles

2003                            Detoxification. Alternative Therapies in Medicine. Seattle

2003                            Natural Medicine Approaches for Common Diseases. American Association of Chiropractic Physicians. Denver, CO

2002                            CAM for Underserved Populations. NW Rural Physicians Association

                                    Denver, CO

2002                            Complementary Healthcare Policy

                                    Sydney, Australia

2001                            Comprehensive Cancer Care 2000: Integrating Complementary & Alternative Therapies

                                    Arlington, VA

2000                            American Association of Clinical Chemists

St. Louis, MI

1988-1999                   University of Washington, School of Medicine, Medical History and Ethics Class

Seattle, WA

1999                                          Health Expo ~ International Conference on Integrative Medicine

Seattle, WA

1999                            Harvard Medical School Continuing Education

Boston, MA

1998                                          Washington Health Legislative Conference

Seattle, WA

1998                                          American Botanical Council World Med Conference

Los Angeles, CA

1998                                          British Columbia College of Family Physicians

Vancouver, BC

1998                            State of the Science in Alternative Medicine

Bangkok, Thailand; Tokyo, Japan

1997                                          American Public Health Association Annual Conference

Indianapolis, IN

1997                                          Tzu Chi Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Vancouver, BC

1996                                          International Conference on Clinical Botanical Medicine

Auckland, New Zealand

1996                                          Rosenthal Center for Alternative & Complementary Therapies/Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons

New York, NY

1996                                          Churchill Livingstone World Conference on Complementary Therapies in Medicine

Washington, DC

1996                                          National Institutes of Health, National Conference on Integration of Alternative Medicine Education in Medical Schools

Bethesda, MD

1991                                          Joint AIDS and Complementary Committee, Great Britain's Parliament

London, UK

1990                                          Chinese Medicine Conference

Taipei, Taiwan

Leadership Activities

 

2001-present               Institute for Functional Medicine

                                    Chair, Board of Directors

2001-2003                   The Research Council for Complementary Medicine, London

International Advisory Board

1998-2001                   American Public Health Association

Complementary and Alternative Health Practices Special Primary Interest Chair, 1999-2001; Member, 1998-2002

1998-2000                   Health Care Policy Roundtable Series

Convener

1996-present               HerbalGram

Board of Advisors Member

1996-2005                   American Herbal Pharmacopoeia

Board of Directors Member

1996-2000                   HealthWorld OnLine

Advisory Board Member

1996-98                       Shape

Editorial Advisory Board Member

1993                                          Phytochemistry Research Institute

Advisory Council Member

1980-91                       Seattle Midwifery School

Education Advisory Committee Member

1990                            National Chinese Research Institute

Consultant

1978-87                       Council on Naturopathic Medical Education
(U.S. Dept. Education-recognized accrediting agency)

                                    President, 1985-87, Vice-President, 1987-89; Secretary, 1978-85

1978-87                       Federation of Naturopathic Colleges

Board of Directors President, Co-Founder, Member

1980-85                       Northwest Academy of Preventive Medicine

Member

1985-present               American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

Board of Directors Founding Member

Member, Board of Directors, 1985-94

1979-81                       United Trust for Naturopathic Medicine

President

1977-81                       National Association of Naturopathic Physicians

Member

1977-present               Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians

Vice President, 1977-78

Member, 1975-present; Secretary, 1976-77;

Chair, Education Committee, 1976

1976-78                        National College of Naturopathic Medicine

Board of Directors Member, Secretary

Media Activities

 

100 media interviews and appearances per year while president of Bastyr University, now 25/year. Examples include: MSNBC, Today Show, Good Morning America, PBS radio, Japan Times, etc.

 

Awards and Honors

 

2006                            Honorary Doctor of Laws, National College of Naturopathic Medicine

2004                            Linus Pauling Award, Institute for Functional Medicine

2004                            Leader in Therapeutic Nutrition, Natural Foods Merchandiser

2003