Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians

Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians WANP is a professional membership organization that supports naturopathic physicians who are licensed in Washington State.

Learn about our seminars at www.wanp.org and find the doctor you've been looking for here www.FindANaturalDoctor.com

Mission
The mission of the WANP is to support our members and advocate for naturopathic medicine in Washington State. We work to increase public awareness of and access to naturopathic medical services, and we contribute to quality of care through continuing professional education

programs. Company Overview
The Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP) is the professional association of licensed naturopathic doctors (NDs) in the state of Washington. Created in 1934, the WANP is the largest state organization of NDs in the country.

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£**The conference schedule is officially posted!!!**This thing is so clo...
04/21/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

**The conference schedule is officially posted!!!**

This thing is so close to launch, but there is still time to register! We actually delayed the increase to late pricing until after we allow all registrants into the app (likely tomorrow or Thursday!), so take advantage of our delay to register last minute at our regular price! šŸ’²

Dr. Danielle Watson will present fascinating and important details about how pregnancy and postpartum history can have significant lasting impact on your patients. She'll help you understand why and how to ask questions that get you the information you need to help protect these patients - even many years post-pregnancy.

*****

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality in women, yet traditional prevention strategies often overlook reproductive history as a critical determinant of risk. Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs)ā€”including preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and fetal growth restrictionā€”are now recognized as early indicators of long-term cardiometabolic disease. These events act as a ā€œstress test,ā€ unmasking vascular and metabolic vulnerabilities that extend beyond the postpartum period and influence cardiovascular health across the lifespan. For naturopathic doctors, reproductive milestones present key opportunities for early screening and prevention. During pregnancy, blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and placental function provide valuable insight into future cardiovascular risk. In the postpartum period, targeted follow-up on blood pressure, glycemic control, and lipid status allows for timely intervention. As women transition through perimenopause, integrating reproductive history with cardiovascular screening offers a unique window to address cumulative risk. This talk will review the evidence linking APOs to later CVD, discuss underlying mechanisms, and highlight clinical strategies naturopathic doctors can use to integrate pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopausal screening into comprehensive cardiovascular prevention. By recognizing APOs as hidden risk factors, we can shift toward a proactive, s*x-specific approach to optimizing long-term health in women.

*****

wanp.org/2026conference

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£Our conference opens two weeks from today and our regular pricing ends ...
04/17/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

Our conference opens two weeks from today and our regular pricing ends TOMORROW!

You don't want to miss hearing from Dr. Sunita Iyer this year, as she discusses the impact of an often-overlooked piece of aging: loss of community. In her presentation, "Beyond Hormones, Weight Loss, and Heart Health: Troubleshooting loneliness and loss of community in midlife and aging", Dr. Iyer will review the evidence and provide real actionable approaches you can take with patients to help them move through some of these challenges.

Register today to access this important presentation!

*****

Midlife and aging are so often talked about in terms of decline ā€” hormones shifting, energy dipping, memory changing, heart health becoming a bigger concern. But thereā€™s another, quieter issue thatā€™s just as important and far less talked about: disconnection and isolation and its impacts on aging and chronic health. So many people in midlife are struggling with loneliness, isolation, and the slow fading of community. These arenā€™t just emotional experiences; they have real, measurable effects on the body, from increased inflammation and stress hormones to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and even shorter lifespans. This session is an invitation to look at mid-life and aging medicine differently. What if every treatment plan ā€” whether itā€™s about nutrition, movement, or hormone support ā€” also included tangible care for connection? What if belonging, purpose, and social health were seen as essential parts of healing, not optional extras? What are the ways that we are serving this disconnection in our practices in the name of boundaries and technologization? How can we look at this from a sustainability lens? And in what ways are we "walking our talk" as providers and a profession? How can we view community partnerships and engagement as part of our medicine, not just an "add on"? Dr. Sunita Iyer will share stories, tactical strategies, and prescribing frameworks for helping people rebuild and sustain meaningful community ties. Weā€™ll look at how our current healthcare and wellness systems sometimes unintentionally make isolation worse ā€” and explore our contributions and what we can do to change that.

*****

wanp.org/2026conference

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£We actually have THREE presentations on pain at this year's conference ...
04/09/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

We actually have THREE presentations on pain at this year's conference - but all taking a slightly different approach. We are thrilled that Dr. Bill Walter will join us from Oregon to cover "Pain Management: Key concepts and assessments." Dr. Walter brings to this presentation years of experience working in a community health/primary care clinic and will consider patient access, costs, and psychosocial factors as he discusses the evidence behind chronic pain.

*****

Chronic Pain is a common condition, prompting patients to seek care from a range of healthcare providers. This lecture will review key principles in assessment of chronic pain (including psychological factors that must be understood), natural treatment approaches, and opioid and non-opioid pharmacological treatment. We will additionally discuss critical aspects related to the use of controlled substances.

*****

Register by April 18 to save yourself some money: wanp.org/2026conference

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£Did we already use the terms "fan favorite"?? šŸ¤© Happily, we can have mo...
04/07/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

Did we already use the terms "fan favorite"?? šŸ¤© Happily, we can have more than one!

We're thrilled that Dr. Paul Anderson - mentor to so many - will be presenting at our rapidly approaching 2026 conference. The topic?

Biofilms.

Everybody has them. But what the heck do you do when they get out of control? šŸ¤·ā€ā™€ļø

The data around biofilms as part of human health and disease has expanded in the past decade. In this presentation Dr. Paul Anderson will relate the updated research to modern clinical practice in managing biofilms in patient care. The focus will be on patient presentations, biofilm "strata", and treatment pearls.

*****

Register by April 18 to save yourself some money: wanp.org/2026conference

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£You've got less than 2 weeks to register for "The Smart Physician: Pear...
04/07/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

You've got less than 2 weeks to register for "The Smart Physician: Pearls, Protocols, & Evolving Wisdom" before prices increase on April 18!

We promise the presentation on "Reproductive Physiology" by Drs. Khivan Oberoi and Stefani Hayes will make you glad you signed up! In this joint presentation, these fertility specialists weave together a great balance of evidence and clinical considerations based on their decades of experience.

*****

This presentation explores the contrasting physiology of fertility and perimenopause, helping clinicians recognize where the reproductive systemā€™s patterns and priorities shift across the lifespan. The presenters will begin with a review of core reproductive physiology, emphasizing the hormonal dynamics that define optimal fertility and how these differ from perimenopausal transitions. Participants will receive a concise overview of fertility evaluation essentials, including cycle tracking, key laboratory assessments, and indicators of ovulatory function. The session will also highlight red flags that warrant referralā€”such as signs of premature ovarian insufficiency and endometriosisā€”ensuring timely and appropriate co-management. Finally, the presentation will cover how to nuance hormonal evaluation and treatment for fertility patients, differentiating between physiologic support for conception and the management of early dysregulation that precedes perimenopause. This integrative review equips primary care and naturopathic clinicians with a clear framework for identifying, evaluating, and managing patients across the spectrum of reproductive health.

*****

Register today: wanp.org/2026conference

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£We are less than one month away from our continuing education event of ...
04/02/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

We are less than one month away from our continuing education event of the year and what an awesome speaker highlight to share today! Over years of clinical practice, Dr. LuLu Shimek has developed a strategy to help think about, diagnose, and address issues that face nearly all humans as we advance through life. She will share her protocol to help other physicians understand how to support patients in a clear, step-wise fashion.

If you're looking for another clinical tool to help you efficiently and effectively move through your cases, you'll want to learn directly from Dr. Shimek!

Prices increase on April 18, so register today!

*****

Mitochondrial decline and epigenetic dysregulation are two of the most overlooked drivers of accelerated aging, hormone imbalance, and chronic disease. As physicians, we see the downstream effects every dayā€”fatigue, brain fog, metabolic dysfunction, infertility, and inflammationā€”yet standard protocols often fall short in addressing the root causes. This presentation will offer practical, evidence-based protocols for cultivating mitochondrial resilience and supporting epigenetic renewal. Drawing from the latest research in functional medicine, genomics, and longevity science, participants will learn how to integrate clinical pearls and step-by-step strategies into patient care. Case studies will illustrate how targeted nutrition, lifestyle interventions, and precision supplementation can rewire cellular health, restore hormonal harmony, and improve patient outcomes. Attendees will walk away with tools to immediately apply in practiceā€”protocols that not only extend lifespan but also enhance healthspan, giving patients more years of energy, vitality, and resilience.

*****

Register today: wanp.org/2026conference

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£The extracellular matrix is a key player in overall health. Dr. Mark Iw...
03/31/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

The extracellular matrix is a key player in overall health. Dr. Mark Iwanicki brings in science, physiology, and clinical experience to help you understand how to assess and support the ECM in your patients in his talk "From Concept to Clinic: Applying matrix physiology in naturopathic detoxification" during our 2026 conference weekend, May 1-3.

*****

Emerging research identifies the extracellular matrix (ECM) as a dynamic regulatory organ central to detoxification, inflammation, and chronic disease. Far beyond a passive scaffolding, the ECM acts as a biochemical communication and drainage network connecting every cell, tissue, and organ system. When the matrix becomes congested, acidic, or inflamed, detoxification and immune regulation falter, leading to chronic inflammation, hormonal dysregulation, and degenerative disease. This presentation integrates European Biological Medicine with modern naturopathic principles to explore how restoring ECM integrity enhances the bodyā€™s natural detoxification capacity. Participants will learn the clinical signs of matrix dysregulation, the role of lymphatic and organ drainage, and evidence-informed protocols using nutrition, botanicals, and bioregulatory remedies to reestablish cellular communication and detox flow.

*****

Register today: wanp.org/2026conference

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£Have you had questions about low-dose immunotherapy approaches like SLI...
03/26/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

Have you had questions about low-dose immunotherapy approaches like SLIT, LDA, and SCIT? Have you wondered about their effectiveness in clinical practice or how to use them? Are you curious about what the research says about this?

If you answered "yes!" to any of these questions, you should definitely plan to attend the lecture "Modulating the Immune System with Immunotherapy" with Darin Ingels, ND, FAAEM, FMAPS at our upcoming conference.

*****

The rise of atopic disease has dramatically increased over the past several decades and is a leading cause of morbidity. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), low dose allergy therapy, and low dose immunotherapy represents a safe and effective approach to modulating the immune system in patients with allergic diseases and hypersensitivity. By delivering allergen extracts through the oral mucosa, SLIT promotes immune tolerance via the induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and a shift from Th2- to Th1-mediated immune responses. This process ultimately decreases hypersensitivity to allergens and builds immune tolerance. Compared to subcutaneous immunotherapy, SLIT offers improved safety, convenience, and patient adherence, making it an attractive option for long-term management of allergic rhinitis, asthma, mast cell activation and other atopic conditions. This can also be an important treatment for down regulating autoimmunity induced by various pathogens. In this lecture, Dr. Ingels will discuss the various types of immunotherapy and how they can be clinically applied to restore better immune health.

*****

Register today: wanp.org/2026conference

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£We are bringing back another fan favorite this year! Dr. Megan Taylor h...
03/24/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

We are bringing back another fan favorite this year! Dr. Megan Taylor has made a name for herself as a sought-out speaker and educator on all matters related to the gut. She is incredibly passionate both about helping patients with complex digestive concerns AND about empowering her colleagues to better understand and address these concerns. Her focus in this presentation, "Understanding & Treating Visceral Hypersensitivity", is on the challenging realities of visceral hypersensitivity - how it presents, how to diagnose, and what treatments (backed by research!) might be useful.

*****

Visceral hypersensitivity (VH) is a commonly encountered clinical condition that very few know how to recognize and manage effectively. An estimated 1/3 - 2/3 of all patients with functional abdominal pain conditions (i.e. IBS, Functional dyspepsia, pediatric functional abdominal pain, etc.) have VH, and treating VH as its own distinct component of these conditions is essential to their effective management. This presentation will review key underlying pathophysiology behind the development of VH, how to recognized it in clinic, and how to formulate a multi-pronged treatment plan using a variety of interventions. We will cover key pharmacologic management tools, and attendees will walk away with example treatment plans to implement immediately in clinic.

*****

Register today: wanp.org/2026conference

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£Are you curious about ways you can be more proactive with patients in t...
03/18/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

Are you curious about ways you can be more proactive with patients in terms of their cardiovascular health? Do you have questions about how environmental exposures can affect long-term cardiovascular wellness? Are you looking for additional options for detoxification and prevention - beyond just reacting to routine screening?

If so, you'll definitely want to hear Dr. Brenden Cochran present on "Next-Generation Approaches in Cardiovascular Care: From a reactive to a proactive approach" at our upcoming CME conference.

*****

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwideā€”yet the majority of clinical strategies still emphasize reactive management rather than proactive prevention and optimization. This presentation explores an evolution in cardiovascular medicine that integrates systems biology, metabolic insight, and precision prevention to shift from late-stage intervention to early restoration of vascular and mitochondrial health. Through clinical pearls and real-world examples, we will examine emerging diagnostic and therapeutic approachesā€”including endothelial function assessment, oxidative stress biomarkers, mitochondrial efficiency, and inflammatory modulationā€”as key tools for personalized cardiovascular risk reduction. Attendees will gain practical strategies to identify subclinical dysfunction earlier, support endothelial repair, optimize nitric oxide pathways, and integrate metabolic and inflammatory profiling into everyday clinical decision-making. By reframing cardiovascular care as a continuumā€”from risk prediction to resilience buildingā€”this session empowers physicians to adopt a forward-looking, proactive framework that complements traditional cardiology with the latest insights from functional and regenerative medicine.

*****

Register today: wanp.org/2026conference

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£The incredible presentations just keep coming... and will continue righ...
03/17/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

The incredible presentations just keep coming... and will continue right up until our conference opens on May 1! We're so excited to get YOU excited!

In her presentation on "Talking to Patients About Sexual Health", certified s*x therapist Elizabeth Bird, PhD, will share tips and tricks to ensure that s*xual health is on your radar as a key part of a person's well-being. She'll give straightforward examples of what questions to ask and why, and reminds us all to keep our assumptions and judgments in check.

*****

Sexual health is a vital yet often overlooked component of overall well-being. Many patients experience s*xual concerns that go unaddressed in healthcare settings. This presentation aims to increase provider comfort, knowledge, and skill in discussing s*xual health within routine clinical care. Using a biopsychosocial and whole-health lens, participants will learn practical strategies for initiating conversations about s*xual function and well-being, gathering relevant assessment information, and providing brief education and appropriate referrals. The talk reviews common s*xual concerns, including changes related to aging, medications, and psychological or relational factors, and introduces frameworks such as the Dual Control Model and topics such as responsive versus spontaneous desire.

*****

If you're not already familiar with Bancroft and Janssen's Dual Control Model of Sexuality, popularized by Emily Nagoski in *Come As You Are*, you may find it a helpful approach for patients who are struggling.

Register today: wanp.org/2026conference

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£Have you been prescribing GLP-1 agonists in your practice? Have you not...
03/14/2026

šŸ“£WANP 2026 Annual Conference | Speaker HighlightšŸ“£

Have you been prescribing GLP-1 agonists in your practice? Have you noticed benefits extending beyond glucose control and weight management? Have you been hearing about "microdosing" GLP-1s and been curious about this strategy?

If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, you should definitely come to our conference and learn from Dr. Jennifer Bennett about the emerging data behind these medications in the presentation *GLP-1 Agonists in Autoimmunity: How these diabetes medications are improving inflammation*.

*****

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), originally developed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, are increasingly recognized for their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties in autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate that GLP-1 RAs can attenuate inflammatory cytokine expression, modulate innate and adaptive immune responses, and improve metabolic parameters, with some evidence of direct disease-modifying effects in inflammatory arthritis. Compared to traditional biologic therapies, GLP-1 RAs offer potential advantages in managing metabolic comorbidities and may serve as adjuncts or alternatives to biologics in certain populations.

*****

If you've attended prior conferences, you likely know that Dr. Bennett's presentations are interesting, informative, engaging, and fun - while focusing on research and clinical functionality of whatever it is she is presenting on. You won't regret learning from her!

Register today: wanp.org/2026conference

Address

Seattle, WA

Telephone

+12065472130

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians:

Shortcuts

Share

Category