Our teachers offer a deep well of holistic understanding, personal and professional experience in the healing arts field
NaturopathicSchool believes that a large part of what evolves a great school is a wonderful faculty and staff. Ours is a gathering of inspired and experienced women and men, trained in multiple disciplines, sharing their passion for life, integrity, and enthusiasm to our students and community.
FACULTY
MARY LIGHT, ND MH, LMT
Mary is a volunteer at the School, and volunteer coordinator for the NSHA staff of hard working volunteers. She teaches a portion of the program content. She, along with the ANA advisory board, founded the American Naturopaths Association (ANA) in early 2011.
Mary originally founded the school several years ago to meet the need for comprehensive, hands-on, clinical education arising from a strong and experienced base of integrated, hands-on training and mentored clinical experience. Her vision is to help others, through the support of the ANA, pursue foundational and continuing education in the naturopathic healing arts, and to establish additional schools throughout the country.,
She has taught throughout the east coast and in Michigan, and contributes regularly to magazines as writer and consultant. She has extensive training, experience, and certification as a practitioner and educator in the natural healing arts: bodywork, massage, energy work, yoga, naturopathy, naturopathic hydrotherapy, herbal therapeutics derived from studies and certification programs completed at Florida Institute of Natural Health, Florida School of Massage, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, School of Natural Medicine, with Carolyn Myss; The Ann Wigmore Institute, Finger Lakes School of Massage, and continuing education with numerous energy healers, herbalists, and naturopaths.
Her university training was in a dietetics program, with strong foundations in Anatomy, Physiology, Bacteriology, Food Sciences, and Nutrition- although it was within this milieu that she discovered that orienting thinking and action towards an overarching allopathic industry was not to be her life path.
She maintains a part time private clinical practice in the integrated healing arts of the modern traditional naturopath. (since1991). Mary also works holistically with pet and horse care- particularly energy work and fower essences for horses.
A student of herbalism most of her life, Vanessa Allen was born into a family with a history of natural healing. She was encouraged at a very young age to explore plant life and how to apply natural methods for healing. Her mother always tended a garden and working the garden became a project the two of them shared together, building upon the garden year after to year to grow food and herbs. Vanessa is a student practitioner at New Life Energies healing center and clinic, associated with the naturopathic school. She excitedly anticipates every opportunity to be involved with natural healing, and more importantly, to share her knowledge.
CAROLE FLORENCE, BS, Naturopath Intern (ND class of 2012)
Carole is involved in many aspects of the Naturopathy Program, including teaching in the classroom, and assistance with the student clinic, herb lab and pharmacy/dispensary. Carole is the mother of three daughters and resides in Plymouth Michigan. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a BS in Mathematics and a BS in Computer Information Systems. She has over 30 years extensive experience working in the healthcare industry, serving in various positions from Vice President to consultant. She has actively explored her interests in yoga, medicinal gardening, energy medicine, herbal nourishment, dietary healing and other natural therapeutics for a number of years. She is certified in Reiki levels 1 & 2, and is currently working toward Reiki Master. She is on the boards of the Naturopathic School of the Healing Arts and the American Naturopaths Association. She recognizes the healing power of natural medicine and is actively involved in shaping the future of naturopathic medicine in our nation.
SARAH BENZ, RN, CMT
Sarah is a registered nurse (University of Michigan) and certified massage therapist (Irene's Myomassology Institute) with Shiatsu training., and an avid advocate of integrative holistic education and practice. As a nurse, she has several years of clinical experience in cardiology departments. She is currently a student in the University of Michigan Certified Nurse-Midwife program. In her free time, she most enjoys spending time with her husband and her son.
MOSHE DANIEL BLOCK
Moshe is an author, naturopathic doctor, and homeopath. His book " The Revolution of Naturopathic Medicine: Remaining True to Our Philosophy" offers his unique perspectives and interest in preserving the true holistic roots of naturopathic medicine, in light of his education at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, and his observations of the increasingly allopathized departure from the original principles of naturopathic medicine philosophy. He currently offers homeopathy and body/mind training at our school, while working on numerous personal and professional projects along with a private practice.
ROWENA CONAHAN
A community herbalist, massage therapist, and traditional healer combining herbal medicine, homeopathy, and bodywork, Rowena brings extensive wilderness skills training and experience to her Wild Edibles walks and lectures during our herbal medicine training. A graduate of Vassar, Rowena is a former Montessori teacher, and an active co-housing participant, mother of two small children, community storyteller, and community herbalist. In our program, Rowena will be assisting during bodywork/naturopathic physical medicine training, bringing her deep trust and movement through the intuitive process to bear upon the effectiveness of bodywork and the client/therapist relationship.
SUSAN GUINN, R.N.
Susan recently retired from a 30 year career as a nurse in our local hospitals. She has studied Polarity Therapy for several years, and is currently participating in Barbara Brennan Healing Science program, as well as Naturopathic School of Ann Arbor, Naturopath program.
Susan brings her medical experience to the integrative segments of our naturopathy program.
STEFANIE COHEN
Registered Somatic Movement Educator, brings an extensive, creative and academic background of experience in dance and therapeutic movement, as well as experience in the human health field, in Hospice. Primarily working with the Somatic practice of Authentic Movement, she presents segments within the program designed to increase awareness, deep level, embodied and interpersonal listening, and the experience of the holistic benefits of movement in healing.
PEGGY JONES, certified herbalist
Peggy is a graduate of our Medicinal Herbalist Certification program, 2007, and is currently ipursung advanced study in herbal practice., She has successfully completed the certification program for Organic Master Gardener offered by Washtenaw Community College in 2008, and is apprenticing to teach in our herbal medicine program as of this summer. Peggy is currently co-teaching the program "Herbal Studies: Seven Saturdays" at Gaia Center in Ann Arbor. She tends expanding herb gardens at her home which is situated on several acres, including many wild stands of Elder tree and marsh plants. She is currently creating wonderful creams, balms, and poultices, and will be assisting in Apothecary and Dispensary projects at Gaia School.
Aleta Luesse, R.D.H.
Aleta has studied extensively and completed various noted energy medicine programs, and is currently completing a long term advanced training with Donna Eden Energy Medicine program. She is our guide and teacher for the internal ecological relationship between dental health / dental disease, and systemic conditions of the entire body. A graduate of University of Michigan, she also has completed extensive training in energy medicine, a passion she continues to pursue. She works in the capacity of R.D.H. at an established Ann Arbor dental practice, and is preparing to enter osetopathic medical school at Michigan State in 2012. Are you interested in teaching? Share with us your resume,
references, experience, and potential with our school. We will send you our protocol on vetting, hiring, pay rates, benefits, and policies. We have several part time positions available for instructors of different topics, and offer career benefits to our core teachers. As teachers and staff mature within the mutually supportive structure of the school, one helps the other grow, and teacher salaries grow as well.
Dr. Daniel M Block (Moshe), author, homeopath, naturopath with a group of 24 students in our studio.
