Before we met in Portland, Oregon at the National College of Natural Medicine and built the Food as Medicine Institute together, we shared similar past experiences that included a passion for international travel, speaking Spanish, engaging in community education and many (no so healthy) Midwest meals and casseroles. Julie served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay, and Courtney worked with Amigos de las Americas in Mexico and Honduras. Both of us provided health and environmental education and saw first-hand the powerful force of community-based programs.
While our training as naturopathic physicians allows us the privilege of practicing clinical medicine, we remain passionate about bringing the wisdom of natural medicine to a larger audience. Food is one of the foundational therapies that NDs prescribe to their patients.
The communal nature of food propelled us to expand nutrition education outside of the clinic and to create the Food as Medicine Institute at the oldest naturopathic medical school in the country. For the last five years, we have been leading 12-week, physician-led community nutrition and cooking programs called… you guessed it… Food as Medicine Everyday, or FAME. Over 1,000 individuals and families from all walks of life have had life changing experiences taking the FAME series.
We have cooked and shared amazing meals at high schools, churches, community centers, and even at a women’s correctional facility. We have also burnt kale chips, seriously over-spiced and definitely under-spiced dishes, and eaten unintentional cornbread "pudding", all under the watchful eyes of our participants.
We have discovered time and time again that true healing often takes place in a kitchen and at a dinner table. While your choice of food really does matter, the choice to commit to a whole foods lifestyle matters more. Our book, Food As Medicine Everyday, Reclaim Your Health With Whole Foods, shares the successes of this program and offers simple recipes that will help you change the way you relate to food.
While our training as naturopathic physicians allows us the privilege of practicing clinical medicine, we remain passionate about bringing the wisdom of natural medicine to a larger audience. Food is one of the foundational therapies that NDs prescribe to their patients.
The communal nature of food propelled us to expand nutrition education outside of the clinic and to create the Food as Medicine Institute at the oldest naturopathic medical school in the country. For the last five years, we have been leading 12-week, physician-led community nutrition and cooking programs called… you guessed it… Food as Medicine Everyday, or FAME. Over 1,000 individuals and families from all walks of life have had life changing experiences taking the FAME series.
We have cooked and shared amazing meals at high schools, churches, community centers, and even at a women’s correctional facility. We have also burnt kale chips, seriously over-spiced and definitely under-spiced dishes, and eaten unintentional cornbread "pudding", all under the watchful eyes of our participants.
We have discovered time and time again that true healing often takes place in a kitchen and at a dinner table. While your choice of food really does matter, the choice to commit to a whole foods lifestyle matters more. Our book, Food As Medicine Everyday, Reclaim Your Health With Whole Foods, shares the successes of this program and offers simple recipes that will help you change the way you relate to food.
Julie Briley, NDDr. Julie Briley is a naturopathic physician, educator, and mother. She is the co-founder of the Food As Medicine Institute at National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon, and a faculty member in the Master of Science in Nutrition program. At her private practice at Asula Wellness Center in downtown Portland, Dr. Briley focuses on identifying food sensitivities, optimizing digestive health, balancing hormones, and the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. She is a popular speaker in Portland’s thriving health and food culture. Dr. Briley’s longstanding interest in community health and education was sparked through her research and teaching experience in the U.S and Latin America, including her service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay. Dr. Briley received her doctorate degree at National College of Natural Medicine and her Bachelors of Science in Biology from University of Wisconsin
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Courtney Jackson, NDDr. Courtney Jackson is a naturopathic physician who passionately promotes the healing power of whole foods to her patients and the public. She is the creator of the ECO Project at the National College of Natural Medicine and co-founder of the Food as Medicine Institute. Prior to pursuing her medical career, Dr. Jackson earned her Bachelor of Science in Resource Ecology Management from the University of Michigan. Her interest in medicine stemmed from growing up in a conventional medical family in the Midwest. Her ND degree beautifully rounds out the medical family tree and adds a dynamic flavor to family conversations. Dr. Jackson maintains a private practice at Grain Integrative Health in southeast Portland where she offers comprehensive, patient-centered evaluations focusing on hormone, digestive, and cardiovascular health. She loves spending time indoors and outdoors with her husband and two kids and celebrating a good meal with them.
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