| Bastyr University » Academic Degree Programs » Interviews » Student Club Spotlight | March 16, 2010 |
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Student Club Spotlight: A Multicultural Approach to Promoting Natural MedicineMichelle Eustache is just like any other medical school student: busy. But where her peers might use their free time to catch up on much needed sleep, Eustache is volunteering with the YMCA's Young Black Achievers program. She plans to help teens with their career projects by explaining both what it means to be a doctor and the philosophy behind naturopathic medicine. This is just one example of the type of volunteer and community-building work in which Eustache and the Bastyr club she helps run, the Multicultural Student Association of Natural Medicine (MSAN), are involved.
Eustache, 29, a second-year naturopathic medicine student, and Micah Allen, 26, a fifth-year naturopathic medicine/acupuncture and Oriental medicine student who co-leads the group, say volunteer activities like the Young Black Achievers program are aimed at addressing the relative dearth of naturopathic doctors of color in the U.S. "Creating a more diverse population in our profession is important to us," says Allen, a Florida native who came to Bastyr with a degree in animal science. "We want to provide competent examples of naturopathic doctors out in the community — to show people of all colors that if you want to be an ND, you can." While the club maintains a focus on promoting naturopathic medicine in black communities and representing the concerns and interests of black students at Bastyr, it has also become more inclusive, both in name and mission, this year. The club was established in 2004 as the Bastyr Africana Student Association (BASTA). But Eustache, who recently assumed a leadership role, says it has since become apparent that BASTA needed to evolve into a more global, pluralistic organization. MSAN's mission statement now embodies that position, outlining a goal to "heighten awareness and impart friendship between all people, regardless of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation or national origin.""All of us students are here to learn as much as possible for the sake of our patients," Eustache says. "But we also want to do something deeper — to move forward and be more inclusive. Through relationships with people from different backgrounds we gain knowledge." Eustache, who left a job as a biomedical researcher in Washington, D.C., to study medicine at Bastyr, says the basis for the change at the club is simple. Bastyr is growing as a multicultural place, with the faculty and student body drawn from all across the U.S. and at least 35 other countries. What better way to encourage pluralism than to accept and bring together people of all ethnicities and backgrounds. And what better way to achieve the club’s core mission of “educating people of color in local communities about naturopathic medicine and other important health care issues, including racial/ethnic health disparities," than by having more people working toward that goal.
"It doesn't actually matter what color you are," Allen says. "Our goal is to get out in the community and let people know you have another option for your health care and for your career. And that's what's important." The club’s next volunteer activity reflects that ambition. Later in February MSAN will help at a local middle school's health fair, informing students and their parents about naturopathic medicine and nutrition. Eustache and Allen also say they want to use the club to build a strong sense of unity at Bastyr. To that end, they've made February, which is Black History Month, a busy one for MSAN. The club is hosting a series of lunchtime activities on campus to promote an understanding of black health issues, showing a video on race and helping facilitate a discussion group for the book Mama Might Be Better Off Dead: The Failure of Health Care in Urban America. "Just like anyone in any club, we want to see good things happen that benefit and build community among the student body," Eustache says. So far, MSAN has about 15 members comprising a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds. If you are a prospective or new student looking to get involved at Bastyr or promote naturopathic medicine out in the community, MSAN encourages you to join. "The club could be a stepping stone toward initiating yourself into a new environment," Eustache says. "If you want to get to know people, this is a great way." Find out more about other Bastyr University student clubs and student life.
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