Bastyr University Founding President Joseph E. Pizzorno, ND Returns to Lead Natural Health Arts and Science Institution into New Era

[KENMORE, WA] The Bastyr University Board of Trustees is proud to announce Bastyr University Co-Founder and Founding President Dr. Joseph E. Pizzorno returns to the university to serve as its interim president. Pizzorno begins work this week, following the departure of Devin Byrd, PhD.

Pizzorno’s leadership comes at a critical time for the university, as the board seeks to ignite new interest in the field of naturopathic medicine and the complementary natural health arts and sciences, increase university enrollment, and grow its clinical presence in Seattle and San Diego. Pizzorno who is affectionately known to millions as ‘DrJoe’ brings visionary direction to the institution he helped establish nearly five decades ago.

“Bastyr University is struggling through some problems that affect its health, and in partnership with the board, cabinet, faculty, and staff, I will work to heal the university and restore it to a place of enduring wellness,” says Bastyr University Interim President Dr. Joe Pizzorno.

Pizzorno is an internationally recognized leader in environmental, functional, and integrative medicine. He led the effort to make Bastyr University the first accredited college of naturopathic medicine in the United States. It is his mission to transform our disease-driven health care model in the U.S. into a way of care rooted in healthful living, personalized care, and proactive whole person wellness.

“With Dr. Joe leading us, we have gained a deeply experienced leader whose capacity for innovating the natural health arts and sciences higher education category knows no bounds,” says Bastyr University Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Jane Guiltinan. “We look forward to new frontiers that expand Bastyr University’s capacity for reaching and teaching more healers while growing our university’s footprint as a leading institution for academic research and publication.”

The Bastyr University Board of Trustees would like to thank Dr. Byrd for his service. He joined the university in 2021 and oversaw the university through many challenges including the reopening of its campuses during the pandemic and advanced its mission through the expansion of online degree programs.

About Bastyr University

Bastyr University is a nonprofit, private university offering doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate degrees with a multidisciplinary curriculum in science-based natural health and medicine. Recognized globally for its rigorous curriculum and strong research, Bastyr University has campuses in Kenmore, Washington, and San Diego, California, and offers online graduate degrees. Bastyr University faculty educate future leaders in the natural health arts and sciences, with an emphasis on integrating mind, body, spirit, and nature. For more information, please visit http://www.bastyr.edu/