Building a Strong On-Campus Community

Everyone has a story about how and why they decided to become an ND—what’s yours?

Historically, the talking stick was taken to council meetings or gatherings by Native Americans and used as a symbol of the speaker’s importance. It was decorated to show accomplishments and spirituality.

During Sonoran’s Talking Stick and Sharing Circle ceremony at New Student Orientation, you’ll have an opportunity to share highlights of your journey to naturopathic medicine with your new classmates. Each new student attaches an article of personal significance to the class stick. Once all the personal items have been attached, the talking stick becomes a powerful symbol of the class’ purpose and unity in their journey through medical school. Often, classes will request to have their talking stick present during final exams as a source of inspiration and reminder of their collective commitment and dedication to the profession.

The White Coat Ceremony represents a significant milestone, a transition from theory to practice as students transition to the clinical portion of their curriculum. Their coats are a symbol of responsibility and knowledge – to the profession – and to their patients. These second year students have spent the first half of the program learning about the human body, mind and condition as parts of a whole. At this stage, they begin to put all of the pieces together and put in practice their understanding of how to treat patients as a whole entity.