Let's start with the facts. Where is the evidence that universities, including online diploma mills, recognize or hire graduates with doctorate degrees in holistic medicine, natural medicine, nutritional medicine, functional medicine, and certainly not spiritual medicine. If you want to teach in an American university within the realm of the health sciences, your best bet is to get an doctorate in public health or one of the following disciplines: Chiropractic, Dentistry, Medical Research, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Physician Assistants, Medicine, Athletic Training, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Health Education and Promotion, Health Information Technology, Healthcare Administration, Kinesiology, Exercise Science, and Phys Ed, Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Public and Environmental Health, Recreation and Leisure Studies, or Sport Management. All of the above mentioned positions are listed as job openings on the HigherEdJobs board, a national database where universities and colleges post faculty and administrative job opportunities.
The natural concept is great, and I wish it were fully embraced by our public and private healthcare institutions, which influence degree offerings at reputable colleges and universities, which is why you won't find any of these 5 degrees at traditional universities: there is simply no market demand. American institutions invest very little in primary prevention (healthy lifestyles), which is the core focus on the 5 degrees being offered. As a public health Master level professional, I have caught hell looking for a job in public health and eventually created a job for myself through my nonprofit organization. I have since transitioned from public health to healthcare, bringing primary prevention and functional medicine with me. The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't recognize public health as an occupation, which is why you won't find it listed among the many jobs in its database. Conversely, you will find health promotion, health educator, community health worker, social worker, epidemiologist, biostatistician, and many other that fall under public health and are also found on HigherEdJobs.
Moreover, you can't apply these degrees in the healthcare setting because health plans have clear reimbursement codes, and none of these 5 degree areas fall within them. Of course, a physician or nurse practitioner could attain a certificate in functional medicine or nutritional medicine, but they can only reimburse for specific services that fall in medicine, and to bill for nutritional services a registered dietitian license/certification is necessary. You can thank the American Academy of Dietetic Association for that as it launched a national campaign to pay off state legislators who in turn passed laws making it illegal to practice nutrition without being a licensed registered dietitian. As for nutritional medicine, do so at your own risk and financial loss because if you are not a registered dietitian with a degree in human dietetics/nutrition, you will not be hired or reimbursed for your services. Dietetic services include: (a) Providing medical nutrition therapy. (b) Development, administration, evaluation and consultation regarding nutritional care standards of quality in food services and medical nutrition therapy. (c) Providing case management services. (d) Developing, implementing and managing nutrition care system. Practicing nutritional therapy without being a licensed registered dietitian can lead to fines and/or imprisoned in the county jail in most states.
Earning a non-traditional degree sounds like fun, idealistic, but will it lead to a career and real earnings? Is it competitive/marketable? How will you use it to earn a living? Rockwell Institute and others like it have developed these degree programs without answering these questions. Where is the job data to support offering these degrees for which they are charging 2 arms and a leg? There simply isn't any evidence to support investing the time and money to earn a degree that is worthless as these are unless you are already a licensed healthcare provider/practitioner who wants to enhance/diversity h/his knowledge. read more
