Interest in healthy food, nature led to naturopathy

Five questions about study, life and work

Kaycie Rosen Grigel, ND, who graduated magnum cum laude with a B.A. in American studies in 1998, is owner of Golden Naturopathic Clinic. Here are her responses to our questions:

1. When did you first know that the career you now have was right for you?

When I was a student at CU-Boulder, I majored in American Studies. I chose this field because it gave me the opportunity to form a better understanding of who we are and what “makes us tick” in this culture, both from a historical as well as literary perspective. I knew that I wanted a career in a field where I would work directly with people and help them build better lives, but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do for a career.

I had always loved cooking, eating healthy food, and exploring in nature. When I found a path that would allow me to combine my interest in medicine with my other passions, I knew right away that this was the career for me!"I had considered becoming a medical doctor, but wanted a job where I could form a more in depth relationship with people. When I started my senior year, I went into the career center and was browsing through the files and came upon a brochure that described naturopathic medicine.

I had always loved cooking, eating healthy food, and exploring in nature. When I found a path that would allow me to combine my interest in medicine with my other passions, I knew right away that this was the career for me!  I enrolled in chemistry along with my other classes, graduated the following spring, and stayed on an extra summer and fall semester to finish my pre-med classes.

2. What notable obstacles did you overcome as you established your career?

The primary obstacle for me personally as well as for naturopathic doctors in this state overall was the lack of regulation here in Colorado. There was no formalized way for consumers to understand the difference between a practitioner who had attended four years of naturopathic medical school and passed national board exams and someone with other types of training.

After a residency in Alaska, my fiance and I decided to move back home to Colorado in 2006, and I opened a practice and became active in the movement to regulate NDs in Colorado. Finally, after a 23-year effort, naturopathic doctors have been licensed here starting this past June. This is so exciting, because it has brought Colorado consumers a regulated option for holistic, comprehensive health care.

3. What advice would you have for students about how to make the most of their education?

Find a career path that excites you and get the best possible training to pursue it. The more you invest personally in your education, the more it will propel you towards a fulfilling goal.

4. What role did your studies at CU-Boulder have in your career success?

Although my doctoral education and career are primarily science-based, my liberal arts education helped me to develop a broader understanding about how people communicate and form their personal identity.

So much of my work with patients focuses on helping them find ways to improve their health by making better choices, and my undergraduate degree helps me communicate and help people more effectively.

Feb. 27, 2015