04/08/2026
NEW: A Warm Update on Our National U.S. Licensing Pathway with Expanded Scope and “Dr” Title for MANUAL OSTEOPATHY
Dear colleagues and dear students,
A few years ago, we worked together to create a national pathway that allowed our osteopathic manual practitioners to practice across all 50 states through the GEHA license system. Many of you joined the Guardian Ecclesiastical Holistic Association (GEHA) and obtained your license through the mandatory ROMP designation, and I remain truly grateful for your trust and support in building this pathway together.
While this system has served us well, it came with certain limitations, including a more restricted scope of practice and the inability to use the title “Dr.”
Today, I am very happy to share some exciting news with you. After years of effort, discussions, and careful planning, we now have access to a new national pathway through an Indigenous Health Authority. This pathway allows for an expanded scope of practice and also provides the ability to use the title “Dr.”
This initiative is deeply meaningful. Many healing practices we use today have roots in Indigenous knowledge and traditions. Unfortunately, these contributions have not always received the recognition they deserve. In a small way, this new pathway also helps honor and preserve that heritage while bringing it forward into modern healthcare.
To support this vision, the National University of Medical Sciences (USA) has developed a doctoral program in Indigenous Medicine. Graduates of this program can join the Indigenous Health Authority as Tribal Health Practitioners and practice across the United States with a broader, more integrative scope that includes manual osteopathy and natural therapies.
This opportunity is open to all of our alumni, in all countries. You do not need to be of Indigenous background. The process is straightforward: join the Indigenous Health Authority, obtain your license, and begin practice. Patients simply sign a consent form acknowledging care under this authority, and practitioners clearly identify themselves as Tribal Health Practitioners to ensure transparency.
On a personal note, I have had the honor of being connected with Indigenous communities as honorary member of the Southern Cherokee Nation and the Red Fire people, including serving as their Minister of Education in the past, and I remain committed to building respectful and meaningful collaborations.
At this time, this new pathway is available only to graduates of National University of Medical Sciences (USA), as it requires training in manual osteopathy, Indigenous & naturopathic Medicine, which we are proud to offer as a unique combined program.
I am also pleased to share that our first combined doctoral program in manual osteopathy, Indigenous & naturopathic medicine will begin in September 2026. As a heartfelt thank you for your continued support and for helping us grow into the largest provider of manual osteopathic education worldwide, we will be offering a special scholarship to our alumni for this intake.
Thank you again for being part of this journey and God bless.
Dr. Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, DN, PhD
Osteopath, Naprapath, Chiropractor & Founder of:
National Academy of Osteopathy (Canada, USA)
National University of Medical Sciences (USA, Spain, Panama)
Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada (380 clinics in 34 countries)
Florida Naprapathic Association
World Osteopathy Day
