Resident Spotlight
Rick Bihm, ND
How did you get into Naturopathic Oncology?
Prior to attending the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), I graduated from a conventional Medical School where I saw firsthand the effects cancer had on patients and their families. Many times over, I witnessed families asking their oncologist if anything else could be done to support their loved ones, only to be met with an unfortunate “no”. As a student in this situation, I was left wishing there was something more I could do. When I became a student at CCNM, I was excited to learn that they had a clinic shift devoted to supporting patients with cancer. My past experience and desire to support these patients motivated me to apply to be an intern on this shift. This internship helped me achieve my position as a CCNM Clinical Resident, supervising and educating naturopathic students, which led to my current position as the Resident Naturopathic Doctor at the CCNM Integrative Cancer Centre.
What do you do during your downtime and/or what do you do for fun?
I’m a big fan of basketball and football. While I love watching NBA and NFL games, I enjoy playing basketball and football even more. I join pick-up basketball games at my local gym whenever I can and quarterback for a recreation flag football team comprised of some of my closest friends.
What is your favorite quote when it comes to your practice?
“I believe the doctor of the future will be a teacher as well as a physician. His real job will be to teach people how to be healthy.” – D.C. Jarvis
The word “doctor” itself comes from the Latin “docere”, which translates to teacher. The Latin word is also one of the 6 principles of naturopathic medicine. Educating patients about their health and how our natural interventions can support them empowers patients to take control of their health and make healthy decisions. I aim to not only educate my patients in every visit, but to educate my students at the college as well so they can also become great doctors and support their own patients.
About your clinic:
The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) Integrative Cancer Centre is a multi-disciplinary clinic providing support to patients seeking a holistic approach to their cancer care. The therapists at the CCNM Integrative Cancer Centre use evidence and team-based approach to support patients with their cancer, throughout each stage of their conventional care and afterward through survivorship. After a thorough intake, the practitioners at the CCNM Integrative Cancer Centre (Naturopathic Doctors, Massage Therapist, Acupuncturist, Psychotherapist, Yoga Therapist, and Social Worker) work together with patients to develop short and long term health goals while aiming to improve their patient’s health, wellness, and quality of life.
www.ccnmicc.ca
