Happy Birthday, Dr. Bastyr

Thirty-four years ago, Bastyr University opened its doors in Seattle and quickly became one of the leading naturopathic medical centers in the country. Since then, it has moved into the historic Catholic Seminary building in Kenmore and awarded nearly 2,000 naturopathic medical degrees to physicians who now practice around the globe.

This month, the college’s namesake, Dr. John Bartholomew Bastyr, the noted Seattle naturopathic physician, teacher and midwife who died in 1995, would have turned 100 years old. To celebrate both the university’s success and Dr. Bastyr’s role as a pioneer and champion in the field of science-based natural medicine (he is considered the father of the modern naturopathic medicine movement), the school is throwing a yearlong centennial celebration, with special events each month (go to bastyr.edu for details), including a memorial Spring for Health Luncheon on May 16 (Dr. Bastyr’s birthday), an Herb and Food Fair on June 2 and local celebrations in honor of the opening of Bastyr University’s second campus, located in San Diego, in mid-September.