2025/2026 Board of Directors Election

We are extremely excited to introduce the Professional Member Candidates for the WANP's 2025/2026 Board of Directors. These 6 physicians are running to fill 4 open seats on our Board for this next term year. All open positions this year are full two-year term positions on the Board, beginning September 1, 2025, and ending August 31, 2027. The 4 elected Directors will join current Directors Drs. Allison Apfelbaum, Jenna Bailey, Alethea Fleming, Jana Nalbandian, Andrew Simon, Justin Taylor, and Greg Yasuda, as well as a newly elected student representative, under the leadership of Board President Dr. Teresa Richter.

Our organizational bylaws identify voting members as only those professional members with an active naturopathic medical license in the State of Washington. All professional members who are eligible to vote will receive their ballots via email on Monday, June 23, 2025. **Note: We will use the email address under which your membership is active, so please log into our website and take note of the email address we have on file for your login (or go to "My Account -> Account Details" and note the email address there). If you have not received a ballot and believe you should have, please ensure your membership is current, that you are looking in the email inbox associated with your membership, and that our message is not in your spam folder, and - if all is as it should be - contact us at info@wanp.org.** Per WANP bylaws, the election will be open for 3 weeks. Ballots received after Monday, July 14, 2025, will not be counted.

[Note: The WANP has verified both active professional WANP membership and active licensure status of all candidates.]

If you are not a current member of the WANP, you can join today and participate in this election to ensure you have a voice in the next Board of Directors. We will send your ballot as soon as you join.

Without further ado, here are the Candidates for your next Board of Directors (presented in order received):

Erica Wood, ND

Dr. Erica Wood is a naturopathic primary care physician with a strong focus on pediatrics and women's health. She completed the Doctoral program in Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr University (Washington) in 2018 and currently works at The Naturopathic Clinic of Issaquah (Washington).

Dr. Wood maintains active memberships in the Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians (PedANP) and in the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP) - where she has been a member for the past year.

Dr. Wood has experience with financial management, marketing, and member recruitment and engagement and she loves networking. She is interested in serving on the Continuing Education Committee and/or on the Membership Committee of the WANP. She would also like to work in support of increasing the scope of practice of naturopathic physicians and increasing reimbursement (e.g. pay parity).

Kathryn Hightower, ND

Dr. Kathryn Hightower’s (she/they) professional passions include LGBTQ+ health, mental health, biofeedback, and hydrotherapy. After graduating from Bastyr University (Washington) in 2019, she completed a two-year residency at Emerald City Naturopathic Clinic, where she then practiced as an associate for two years. She currently practices out of Rebel Med Northwest in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. She has received additional training at the Kneipp Schule in Germany, the New England School of Homeopathy, Gender Odyssey, the Barrall Institute, and more. In addition to her work in medicine, Dr. Hightower is a dance artist and educator.

Dr. Hightower has been a member of the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP) for the past 5 years and also maintains membership in the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP).

Dr. Hightower has experience with diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism (DEIA), governance, and grassroots engagement and organizing. She is interested in serving on the Continuing Education Committee, the Governance Committee, and/or the Legislative Affairs Committee, as well as working to establish a DEI Committee at the WANP. In particular, Dr. Hightower is interested in protecting access to naturopathic healthcare for transgender and gender diverse patients in the context of the active legislative attacks against that care.

In her own words: "I am a passionate and well-educated advocate for the underserved, especially gender diverse people and people of color. In fact, I came into medicine with the goal of providing naturopathic care to those very populations. I have lots of leadership experience, including founding two dance companies and an arts festival, teaching for nearly twenty years, and teaching medical procedures to students at Bastyr and residents at Emerald City Naturopathic Clinic. I am an excellent public speaker. I am great at organizing people, events, and information."

Joy Nauman, ND, MS, MEd

Dr. Joy Nauman is a licensed Naturopathic Physician practicing primary care at Yakima Integrative Health in Yakima, Washington. With advanced degrees in science and in education, a certificate in natural childbirth, and a strong foundation in Montessori education, she brings a unique and holistic perspective to patient care. Dr. Nauman began her career as a dual-trained AMI Montessori elementary teacher, where she developed a deep interest in research and developmental pediatrics, ultimately leading her to pursue clinical training at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) and research at the Helfgott Research Institute in Portland, Oregon. She completed the ND program at NUNM in 2018. She currently serves as Research Director for Whole Systems Healthcare, a non-profit organization advancing integrative medicine research, and as Chief Editor of Naturopathic Digest, the official journal of the GastroANP. Dr. Nauman’s clinical focus includes developmental pediatrics, women’s health, gender-affirming care, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ health, and functional gastroenterology. She is the current Site Director for Yakima Integrative Health's residency through the Institute for Natural Medicine (INM). Deeply rooted in the Yakima Valley, Dr. Nauman is passionate about increasing access to integrative and inclusive healthcare for the people of Central Washington. She is committed to strengthening integrative medicine across the state through research, education, and collaborative leadership.

Dr. Nauman was a member of the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP) from 2021 to 2022 and then again consistently since 2024. She recently joined the Continuing Education Committee of the WANP. She is also a member of the Gastro Association of Naturopathic Physicians (GastroANP). She currently serves as the Director of Research on the Executive Committee of Whole Systems Healthcare.

With some experience in diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism (DEIA), governance, and grassroots organizing, Dr. Nauman would also bring the following expertise to the WANP: background as a passionate researcher with strong written communication skills and a unique ability to synthesize information. She is interested in continuing her work on the Continuing Education Committee and possibly serving on the Governance and/or Membership Committees. She is particularly interested in integrating research into the educational offerings and also wants to work in support of the on-going efforts to increase scope of practice, achieve pay parity, and protect the integrity of the profession.

In her own words: "I believe I would be a great addition to the WANP Board, representing Central Washington. NDs practicing outside major metropolitan areas experience unique challenges and opportunities. I would be honored to serve my community and provide a voice for the needs of providers practicing in a primary care shortage."

Mandy Gulla, ND, LMT

Moved to study medicine to improve quality and compassion and to deepen patient understanding and empowerment, Dr. Mandy Gulla earned a doctoral degree in Naturopathic Medicine, a certificate in Midwifery, and a certificate in Massage Therapy from Bastyr University (Washington) in 2010. She then completed a CNME-accredited residency at the Center for Natural and Integrative Medicine in Orlando, Florida, under the direct solo mentorship of Kirti Kalidas MD, ND. The focus on her residency was Integrative Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, collaborating with over 20 varied allied health providers.  In fifteen years of clinical practice, she has focused on gently unraveling and treating complex, multi-system dysfunction. Dr. Gulla is the owner and medical director of Living Medical Arts, a private practice in Friday Harbor, Washington, and she also teaches medical students IV Therapy formulation, compounding, and safety considerations as Adjunct Faculty at Bastyr University. She is passionate about community access to Naturopathic Medicine.

Dr. Gulla has been a member of the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP) for most of the time she has been in practice - 15 years or so. She is also a current member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) and of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).

Dr. Gulla is currently running for a 3rd term on the WANP Board of Directors, having served as a professional member since 2021 and as the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2023. She has served on the Continuing Education Committee and on the Finance Committee the entire time she has been on the Board. She had previously served from 2011-2013 as a Blue Canary Board Member.

Dr. Gulla has experience with diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism (DEIA), financial management, fundraising, governance, grassroots engagement and organizing, marketing, and member recruitment. She is interested in continuing her work on the Continuing Education Committee and on the Finance Committee. As the current Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair, Dr. Gulla describes herself as focused on maintaining and expanding the assets and financial strength of the WANP: "I bring years of experience in non-profit financial campaigning and am honored to apply this knowledge to the WANP on your behalf." To this end, she would love to develop and implement a yearly membership/annual funding campaign for the WANP. Additionally, she would like to work on developing a DEIA program for the WANP.

In her own words: "It has been an honor to serve the Washington ND community and I would love to continue to advocate to increase the resources and community strength of Washington Naturopathic Physicians. Thank you for the opportunity."

Sarah Acosta Smith, ND

Dr. Sarah Acosta Smith completed her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree at Bastyr University (Washington) in 2006. She went on to complete a 2-year residency at Bastyr Center for Natural Health, which included rotations through community health centers and major regional hospitals. After several years practicing in Seattle, Washington, Dr. Acosta Smith moved east to provide much needed primary care services through Family Health Centers in Brewster, Okanogan County, Washington. She currently works as a naturopathic physician, clinic director, and naturopathic physician residency director at this federally qualified health center (FQHC).

Dr. Acosta Smith has been an active member of the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP) for at least the past 7 years.

Dr. Acosta Smith is running for a 3rd term on the WANP Board of Directors, where she has served as a professional member since 2021. She served as the Board Treasurer during the 2022/2023 term and has served as the Vice President of the Board since 2023. She has volunteered both on the Legislative Affairs Committee and on the Finance Committee during her tenure on the Board. Dr. Acosta Smith has prior experience serving on the Board of the non-profit organization Blankets for Cancer.

Dr. Acosta Smith has experience with diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism (DEIA), fundraising, legislative and political advocacy, and member recruitment. She also brings to the WANP her experience living and working in a rural community where the shortage of primary care physicians and of resources is ever-present. She is interested in continuing her work on the Legislative Affairs Committee, and may be interested in serving on the Continuing Education Committee and/or the Membership Committee. She is also interested in working on developing and implementing a DEIA program for the WANP as well as continuing to advance the WANP's new strategic plan, which she was instrumental in developing. A primary area of focus for Dr. Acosta Smith is expansion of ND scope to better align with our legal recognition as primary care physicians.

Tiffany Bloomingdale, ND

Dr. Tiffany Bloomingdale is a 2013 graduate of the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM). She's a certified yoga teacher and MotherCircle facilitator, and she completed advanced homeopathy training through the New England School of Homeopathy (NESH). In 2024, Dr. Bloomingdale completed a year-long Perinatal Fellowship through The Confident Clinician and went on to present on topics of hypnobirthing, gestational diabetes mellitus, and perinatal integrative medicine research updates to professional communities. Originally from New York State, she spent time practicing there as well as in Virginia and Massachusetts before settling in Washington. Dr. Bloomingdale has been involved with naturopathic advocacy work since 2007. She is passionate about building community in the naturopathic profession. Clinically, she works in the realm of evidence-based perinatal care and energetic medicine, and she values reproductive justice work. Dr. Bloomingdale is owner of Avant-garde Healing Arts, LLC, where she is rebranding to offer niched consultations and group-classes in perinatal medicine.

Dr. Bloomingdale has been a member of the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP) since she moved to Washington 3 years ago. She has volunteered on the WANP's Membership Committee since 2022.

Dr. Bloomingdale is running for a 2nd term on the WANP Board of Directors, having served as a professional member since 2023. She has served as the Secretary of the Board since 2024. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Association of Naturopathic Physicians (VAANP) from 2017 to 2019, working on social media and serving as the VAANP's representative to the House of Delegates of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP).

Dr. Bloomingdale has experience in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism (DEIA), fundraising, grassroots organizing, marketing, and member recruitment. She is interested in continuing her work on the WANP's Membership Committee, with a particular interest in supporting the creation of family-friendly social events for the WANP community, given her status as a new parent. She is also interested in "deepening into the work I've already been a part of - including creation of the Business Seminar, supporting execution of the 2025 Gala, and refining structure of social events (WANP afterhours, Mariners game) - to support members in feeling authentically connected with the WANP."

In her own words: "I thrive in working with diverse groups well -in finding common ground and practical solutions to challenges at hand. I'm committed to contributing to discussions in a measured, thoughtful and professional manner. I have experience in serving the naturopathic profession since I was an ND patient (including attending lobby days with NYANP in 2007), then as an ND student (including attending AANP's DC FLI in 2008) and later as an ND (including attending a lobby day with VAANP in 2018). I'd be honored to serve a second term on the WANP."