Dr. Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
A Practical Visionary in Science-Based Natural Medicine
His vision is bold but grounded: a healthcare system that is not reactionary but preventive, not fragmented but integrative — a system that restores, empowers, and transforms human health.
Dr. Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D., is a globally respected physician, educator, researcher, and health policy expert who has spent over 50 years transforming healthcare through the rigorous integration of natural and conventional medicine. As the founding president of Bastyr University and the originator of the term “science-based natural medicine,” Dr. Pizzorno has redefined how medicine is taught, practiced, and understood.
A Practical Visionary
Dr. Pizzorno is a pioneer with purpose — a practical visionary dedicated to building the future of medicine, not just imagining it. His leadership has resulted in new institutions, professional standards, public clinics, and self-care strategies that now serve as models worldwide.
Founding Bastyr University: A Model of Health Care Innovation
He helped establish educational accreditation pathways, professional licensing, and modern naturopathic curricula.
Today, Bastyr trains over 1,000 students annually across programs in naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, behavioral sciences, and integrative healt
Establishing Scientific Credibility
Founded Bastyr University’s research arm, securing federal grants to bring objective, clinical evidence into natural health.
Through these efforts, he ensured natural medicine would not remain on the fringes, but take its place as a scientifically grounded discipline.
Integrating Care in Practice: King County Clinic
In 1996, Dr. Pizzorno launched the first publicly funded, fully integrative medical clinic in the U.S.
- Created in partnership with King County Council and Community Health Centers
- Staffed by conventional MDs and naturopathic physicians working side-by-side
- Delivered over 5,000 patient visits in its first two years
- Inspired further clinic partnerships and integration models across the Northwest
Policy Leadership & Institutional Change
- White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy
- Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advisor
- Seattle–King County Board of Health — first natural medicine expert to serve
His testimony before Congress and work with the NIH, Blue Cross, and international governments (UK Parliament, Japan, Argentina) have helped advance licensing, safety standards, and reimbursement policies for complementary care.
Innovating for Corporate Wellness
- Bring natural healthcare to the workplace
- Build self-care tools rooted in decades of clinical experience
- Develop scalable wellness programs for employee populations
Prolific Author, Trusted Voice
Dr. Pizzorno is one of the most published figures in integrative medicine:
14 books authored or co-authored, including:
- Textbook of Natural Medicine
- Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (2M copies, 6 languages)
- The Toxin Solution
- Healthy Bones, Healthy You!
- 150+ journal articles, many indexed in PubMed
- Editor-in-Chief, Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal (25,000+ circulation)
Global Educator and Speaker
For decades, Dr. Pizzorno has spoken globally — giving 30+ lectures annually to physicians, policy makers, and scientists in:
US, Canada, UK, Sweden, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, China, Taiwan, and more.
His primary topics include:
- Environmental toxins and chronic disease
- Integrative approaches to diabetes, cancer, and aging
- Personalized nutrition, detoxification, and functional diagnostics
Vision for the Future
“The most pervasive and silently accepted crisis in America today is the ill health of our people. We must change our fundamental approach from a traditional disease-driven model to one that improves people’s health.”
Dr. Pizzorno’s work is rooted in a single truth: health is not the absence of disease — it is the presence of balance, vitality, and resilience.
- His vision for the future includes:
- Redesigning medical education
- Democratizing access to integrative care
- Recognizing environmental toxicity as a root cause of illness
- Promoting science-backed wellness at scale