Sadness as University of Bridgeport drops naturopathic medicine, martial arts majors
By Linda Conner Lambeck Updated 11:49 pm EDT, Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Photo: Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media File Photo
Dr. Jennifer Holdorf, right, clinic coordinator with the University of Bridgeport’s College of Naturopathic Medicine, works with students Ryan Attar, left, and Matthew Castanho at the college in 2016.
BRIDGEPORT — The University of Bridgeport’s decision to close out a number of majors including its two-decade-old naturopathic medicine program was greeted Tuesday with sadness and shock.
“This is a tremendous loss for Connecticut and for the naturopathic community at large,” said Dr. Rick Liva, legislative chair of the Connecticut Naturopathic Physicians Assocation. “We are saddened and disappointed by this decision.”
UB announced Monday that the major, one of a handful of accredited naturopathic medicine programs in the Northeast, was being phased out, along with majors in Martial Arts, Design Management, Religion and Politics and East Asian and Pacific Rim Studies.
The degree in martial arts has been at UB since 2004 and was the first of its kind in the country. The naturopathic medicine program got its start at UB in 1997, with its first graduating class in 2001.
In a letter to the university community on the first day back from spring break on Monday, Provost Stephen Healey said UB will stop accepting applications for those programs for fall 2019.
Also being discontinued are a number of concentrations in masters programs in Technology Management and Business Administration that have limited or no enrollment.
“Students currently enrolled ... will be able to complete their degree at the University of Bridgeport,” said Healey. He said he has begun consulting with faculty and students in affected programs.
On Monday, some students and former students said there were tears.
“It was a sad day,” said Derek Reilly, who graduated in May 2018 with a degree in naturopathic medicine. He now practices in New Hampshire.
Reilly said his main question is “why?”
Healey said the decision was difficult and based on a number of factors, primarily enrollment, revenue and student outcomes.
“All educational institutions constantly consider their academic inventory,” Healey said.
This fall, UB reorganized, merging 14 schools and programs into three colleges: Arts and Sciences, Health Sciences and a College of Engineering, Business and Education, under its new president, Laura Skandera Trombley. She came to the university in July 2018.
Combined, there are about 100 students total enrolled in the cut programs, including 74 in the four-year naturopathic medicine program. There are about 15 faculty members affected. Some may be shifted to other programs.
In its place, UB plans to launch several new programs including an online bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts — which it has had before. The College of Engineering, Business and Education will launch a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering Technology. In addition, UB will increase its investment in the Criminal Justice, Psychology, Design and Nursing programs, according to the provost.
The cuts, Healey added, will free up resources for other programs.
Healey said there are no plans at this time to shut down UB’s chiropractic medicine, acupuncture or nutrition programs, which many thought meshed nicely with naturopathy.
Reilly said there was some crossover with students in one discipline taking courses in the other. His class had about 30 students. Fewer in classes that came behind him.
“It still seemed like a good size class,” he said.
Connecticut has allowed the practice of naturopathic medicine since 1920. At one point, UB had as many as 115 students in the program but in recent years, the program has been on the decline, Healey said.
“It could bounce back, but at 74 it seemed now is the time to phase the program out,” Healey said. It will take three years to close out the program unless students transfer to other schools.
The decline at UB does not seem to reflect the national trend, according to Dr. JoAnn Yanez, executive director of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges. She said the field is seeing unprecedented gains.
“This program’s closure is unfortunate, but the decision was clearly made as part of a larger University of Bridgeport plan, which includes both the elimination of several programs and introduction of new programs outside of the healthcare field.” Yanez said.
Dr. Kendra Becker, a UB grad who practices naturopathic medicine in Waterford, called the news sad but maintains the university never did anything to promote or showcase the program.
“The saddest part is the naturopathic clinic served an underserved population and those patients have nowhere to seek care once the clinic closes,” she said.
In Connecticut, naturopaths have a limited practice scope and as a result, Becker said, many students select other schools or leave the state after graduation to practice.
For years, naturopaths have been fighting to get the right to write prescriptions in Connecticut.
State Rep Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, said the Bridgeport delegation has been pushing legislation to make the naturopathic program more competitive.
“I was surprised to read of this news,” Stafstrom said. “The program was pitched to us a source of pride for the university and an economic driver for the city.”
lclambeck@ctpost.com; twitter/lclambeck