Seattle, WA
English
INM Team
Medical Editor
Writer
Michelle Simon, PhD, ND
President & CEO
As President and CEO of INM, Dr. Simon brings her passion for working with organizations dedicated to improving the quality and delivery of healthcare. A naturopathic physician with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, she actively contributes to healthcare policy through her roles on the board of the Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) and the Washington Healthcare Authority Planning Committee. She has served on boards for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the Naturopathic Physicians Research Institute (NPRI), and several advisory boards.
Experience Highlights
- Naturopathic Primary Care Physician
- Nonprofit Executive
- 2019 AANP Physician of the Year
Expertise Highlights
- Naturopathic Medicine
- Nonprofit Leadership
- Intersection of Healthcare and Integrative Medicine
Education Highlights
- University of North Carolina Chapel Hill: Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering
- Bastyr University: Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine
- University of Massachusetts Amherst: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Bio
Dr. Simon is President and CEO of the Institute for Natural Medicine (INM), a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to educating consumers about natural medicine and improving the quality and delivery of healthcare through the greater utilization of integrative medicine and clinical nutrition. She is a naturopathic physician and holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
2019, Dr. Simon was chosen as Physician of the Year by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. In 2022, she was chosen as the Champion of Naturopathic Medicine by the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians. She is currently on the board of the Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) and co-chairs their Education Committee. She sits on the Washington Healthcare Authority Planning Committee. She has served nine years on the Washington State Health Technology Clinical Committee, a practitioner panel that examines the scientific evidentiary basis for efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of healthcare technologies for state-purchased healthcare. She presents, writes, and advocates for the importance of whole person health to our healthcare system, our communities, and ourselves. In her free time, she teaches women to ride motorcycles and she and her husband enjoy adventure travel in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
“Health powers us to live our best lives. Health care should be personalized, proactive, and consider the whole person’s body, mind, and spirit.”
Experience
Dr. Simon’s unique background includes strong research and engineering experience, clinical practice, and nonprofit leadership. Prior to serving as President and CEO of the Institute for Natural Medicine (INM) she worked for 20 years running a private naturopathic medical practice in Seattle, WA. INM has experienced rapid growth since Dr. Simon joined as chair of the board in 2013. Dr. Simon was appointed to the inaugural board of the Washington State Health Technology Clinical Committee, which is part of the Health Technology Assessment Program (HTA). She ultimately served nine years on this practitioner panel that examined the scientific evidentiary basis for efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness in the evaluation of healthcare technologies for coverage determinations for state-purchased healthcare. She has served for over six years as a Committee Member for the Washington Healthcare Authority Planning Committee.
Expertise
Dr. Simon is a licensed naturopathic doctor who is passionate about applying her skills as a solution-oriented systems thinker to organizations dedicated to improving the quality and delivery of healthcare through greater utilization of integrative medicine and clinical nutrition.
Education
Dr. Simon holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Publications
- 2019 M.A. Simon “Targeted Clinical Nutrition to Enhance Muscular Function”, Symposium Presentation, Sarcopenia Education Series for Clinicians, Bellevue WA January 2019
- 2021 M.A. Simon, J. Pizzorno, J Katzinger “Modifiable Risk Factors in SARS CoV-2” Integr Med (Encinitas), 2021, Oct 20 (5):8-14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8594967/
- 2021 Webinar presentation at University of Colorado Strauss Wisneski Lecture Series on “Developing Resilience in an Era of COVID.”
- 2022 Invited panelist, NIH NCCIH Sponsored Stakeholder Meeting for Research on Whole Person Health October 17-18, 2022 Teleconference
- 2023 M.A. Simon and D.L. Katz “Paradigm Shift in Medicine: Integrating Naturopathic Care in the Treatment of Chronic Disease” accepted for publication July 2023 by Explore Journal
Articles by Michelle Simon, PhD, ND
