Holism in Education 

What better time to instill the tools of holistic thinking and action than in the formative years of life? HMI through its WORLD IN BALANCE AWARDS is committed to raising awareness of the power of holistic awareness through educational awards that link understanding and accomplishment in the educational sphere. Since 2009, the WORLD IN BALANCE AWARDS have rewarded students at varying levels in their educational journey who demonstrate capacities for creative holistic thinking and who bring their insights into direct application and action within mainstream culture.



The WHOLE PICTURE FILM CONTEST (a 2016 pilot project) is a film contest for grades 3 to 12 in select public schools in Massachusetts. It is designed to stimulate critical thinking and reflection using principles of holistic inquiry. It asks, “Who is a Whole Picture Thinker?” We define a whole picture thinker as one who:

• Has a calm and open mind
• Sees different points of view
• Learns from everyone and everything
• Understands how seemingly unrelated things can affect each other.

We ask students to pick a topic that they care about, research it using holistic or “whole picture thinking” and make a short film that is encourages the viewer to take action. Substantial cash awards are offered for elementary, middle and high school students. For a complete description go to: www.WholePictureFilms.org.



The FOUNDATIONS OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE PROJECT NATUROPATHIC PHILOSOPHY & THEORY FELLOWSHIPS and the World in Balance Awards at National University of Natural Medicine (2016-2018)

The FNM Project is producing a seminal international textbook on the philosophy, theory, and principles of naturopathic medicine - a synthesis of the knowledge and understanding of the naturopathic scholastic community, colleges and the global naturopathic medical community. This work is a rigorous, comprehensive medical textbook for naturopathic and integrative medical education that holds the standard of holism in western medicine for all healing arts. It is far and away the most comprehensive and complete codification of naturopathic medicine in the profession’s history. It has been described as a pioneering treatise that will be “influential for decades to come” and “the most important textbook on healing written in 100 years.”

The FNM History Fellowship will support the completion of the FNM History section of the textbook, in particular the Timeline of Naturopathic Medicine History & Professional Formation and the Modern History of Naturopathic Medicine chapters.

FNM Theory Fellowship will support the FNM Editorial team's publication of its Proceedings of the International Unified Edit, a codification of naturopathic theory gathered at an extensive profession-wide retreat held in Holly, Washington.

The FNM Project has its academic home at National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland. NUNM is the oldest accredited naturopathic medical university in North America and a leader in natural medicine education and training with exceptional programs in naturopathic medicine, classical Chinese medicine, integrative medicine research, integrative mental health, global health, and nutrition.



The WORLD IN BALANCE MERIT AWARDS (2009 to 2012) honors and distinguishes naturopathic students who broadly understand and apply the guiding holistic healing principles of naturopathic medicine in their own lives and in the lives of others.

It rewards students at National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland, OR who are responsible for initiating a currently functioning sustainable program, service or other work in a local, regional, national or world arena. The WIB Scholarship encourages future naturopathic physicians to act in both a visionary and practical way by bringing the naturopathic paradigm of healing beyond the realm of their clinical offices into the mainstream culture and to those underserved or suffering.

Using the holistic model, the work must promote the wellbeing of individuals, local, regional or world communities, but need not be specifically within the realm of “healthcare”. Some possible areas of focus:

• economic • social • environmental • physical wellbeing
• emotional/mental • psycho-spiritual • cultural
• non-partisan political activism