Bastyr Announces San Diego Location for Second Campus

It’s official: Bastyr University has announced that its new campus will be in San Diego, California, with the first class to begin in fall 2012.

The news comes as an exciting step forward for the university, which is pleased to be expanding and growing in a difficulty economy. After months of scouting, planning, and research, the decision means that prospective students and university leaders alike can prepare for the inaugural class next fall.

“We are thrilled to secure a location for our Southern California campus,” says President Daniel K. Church, PhD. “To become the first regionally accredited naturopathic medical institution in California is a tremendous honor, and we look forward to providing the same quality education as our Kenmore, Washington, campus does.”

The San Diego campus will be located at 4106 Sorrento Valley Boulevard in the center of the city’s life sciences cluster and approximately 14 miles north of downtown. It lies within walking distance of the San Diego Coaster commuter train (which connects to more light-rail lines), and is within a short drive of the University of California-San Diego, Scripps Mercy Hospital and the VA San Diego Medical Center. Less than 6 miles away, the coastal wilderness at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve presents some of the area’s most popular surfing and hiking spots.

At first, the San Diego campus will offer the naturopathic doctoral program alone, with hopes to add additional programs, including nutrition, in the next several years. The naturopathic medicine program will use the same revamped curriculum launching in Kenmore this fall, which includes clinical training in a student’s first year.

The university’s expansion is welcome news for the Golden State, too: The university has been measuring a growing desire for naturopathic training among prospective patients and students and current practitioners. The California Naturopathic Doctors Association (CNDA) supports Bastyr’s planning for a new campus as a way to help the state’s shortage of primary care doctors.

“There is a big demand for both a naturopathic medical school and practicing naturopathic doctors in the state, and Bastyr’s presence will go a long way to meeting these very important needs,” says Simon Barker, ND, president of the CNDA and a Bastyr alumnus. “Not only does it provide a source of hope and pride for us, it also provides a source of training for tomorrow’s primary care doctors in California.”