Here are a few of the events we have planned over the next 31 days:
John Bastyr’s 100th Birthday – May 16, 2012, would have been Dr. John Bartholomew Bastyr’s 100th birthday. To celebrate his life, on that very day we will be holding our annual Spring for Health Luncheon at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle. The fundraising luncheon will feature keynote speakers and Bastyr alumni: Peter Bongiorno, ND, LAc, considered by many the world’s expert on natural medicine and depression, and his wife Pina LoGiudice, ND, LAc who has made multiple appearances on “The Dr. Oz Show.” Given the significance of this year’s luncheon and the fact that it comes on Dr. Bastyr’s actual birthday, it is only fitting we ”keep it in the family” and have these distinguished guests who learned from Dr. Bastyr’s philosophy grace the stage. This year’s theme is “Food as Nature’s Medicine,” and proceeds from the event will go toward uncompensated care at Bastyr Center for Natural Health.
Bastyr Book Journey – The Spring for Health Luncheon will also be the site of the kickoff of our Bastyr Book Journey. Between May and September, our network of alumni on the West Coast will carry one of our namesake’s favorite books, Return to Nature by Adolph Just, from Seattle to San Diego, where it will arrive in time for the grand opening of our California campus.
City, County and State Proclamation – It is not just our internal community that will be celebrating Dr. Bastyr’s life and legacy: We are proud to announce that May 16th, 2012, will be known as ”John Bastyr Day” in the city of Kenmore, in King County and statewide. Official proclamations by Mayor David Baker of Kenmore, King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson and Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire will highlight the celebration. It is fitting that millions of people in the area will be able to honor Dr. Bastyr since as a natural healer he touched the lives of so many.
Alain Touwaide – On May 17, Alain Touwaide, PhD, will give a talk on "1912-2012: The Decline and Rise of Herbal Medicine," in the Bastyr Auditorium. Dr. Touwaide is Bastyr University’s first visiting scholar through the William A. Mitchell, Jr., ND, Memorial Fund for Botanical Medicine, and will round out the week of festivities by hosting another talk on May 18, focusing on ways to integrate tradition into present-day medicine.
We are excited about all the major events planned for this month and hope you will join us.
In Health,
Daniel K. Church, PhD
Bastyr University President