Erin Sweet, ND ('04)

Education

• BS in biology from Evergreen State College in 1993
• ND from Bastyr University in 2004

Current Roles

• Assistant Research Scientist, Bastyr University Research Institute; 
• Physician, Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Center (BIORC), Bastyr University
• T32 Postdoctoral Clinical Research Fellow, Bastyr University
• Associate Physician, Seattle Integrative Medicine

Research Interests

My special focus is women's health, so I am currently researching evidence-based therapies for gynecologic cancer. The NIH-funded research fellowship allows me to train both with CAM scientists and researchers in conventional medicine. As part of my fellowship, I am pursuing a master's of public health in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington. I am also a practitioner at the Bastyr Integrated Oncology Research Clinic (BIORC), a new on-campus clinic where we provide integrative care for people with cancer and monitor treatment outcomes for research purposes.

I plan to continue working toward greater understanding and acceptance of integrative medicine using evidence-based research methods as a tool. Broadly, my goal is to be part of a collaborative medical community in which naturopaths and conventional physicians work together to provide truly patient-centered care. I will continue participating in research and clinical practice here at Bastyr. I have the good fortune of doing work I enjoy and that I believe makes a positive contribution to the field of medicine.

Current Research

Bastyr/UW Oncomycology Translational Research Center

Sept. 2010 - Aug. 2014
The Asian medicinal mushroom, Trametes versicolor (PSK), is a potentially important immune therapy for breast and prostate cancer. In the next four years my team will be the first to conduct clinical trials of PSK in U.S. cancer patients.
Role: Co-investigator

Breast Cancer Integrative Oncology: Prospective Matched Controlled Outcomes Study

Aug. 2010 - April 2015
The goal of this project is to study the effects of integrated oncology on quality of life and clinical outcomes in breast cancer patients in Seattle, Washington.
Role: Co-Investigator

Training in Complementary and Alternative Medical Research

April 2007 - March 2012
Over each five-year period, this program will train eight postdoctoral (four ND, two PhD and two MD) fellows, each for a period of three years, plus 30 predoctoral students in short-term positions. Training opportunities are available from 19 faculty members, representing four preeminent research and educational institutions in Washington state.
Role: Postdoctoral Fellowship Award Recipient