Tieraona Low Dog, MD

Dr. Low Dog’s extensive career in studying herbal medicine and its role in modern health care began more than twenty years ago. After extensive experience with botanicals she went on to receive her Doctor of Medicine degree from the New Mexico School of Medicine with further training in family medicine. Prior to medical school she had a successful herbal practice in New Mexico, running a not-for-profit teaching clinic for herbalists and serving as President of the American Herbalist Guild. Dr. Low Dog also trained as a midwife and massage therapist prior to entering medical school.

Her many honors of distinction in recognition of her work in herbal medicine include Time magazine’s award of Innovator in Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2001, the Burton Kallman Scientific Award in 2007, NPR People's Pharmacy award for Excellence in Research and Communication for the Public Health in 2010, and the Martina de la Cruz medal for her work with indigenous medicines. President Bill Clinton appointed Dr. Low Dog to serve on the White House Commission of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. As the chair of the United States Pharmacopoeia Dietary Supplements and Botanicals Expert Committee, Dr. Low Dog helps oversee the evaluation of the safety of dietary supplements. She was appointed by Secretary Tommy Thompson of Health and Human Services in July of 2003 to serve on the Advisory Board for the National Institute’s of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and now serves on their Board of Scientific Councilors.

Dr. Low Dog is the author of Complementary and Integrative Approaches to Women’s Health (Elsevier publisher), authored/edited 5 books, 17 chapters in medical textbooks and more than 20 peer-reviewed publications on topics ranging from the responsible use of dietary supplements, to women's health, to the future of integrative medicine. She has lectured at more than 500 medical/health conferences. Dr. Low Dog has appeared on E!, ABC’s 20/20, CNN, and Good Morning TV in London. She is a frequent guest on numerous radio programs in the United States and the United Kingdom, including NPR’s The People’s Pharmacy.

Dr. Low Dog serves on numerous advisory and editorial boards including Prevention, Menopause Journal, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, American Botanical Council, Explore and has a regular column entitled Smart Talk on Dietary Supplements for Alternative and Complementary Therapies.

Tieraona has studied the Korean martial art of Tae Kwon Do since 1978 and currently holds the rank of third degree black belt. She enjoys spending time with her children, hiking, cooking and traveling.

"Science and Nature have provided the threads for the tapestry of my life. Learning about DNA, molecules and the biochemistry of life has awed and inspired me - allowing me to expand my vision of the world, while Nature continues to provide a steady, gentle path for my soul to follow. The division between conventional and traditional medicine is as artificial as the division between science and nature. They can be woven together in a fashion that meets our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. This is the foundation upon which integrative medicine is built."