Dr. Patrick Nuzzo, DN
Patrick Nuzzo started his journey in Integrative Medicine in 1974 when he began his studies to become a functional nutritionist. He worked as an independent contractor in the natural foods industry formulating, marketing and distributing nutritional supplements. Dr. Nuzzo developed several lines of nutritional supplements for the natural food industry including a sports nutrition line for Hall of Fame football star, Walter Payton whom he partnered with in the venture, and developed products for Kraft General Foods and Anheuser Busch.
Dr. Patrick Nuzzo D.N. is the co-founder and president of Southwest University of Naprapathic Medicine (SUNM). In 1979, he began his Naprapathic education and graduated from the National College of Naprapathic Medicine in 1983. Since then Dr. Nuzzo has opened, staffed and managed successful Naprapathic practices in Santa Barbara, California; Arlington Heights, Illinois; Lake Zurich, Illinois; Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In 2000 he helped introduce the Naprapathic Practice Act of New Mexico and in 2004 got it signed into law making it possible for Naprapaths to practice in New Mexico. In 2006, Dr. Nuzzo was issued a license in New Mexico to open a Naprapathic University and grant the degree of Doctor of Naprapathic Medicine and Southwest University of Naprapathic Medicine and Health Sciences (SUNM) was incorporated. It took the team four years to develop the curriculum for the Doctor of Naprapathic Degree (DN).
In 2010, SUNM opened its doors and began offering the DN degree. In 2014, the first Naprapathic class graduated, In 2015, the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) was petitioned to accredit SUNM, In 2016, DEAC accepted the petition.
In 2021 SUNM became the first Naprapathic school in the United States ever accredited, as of 2023, 50 Naprapaths have graduated from SUNM.
In 2023, introduced AB153 in the Nevada Legislature allowing Naprapaths to practice and be licensed. AB 153 passed unanimously and was signed into law.