The 2012 American Association of Naturopathic Physicians Award Winners Announced Bellevue, WA (August 19, 2012) – The 2012 winners of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) awards were announced tonight. The awardees were honored at the closing gala of AANP’s 27th Annual Conference, Physicians and Patients Integrating Health and Healing, at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue, Washington. The AANP’s most prestigious award, Physician of the Year, was awarded to Dr. Efraín Rodriguez Malavé, a naturopathic doctor who practices in Puerto Rico, for his leadership, modeling and ethics, and individual achievement. Dr. Rodriguez received his Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1986 and since has been holding a private practice in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He founded the Puerto Rico Association of Naturopathic Physicians, an AANP affiliate, in 1987 and served as the association’s first president. Dr. Rodriguez has raised the level and competence of other physicians, increased the vitality of the naturopathic profession and contributed significantly to the policy agenda of naturopathic medicine. He has spent 26 years lobbying, educating, and advising legislators, nutraceutical companies, health professionals, and institutions on the benefits and services of naturopathic medicine. He continues to exhibit the highest ethical standards in practice and service and has a proven track record of being a dedicated physician who takes excellent care of his patients. Pure Encapsulations was selected as the Corporation of the Year for their exceptional leadership in delivering quality products and services to naturopathic doctors and their contribution of a body of products to naturopathic medicine which, when compared to their peers, makes the company stand out above the rest. Drs. Cindy Breed and David Harrison were presented with the award for the best research and Mitchell Stargrove, ND, LAc, was selected as the 2012 VIS Award recipient. The VIS award is given to a naturopathic physician who represents the healing power of nature as demonstrated through work, life and community service. The AANP president, Michael Cronin, ND, presented the President’s Award to Dr. Mona Morstein for her service to the naturopathic profession and its internet discourse via the online forum Nat-Chat. John Weeks, the publisher and editor of The Integrator Blog, was awarded the Champion of Naturopathic Medicine Award for his deep commitment to changing the landscape of health care through his championship of naturopathic medicine. All awards, except for the VIS Award, are annually bestowed upon deserving individuals and companies. The AANP awards program continues to honor and celebrate the lives and work of leaders in the naturopathic medicine community. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians is a professional association that strives to make naturopathic medicine available to every American, and to increase recognition of naturopathic physicians as the identified authorities on natural medicine.