Meet Our Newest Board Members!
We are incredibly pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to the Board of Naturopathy: Dr. Laura Flanagan, Dr. Sunita Iyer and Dr. Kelsey Klausmeyer. Each of these professionals brings a unique clinical background, distinct area of expertise, and a shared dedication to our board's core mission to protect the public's health and safety and to promote the welfare of the state by regulating the competency and quality of naturopathic physicians.
Please Join us in welcoming them! Get to know our newest board members in our lightening -round spotlight below.
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Dr. Laura Flanagan, ND
Fast Facts:
- Location: Spokane, WA
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Clinical Focus: General practice, but many of my patients see me for women's health and digestive issues.
Q: What inspired you to join the board, and what do you hope to accomplish during your tenure?
With a background in Naturopathic medicine and public health I was drawn to join the board based on its dual mission to protect the public and support the profession. During my tenure I hope to help the board provide guidance for safe and ethical practice while maintaining our unique naturopathic voice.
Q: When you aren't working or serving on the board, how do you like to spend your free time to recharge?
When I am not in the clinic or serving on the board I am usually cycling, walking my two big dogs, or puttering in my vegetable garden.
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Dr. Sunita Iyer, ND LM
Fast Facts:
- Location: Edmonds, WA
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Clinical Focus: Hormones and mental health
Q: What inspired you to join the board, and what do you hope to accomplish during your tenure?
I have been very active in our profession as a speaker, educator, and residency supervisor and serving on the Board felt like another good way to serve the growth and sustainability of our profession.
Q: When you aren't working or serving on the board, how do you like to spend your free time to recharge?
I am an active sort and love to be with my family, so you'll find me on the beach, in the woods, on the tennis court, or on the golf course enjoying movement and my time with my people.
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Dr. Kelsey Klausmeyer, ND
Fast Facts:
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Location: Seattle, WA
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Clinical Focus: Naturopathic primary care, metabolic health and obesity medicine.
Q: What inspired you to join the board, and what do you hope to accomplish during your tenure?
I was drawn to board service because it's a direct way to serve the public while advancing the values that brought me to naturopathic medicine in the first place — prevention and health promotion. During my tenure, I hope to help ensure that licensure and regulatory standards keep pace with the profession, so patients across Washington can trust the care they receive from an ND.
Q: When you aren't working or serving on the board, how do you like to spend your free time to recharge?
I recharge by spending time with family and friends and getting outside as much as possible — cross-country skiing in the winter and biking with my Siberian husky, Otis, the rest of the year.
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If you are interested in serving on a Board or Commission, please complete the online application link above. You may attach your resume and any additional materials you would like considered at the bottom of the application before submitting. Appointed Board members duties and responsibilities can be viewed on the department's website.
*Note: Please do not email, mail or fax additional copies of your application, resume or supplementary materials to the Boards & Commissions Office.
You may apply for a board or commission at any time, regardless of whether there is a current or upcoming vacancy, as vacancies occur periodically throughout the year. If you have any questions about completing the application, please contact Governor Ferguson's Office by email or call 360-902-4111.
*Note: Pursuant to the state's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56), applications submitted for these appointments are public records and may be subject to public disclosure.
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New Medical Cannabis Authorization form required by September 1, 2026
This is an important update for healthcare practitioners (HCPs) who authorize the medical use of cannabis. Starting September 1, 2026, the updated version of the Medical Cannabis Authorization Form (PDF) will be required. Last year, we made updates to the form to include no longer identifying the specific patient condition and for the HCP to acknowledge that the first office visit must be in person.
Please use the updated form as soon as practicable. If you have stock of tamper-resistant paper on an older form, you may use it until the September 1st deadline.
For more information about authorizing medical cannabis, see our Medical Cannabis - Healthcare Practitioners webpage and FAQ. You’ll find topics such as:
If you have any questions, please contact MedicalCannabis@doh.wa.gov.
Become Familiar with the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP)
WANP is a professional association for naturopathic physicians in Washington state. It provides education, advocacy, and member resources, while the Board of Naturopathy serves a distinct role in regulating the profession and protecting public health.
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Member Benefits: Include access to exclusive newsletters, professional resources, networking opportunities, and practice support tools.
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Protecting Licensed Professionals: Ongoing Scams Targeting Health Providers
Washington State’s Department of Health continues to receive reports of scams targeting licensed health care providers. Scammers often pose as Department staff, using real employee names and email addresses that closely resemble official DOH addresses.
Messages may request payment, personal information, or documents related to licensing issues, investigations, or disciplinary action. Some providers report receiving phone calls or letters that also appear to come from the Department.
Do not respond to suspicious messages or click on links or attachments. Verify communications by contacting the Office of Health Professions at (360) 236‑4700 or emailing naturopathy@doh.wa.gov.
Click here to read the full article.
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Application Questions
One of the board’s duties, in collaboration with departmental program staff, is to decide whether a credential shall be issued or denied. At the Department of Health, credentialing processes are separated into three (3) categories: Routine applications, Non-routine applications, and Exception applications.
“Routine applications” refers to those deemed to have met all set forth credentialing requirements, are approved by credentialing staff, and do not require a board, commission, or internal staff review/approval prior to issuance.
"Non-routine" applications" usually requires a more in-depth review by internal staff to include credentialing, program and sometimes even supervising attorney staff to determine if a credential may be issued or denied.
"Exception applications" are triggered by specific circumstances that are handled by a Case Management Team, take longer to process, and the naturopathy board makes the final decision.
Reasons that an application may be considered an exception include:
- Having a criminal background.
- An open case or enforcement action on another credential.
- A databank disciplinary history.
- A "yes" response to personal data questions on the application form (e.g., regarding physical or mental health conditions impacting practice).
- Not meeting all other standard credentialing requirements.
In conclusion, it is important to note that the approval or denial of a credential must always align with the Department of Health’s established statutes or RCWs (under Title “18”), and rules or WACs (under Chapter 246-836 and 246-836A).
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Healthcare Enforcement and Licensing Management System (HELMS)
HELMS has modernized our licensing and enforcement processes, improving data security, reducing paper-based activities, and enhancing access to information for our teams, partners, licensees, and the public.
In March 2026, the HELMS Project released its third and final major launch. With this launch, additional tools are available for staff, employers, providers, and the public.
Providers can now choose to add information about themselves (and their practice) through Provider Credential Search. Provider Credential Search is the Department of Health's license verification tool. Users can add their accepted insurance plans, indicate whether they are accepting new patients, share their gender identity, and list their business address. This information can only be added by the provider (DOH staff cannot change this information) and can be found by clicking “My Profile” and selecting the “My Public Information” tab.
Also, after you’ve completed your first renewal after March 24, 2026, you may notice a QR code has been added to your credential certificate (available in HELMS by logging in and choosing “Download Documents” next to your credential). Scanning the QR code with your smartphone or tablet provides instant access to the Department of Health’s online license verification system. This is where your patients, employers, and others can view your most current licensing information. This information is updated in real time; it’s an easy way to confirm that a license is active and in good standing.
While the major releases for HELMS are complete, our team at DOH continues to work on HELMS to support staff and customers. Thank you for your support of health and well-being in Washington state. We look forward to sharing updates and improvements to HELMS with you.
More information is available on the DOH’s HELMS information webpage
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