Dear President Obama,

My name is Dr. Diana Joy Ostroff. I am a primary care physician specializing in Naturopathic and Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. I have been practicing in Honolulu, Hawaii for 20 years. Concurrent to running my private practice, I have demonstrated leadership in the community by writing articles and speaking publically on the importance of patient self-care and prevention in order to avoid the need for taking prescription medicine and undergoing expensive surgeries.I believe and am convinced that prevention is the key to reducing health care cost in this country. (Click Read More for complete details on Dr. Joy's letter and a personal response from President Obama).

My training and experience is extensive. I studied for six years as an undergraduate at the universities of Delaware and Oregon receiving BA's in Psychology and Physical Education. I was at that point clear that I needed more training and skill in order to truly assist patients in healing. I had prepared myself by taking pre-med, yet was clear that parmaceutical medicine had no relevance to health. I went on to receive degrees with honors from two medical schools, which are both accredited four-year medical programs in complementary and alternative medicine. During my specialized medical school training I studied the biological sciences, the proper use of pharmaceutical medicine, as well as the effective care and treatment of patients; using safe, non-toxic, drug-free methods of assisting the body to heal itself completely.

I have continual affirmations of the efficacy of the programs that I implement day after day as patients return to my healing center stating how much better they feel after only 5-7 days under guidance. Patients who have been bouncing from specialist to specialist report that their physician overlooked the most important and fundamental factors in the restoration of their health. Most of my patients say that they finally felt heard, cared about and listened to. All report more improvement in their health than they have ever experienced seeking assistance from their Primary Care Physician (PCP). I hold each patient accountable for their own health, and work with them hand in hand until their health goals are realized.

I am also actively involved in Hawaii legislation, in efforts to have a bill passed to re-write our Naturopathic Physicians law, which has not been updated in 20 years. This bill will clearly delineate what a Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.) has been trained to do and needs to be able to do, without restriction by the American Medical Assocation, in order to better serve our patients as their PCP. At this point in time, N.D.'s are not considered for reimbursement by major medical insurance companies in Hawaii. I had a face discussion with Governor Linda Lingle and she agreed to pay closer attention to the efforts of the Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians (HSNP) interests in being part of the solution to the health care crisis in Hawaii.

I'd like to participate as a guide, resource and expert on your health care reform team. I want to be involved in what is right and necessary for the people of our country. People need choices. N.D.'s are assisting chronically ill patients in attaining health and freedom from drugs. I am committed to being a representative of Hawaii in the Global Health Care Reform Act. I am worthy of this position, and the position is worthy of me.

When the election results were announced of your presidency on National Public Radio, tears of hope and excitement streamed down my face. I believe in you and trust the decisions and choices that you will make for our country. 

Respectfully,

Dr. Diana Joy Ostroff, N.D., L.Ac.

View President Obama's personal response to Dr. Joy  here.