National Academy of Osteopathy (Canada) is the main reason for the international expansion of osteopathy since 2010. It is thanks to NAO that millions of people worldwide in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere have now access to this amazing miraculous health care.
From its inception, NAO has provided leadership in scientific; evidence-based manual osteopathic education. Our proud traditions of academic and clinical excellence—preparing students for achievement and success—have always been at the core of what we do, and will always remain our highest priorities.
In keeping with our motto, “Clinically Based; Practice Oriented; Scientific Manual Osteopathic Education,” we complement basic and clinical sciences with the art of caring for people.
- NAO is the copyright holder to the title of DOMP in Canada and the United States which is accepted by most health insurers and associations. NAO is well known as a leader in scientific manual osteopathic education. We only teach techniques that are effective and proven through evidence based research and we teach more techniques than any other school of osteopathy in Canada. We have more technique instructors than any other osteopathy college in Canada and aside from all major osteopathy techniques such as osteoarticular, cranial, visceral, MET, PFR, BLT, SCS. global, Still’s, and others, we are the only school of osteopathy in the world also teaching the Manual Mechanotherapy (MMT) techniques (the lost techniques of osteopathy).
- At NAO we place heavy emphasis on business & chronic pain education. We prepare NAO graduates for the real world by teaching them business principles, including marketing, investment, & tax planning. I personally teach my students everything I know about running a successful business in 250 business management lectures. My lectures plus the ability of NAO graduates in treating chronic pain are the reasons why my NAO students make $150,000 per year which is $60,000 more than what other manual osteopaths make in Canada.
- Because NAO graduates are expertly prepared to work in integrated care settings and to provide the highest quality patient care, they are the most likely to succeed in this new environment. We graduate successful manual osteopaths.
- Our technique labs average approximately ten students to each professor (10:1). This kind of low student-faculty ratio assures you will confidently enter the profession after graduation, prepared to provide the best treatment for your patients.
- NAO graduates are eligible to receive manual osteopathy malpractice insurance from many liability insurers including Holman Insurance at a preferred rate.
- In Canada NAO graduates can join a number of associations that are accepted by most private health insurers, including ACMA, ACTMD, and the College of Registered Manual Osteopaths (Canada) that awards them the title of RMO (registered manual osteopath) which is accepted by most private health insurance companies. My students can also join the Canadian Union of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners which enables them to work with union members across Canada and receive payments from unions. In the United States, alumni can join the American Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners and the American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners (I am on the Advisory board of AANWP) which gives them the ability to practice as an osteopathic manual practitioner across the United States. Internationally alumni can join the International Osteopathic Association and many others such as Asociación de Osteopatía de Panamá, Iranian Osteopathic Association and Caribbean Osteopathic Association.
- NAO is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) which permits NAO graduates to receive up to $5000 in tuition and textbooks tax credits.
I am deeply committed to ensuring that every student who crosses my path at National Academy of Osteopathy leaves not only as a skilled manual osteopath, but also as a stronger, wiser, and more fulfilled individual.
My teaching goes beyond osteopathic technique—I focus on training the mind, building confidence, and developing the business acumen needed for long-term success.
I help students think bigger, live smarter & healthier, and become better human beings. It’s not just about creating great practitioners; it’s about transforming lives.
Dr. Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, DN, PhD
Osteopath, Naprapath, Chiropractor & Founder of:
National Academy of Osteopathy (Canada)
National University of Medical Sciences (USA, Spain, Panama)
Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada (380 clinics in 34 countries)
World Osteopathy Day