Research & Published Writings
After NUNM, Dr. Kurt branched out from strictly practicing medicine, exploring other avenues of interacting with and applying the “Healing Power of Nature.” He became interested in exploring the concept of "biophilia" the inherent human affinity for nature and other living things. This led him on a journey of exploring the possibilities of cultivating the restorative effect of natural environments on health and well-being, popularly called "Vitamin N".
Dr. Kurt obtained his Master's of Public Health (MPH) degree from the Oregon Master of Public Health program in 2010, focusing on Urban Green Space as a Public Health Promotion method, while concurrently earning a Graduate Certificate in Sustainability from Portland State University's (PSU) nationally-recognized Institute for Sustainable Solutions.
Through this work, Dr. Kurt became the founding co-chair of the Health & Nature subcommittee of the Intertwine Alliance, a 150+ member coalition-based non-profit focused on supporting & promoting the parks, trails and natural areas of the Portland metropolitan region.
Dr. Kurt also pursued his post-doctoral research appointment at NUNM’s Helfgott Research Institute, where he conducted research and published peer-reviewed papers. Primarily using a stress-modulation model, his research measures psychological and physiological effects of spending time in Natural vs Built urban settings.
Dr. Beil's findings have been published in many respected peer-reviewed journals. Click on any of the below images to read the full text.
Peer-reviewed original research
Other published articles & interviews
Nature Therapy: Part One: Evidence for the Healing Power of Contact with Nature
Journal of Restorative Medicine, vol 11, #1, 2021
The Holistic Benefits of Nature-Based Therapy for Women with Breast Cancer
Townsend Letter, Feb/March 2020
Childhood Nature Exposure Predicts Adult Mental Health
Townsend Letter, October 2019
Forest Bathing: Immersion in the Healing Power of Nature
Townsend Letter, July 2018
Natural Medicine: The Healing Effects of Exposure to Nature
Naturopathic Doctor News & Review, June 2009
In addition, Dr. Beil is on the editorial board of the Natural Medicine Journal, the Journal of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), where he maintains and maintains a quarterly column about the healing powers of Nature.
Dr. Beil is also an internationally recognized expert on these topics, regularly peer-reviewing for top-rated academic journals. To see the list of completed peer-reviews go to https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/H-4373-2019