Dr. George Mufarreh and the First Nation Medical Board
If you've looked through my credentials, you may have noticed the letters CTH after my name or references to the First Nation Medical Board (FNMB) and wondered what they mean.
My affiliation with FNMB is one part of a professional journey that has included conventional medical education and clinical training as well as nutrition, naturopathy, functional and integrative medicine, holistic health, regenerative medicine, and Indigenous Medicine.
I believe credentials should be explained clearly: what they represent, what they don't, and how they relate to the work I do today.
What is the First Nation Medical Board?
The First Nation Medical Board, or FNMB, credentials practitioners within what it describes as Indigenous Medicine. Its framework includes natural, alternative, complementary, holistic, and integrative approaches to health.
My designation is Certified Tribal Healer (CTH).
I first learned about FNMB in 2017 at an American Naturopathic Medical Association convention in Las Vegas. By then, my interests had expanded into prevention, functional medicine, natural approaches, and whole-person wellness. FNMB's philosophy was consistent with the direction my own journey had already taken.
What does it mean that Dr. George is a Certified Tribal Healer?
My current registration identifies me as:
George Mufarreh, NMD, CTH
Certified Tribal Healer
FNMB Registry No. CTH-201700203
Current through January 31, 2027
The credential is issued within FNMB's Indigenous Medicine framework and complements my broader studies and professional experience.
I see it as one chapter in a much longer professional journey.
Is a Certified Tribal Healer credential the same as a state medical license?
No.
A state medical license is issued under state law through the appropriate governmental licensing authority.
My CTH credential is issued through FNMB within its Indigenous Medicine framework. I do not represent it as a state medical license, and I do not currently hold or practice under a state medical license.
My medical education continues to inform my perspective, but my work at Mufarreh Wellness Institute differs from operating a conventional hospital-based or state-licensed medical practice.
Is Dr. George Native American?
No. I am not Native American, and I do not claim citizenship, enrollment, or membership in any Native American tribe.
My affiliation with FNMB is professional. My CTH credential should not be confused with Native American ancestry, tribal citizenship, or enrollment.
My own roots and heritage are also important to who I am and how I came to understand compassion, community, and healing. I share more about that story in “Before Medicine, I Learned Compassion.”
Do you have to be Native American to be affiliated with FNMB?
No. FNMB's professional structure includes practitioners from different backgrounds.
Professional affiliation with FNMB should not be confused with Native American ancestry, citizenship, or tribal enrollment.
Does Mufarreh Wellness Institute operate as a conventional medical practice?
No. MWI does not operate as a conventional hospital-based or state-licensed medical practice.
Much of our work centers on health education, helping people understand factors such as nutrition, sleep, movement, stress, metabolic health, environment, prevention, healthy aging, and whole-person wellness.
Education can help you recognize patterns, ask better questions, and become a more informed participant in your healthcare. It is not the same as a medical diagnosis or treatment.
What's the difference between health education, wellness guidance, and medical care?
Health education helps people understand health concepts and factors that may influence well-being.
Wellness guidance helps people apply general principles related to food, movement, sleep, stress, healthy habits, prevention, and other lifestyle factors.
Medical diagnosis and treatment involve evaluating an individual for a medical condition, making or confirming a diagnosis, and determining appropriate treatment by appropriately licensed healthcare professionals acting within their scope of practice.
Each can have value, but they are not interchangeable. Education and wellness guidance do not replace appropriate medical care when it is needed.
How does conventional medicine fit into Dr. George's approach?
My interest in functional, natural, holistic, integrative, and Indigenous approaches was never a rejection of conventional medicine.
I have deep respect for what modern healthcare can accomplish. Emergency medicine, surgery, diagnostic imaging, appropriate medications, specialists, and hospital teams can provide lifesaving care.
Whole-person approaches should never delay necessary medical or emergency treatment.
What is the Turtle Healing Band?
The Turtle Healing Band, or THB, is associated with FNMB's membership structure.
Within the FNMB structure, it is described as a membership organization for people seeking services from participating Indigenous Medicine practitioners.
THB membership is not the same as tribal citizenship or enrollment in a federally recognized tribe.
What is the relationship between FNMB and Turtle Healing Band?
Simply put:
FNMB is the professional-provider side. It credentials participating practitioners.
Turtle Healing Band is the member side. It provides a membership structure for people seeking services within that network.
How can I verify Dr. George's FNMB credential?
My current FNMB registration is:
George Mufarreh, NMD, CTH
Certified Tribal Healer
FNMB Registry No. CTH-201700203
Current through January 31, 2027
Visitors can review my current certificate through Mufarreh Wellness Institute or contact the First Nation Medical Board directly for information about its credentialing program.
A Final Thought
No single credential or system of medicine tells the whole story of how I think about health.
My goal is to remain curious, respect what different approaches can offer, recognize their limitations, and help people better understand their own health.