ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Hamilton Elementary

“I’m so glad there is another option that works…”

“I thought we were going to need medication for the rest of his life.”

These are just a couple of comments made by the grateful mother of David, a shy four year old boy suffering from asthma. David’s mom tried to deal with the consistent wheezing and shortness of breath of asthma as best she could, but she was worried because when he had the attacks he was forced to use steroids and inhalers which she knew were not good for him. But where to turn?

Then, she remembered the clinic at Hamilton Elementary School. She had heard good things about the school clinic so she brought David there in the hope that the naturopathic doctors could somehow help.  The doctors at the clinic immediately began teaching David’s family about nutrition and how it was directly linked to David’s wheezing and shortness of breath.

When David arrived at the clinic with his mother the clinic doctors performed tests resulting in the most common food allergies being removed from David’s diet.  He was started on antioxidant vitamins and minerals and a probiotic supplement to improve his immune function.  In six weeks, David’s mom was able to decrease his medication by half, within three months David was symptom free, and remained so.

David’s mom was ecstatic with the results and exclaimed, “I am so glad there is another option that works for David’s asthma.  I thought we were going to need medication the rest of his life”.

The Hamilton Elementary School Clinic is just one of nine sites supported by students and residents from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. Hamilton specifically serves children and families from one of the poorest economic areas within Phoenix. Each year the physicians from Southwest College provide care free of charge on over 2,000 patient visits.

Naturopaths Without Borders

Naturopaths Without Borders (NWB) is a student organization at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM). Students and doctors from SCNM travel to under-served communities to provide Naturopathic medical care to needy patients at partnered medical clinics and facilities in Mexico and Central America.

In February 2008,11 NWB medical volunteers focused on the underdeveloped and underserved community of Chacala and Las Varas, Mexico. The volunteers worked at Casa Clinica, a medical clinic founded in 1985 by Dr. Laura Del Valle.

Dr. Del Valle has created a family practice clinic that treats a myriad of conditions - from chronic to acute disease. Casa Clinica provides treatment for 20 to 30 patients daily and assists over 16,000 families annually. The average wage in Las Varas is $6 per day, so payment at the clinic is on a sliding scale system. Patients of the clinic receive not only care, but dignity as well.

Casa Clinica is accustomed to medical student volunteers from different US-based medical schools and provides an excellent opportunity to provide much needed care to a very deserving population. SCNM students supported the efforts of Casa Clinica by bringing donated supplies and supplements to use in various treatment modalities. A typical one week service learning project to in Chacala, Mexico costs a student $1,400 which includes: airfare, room, board and ground transport.

This volunteer experience, in addition to others, has had a profound impact on the lives of SCNM students and even more so for patients.

“It is a wonderful, nurturing experience that should be experienced by as many students as possible. We believe Naturopathic Medicine is especially suited to the unique needs of the communities we serve due to its effectiveness, economic efficiency, and cultural compatibility.” – Naturopaths Without Borders

Naturopathic Public Awareness Campaign (NPAC)

The Naturopathic Public Awareness Campaign (NPAC) is a thriving student group founded by SCNM students in 2003. NPAC and its members work to promote public awareness of Naturopathic medicine and licensure of Naturopathic Physicians in all 50 states.

In Arizona, NPAC sponsors several events to raise awareness of Naturopathic medicine. For example, since 2006, NPAC and the Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association (AzNMA) co-sponsor Naturopathic Medicine Awareness Day at the Arizona State Capitol. Students and Naturopathic physicians come together to sponsor a breakfast event for Arizona legislators that includes blood pressure checks, informational tables, and food. Last year, the annual event, “Hope Stories”, was held at the Scottsdale Public Library and attracted 75 people. Five individuals at the event who had been healed by Naturopathic Medicine shared their stories of hope and healing with the public.

Across the country, NPAC provides scholarships to SCNM students who want to attend the American Association of Naturopathic Physician’s Federal Legislative Initiative Day in Washington, DC; Naturopathic Medicine Awareness Days in their home states; the American Medical Students Association’s HEART rotation; and other conferences and events. Without these scholarships, students would not be able to attend these events and contribute a Naturopathic perspective to the health care conversation in our country.