FOUNDERS

In 1992, Dr. Michael Cronin founded the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine along with co-founders Dr. Kyle Cronin , Dr. Konrad Kail, PA-C, ND, Dana Keaton, ND, and Hugh Hawk, PhD. Dr. Michael Cronin served as SCNM’s President for the first five years during which Dr. Kyle Cronin served as Academic Dean and Dean of Curriculum. Southwest College’s four-year program was established to meet the growing demand for Naturopathic physicians trained in providing truly integrative health care in a family practice delivery model. The college was established as a non-profit corporation and has been accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, which is approved by the Department of Education.

The decision to open a Naturopathic medical college in Arizona was primarily due to the wide scope of practice available to Naturopathic physicians under ND licensing in Arizona and the growing demand for Naturopathic education, especially in the southwest. At the time, Arizona was one of 10 states that licensed Naturopathic physicians and Arizona offered the widest scope of practice over any other state.

Additionally, Arizona endures 350 days of sunshine each year and is centrally located to major cities and destinations. Arizona embraces a culture from early Native Americans that is based on nature and natural healing. Plants that are indigenous to Arizona, along with the weather, provide students a unique learning environment.

In the first year the college found and remodeled a temporary campus, recruited a faculty, designed an innovative curriculum, and recruited a class of 30 students. The Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center was established two years later.

In 1997, a permanent campus was purchased, remodeled and occupied. During this time $1.8 million was raised and the SCNM research center was also established. Southwest College is located on a seven-acre campus in Tempe, Arizona and graduates over 90 Naturopathic physicians annually.