Clinic Location 2020 W. Durango, Phoenix, AZ 85009
Hours Mondays and Fridays, 8:30am – 12:30pm
Cost to patient Services are provided free of charge

The Pediatric Clinic at Hamilton Elementary School The Hamilton Pediatric Clinic was founded through the support of the Phoenix Rotary Club and Murphy School District. Operational support for the clinic is provided through the commitment and efforts of Assistant Principal Patrick Higuera and the school district’s nurses. Clinical support is provided by the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. The college is licensed by the State of Arizona to provide pediatric care for children from schools within the Murphy Elementary School District, including Hamilton, Garcia, Kuban, and Sullivan Schools. The majority of the children come from low-income families with no health insurance.

What is Naturopathic Medicine? Naturopathic Medicine treats disease and restores health using natural therapies and promoting preventive care, self-care and treatment of the whole person with emphasis on underlying causes, and a focus on diet, lifestyle, mental health, environment, and physical states. Naturopathic physicians (NDs) attend a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical program and are educated in all of the same basic sciences as in conventional medical school. Naturopaths are specialists in natural medicine who are licensed in Arizona as family health physicians.

What kinds of conditions are treated? Many conditions are seen in the pediatric clinic, some which require referrals to other physicians, others which may be treated within the clinic’s care. Treatments used include diet and nutritional therapy, physical medicine and manipulation, botanical medicine, homeopathy, and when necessary, prescription medications. Patients are also referred to Phoenix Memorial Hospital for imaging services and to Sonora Quest Labs for laboratory services. Conditions commonly seen include ear infections, sore throats, gastrointestinal complaints, colds and flus, asthma, diabetes, headaches, skin rashes, and eye infections just to name a few.

Who sees the patients? Dr. Matthew Baral is the clinic Medical Director and supervising physician at the site. Typically there are 4-8 medical students from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine on duty per rotation.

Dr. Baral graduated from the Naturopathic Medicine program of Seattle's Bastyr University in 2000. While in Seattle, he worked in conjunction with pediatricians for three and a half years, utilizing integrative medicine in the treatment of children and adolescents. Dr. Baral worked as a resident at a naturopathic medical clinic in Seattle for the year after he received his medical degree. Dr. Baral's primary concentration is Pediatric Integrative Medicine. His research experience includes the Pediatric Echinacea Study with Bastyr University and the University of Washington, as well as recent projects in the areas of Autism and flu prevention. Dr. Baral is Medical Director of the Hamilton Elementary School Pediatric Clinic, and is Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Pediatrics.