SCNM Clinical Rotation at Mission of Mercy

Location Mobile Medical Clinics in Tempe, Mesa, and Phoenix
SCNM Clinic Hours Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Cost to patients Free

About Mission of Mercy Founded in 1994, Mission of Mercy is an independent nonprofit, nonsectarian community-based organization. Missions of Mercy relies on active and retired licensed medical professionals to provide free medical services and prescription medications to the uninsured working poor, homeless and economically disadvantaged people via a mobile medical clinic. Thirteen clinics are located in three states – Arizona, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. In Arizona, 98% of those treated are uninsured, 32% are children and the large majority is of Hispanic decent.

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 types of treatments are provided? SCNM has provided naturopathic support at Mission of Mercy for over five years. Mission of Mercy clinics provide a continuum of care, not just emergency or screening services and are fully equipped to diagnose and treat conditions ranging from acute to chronic illnesses. The SCNM rotation sees patients with a wide range of acute ailments, a significant number of patients with diabetes and hypertension, as well as patients in need of minor surgery.

Who sees the patients? While Julie Keiffer, NMD is the supervising physician of the SCNM rotation, this extended site rotation would not be possible without the support of Brad Smith, NMD, Co-Medical Director and SCNM graduate, and a large group of practitioners, including NDs, MDs, and DOs. There are up to 4 medical students and a resident from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine on duty per rotation. Mission of Mercy provides SCNM students with exposure to a population with diverse healthcare needs.

Dr. Julie Keiffer graduated from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2001 and completed a residency through Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center the following year. Her current practice focuses on general family health care, minor surgery, and various cosmetic procedures.