Welcome to the Southwest Naturopathic Medical Centers home page. The medical center is the training facility for the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences where the student clinicians undergo clinical training during their last two years of study. While it is the basic medical sciences during the first two years that provide the explanatory knowledge and foundation from which physicians are made, it is the clinical science education that nurtures and moulds the physicians of the future. Naturopathic medicine as it is practiced within the medical center integrates the principals of naturopathic medicine into all aspects of patient care, allowing for true healing rather than the palliation of disease. Here, all aspects of the disease process, the physical, the mental-emotional as well as the spiritual are taken into consideration when assessing the patient. It is the presentation of the disease by the patient, rather than the disease itself, which becomes the focus of the treatment, allowing for the restoration of health. Patients, as well as modern day medicine are increasingly recognizing the importance of this medical care health model as a key to changing the paradigm in medicine.

Naturopathic medical students are prepared at the medical center to become primary care, family practice physicians who provide a wide variety of medical services. Patient education about the disease process, disease prevention and wellness programs are an integral part of the healing experience at the medical center. Naturopathic physicians are also committed to working with other medical disciplines to afford their patients a wide range of medical options. To this end, a focus of the clinical education program at Southwest College is the integration of naturopathic physicians into the existing conventional medical paradigm without compromising the principals and precepts of naturopathic medicine. The medical center has taken a proactive role in developing a wide variety of community relationships and affiliations that allow us to deliver medical services to all aspects of the community.

The medical center is staffed by over 25 full and adjunct clinical faculty who possess over 300 years of experience. Many of our physicians are recognized as leaders and educators within the profession and provide our students with the expertise, knowledge and guidance that form the foundations of their future practice of naturopathic medicine. In addition, our medical students have the opportunity to work with other medical professionals such as MD’s and DO’s to gain knowledge as to how to integrate the various disciplines and specialties of medicine.

The medical center is also a focal point for our developing centers of excellence in Environmental Medicine, Women’s Medicine, Pediatric and Geriatric Medicine. Here, research is integrated with these programs to enhance clinical outcomes and provide a broader scientific basis for natural therapies. Additional training for post-graduate fellows is available in addition to our residency program, already recognized as being one of the best in natural medicine.

Despite the relatively young age of Southwest College, our graduates are already beginning to distinguish themselves both in their communities as well as the profession. By placing an emphasis on quality of patient care, quality in education, high academic standards and professionalism, the Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center is continuing to set the standard for clinical education. The physician of the future is being trained today at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences.

Sincerely,
Christine Girard, ND
Chief Medical Officer and Executive VP of Clinical Affairs