TRADITIONS/RITUALS

Talking Stick/Sharing Circle

All new students are invited to share in the Talking Stick/Sharing Circle tradition during New Student Orientation. To understand this tradition, an explanation of the Native American Talking Stick is warranted. 

Sticks were important to the early Native Americans. Sticks were used to plant corn, to beat drums, as pipes and flutes, and as walking aides. The Talking Stick was taken to council meetings or gatherings and used as a symbol of the speaker's importance and was decorated to show the individual's accomplishments and spirituality.

During the SCNM Talking Stick/Sharing Circle, all new students are asked to share his/her tale of how he/she came to SCNM. A talking stick is passed around the group for each student to attach an article of personal significance (however small). The class Talking Stick is then handed over to the class representative to follow the class through the duration of their academic program.  It is a wonderful time for sharing and getting to know your fellow classmates.  

Making the Talking Stick can be a fulfilling experience. You are asked to look back at your life and remember your accomplishments as well as the trials you faced that got you where you are. The most important thing to remember when using the Talking Stick is that everyone has knowledge and experiences worth sharing and that we need to respect the words of others no matter who they are.

White, J. M. (1979). Everyday Life of the North American Indian. Indian Head Books.

Water Ceremony:

The SCNM Water Ceremony occurs on the final day of New Student Orientation. This tradition has been passed down from SCNM founder and Naturopathic physician, Dr. Kyle Cronin, and has been a part of Orientation since the inaugural in the fall of 1993. 

Each new student is given a glass of fresh water and asked to say a special thank you to the person(s) who has helped them in their quest to enter Naturopathic medical school. As the student gives their thanks, he/she adds the water to the collective water that represents all SCNM students who have entered our program. This water is then stored and brought out for future Water Ceremonies.

Stethoscope Ceremony

During New Student Orientation, it is an SCNM tradition to award our new medical students with their stethoscopes and the additional medical equipment they will use throughout their program. It is a celebration of the completion of orientation and the beginning of their new adventure. Family and friends are welcome to attend the Stethoscope Ceremony to show their pride and support for their new medical student(s).

White Coat Ceremony

After their second year of medical school, our students are ready to enter clinical training. The White Coat Ceremony signifies a milestone, a transition from theory to practice.

These students have spent two years learning about the human body, mind and condition as pieces and parts of a whole. At this stage they enter the process of putting the pieces together, of understanding how each piece fits together so that they begin to see and treat their patients as a whole entity. Although each coat is merely a piece of white material, it signifies responsibility and knowledge. All students of medicine have the responsibility to apply what they know, to continue learning, and to continue growing to become the best Naturopathic doctors possible.

Gift to the College

Each year the graduating class bestows a gift to SCNM. This gift is often identified by the graduating class as a meaningful gift that will benefit both the College as well as future graduating classes. Examples of class gifts include: ConMed Hyfrecator 2000 for the Medical Center surgical suite ; 20 Satellite Clocks for both Medical Center and College classrooms; Portable Magnifying Wood’s Lamp to diagnose eye and skin conditions. SCNM proudly displays many of the gifts in our main hallway including our Naturopathic principle flags and the stained glass SCNM medicine wheel.

Graduation

Graduation is an honored tradition at all colleges and universities. At SCNM, we share this great tradition with our entire community. Beginning on campus, graduates celebrate with our College community (staff, faculty and students) in a “drumming ceremony” and conclude in a luncheon party.  Festivities continue at the commencement ceremony in one of the Valley’s Community Centers.

Southwest College held our 22nd Commencement Ceremony on July 12, 2008 at the Chandler Center for the Arts, in Chandler Arizona. Forty-one graduates walked across the stage to fulfill their dreams of becoming Naturopathic physicians. Family, friends, fellow students and future colleagues joined the celebration reception that followed the ceremony. These graduates join the nearly 700 SCNM alumni.