Arthur M. Hamilton Elementary, located in the Murphy School District, is typical of schools in Phoenix’s low-income neighborhoods. It serves children and families, many from the nearby housing projects, and almost all with household incomes below the poverty line.
Established in 2002, the Sonoran University of Health Sciences clinic at Hamilton Elementary was one of Sonoran University’s first naturopathic community clinics. Before the Sonoran University clinic, Hamilton students were only able to get emergency services. They couldn’t get yearly check-ups and many families would not seek medical care except in the most extreme circumstances.
Now, Sonoran University student clinicians provide more than 500 patient visits per year to students and their families at the naturopathic clinic. The clinic features five exam rooms, a private teaching room, a medicinary and a waiting room.
The most prevalent concerns patients present include diabetes, obesity, asthma, learning disabilities and ADD.