CAMPUS EXPANSION. The National College of Natural Medicine’s new 18,000-square-foot clinic (bottom left photo), offering integrated naturopathic and Chinese medicine, opened its doors to patients last month. The clinic, open Monday through Saturday, offers acupuncture, moxibustion, shiatsu, homeopathy, wellness exams, IV therapy, nutritional counselling, and more.

From The Asian Reporter, V19, #36 (September 15, 2009), page 11.

By Julie Stegeman

The National College of Natural Medicine’s (NCNM) new clinic offering integrated naturopathic and Chinese medicine opened its doors to patients late last month. The facility, located at 3025 S.W. Corbett Avenue in Portland, takes the place of NCNM’s Pettygrove Clinic and Natural Health Center and its Natural Health Center on S.W. First Avenue, combining the services of both clinics into one building conveniently located next to the NCNM Academic Building.

Founded in 1956, NCNM is the oldest programmatically accredited naturopathic medical school in North America. Since opening, approximately 2,000 students have graduated from the college with advanced degrees in naturopathic medicine, Oriental medicine, and acupuncture.

The new clinic is the result of the renovation of a formerly condemned building. After searching throughout Portland for a new location for a clinic, college officials were able to acquire a property adjacent to the NCNM campus. The addition expands the college’s property with the building as well as a parking area located across Water Avenue.

The nonprofit college financed the purchase of the building and renovations aided by donations of materials and labor by several companies, including Miller Paint, R&H Construction, Northwest Control, and others. In addition, Welch Allyn, a manufacturer of diagnostic and healthcare products, donated medical equipment. The college will launch a capital campaign to raise funds in the near future.

The ability to design the building basically from scratch allowed NCNM to create the clinic with an eye on function as well as aesthetics. The college, in keeping with its principal of "prevention is the best cure," elected to keep the building as "green" as possible, from using non-VOC-emitting paint, to employing a special pipe system that removes sediment from water, to using a soy-based stain to seal concrete floors.

The building is also equipped with a special HVAC system to keep areas employing moxa — which has a strong odor that can adversely impact sensitive people — under a negative pressure to the rest of the building, preventing migration of fumes. Skylights, windows, and transoms provide the building with natural light, giving it a warm and inviting feel. Renovations were completed less than a year after the clinic plans were finalized.

In addition to rooms for treating patients, the building contains a medicinary, with row upon row of supplements, herbs, homeopathic remedies, tinctures, and other products; a special wood-floored room with floor-to-ceiling windows for practicing qigong; conference rooms for students; a hydrotherapy treatment room; and a state-licensed laboratory.

Future projects for the site include the completion of the Min Zidell Garden, an herbal teaching garden which will be located next to the clinic and funded by a $150,000 donation by the Zidell family. The college — active in the neighborhood association — hopes to make the building and garden accessible to members of the community.

The 18,000-square-foot clinic is open Monday through Saturday. Services offered at the site include acupuncture, moxibustion, shiatsu, homeopathy, wellness exams, IV therapy, nutritional counselling, and more. Patients are served by approximately 35 teaching faculty and 500 students or by private physicians.

The college will hold a grand opening celebration for the new clinic on Friday, September 25 at 10:00am. Events include speeches by Oregon state senator Laurie Monnes Anderson — who was instrumental in passing the naturopathic formulary bill, SB 327 — and Portland mayor Sam Adams, a ribbon cutting, door prizes, and more. Tours of the new facility will be held from 11:30am to 5:00pm and led by Dr. Jill Stanard, NCNM’s director of clinical operations.

To learn more about NCNM or its new clinic, visit <www.ncnm.edu>.