Written By Dr. Tina Marcantel
Cooperation among physicians from all the different healing disciplines is important. Dr. Tina Marcantel is a naturopathic physician in Gilbert, Arizona, who also serves the East Valley cities of Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, and the greater Phoenix area.
This past weekend I attended a medical conference hosted by the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine. Part of the stated mission of this organization is “to support cross disciplinary collaboration and…provide education, clinical research and cutting edge protocols which empower physicians to more effectively treat their patients.”
The speakers and attendees represented all different walks of the healing profession. Physicians of conventional, osteopathic, and naturopathic medicine were there, as well as nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, and pharmacists. As I looked around the meeting room at this “cross disciplinary collaboration” I was excited to think that the vision I had almost ten years ago when I graduated from medical school seemed to be coming to life around me.
As a former nurse and (at that time) a brand-new naturopathic physician, I envisioned myself as part of a network of people bridging together the naturopathic, conventional, and Eastern medical communities to work for the good of our patients—a truly integrative approach to healing. I really felt that that spirit of cooperation was at the core of this AARM conference.
It was exciting to share with my colleagues our personal clinical experiences and exchange research findings with one another. There is no longer room for the egocentric attitude that one branch of medicine is better than another, and I appreciated the humility and willingness to learn from each other that this group demonstrated.
I’m proud to be a part of what I believe is a growing trend in the medical field. I’m also eagerly looking forward to the day when all my colleagues in the medical profession embrace an even greater awareness and acceptance of the wide range of valuable healing disciplines available to the public.
Dr. Tina Marcantel – Naturopathic Doctor
201 W. Guadalupe Road, Suite 202
Gilbert, AZ 85233
Office Phone: (480) 892-0211
