Sonoran University opens integrative oncology center

Sonoran University of Health Sciences has launched its first Clinical Center of Excellence, starting with integrative oncology in Tempe, Arizona. The new model pairs physicians, students, research and evidence-based naturopathic support for cancer patients, with women’s health and environmental medicine slated to follow.

Why it matters: - Sonoran University is using a new clinical model to expand access to integrative cancer care in a setting designed to combine naturopathic medicine with conventional oncology. - The launch signals a broader push to build specialty-focused centers where patients can receive physician-led care, student involvement and research support. - The university says the approach is meant to fill gaps in specialties where naturopathic providers are often hard to find.

What happened: - Sonoran University of Health Sciences launched its inaugural Clinical Center of Excellence for Integrative Oncology in Tempe, Arizona. - Dr. Eliot Edwards, a licensed naturopathic doctor and fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology, is leading the center. - The launch was announced Sept. 4, 2026.

The details: - The oncology center brings together expert clinicians, advanced students, research and innovation in areas where naturopathic medicine can have the greatest impact. - Dr. Edwards has more than 24 years of clinical experience. - Dr. Edwards spent more than eight years in the Naturopathic Medicine Department at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, where he worked with medical oncologists to support patients’ quality of life. - Dr. Edwards founded Northwest Naturopathic Oncology in Portland, Oregon in 2017 and practiced there until 2026. - His care model includes helping patients understand their diagnosis, their oncologist’s recommended therapies and evidence-informed supportive care. - Supportive care can include nutrition and lifestyle interventions, nutritional and botanical supplements, and select adjunctive therapies. - The Clinical Centers of Excellence are different from Sonoran University’s existing clinics and teaching clinics because they offer a higher-end patient experience, selective student participation and care led primarily by physicians. - Sonoran University plans to conduct research and publish findings through the centers. - Future centers will be chosen based on Sonoran University’s strengths and available funding. - Women’s health is next, with a focus on menopausal and perimenopausal women. - Environmental medicine will follow.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects a strategy to pair service delivery with training and evidence generation, which can help Sonoran University build visibility beyond traditional student clinics. - The emphasis on physician-led care and selective student participation suggests the university wants the centers to feel closer to specialty practice than to a standard teaching clinic. - The planned research component could help the university shape the evidence base around integrative oncology and related specialties.

What’s next: - Sonoran University will expand the Clinical Centers of Excellence model into women’s health and environmental medicine. - The university will continue selecting future centers based on specialty fit and funding. - Patients can schedule a consult with Dr. Edwards by calling 480-970-0000. - Supporters interested in funding future centers can email development@sonoran.edu. - Updates on the program are available at Clinical Centers of Excellence. - More information on Sonoran University is available at Sonoran University.

The bottom line: - Sonoran University is betting that specialty-focused, physician-led integrative care can improve patient experience while also creating a platform for research, training and future expansion.