Specialties and Treatment Philosophy
Michael Cronin has been practicing naturopathic medicine in Arizona since 1982. His specialty is chronic pain, which he treats through an naturopathic approach integrating prolotherapy. First and foremost, Dr. Cronin knows his patients have an intrinsic sense about their health that is essential to designing an effective therapy program. Thus, he works with his patients by intently listening to their health story and addressing the cause of their problem in the most direct manner. Dr. Cronin has a hands-on approach that stabilizes the physical structures of the body. This includes soft tissue manipulation, spinal decompression, Prolotherapy, and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRPT).
Dr. Cronin works with patients to restore their whole health and brain health. He adds a wide variety of natural medicines, testosterone bioidentical therapy, diet, exercise, brain biofeedback, and health affirmations into patient’s’ healing plans to enhance their mental, emotional, and physical health.
Biographical Information
Dr. Michael J. Cronin, N.D., coauthor of Herbal Solutions for Healthy Living (Herbal Research Publications, Brevard, N.C.; 2001), is a graduate of National College of Natural Medicine class of 1980. He completed a residency in Family Practice/Physical Medicine at Portland Naturopathic Clinic.
As the founder of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences in Tempe, Ariz., Dr. Cronin was its president from 1992 to 1997. He was a founding board member, of the Association of Naturopathic Physicians and is currently its president. He was a founding board member of the Naturopathic Academy of Therapeutic Injections, the Naturopathic Physicians Research Institute. He is also a diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management.
Dr. Cronin and his wife, Dr. Kyle Hawk Cronin, live in Cave Creek, Ariz., where they hike, mountain bike, and ride horses. They have three sons.
Awards
- Physician of the Year: American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, 1993
- Physician of the Year: Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association, 1987.
Career Highlights
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences
In 1992, Dr. Cronin founded the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences (SCNM) in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife, Dr. Kyle Hawk Cronin, N.D, and was its president for the first 5 years. SCNM’s four-year program was established to meet the growing demand for naturopathic physicians who are trained in providing truly integrative health care in a family practice-delivery model. The college was established as a nonprofit corporation and has been accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, which is approved by the Department of Education.
American WholeHealth
From 1997 to 2000, Dr. Cronin worked as the Director of Integrative Medicine for American WholeHealth in Reston, Va., a position that directly involved him with training MD’s and DO’s in nutrition, nutraceuticals, and natural therapies as well as implementing the concept of “the healing path,” an individualized treatment plan for patients that is a core concept of American WholeHealth’s integrative approach to medicine.
During his time at American WholeHealth, Dr. Cronin was also the Senior Medical Director for American WholeHealth Networks, an insurance company providing coverage for chiropractic, naturopathic, acupuncture, massage, and other alternative healthcare providers. His team developed credentialing criteria for more than 20 types of alternative medicine practitioners and designed treatment criteria and utilization management algorithms for insurance benefits covering naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists, and massage therapists.
Professional Positions
| 2000-Present | Co-owner and practicing physician, Naturopathic Physicians Group, Scottsdale, Ariz.; an integrative family practice clinic focusing on physical medicine, Prolotherapy, acupuncture, women’s health, and brain and whole-body health. |
| 1998-2000 | Senior Medical Director, Director of Integrative Medicine, and Regional Practice Director for American WholeHealth, Inc., in Hartland, Wis. |
| 1992-1997 | Founder and President, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences, Scottsdale and Tempe, Ariz. |
| 1982-1995 | Naturopathic Physicians Group, Phoenix, Ariz.; a family practice clinic emphasizing acupuncture, physical medicine, pediatrics, and women’s health care. |
| 1981-1982 | Private practice with Dr. Frank Card, ND, DC, Portland, Ore. |
| 1980-1981 | Naturopathic Resident at Portland Naturopathic Clinic, Portland, Ore. |
Education
| 1980-Present | Continuing Medical Education, an average of 60 hours annually |
| 2001 | Naturopathic Academy of Therapeutic Injection: Prolotherapy course sequence |
| 2001 | Environmental Medicine Training Series with Dr. Walter Crinnion |
| 2002 | American College for the Advancement of Medicine: Chelation credentialing |
| 1980-1981 | Residency, Family Practice/Physical Medicine, National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, Ore. |
| 1980 | Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, NCNM, Portland, Ore. |
| 1978 | B.S. in Human Biology, Kansas Newman College, Wichita, Kan. |
Leadership Positions
- Board Member, Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association, 1983-1986, 2004-present
- President, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians 2012-2013
- Founding Board Member, Naturopathic Academy of Therapeutic Injections, 2003-2009
- Board Member, Citizens for Health, 1997-2001
- Founder and President, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Scottsdale and Tempe, Ariz. 1992-1997
- Vice President, Naturopathic Physicians Acupuncture Academy, 1994
- Founding President, Federation of Naturopathic Physicians Board of Medical Examiners, 1990-1992
- Member, Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Board of Medical Examiners, 1988-1991
- Founding Board Member, Chair of Public Affairs, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, 1985-1988
Professional Associations
- Naturopathic Academy of Therapeutic Injections, 2003-present
- American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, 1985-present
- Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association; 1983-present;
- Naturopathic Physicians Acupuncture Academy, 1986-1996
- National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Student Association “Core Group,”1978-1980
Lectures and Presentations
- Botanical Protocols for Hypertension using Rauwolfia and Herbal Diuretics, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians annual conference, Portland, Ore.; August 2003
- Botanical Protocols in Family Practice, Medicines of the Earth Symposium, Black Mountain, N.C.; May 2003
- Nutrients for Cardiovascular Health, a consortium of company presidents for Princess Resorts, Scottsdale, Ariz.; September 2002
- Mercury Toxicity in Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction, a lay lecture for Golden Door Health Spa, Boulders Resort, Carefree, Ariz.; June 2002
- Botanical Therapeutics for Liver Metabolism and Biliary Disorders, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians annual conference, Salt Lake City, Utah; August 2002
- Three Methods of Prescribing Herbal Medicines, Medicines of the Earth Symposium, Black Mountain, N.C.; June 2001
- Herbal Medicine: Solutions and Precautions, a presentation to Tempe city employees, Tempe, Ariz.; January 2001
- Utilization Management for Naturopathic Medicine, Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association, Phoenix, AZ; September 1999
- Designing a Healing Path for Patients, American WholeHealth seminar, Reston, Va.; November 1997
- Successfully Completing the Office Visit for Maximum Patient Participation, American WholeHealth seminar, Reston, Va.; November 1997
- Managing the Chaos of Illness Naturally and Natural Medicine in Healthful Aging, Frontier HerbFest, Norwalk, Iowa; August 1997
- Using Vitamins and Herbs for Health, presentation to the employees of McDonnell Douglas, Mesa Ariz.; May 1997
- Naturopathic Medicine, a presentation to Tempe city employees, Tempe, Ariz.; March 1997
- Weight Management Using Nutritional Foods, a lecture for an Arizona State University Nutrition Class, Tempe, Ariz.; February 1997
- Issues in Manufacturing Natural Medicine, Natural Products Expo East, Baltimore, Md.; October 1996
- Botanical Medicines in Pain Contro, New Frontiers in Pain Conference, Scottsdale, Ariz.; March 1996
- Children’s Health: Natural Medicines for Ear Infection and Other Common Problems, public lecture given at the Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center, Scottsdale, Ariz.; May 1996
- Building Relationships with Health Care Professionals, National Nutritional Food Association convention, Las Vegas, Nev.; July 1996
Publications
Coauthor of Herbal Solutions for Healthy Living, Herbal Research Publications, Brevard, N.C.; 2001