The second floor of the Edmonds Senior Center was standing-room only Thursday afternoon as the ribbon was cut for Kenmore-based Bastyr University’s new off-site naturopathic clinic to be housed at the Senior Center.

The new clinic is the latest Bastyr University off-site health facility to open; there are now more than a dozen different community care and natural health clinics throughout the greater Seattle area.

The new clinic, which is open from noon-4 p.m. Tuesday afternoons, will provide naturopathic medicine to seniors and is open to people of all ages. Treatments may include dietary and lifestyle counseling and education, hands-on physical therapies, and herbal and nutritional supplements.

For the first two quarters, two students in their senior year of school will see patients under the supervision of Dr. Erica Oberg, ND, a faculty member of Bastyr University.  The patient’s first visit will be scheduled for 1.5 hours to allow for a full history and examination.  Succeeding visits will be scheduled for one hour and Dr. Oberg will spend time with each patient, in addition to the two students.

There will be a $15 administration fee to help with the Center’s overhead expenses. The cost to operate the Clinic ($20,000 annually) has been supported by grants and matching funds, including a major contribution from the McCaw Family Foundation.