Dr. Paul Despres, ND, FAAO
Licensed Naturopathic Physician
Fellow of the American Academy of Ozonotherapy
Co-Owner & Medical Director
Dr. Paul Despres is a licensed naturopathic physician and co-owner of Aspen Integrative Medical Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, alongside his wife, Dr. Alexandra Mele. He combines conventional medical approaches with naturopathic medicine and advanced integrative therapies to help patients address complex health concerns, manage chronic conditions, and improve their overall quality of life.
Having personally navigated chronic health challenges, including juvenile arthritis, autoimmune disease, and gastrointestinal disorders, Dr. Despres understands how frustrating and overwhelming it can be to live with persistent symptoms, particularly when answers are difficult to find. These experiences have shaped his commitment to listening carefully, investigating potential underlying causes, and developing individualized treatment plans that reflect each patient’s unique needs, goals, and circumstances.
Dr. Despres believes that effective medical care begins with a strong patient-physician relationship built on trust, compassion, and open communication. His approach emphasizes:
- Listening & Understanding: Taking the time to hear each patient’s story, understand their concerns, and build a trusting relationship.
- Thorough Evaluation: Looking beyond symptoms to investigate potential underlying causes of illness.
- Individualized Treatment: Integrating conventional and naturopathic medicine to develop personalized treatment plans.
- Meeting Patients Where They Are: Respecting each patient’s goals, preferences, financial circumstances, and readiness for treatment.
- Education & Collaboration: Empowering patients to understand their health and take an active role in their care.
- Continued Learning & Innovation: Staying current with medical research and emerging therapies to continually improve patient care.
His goal is not simply to address symptoms, but to help patients improve their overall health, function, and quality of life through thoughtful, comprehensive, and collaborative medical care.
"I believe good medicine starts with listening. Every patient has a unique story, and my role is to understand that story, investigate what may be contributing to their symptoms, and develop a thoughtful, personalized path toward better health. I want my patients to feel heard, informed, and empowered throughout their care."
Dr. Despres provides individualized naturopathic medical care for a wide range of acute and chronic health concerns, with particular interests in:
- General & Preventative Medicine
- Routine health concerns, preventive care, wellness optimization, and comprehensive health assessments.
- Men’s Health & Hormone Optimization
- Testosterone deficiency, hormone imbalances, sexual health, and age-related health concerns.
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), reflux, and other digestive concerns.
- Autoimmune & Inflammatory Conditions
- Rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune thyroid disease, and other chronic inflammatory conditions.
- Chronic Pain & Musculoskeletal Conditions
- Joint pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, back and neck pain, sports injuries, and musculoskeletal dysfunction.
- Thyroid & Metabolic Health
- Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, metabolic dysfunction, and related concerns.
- Chronic Fatigue & Post-Viral Conditions
- Persistent fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and prolonged symptoms following viral illnesses, including Long COVID.
- Environmental Illness
- Mold-related health concerns, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), and suspected environmental or heavy metal exposures.
- Allergies & Mast Cell Disorders
- Environmental allergies, food-related reactions, and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS).
- Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
- Hypertension, elevated cholesterol, cardiovascular risk reduction, and metabolic health optimization.
- Brain Health & Neurological Conditions
- Concussions, traumatic brain injuries, cognitive concerns, and supportive care for neurodegenerative conditions.
Dr. Despres has pursued extensive training in naturopathic and advanced integrative therapies. Depending on the patient’s medical needs and treatment goals, his clinical approach may incorporate:
- Integrative & Naturopathic Medicine
- Comprehensive medical evaluation and diagnostic testing
- Clinical nutrition and nutritional supplementation
- Botanical medicine
- Lifestyle and preventative medicine
- Prescription medication management
- Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
- Ozone Therapies
- Extracorporeal Blood Oxygenation and Ozonation (EBOO)
- Hemealumen IV ozone
- Nasal and ear ozone applications
- Advanced IV Therapies
- Intravenous and intramuscular therapies, including vitamins, minerals, phosphatidylcholine, and chelation therapy when clinically indicated
- Pain Management & Regenerative Therapies
- Neural Therapy
- Prolozone
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Prolotherapy
- Deep Tissue Laser Therapy
- Brain Health & Recovery Support
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
- Transcranial photobiomodulation
- Supportive therapies for neurological health and recovery
- Immune & Supportive Therapies
- Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI)
- Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
- Individualized detoxification and immune supportive approaches
Dr. Despres continues to pursue professional education and advanced clinical training to expand his knowledge and the treatment options available to his patients.
- Bachelor of Arts — University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2008
- Massage Therapy Training — Bellevue Massage School, Bellevue, WA, 2013
- Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine — Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA, 2016
- Mold-Related Illness Training — Dr. Jill Crista, 2019
- Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Training — International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), 2021
- Certification in Ozonotherapy — American Academy of Ozonotherapy, 2024
- Certification in Advanced Prolozone — American Academy of Ozonotherapy, 2024
- Fellow of the American Academy of Ozonotherapy (FAAO), 2025
- Advanced Training in EBOO, Detoxification, and Drainage Therapies, 2025
- Certification in Neural Therapy, 2026
