Drs. John and Barbara Oxley

Drs. John (Sonoran, 1996) and Barbara Oxley (Sonoran, 2001) had a mission. The couple dreamed of providing natural medicine to developmentally disabled individuals of all ages, from birth to the end of life. And since the 1990s, they have been living out their dream as the co-directors of Bethany Ranch Home Inc. in Phoenix, a faith-based non-profit agency dedicated to serving the developmentally disabled using a holistic approach.

The mission of Bethany is to provide an array of comprehensive, integrated services to promote and advance maximum social, physical, vocational, mental and spiritual growth potential. John and Barbara further expanded their vision to offer a broad range of support services and foster care for infants, children and adults with varying conditions, including cognitive disabilities, autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Bethany Ranch Home has more than 100 foster care families located all over Arizona, and the number is continually increasing.

Bethany Ranch Home’s mission statement declares: “We envision a world where all people with disabilities have equality, dignity and power. Mutual relationships and trust in God are the core of our journey together. We celebrate the unique value of every person and recognize our need for one another.”

The Oxleys’ goal has been to create a caring, nurturing community. Several other graduates of Sonoran are on Bethany Home Ranch’s board of directors, including Dr. Boris Schwartz and Dr. Apryl Krause, who generously donate their time to serve.

John and Barbara also shared a vision for the creation of a natural sanctuary near Sandpoint in northern Idaho. They believe in the healing power of God’s nature, and this setting offers an ideal therapeutic retreat for the foster care children and adults, as well as their provider families.

John and Barbara entered into the Create & Conserve Habitat Event Contest, started by “Beyond the Hunt” co-hosts Rick and Julie Kreuter, to complete their dream. They won, and thanks to the strong partnership between “Beyond the Hunt” co-hosts and the Bobcat crew, the team worked through mud and rain to build food plots, transplant trees, groom trails, and more. They transformed the Oxley’s picturesque property into a model for conservation and healing.

To learn how Sonoran can prepare YOU for a rewarding career in medicine, contact admissions@sonoran.edu or call 480.858.9100.