MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Eligibility for Institutional Academic Consortium Membership:
The Academic Consortium invites all institutions committed to evidence-based, integrated medicine & health to consider joining our growing network of like-minded researchers, healthcare professionals and administrators throughout North America and around the world, voices with impact on the future of healthcare and the overall health and well-being of future generations.
To be considered for full membership in the Academic Consortium, an institution should be an accredited academic health center, hospital or health system, osteopathic medical center or nursing school and support an active program in integrative medicine/health in at least two out of the following three areas:
EDUCATION: Professional coursework and/or clinical rotations in integrative medicine/health.
RESEARCH: Individuals engaged in systematic research investigation designed to contribute to the evidence base of integrative medicine.
CLINICAL CARE: Prevention and treatment services for patients, groups or communities that integrate conventional medical approaches of surgery and pharmacology with other forms of evidence-based complementary and alternative modalities.
NOTE: Institutions that do not meet at least two out of these three areas, but are in the process of expanding their services to meet the criteria, may be considered for Associate Institutional Membership. Associate Institutional Members will be mentored by members of the Membership Committee for up to two years to meet the full membership requirements. Associate Institutional Members will have full member benefits but shall not vote in business matters of the Academic Consortium.
Application Process and Annual Membership Fee:
To apply for Academic Consortium membership, please contact Samantha Simmons for an application and return it with the following documentation:
- A written request signed by a member of the institution’s senior leadership (e.g. Chancellor, Dean, CEO, COO), including a statement of the institution’s commitment to the field of integrative medicine and health.
- A description or schematic of the organizational structure or working relationships of the institution's integrative medicine/health program.
- A description of ongoing efforts in at least two of the required membership focus areas: research, education, and clinical care.
Completed applications will be reviewed by the Academic Consortium’s Membership Committee. Their recommendations and a summary of the application will then be forwarded to the Institution’s Representatives for final decisions.
The Academic Consortium's EIN 56-2298880.
Annual Membership Fee for both Institutional Membership and Associate Institutional Membership is $3,000 U.S.
Eligible Institutions - Definitions:
Academic Health Centers
According to the Association of Academic Health Centers (AAHC), and its international subsidiary (AAHCI), an Academic Health Center consists of an allopathic or osteopathic medical school and at least one other health profession school or program and at least one affiliated or owned teaching hospital. For consideration of membership, one of the schools (either the medical school or health professional school) must be a formally affiliated degree granting institution.
Health Systems
A healthcare system is defined as a complex or network of facilities, organizations and trained personnel engaged in providing healthcare within a geographical area. A hospital or health care system is eligible for membership if it has documented affiliation agreements with a medical school (in the U.S - the Liaison Committee on Medical Education) and/or actively participates in residency, fellowship, doctoral of post-doctoral professional training of health care professionals.
Osteopathic Medical Colleges
U.S. schools of osteopathic medicine eligible for Academic Consortium membership must be recognized by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). COCA accredits osteopathic medical education programs leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree in the United States (programmatic accreditation). The COCA also accredits free-standing colleges of osteopathic medicine where no other educational program is offered (institutional accreditation) and serves as the federal Title IV gatekeeper for those institutions.
Nursing Schools
U.S. schools of nursing eligible for Academic Consortium membership must be accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc., the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.