Integrative Medicine Serving the Underserved and Vulnerable Populations

December 2021
The United Nations (U.N.) identifies health as a shared responsibility, involving equitable access to essential care. The World Health Organization (WHO), as the directing and coordinating authority for health within the U.N. system, is committed to global health development through the principle of equity, i.e., access to life-saving or health-promoting interventions, with a priority given to health outcomes in poor, disadvantaged or vulnerable groups.

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Pediatric Integrative Medicine
November 2021
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recognizes the increasing use of integrative therapies for children and advises pediatricians and other clinicians who care for children to counsel patients and families about all relevant, safe, effective, and age-appropriate health services and therapies. However, many pediatricians remain unaware of integrative medicine’s potential to provide expanded, evidence based treatment options for children and adolescents. Download the PDF for details.

Integrative Medicine in Primary Care Residency
October 2021
Incorporating integrative medicine education into primary care residency training is strategically advancing the movement toward whole health in mainstream medicine to meet an increasing public interest and demand for comprehensive whole health care. Educators and administrators leading this effort are addressing unique challenges with well-researched curricula and implementation projects - with program success worth sharing and replicating. Download the PDF for details.

Integrative Medicine for Chronic Pain Care
September 2021
Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Integrative pain management therapies offer evidence-based options for patients with chronic pain as a first line of treatment. What can we do to ensure that these and other proven non-drug options for comprehensive pain care are more frequently considered in mainstream medicine’s approach to pain care? Innovation and collaboration in practice, policy and payment is showing great promise. Download the PDF for details.

Whole Health and Wellness Coaching
August 2021
Health coaching is not new; neither is it a subset of the decades-older “life coaching.” There is need and room for both today, when people everywhere are trying to recover or discover some balance after the last 18 months of global chaos - political, environmental, medical, behavioral and societal. It can be overwhelming. Timing may be exactly right for renewed focus on health coaching to deliver the skilled help that empowers individuals and groups to identify and achieve their health and well-being goals. Download the PDF for details.

Culinary Medicine & Integrative Health Learning Labs
July 2021
Increasing worldwide obesity and the prevalence and cost of chronic disease call for impactful, low-cost lifestyle interventions that people can incorporate into daily life. Culinary medicine, with its focus on patient-centered nutrition and lifestyle behavior is showing noteworthy promise as a critical element in filling this need, and teaching kitchen “learning laboratories” are taking this educational healthcare nexus and expanding it to include a host of integrative medicine topics for a range of audiences - public and professional - toward the same objectives: healthy lifestyle, optimum health. Download the PDF for details.

Integrative Medicine Education
June 2021
The Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health accepted the role of recognizing integrative medicine fellowship programs in 2020, a responsibility previously held by the American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM). Today, 18 programs are recognized in nine states, including Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, plus Washington DC.  As this developing field continues to establish its critical role in mainstream medicine and healthcare, more educational programs at every level will be needed to meet an increasing public interest and expectation. Download the PDF for details.

Integrative Mental Health
May 2021
The World Health Organization estimates that 450 million people suffer from mental or neurological disorders or from psychosocial problems. Integrative mental health (mind, brain and behavior) is an important portal to addressing a pressing worldwide need in healthcare. Helen Lavretsky, MD, MS suggests an “all hands on deck” approach to the world’s mental health crisis that will require a transdisciplinary collaboration of mental health professionals. Download the PDF for details.

Integrative Nutrition Science/Research
April 2021
Nutrition is considered a foundation of lifestyle medicine, yet much remains to be learned so that it becomes mainstream in practice. Integrative nutrition science and research are leading the way, with targeted education lending breadth to our knowledge and depth to patient consultation and healthcare delivery. Download the PDF for details.

Music Therapy
March 2021
Music’s healing power is well documented, recognized in the healthcare community since the second World War. Understanding its benefits, and given its history and current public embrace, how is music therapy best positioned within the current healthcare matrix of integrative services?  What is its relationship to the business of care? Download the PDF for details.

Clinical Resilience
February 2021
Clinical resilience to reduce stress and burnout may be more crucial than ever to the well-being of healthcare professionals and to the physician-patient relationship.  How is it defined and how can we harness the benefits most effectively for our healthcare workforce?  Download the PDF for some ideas worth considering.