TORRANCE MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER JOINS ACADEMIC CONSORTIUM’S GLOBAL INTEGRATIVE HEALTH NETWORK

Torrance Memorial Medical Center is joining over 75 of the world’s most recognized academic medical centers and health systems as a new member of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health. For integrative medicine professionals and students, the Academic Consortium is the world’s most comprehensive community for advancing the practice of whole health care, with leading expertise in research, clinical care, and education. 

“The member institutions within the Academic Consortium have created a strong network of medical centers and health systems with a reputation of advocating for change in health care, supporting important breakthroughs in integrative health, and building evidence-based roadmaps for improved patient outcomes” said Academic Consortium Chair, Amy Locke, MD. She added, “we are so pleased to have the team at Torrance Memorial Medical Center join this community as they share our vision of health care that embraces and empowers every person.” 

Founded in 1925, Torrance Memorial has a long, rich history of serving the South Bay community and is currently the largest hospital in the area with more than 1,100 physicians on staff and more than 70 specialty areas of medicine. In 2018, Torrance Memorial expanded their clinical expertise and resources with an affiliation with Cedars-Sinai while maintaining their original mission to offer the most advanced medical care rendered in a compassionate, caring manner. 

Four years ago, Torrance Memorial Medical Center developed an integrative medicine program with the goal to enhance patient care through integrative medicine therapies. They instituted a multi-disciplinary committee to lead the way in incorporating integrative medicine in the hospital setting and created a care delivery model to apply new whole health modalities to assist patients. One of their core initiatives is to train nursing staff on the delivery of those modalities, including aromatherapy, yoga positioning, and breath awareness.  

“This is great news for Torrance Memorial to be part of an esteemed network of universities, medical professionals and students who recognize the importance of integrative medicine therapies and modalities to serve the community better. This recognition helps advance our integrative medicine program offering a whole-person approach to better health and quality of life. Our program incorporates evidence-based complementary and integrative modalities with conventional medicine to help achieve optimal wellness,” says Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Mary Wright, RN. 

Chair of Integrative Medicine at Torrance Memorial and family medicine and primary care physician, Nicole Alexander-Spencer, adds, “Integrative Medicine is an important part of whole-person health. Our partnership with the Academic Consortium helps us continue promoting research-supported methods for attaining ultimate well-being.” 

Membership with the Academic Consortium will help Torrance Memorial continue to expand their own integrative medicine program. It will also connect them with other institutions working toward the same goal and encourage knowledge-sharing, networking, and best practices.   

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What is Integrative Medicine and Health: Integrative medicine and health reaffirms the important relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic and lifestyle approaches, healthcare professionals, and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.

Who we are: The Academic Consortium is the organizational home for over 75 of the world’s most prestigious academic health centers and health systems that have programs in integrative medicine and health. The Academic Consortium was founded in 1999 by eight academic health centers (Duke University, Harvard University, Stanford University, University of California, San Francisco, University of Arizona, University of Maryland, University of Massachusetts, and the University of Minnesota). The Academic Consortium represents thousands of scientists, educators, clinicians, and other health professionals who share an interest in the field of integrative medicine and health. Member Listing

Our Vision: A transformed healthcare system promoting integrative medicine and health for all.

Become a member: Join the world’s leading academic community of whole health leaders and luminaries.