University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Integrative Medicine Elective for Medical Students

”Fieldwork in Alternative & Complementary Therapies” PMED 452 (also FMME 452). Offered during any 4-week elective period to 4th-yr medical students. Students will observe and participate in the delivery of health care in the practice setting of one or more alternative/complementary care providers. Such providers may include practitioners of chiropractic, homeopathy, herbal medicine, or mind-body therapies. Students are expected to take an active role in designing their elective, identifying one or more practitioners who will be approved by the faculty advisor and submitting a list of their personal goals and strategies. The student is required to keep a daily journal of experiences as well as prepare a Powerpoint presentation on a topic that has been agreed upon by the coordinator, the clinical faculty member and the student. For further information, e-mail gaylords@med.unc.edu or phone (919) 966-8586 or Becky Coble at e-mail rcoble@med.unc.edu or phone (919) 966-8586.

Integrative Medicine Elective for Resident Physicians

PM&R CAM Selective Rotation Physicians in physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatrists) treat patients with acute and chronic medical, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. Many of the physiatrists utilize mobilization, physical modalities, exercises, behavioral changes, biofeedback and nutritional supplements, as an extension of their practices. Learning Objectives: 1) Describe the philosophy, therapeutic uses, mechanisms of action, indications, contraindications, side effects and current research on efficacy of selected CAM therapies potentially utilized in PM&R practice. 2) Describe the risks associated with selected CAM therapies and what possible interactions there might be with conventional treatment plans. 3) Recognize the applicability of selected CAM therapies for PM&R patients. 4) Identify patients for whom, because of attitude and philosophy or clinical condition, CAM approaches to health and optimal functional status would be appropriate. 5) Locate information on selected CAM therapies and assess the validity and evidence-base for the information presented. 6) Provide advice to patients based on needs about appropriate CAM therapies and their individual application. Learning Activities: 1) Complete required readings. 2) Observe application of several selected CAM therapies by chosen practitioners. These might include nutritional assessment and counseling/treatment, acupuncture (including moxibustion), magnetic therapies, mindfulness meditation, naturopathy, homeopathy, chiropractic, osteopathic manipulation, Chinese herbal assessment and counseling/treatment, and Medwell offerings such as hypnosis and biofeedback. 3) Experience a new technique for stress management and self-care such as yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, mindfulness training, or meditation. Optionally, residents may seek a CAM treatment not previously experienced, i.e. OMT, acupuncture. Describe the importance of self-care as a frame of reference for interacting with patients regarding CAM treatments. 4) Present a case study to peers describing the evaluation of a patient and suggested CAM therapy. Have peers provide feedback. Elective Evaluation: (Note: these are initial ideas about program eval) 1. Complete a pre/post test on specific application of selected CAM therapies to PM&R issues. This will consist of a case scenario for which resident will identify the therapeutic action, efficacy and safety of selected CAM modalities. a) Questions re: philosophy, therapeutic cases, etc as described in objectives 1&2 b) Questions re: application as in objectives 3&4 2. Evaluation of residents’ case presentations, using structured evaluation form (to be designed). To encompass learning objectives 1-6.

Integrative Medicine Annual or Bi-Annual Continuing Education Conferences

Since 1999, UNC-PIM has sponsored professional conferences on herbal medicine and integrative care, providing a meeting ground for both conventional and CAM health-care providers. The fifth conference, “Improving Outcomes Through Integrative Practice” was held on March 18-19, 2005.