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About Us

This four-year longitudinal medical student program is dedicated to supporting the practice of evidence-based, compassionate, whole-person care to benefit the treatment of patients and families, our community and healthcare as a whole.

HEAL-IM incorporates a diverse set of teaching methods and resources, including:

  • A set of nationally recognized online integrative medicine education modules
  • Regular seminar and lecture series
  • Integrative practitioner clinical shadowing and care experiences
  • Additional opportunities (see curriculum information below)
  • "Open Office Hours” with SSIHI Faculty and Clinicians

HEAL-IM medical students may also choose additional elective time completing certified integrative medicine training (in acupuncture, osteopathic manipulation therapy, medical hypnosis and culinary medicine) supporting the effective implementation of future integrative medicine practices.
 

Our Mission

HEAL-IM is designed to focus specifically on advancing integrative medicine research, education and clinical practice to promote individual and population wellness. We are driven by a mission to provide a sound foundation in the principles, philosophy and evidence-based practices of integrative medicine, setting the stage for future professional study and practice.

Goals and Objectives

By the end of the program, students will be able to:

  • Define current understanding of the principles, philosophy, practices and practitioners that comprise the practice of integrative medicine
  • Demonstrate understanding of common integrative therapies, including their history, theory, proposed mechanisms, safety-and-efficacy profile, potential indications, benefits, risks and contraindications
  • Summarize the evidence for how these foundational elements of health and wellness influence health and disease and, in particular, chronic disease:
    • Nutrition and diet
    • Physical activity
    • Emotion and stress
    • Healthy sleep
    • Social support, spirituality and environment
  • Join a growing community of mentors and leaders who together will advance innovations in integrative medicine
Michael
I want to be able to offer my patients the care they need to not just get better when they are sick, but to stay healthy and perform at a higher level in everyday life. I feel the best way to achieve this is to enrich my medical education with the alternative training provided by the HEAL-IM program, including nutrition and culinary medicine, acupuncture, OMT, and a general more thorough understanding of patient's experiences as a whole. I cannot imagine being part of a better program, especially in its developmental stages, so that I can best advocate not only for my own patients, but contribute to developing a new and more integrative outlook on patient care in our society. -Michael Head, Class of 2024
After witnessing how novel approaches such as dance and exercise could assist patients with movement disorders at a hospital’s Adaptive Fitness Center, I created a Bollywood dance fitness program for older adults.... My participants’ joy from moving and social interaction – both in-person and over zoom – reinforced my belief in the healing power of integrative approaches. -Nikita Shirsat, Class of 2024
Nikita

Activity

M1

M2

M3

M4

Overview/Intro to Program

X

Monthly Seminar & Workshop Series

X

X

IM Educational Modules

X

X

X

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (8 week class)

X

Culinary Medicine Basic Series(Enroll in series either MS1 or MS2 Year.)

X

X

Tai Chi Classes

X

X

PACE (IM Clinic) when available

X

X

4th Year IM Elective

X

Scripps Supplements Conference

X

X

Optional Summer ProgramOptional IM Certification Training

X

X