The University of Arizona's College of Medicine announced Wednesday that it is starting a new track for medical students who want to focus on integrative medicine - healing that takes into account the mind, body and spirit.
The special area of focus, which will be taught in partnership with Dr. Andrew Weil's Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, is one of just three distinction tracks at the UA College of Medicine. The other two are global health and medical student research.
There will be no cap on the number of students who will enroll, but program leaders are expecting about five students per year, said Genevieve H. Gutiérrez, marketing manager at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.
The center was founded by Weil in 1994 to combine known alternative therapies with mainstream treatment. The philosophy behind integrative medicine is that blending conventional medical training with other modes of disease prevention will trigger the body's innate healing response.
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"Preventive medicine is a crucial part of a medical professional's training and is often minimalized in conventional medical training," Weil said in a prepared statement. "Receiving this additional training early in their career will give UA College of Medicine students an advantage in their residency and practice and a more comprehensive set of skills for treating and communicating with their patients."
The Integrative Medicine track for doctors-to-be is an intensive four-year study program above and beyond the standard curriculum. Students who complete the requirements will graduate from medical school with distinction, Gutiérrez said.
"Dr. Weil's wish as a long-term goal is that all medicine is integrative, that all Western-educated doctors will have that," Gutiérrez said.
Enrollment in the Integrative Medicine distinction track will be open to first- and second-year medical students at the UA College of Medicine's Tucson campus beginning with the fall 2011 semester.
Among other things, enrolled students will be required to participate in the center's monthlong integrative medicine elective rotation; attend presentations and lectures; write a capstone paper suitable for publication; and complete an oral exam.
In addition to the distinction track, the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine offers a monthlong rotation for fourth-year medical students and residents, and a 200-hour Integrative Medicine in Residency curriculum, which is used at 22 U.S. institutions, including the UA. The center also has an internationally recognized fellowship for MDs, DOs, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as well as stand-alone online courses.
Contact reporter Stephanie Innes at sinnes@azstarnet.com or 573-4134.
