October 2014 John Weeks Integrator Round-Up: Academic Medicine

by John Weeks, Publisher/Editor of The Integrator Blog News & Reports

Kreitzer’s U Minnesota Center Brings in Bronfort, Evans via $500,000 NCMIC Grant to Create Integrative Health and Wellbeing Research Program

On September 10, 2014 the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing announced the launch of a unique Integrative Health & Wellbeing Research Program. Among the core faculty are two of the top researchers from institutions associated with the licensed integrative health and medicine fields, Gert Bronfort, DC, PhD and Roni Evans, DC, MS, PhD. Each was formerly with Northwestern Health Sciences University, from which they will transfer their current grants. They will be part of the first research core at the long-standing Center, headed by founder and director, Mary Jo Kreitzer, PhD, RN, FAAN. Kreitzer anticipates that “the team will investigate the biological, psychological, social, environmental, and other dimensions of mind-body and integrative therapies.” the new program will use various modes of inquiry to explore the science of wellbeing from holistic, interdisciplinary, and collaborative perspectives.

by John Weeks, Publisher/Editor of The Integrator Blog News & Reports

Kreitzer’s U Minnesota Center Brings in Bronfort, Evans via $500,000 NCMIC Grant to Create Integrative Health and Wellbeing Research Program

On September 10, 2014 the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing announced the launch of a unique Integrative Health & Wellbeing Research Program. Among the core faculty are two of the top researchers from institutions associated with the licensed integrative health and medicine fields, Gert Bronfort, DC, PhD and Roni Evans, DC, MS, PhD. Each was formerly with Northwestern Health Sciences University, from which they will transfer their current grants. They will be part of the first research core at the long-standing Center, headed by founder and director, Mary Jo Kreitzer, PhD, RN, FAAN. Kreitzer anticipates that “the team will investigate the biological, psychological, social, environmental, and other dimensions of mind-body and integrative therapies.” the new program will use various modes of inquiry to explore the science of wellbeing from holistic, interdisciplinary, and collaborative perspectives.

The program is partially funded by a $500,000 grant from the NCMIC Foundation. Lou Sportelli, DC, president of NCMIC Mutual Holding Company, explains that they found this venture “a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with a University whose innovative thinking is already eliminating the ‘barriers’ to health and wellbeing through interdisciplinary cooperation in clinical and research programs. This is truly a 21st century innovative application to health and wellbeing, and so consistent with the chiropractic approach that the decision was really an easy one to make.”

Comment: This is a fascinating development. Among Kreitzer’s distinguishing traits as a leader in the integrative health and medicine field is the linkage of a powerful and abiding, and respectful interprofessionalism with a constant eye on the prize of creating health and wellbeing. Powering that up with a core research team is terrific and the NCMIC Foundation’s grant has brought her two of chiropractic’s best researchers. Together these two attracted over $22-million of research funding to Northwestern. Yet excitement over the good that will come of the new Minnesota center is coupled with a shadow: a drain of some fine brains from the institutions that directly education the licensed integrative health practitioners, and the concurrent depletion of one of the top research programs in any institution associated with chiropractic and the other licensed integrative health disciplines. Is this part of a general trend toward giving up on developing research capacity inside such universities? If so, what happens to the research and evidence dialogue in institutions that aren’t in the game?

 

Maryland University of Integrative Health Launches First Doctorate Programs

The ambitious Maryland University of Integrative Health is adding to a score of bachelors, Masters and certificate programs by offering not one, but a set of 3 doctoral level programs according to this release. These include First Professional Doctorate in Acupuncture (D.Ac.), First Professional Doctorate in Oriental Medicine (D.O.M.), and Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (D.C.N.). Judith Broida, PhD, MUIH’s provost and executive VP of academic affairs explains: “Approval to offer terminal degrees in our unique disciplines has long been a dream of Maryland University of Integrative Health. This tremendous achievement is a testament to the vision of our leaders and the steadfast work of our faculty. These programs meet a growing market demand for scientific and compassionate healers in integrative health and MUIH is proud to be a national leader in offering them.”

Comment: It is no secret that MUIH is also looking at a fourth doctoral program. At the August 2014 conference of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, MUIH’s top staff showed up to meet with academic leaders in naturopathic medicine from across the country. MUIH is examining of potential offering an additional doctorate in naturopathic medicine. Recent licensing of naturopathic doctors in Maryland opened the door.

 

Snapshot: Phoenix’s Southwest College Naturopathic Medicine Boasts Record Enrollment

In an October 2, 2014 release, the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) pegged their record-setting influx of new students to the rising primary care crisis in the United States. A total of 97 students enrolled, from 26 states, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Puerto Rico. Roughly 42% of the enrollees are from Arizona. SCNM, which opened its doors in 1993, graduates 82 students in July, also an SCNM record, bringing the total number of graduates to 1,171 since SCNM opened in 1993.  SCNM president Paul Mittman, ND, EdD, notes that the school received over 8,000 inquiries last year. He notes that this level of interest “coincides with the growing interest in incorporating complementary and alternative medicine in overall healthcare and wellness programs.”