The Advancement of Integrative Medicine Education at the University of Kentucky

Integrative Medicine (IM) emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between the patient and the physician and utilizes all modalities, both conventional and alternative. Nationally, IM initiatives are proliferating and drivers include the fact that over 50% of Americans use some form of “alternative” or “complementary” therapy. Associations like the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine are expanding and making inroads into “conventional” medicine. The American Board of Physician Specialties administrated the first board examination in Integrative Medicine in 2014. Since 1997, the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine has been at the forefront, leading these innovations and providing education and training in IM nationally and internationally. The purpose of this proposal is to seek funding to support the development of electives in IM at the University of Kentucky (UK) for first and second year medical students, to offer an elective rotation in Integrative Medicine for fourth year medical students, and to train up to four residents or faculty in IM using the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine online program along with on-site seminars, clinical supervision, and guest speakers. This grant will support these aims and further the program in IM at UK.