Leadership and education in integrative medicine: A program to enhance health promotion in medical students and patients

In this past decade, many medical schools have begun to incorporate evidence-based education on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into their curriculum. Emphasis on the integration with conventional medicine for treatment planning, prevention or self-care has however remained largely absent. In the last few years, concern has been mounting over the increase in depression and hardening of empathy during the medical school training. Recent studies demonstrate less patient satisfaction and more patient errors with physicians who are depressed or less empathetic in their care. With the complex healthcare challenges facing our nation, it is critical that medical training focus on developing professionals who know how to maintain their emotional balance and compassion and promote their own and patients' health and well-being. The Consortium for Academic Health Centers in Integrative Medicine in collaboration with two national organizations has developed a unique, week-long summer intensive residential program to enhance medical student education in health promotion and evidence-based CAM. The innovative curriculum for the Leadership and Education Program for Students in Integrative Medicine Program (LEAPS into IM) includes core topics on integrative health and experiential activities related to self-care as well as mentoring of related student-led projects at their home schools. By June 2013, over 100 students will have participated. To date, students describe their experience as transformative. Formal program evaluation confirm student reports. Pre-post and follow-up data using standard mental health scales as well as curriculum ratings for two student cohorts(n=60) will be presented. Adaptions for inter-professional and international training will also be discussed.