Putting “Health” Back into Healthcare Education

As people look to gain more control over their health and wellbeing, many are seeking health care that is more holistic, personalized, and patient-centered. An increasing number of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers want to offer this kind of care, but many don’t know how. Conventional medical education is highly disease focused, leaving little opportunity to truly learn and incorporate into practice the biology and principles of wellness.

This challenge is underscored by the glaring gap between the growing data showing the effects of nutrition and stress on human biology, and the lack of education most healthcare providers have on either (Crowley et al, 2019; Lee et al, 2020)¹. Epigenetics, or the study of changes in organisms, evaluates the effects of environmental factors like nutrition, stress levels, and exposures to toxins, on how your genes express themselves and create the present-day version of you. Unfortunately, the clinical application of epigenetics has been lacking (Lee et al, 2020)². The good news is that this is what the emerging field of integrative medicine is all about, and why it has skyrocketed in popularity.

To address this gap in health education, Thomas Jefferson University’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College made a bold move by creating an historic, first-ever, Department of Integrative Medicine & Nutritional Sciences. The department provides the innovative, evidence-based education for medical students and healthcare providers that allows them to provide the care that their patients increasingly expect. Additionally, the department, which includes the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health, offers a wide range of continuing medical education programs, certificates in nutrition and mind-body medicine, and a one-of- kind master’s degree in Integrative Health Science, to name a few.

Dr. Danielle Giddins, a practicing family medicine physician and graduate of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, is currently enrolled in the Master of Science program in Integrative Health Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Giddins experienced an immediate impact from enrolling in the program, sharing, “The best part about what I am learning is that I can apply the knowledge I am gaining right away in my clinical practice and in my role as Chief Wellness Officer for my organization.” She also notes that it’s had a positive impact on her own mental and physical health.

The educational mission of the department and the Marcus Institute is to provide foundational training in nutrition, mind-body health, and advanced wellness strategies to help healthcare providers support their patients in their search for diverse and wellness-focused care. They also teach healthcare providers from a variety of backgrounds to be evidence-based, patient-centric, and integrative in their practice, using accessible and online education programs designed for working professionals.

Whether treating patients with chronic medical problems such as pain, diabetes, cancer, fatigue, or other long-term health challenges, or supporting patients with less severe issues who want to maximize their wellness potential, it’s critical that healthcare providers understand the science of disease and the equally complex science of wellness.

If you or someone you know is a healthcare professional looking to change the way patients’ lives can be impacted through integrative health education, you can learn more here.

References

¹Jennifer Crowley, Lauren Ball, Gerrit Jan Hiddink. Nutrition in medical education: a systematic review, The Lancet Planetary Health, Volume 3, Issue 9, 2019, Pages e379-e389, ISSN 2542-5196, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(19)30171-8

²Lee J, Papa F, Jaini PA, Alpini S, Kenny T. An Epigenetics-Based, Lifestyle Medicine–Driven Approach to Stress Management for Primary Patient Care: Implications for Medical Education. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2020;14(3):294-303. doi:10.1177/1559827619847436