2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Letter from the President 1
Executive Summary 4
Creating Health, Not Just Treating Disease 5
A Clinician’s Calling 8
The Wellness Route Map 9
A Global Community 10
Expanding Opportunities 11
The Affordable Care Act 13
Who We Are 15
What Happened to Holistic 17
Uniting Leaders in Integrative Health 19
Vision and Mission 22
Values 23
Areas of Focus 25
Who Will Benefit from the AIHM 29
Board of Directors 31
Connection & Collaboration 34
Get Involved 35
Thank You 37
References 39
3. Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC, ABIHM
President, Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine
No problem can be solved from the same level of
consciousness that created it.
—Albert Einstein
Together, we are working to prevent illness and restore
health, rather than just treat disease. The Academy
provides critical resources to support collaboration
between practitioners working to transform our
disease-care model into one that serves the whole
person—body, mind, spirit—and beyond to include
community and planet.
We are at a tipping point.
I am deeply grateful to our partners and friends who
are supporting us in our journey. We won’t stop now.
I invite you to join us in this important work. From this
state of crisis, we have the opportunity to create the
change we want to see.
With gratitude,
“
“
Health care is in a state of crisis around the world. Practitioners, isolated from their peers and
disconnected from their patients, are burning out. An “ill to the pill” mentality supports an $830
billion global pharmaceutical industry.1 Of the more than $2.8 trillion spent annually on health
care within the United States,2 the majority is spent on chronic diseases,3 most of which have a
significant lifestyle component.
It’s impossible to quantify the suffering, frustration and fear behind these numbers. But if you have
lost someone to a preventable disease…if you have felt hurt and confused in a medical setting
as you get referred to multiple specialists who tell you “nothing is wrong”…if you feel like the
reimbursement model doesn’t reward us for keeping patients well and independent…if you see
the injustice of having to pay out of pocket for an integrative clinician who has restored you back
to health…then, you have a sense of what I mean. We know that the current system is broken. It
may feel hopeless. At times, I have certainly felt overwhelmed.
We need to establish a new paradigm.
The formation of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM) is a bold response to a call
to action for change—to transform the way we think about health and health care. The Academy
is a home to a broad international community of healthcare practitioners and health seekers
connected by a shared holistic philosophy of person-centered care, who also recognize the link
between our health and the state of the planet.
LETTER from the PRESIDENT
4. Healthcare transformation will require unprecedented
changes in our thinking about prevention and treatment
strategies. The growing patient demand around the world for integrative and
holistic services is bolstered by mounting evidence of its efficacy.4 These and other
factors are driving the need for knowledgeable, certified health professionals
trained in an interdisciplinary approach to integrative health and medicine.
In the United States, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has triggered a national
movement toward population health that embraces evidence-based, whole-
person, patient-centered care models.
It is time to unite the many voices in integrative health into an organization
that provides a platform to build bridges between professions, offers credible
educational and certification programs for licensed healthcare providers, advocates
for affordability and accessibility on behalf of patients and practitioners and builds
leadership capacity in the next generation of caregivers.
The Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine will deliver on this central role,
championing health creation within the context of comprehensive, person-
centered care. In the next few pages, you will learn more about the challenges and
opportunities that face our field. You will also learn about the factors that make
now the ideal time to create such an organization and how the Academy is offering
solutions to the most challenging healthcare issues of our day.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4
5. • By concentrating fat, salt and sugar
in products formulated for maximum
“bliss,” an industrialized food complex
has spent almost a century distorting
our diets, most notably of Americans,
whose diet of calorie-dense products
has been mirrored by the calamitous
rise in obesity rates. These tactics,
in addition to the chemicals and
preservatives routinely added to
processed foods, have created a
perfect storm of addictive, unhealthy
foods that have wreaked havoc on
health around the globe.
As a former hospital CEO and current AIHM
board member, I am committed to working to
support the global community of healthcare
professionals coming together to transform
population health and patient-centered care from
catch phrases to reality.
Empowering the individual to become an
active participant in his or her own health is
the only way we will overcome the current
healthcare crisis.
“
“
F. Nicholas Jacobs, FACHE
International Director,
Sunstone Consulting
Harrisburg, PA
6
• Lifestyle-related
illnesses are on the rise
and society cannot afford
the escalating costs
associated with treating
preventable conditions.
• Healthcare professionals
are in need of healing—
tired and discouraged,
they have forgotten
why they entered their
professions. We pay too
little attention to the
wellbeing of those who
care for us.
CREATING HEALTH, NOT
JUST TREATING DISEASE
• People are living longer
with chronic diseases.
Yet, the high-tech
and pharmaceutical
interventions that
prolong life may actually
compromise quality of life.
• Our delivery of care
system provides massive
incentives to perform
procedures and treat
disease. A patient’s
primary needs—for
prevention and wellness—
are relegated to a lower
priority, ultimately yielding
ever-increasing costs.
The time has come for those of us in the healing
professions to take a stand, to focus our energies on
creating health, preventing illness and promoting
wellness together. Here’s why:
• As the science of healing
emerges, there is growing
evidence that providing
whole-person care—mind,
body and spirit—leads
to a wide range of
positive outcomes.5
• There is strong
evidence that quality
and safety connect
caregiver with patient.6,7
Investing in improving
relationships—whether
patient-provider or
inter-professional—is
the new commodity.
6. As healthcare clinicians, our calling to serve our patients is at odds
with current realities:
• A healthcare education system that emphasizes diagnosing and
treating disease, often ignoring the skills required to understand the
whole person or to teach patients health-promoting behaviors.
• Allocation of healthcare resources—both financial and human—
that are focused on disease management, pharmaceutical quick
fixes and end-of-life heroic measures with far fewer resources
available for prevention.
• Misaligned payment incentives that continue to reward treating
disease and performing procedures over prevention and wellness.
• Integrative health care and basic lifestyle and health-promoting
services are unaffordable and inaccessible to many. Why does the
patient have to pay out of pocket for a gym membership but have
complete coverage for a triple bypass?
• A U.S. healthcare system that ranks 37th in the world in health
outcomes8 while spending almost $9,000 per person, per year
(more than two and half times that of other wealthy industrialized
nations such as France, Japan or Sweden).9
8
A CLINICIAN’S CALLING
Molly M. Roberts, MD, MS, ABIHM
Past President,
American Holistic Medical Association
San Francisco, CA
Our world is about to get a lot more
connected and collaborative. The
Academy is bridging the professional
silos that have kept us all from being
in community.
We will carry on the good work of the
AHMA and ABIHM while developing
the mission in exciting, meaningful
ways that reflect our commitment to
you: to bring health and vitality into
your health care.
“
“
7. What excites me most about
the new Academy is our
unique philosophy of pluralism
in viewing all healthcare
professionals as equal
partners in the healing
process. In addition, our
educational programs reflect
this same inclusiveness.
We are developing educational
curricula that offer participants
exposure to an inter-professional
environment with cross-learning
among professions. Our new
Leadership College will draw
in young professionals and
mentors to perpetuate and
embrace this deep philosophy
of holism.
“
“
Len Wisneski, MD, FACP
Clinical Professor of Medicine,
George Washington University
Washington, DC
10
The Sustainable Development Unit of
the National Health Service in England
designed the Route Map as a framework, applicable
to individuals or systems, to address immediate
needs and support financial sustainability and cost
management.
Cultures around the world have historically used
traditional medical practices for prevention,
diagnosis and treatment. We now live in a global
community where traditional medicine is practiced
alongside western biomedicine. The World Health
Organization (WHO) has a strategy to strengthen the
role for traditional medical systems in keeping people
healthy—ranging from Traditional Asian Medicine,
Ayurveda, Anthroposophic Medicine, Naturopathy,
Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Unani to indigenous
healing systems. The Academy of Integrative Health
& Medicine is building an international community
of healthcare professionals committed to evidence-
based, person-centered care that promotes health
and offers outstanding and sensible treatment options.
A GLOBAL
COMMUNITY
The WELLNESS ROUTE MAP
Old Road
Health care as an institution-led service
Curative and fixing medical care
Procedure-focused treatment
Sickness
Isolated and segregated
Buildings
Decision-making based on today’s finances
Single indicators and out-of-date measurements
Sustainability as an add-on
Waste and overuse of resources
Nobody’s business
New Highway
Health and social care as part of a community
Early intervention and preventative care
Chronic illness management focused on a return to health
Health and wellbeing
Integrated and in partnership
Healing environments
An integrated value of the future that accounts for the impacts of society and nature
Meaningful scorecard information and in real time
Integration in culture, practice and training
A balanced use of resources where waste becomes a resource
Caring community
Source: Adapted from England’s National Health Service (NHS) Route Map for Sustainable Health 10
Moving to a more sustainable health system and a new way of thinking
8. health outcomes. “Being a good doctor is about more than scientific
knowledge. It also requires an understanding of people,” says American
Association of Medical Colleges President and CEO Darrell Kirch.19
• Medical schools and academic medical centers have also been paying
attention to the growing patient and student demand. In fact, the
Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine now
reports 57 member institutions, all dedicated to advancing the principles
and practices of integrative healthcare
within academic institutions.20
• In 2013, 58 of the 120 member
nations participating in the WHO’s
Traditional Medicine Strategy
Development Meeting stated that
a lack of education and training
opportunities for traditional and
complementary medicine providers
was among their key concerns.
• Data from the American Board
of Integrative Holistic Medicine
has shown that there has been
a rapid increase in demand by
MDs and DOs—particularly
specialists—for certification in
integrative holistic medicine.
Source: American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine 21 12
• Emerging data from the Bravewell Collaborative
demonstrates the efficacy of an integrative approach
to health care derived from three sources: research
conducted at universities, studies at corporations for
employee wellness and pilot projects run by insurers.
The research has revealed that significant health
benefits can be realized by using three strategies:
integrative lifestyle change programs for those with
chronic illness, integrative
interventions for people with
depression and integrative
prevention strategies for all.
One diabetes study found
that every dollar invested in
lifestyle intervention cut $3.50
in medical costs.18
• New questions added to
the 2015 medical college
admission test (MCAT) will
focus on the psychological,
social and biological
foundations of behavior and
recognize the importance of
socio-cultural and behavioral
determinants of health on 2000 2005 2010 2014
1000
2000
3000
500
200
289
809
1389
2461
NUMBEROFPHYSICIANS
ABIHM CERTIFICATION
manipulation, yoga and massage therapy were the most common
complementary health approaches used in 2012.14
• Hospitals have responded to patient demand by offering
complementary therapies on an outpatient and inpatient basis.
The American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey of Hospitals has
been tracking the growth in the number of hospitals who stated they
offer some form of complementary therapy either for employees or
patients—there has been a steady increase from 1998 to 2012.15 In the
2010 Complementary and Alternative
Medicine Survey of Hospitals conducted
by the American Hospital Association’s
Health Forum and the Samueli Institute,
the most common services were offered
on an outpatient basis, while the most
popular therapies offered were massage
therapy, acupuncture, guided imagery
and meditation.16 A 2007 McKinsey &
Company report found that 41 percent
of patients’ choice of hospital was
based on the offerings of “amenities”
that included complementary and
alternative medicine services such as
massage therapy.17
Source: American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey of Hospitals14
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES
Integrative medicine is a practice that reaffirms
the importance of the relationship between practitioner
and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed
by evidence and makes use of all appropriate
therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals and
disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.11
• Patient demand has been steady over the last
decade. In 2007, approximately 38 percent of U.S.
adults aged 18 years and
over and approximately
12 percent of children
used some form of
complementary and
alternative medicine
(CAM).12
• In 2007, U.S. adults
spent $33.9 billion out of
pocket on visits to CAM
practitioners and purchases
of CAM products, classes
and materials.13
• Non-vitamin, non-mineral
dietary supplements,
chiropractic or osteopathic
Number of hospitals reporting
they offer complementary and
alternative medicine therapies
1998 2000 2005 2010 2012
5
10
15
20
PERCENTAGEOFHOSPITALS
9. Section 2706 of the ACA
that went into effect in January 2014
states that “group health plans and
health insurance issuers offering group
or individual health insurance coverage
shall not discriminate with respect to
participation under the plan or coverage
against any healthcare provider who
is acting within the scope of that
provider’s license or certification under
applicable State law.” This means that
all state licensed providers, including
acupuncturists, chiropractors, nurse
practitioners, naturopathic physicians
and others can be reimbursed as long
as they operate within their scope of
practice. This significant ruling not only
Chronic diseases are typically lifestyle-
related, so managing them requires
modifying behavior and providing
personal support systems that educate,
motivate, reinforce, reward and renew
long-term personal commitment
and resilience. While this skill set is
underdeveloped in conventional medical
practice, it will be critical to achieving
the goals of accountable care. As ACOs
experiment with new delivery models,
now is the time to learn from integrative
approaches to health care that include
lower-cost options involving higher levels
of patient engagement and self-care.23
substantially improves accessibility and
affordability for patients to integrative
therapies but offers providers the
opportunity to fully participate as part
of the patient’s healthcare team in
managing their health. The Integrative
Healthcare Policy Consortium is
conducting studies to identify cost
savings, cost effectiveness, patient
satisfaction and outcomes of integrative
approaches to care.
14
OPPORTUNITIES for
INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CARE
The Triple Aim of the
Affordable Care Act (ACA
strives to improve the experience of
care for individuals and the health
of populations and to lower the per
capita cost. The ACA aims to move
the healthcare system away from its
current episodic, fee-for-service payment
approach and toward a coordinated
model that is focused on delivering
high-quality, low-cost care across the
continuum of care.22 Additionally,
the formation of accountable care
organizations (ACOs), both in the
Medicare fee-for-service system
and private-pay system, offers an
unprecedented opportunity for the
incorporation of integrative approaches.
The AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT:
One of my main challenges as an
administrator is identifying and hiring
appropriately qualified and well-trained
practitioners. We look for individuals who
not only believe in the integrative approach
but have the credentials and training to
accompany that philosophy.
The Academy will be a boon to all hospitals
and clinics such as ours. AIHM certification
programs will set standards in integrative
health and holistic medicine and provide a
resource for us to send our providers to for
training.
“
“
Emilie Rowan, LCSW
Director of the Center for Well Being
Atlantic Integrative Medicine
Morristown, NJ
10. Since its first meeting, the AHMA
strove to create fellowship and
collaboration among practitioners—
bringing an understanding of how
the mind, body and spirit all have a
role to play in healing. In addition to
bridging the gap between conventional
and complementary and alternative
medicine, the AHMA is uniting
organizations within the holistic and
integrative movement to grow and
strengthen the collective voice and
shift the paradigm from disease care
to true health care.
In 1996, a group of AHMA members
formed the American Board of Holistic
Medicine, now known as the American
Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine
(ABIHM). Since 2000, the ABIHM has
provided the only peer-reviewed,
psychometrically validated board
certification exam, exclusive to MD
and DO physicians, in comprehensive
integrative holistic medicine. The
ABIHM exam set a critical standard:
Nearly 3,000 MDs and DOs became
ABIHM Diplomates. The ABIHM
Review Course, co-sponsored with
the Scripps Center for Integrative
Medicine, became an internationally
recognized educational event, valued
for its scholarly content and the
fellowship enjoyed among the
attendees. The board provided
invaluable mentorship programs,
published authoritative, evidence-
based training materials and offered
coursework online. Health seekers
depended on ABIHM to connect
with integrative MDs and DOs who
practiced holistic medicine.
16
As the organization grew, so did
its global network of interdisciplinary
colleagues. Health professionals
began an open dialogue about
developing education and training
beyond MDs and DOs. ABIHM leaders
embraced a model of a team-based
approach and collaborative care among
providers and between disciplines.
As the ABIHM evolved, the leaders
of the ABIHM and AHMA, who have
always been close, reconnected more
meaningfully and envisioned a shared
future as the Academy of Integrative
Health & Medicine.
the American Holistic Medical
Association (AHMA) was founded to
unite licensed medical doctors who
practice holistic medicine and to
provide a community for sharing,
networking and collaborating. It is
one of the oldest holistic medical
organizations of its kind and many
of today’s national leaders in holistic
medicine like Dr. “Patch” Adams,
Dr. Bernie Siegel and Dr. Christiane
Northrup are or were members of the
AHMA. In 2008, the AHMA opened
membership to other licensed holistic
practitioners including naturopathic
physicians, acupuncturists, chiropractors
massage therapists and others,
and promoted the integration of
conventional with complementary and
alternative medicine. Today, the AHMA
numbers over 800 members in 48 states
and has local chapters in Minnesota,
Michigan and Northeast Ohio.
WHO WE ARE
In 1978,
2013
AIHM is announced
at ABIHM conference2013
AHMA begins to prepare membership for
merge with ABIHM to form Academy
2008
ABHM changes
name to ABIHM2008
AHMA opens membership
to additional disciplines
1978
AHMA is established as a member
organization for MDs and DOs
1993
AHMA holds first course on the
science of integrative holistic medicine
2000 ABHM offers first exam
1996
ABHM is created by a
group of AHMA members
2014
Academy is Launched
11. 18
Reclaim your energy and focus
to achieve optimal health
with the AIHM
Like so many of my healthcare peers, I felt the burden of stress
and was on the verge of burnout. When I connected with the
AIHM community, my world opened to a new level of physical,
environmental, mental, emotional, social and spiritual balance.
This revelation has transformed my life. It provides me with a
reservoir of resiliency and informs what I now cultivate, practice
and teach.
SuperSmartHealth, Founder & CEO
AIHM Chair
Daniel Friedland, MD, ABIHM
in their names and in their DNA.
So, too, does the Academy.
Our shared principles and
values are based on holistic
health and medicine principles
taken straight from the AHMA
and ABIHM traditions. Many of
our Academy charter members
describe themselves first and
foremost as holistic healers.
While “holistic” does not appear
in the Academy of Integrative
Health & Medicine name, AIHM
instead incorporates the more
encompassing term, “health.”
How did this happen?
At the root of the word “health” is
wholeness. At the root of the word
“patient” is suffering. Ultimately,
Academy members committed
themselves to bringing people back
to wholeness and to maintaining
optimal health. We are dedicated
to establishing a new paradigm
for humanity and the planet.
That’s holistic.
To have a global impact, the
Academy needs to speak to a
wide audience. Beyond the USA,
the words health and medicine
have a greater significance than the
word holistic. The founding board
of the Academy is determined to
evolve toward redefining health and
medicine while retaining the holistic
foundation upon which
we were built.
WHAT HAPPENED
to HOLISTIC
I am very pleased to see the
Academy’s strong commitment
to ensuring wider public
accessibility to integrative
therapies through its advocacy
and policy work, while at the
same time developing affordable
educational programs for
all healthcare practitioners
interested in advancing their
knowledge and seeking
certification in integrative health.
The Academy’s support of efforts
to bring low-cost integrative
options into the community
health setting are particularly
important to improve
affordability and accessibility
for the underserved.
“
Tabatha Parker, ND
Co-Founder,
Natural Doctors International
San Diego, CA
“
Both the AHMA and
ABIHM have “holistic”
12. conference. The announcement launched a series
of collaborative discussions with interdisciplinary
associations and leaders. Board members
rallied for rapid development in the emerging
Academy’s areas of focus: membership, education,
certification, leadership, research and advocacy.
The ABIHM and AHMA moved toward a merger.
In October 2014, the Academy celebrated its
inaugural event in San Diego, representing the 15th
Science and Connection Conference. Attendees had
the opportunity to become charter members of the
Academy and contribute directly to the Academy’s
formation across the areas of focus. The ABIHM exam
for MDs and DOs is being phased out, although
ABIHM Diplomates will continue to recertify under
the Academy banner. In 2015, the Academy is
offering interdisciplinary certification, establishing a
new standard of knowledge of integrative
holistic medicine. Academy credentials provide a
relevant, powerful seal of approval to patients and
healthcare practitioners. 20
BEHIND OUR LOGO
in INTEGRATIVE
HEALTH
GLOBAL REACH
&
THE HEALTH OF THE
PLANET
INTEGRATION &
INTERCONNECTEDNESS
BODY, MIND + SPIRIT
LOVE
&
COMPASSION
As Academy President Mimi Guarneri points out,
just as Western medicine has specialties such as
cardiology, dermatology and gastroenterology, we
now have “integrative medicine,” “holistic medicine,”
“functional medicine” and other silos that weaken
our influence by unnecessary separateness. To help
reconcile the disparate needs and voices in our field,
the AHMA and ABIHM decided to come together
to create a new Academy to build bridges and
link individuals and organizations, internationally,
committed to the values, principles and practice
of holistic medicine. The Academy’s mission is to
translate the science of health and healing into
practice by bringing leaders of medicine and the
healing arts together into an academic and clinically
focused community.
In 2013, empowered by a generous endowment
from the Donald & Ruth P. Taylor Foundation and
a groundswell of support, Dr. Guarneri announced
the Academy’s formation at the 14th annual ABIHM
UNITING LEADERSFinally, we have a space where all health
professions are valued and have equitable
input in discussions surrounding best
practices!
The AIHM will facilitate interprofessional
collaborative models based on equitable
partnerships, business models for
integrative practice and work toward fair
reimbursement rates for services across
professions. By supporting collaborative
research and the team-based model,
together, we can ensure quality care and
compassionate service.
“
Lucia Thornton, ThD, MSN, RN, AHN-BC
Past President,
American Holistic Nurses Association
Fresno, CA
“
13. 22
Where health care is about health and available to all
Where prevention is our foundation and mechanical
fixes are embraced when we need them
Where all healthcare providers work collaboratively to
heal body, mind and spirit
Where sustainability is integrated into our culture,
practice and training
We are the solution
Working together to establish a new
paradigm of health care for humanity
and the planet
The Academy of Integrative Health
& Medicine is dedicated to engaging
a global community of health
professionals and health seekers in
innovative education, certification,
leadership, inter-professional
collaboration, research, and advocacy
that embraces all global healing
traditions, to promote the creation
of health and the delivery of evidence-
informed comprehensive, affordable,
sustainable person-centered care.
We too have a dream
MISSION
VISIONAs an Interventional Cardiologist, I
realized that effective cardiovascular
disease treatment was far beyond the
checklists and tools I had been supplied.
We were doing very little in health care
to empower people with knowledge to
prevent and effectively treat disease.
Attending the Science and Connection
Conference and sitting for the ABIHM
Board Exam, I found my tribe of healers
and my own path. I learned how to treat
the whole person—mind, body and spirit.
I shifted my practice toward connection
and prevention. Now, I know that’s true
health care.
Learn how to treat the whole
person—body, mind and
spirit—at the AIHM
Guarneri Integrative Health, Founder & Director
AIHM President
Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC, ABIHM
14. Individuality Holistic
healthcare practitioners focus
patient care on the unique needs
and nature of the person who has
an illness rather than the illness that
has the person
Learning Opportunities
All life experiences including birth,
joy, suffering and the dying
process are profound learning
opportunities for both patients
and healthcare practitioners
Teaching by Example Holistic
healthcare practitioners continually work toward
the personal incorporation of the principles of
holistic health, which then profoundly influence
the quality of the healing relationship
Integration of Healing Systems Integrative practitioners embrace
the use of all appropriate global healing traditions and integrative healthcare
strategies, disciplines, systems and healthcare professionals for the diagnosis,
prevention and treatment of disease. We embrace collaborative care among
providers and between disciplines
Relationship-Centered Care
The ideal practitioner-patient relationship is a
partnership, which encourages patient
autonomy and values the needs and insights
of both parties. The quality of this relationship
is an essential contributor to the healing process
24
VALUES
The Healing Power
of Love Holistic healthcare
practitioners strive to meet the
patient with grace, kindness,
acceptance and spirit without
condition, as love is life’s most
powerful healer.
Wholeness Holistic healthcare practitioners
view people as the unity of body, mind, spirit and
the systems in which they live.
Optimal Health Optimal health is the primary goal of the practice of holistic
health and medicine. It is the conscious pursuit of the highest level of functioning and
balance of the physical, environmental, mental, emotional, social and spiritual aspects
of human experience, resulting in a dynamic state of being fully alive. This creates a
condition of well being regardless of the presence or absence of disease. This is the
pursuit of health creation.
Innate Healing Power
All people have innate powers
of healing in their bodies, minds
and spirits. Holistic healthcare
practitioners evoke and help
patients utilize these powers to
affect the healing process.
Prevention and Treatment Holistic
healthcare practitioners promote health, prevent
illness and help raise awareness of dis-ease in
our lives rather than merely managing symptoms.
A holistic approach relieves symptoms, modifies
contributing factors and enhances the patient’s
life system to optimize future well-being.
Individuality Holistic
healthcare practitioners focus
patient care on the unique needs
and nature of the person who has
an illness rather than the illness that
has the person.
Learning Opportunities
All life experiences including birth,
joy, suffering and the dying
process are profound learning
opportunities for both patients
and healthcare practitioners.
Teaching by Example Holistic
healthcare practitioners continually work toward
the personal incorporation of the principles of
holistic health, which then profoundly influence
the quality of the healing relationship.
Integration of Healing Systems Integrative practitioners embrace
the use of all appropriate global healing traditions and integrative healthcare
strategies, disciplines, systems and healthcare professionals for the diagnosis,
prevention and treatment of disease. We embrace collaborative care among
providers and between disciplines.
Relationship-Centered Care
The ideal practitioner-patient relationship is a
partnership, which encourages patient
autonomy and values the needs and insights
of both parties. The quality of this relationship
is an essential contributor to the healing process.
24
15. Education
Develop and conduct national and
international educational programs for
a broad range of community members,
disciplines and levels of expertise to
translate the science of health, healing
and self-care into practice.
The Academy offers courses that focus
on the topics that are often lacking in
the present-day medical education
curriculum such as wellness, prevention,
health promotion, deep consideration
of our planet and complementary and
alternative therapies. Special attention
is paid to chronic disease management
It is imperative that the Academy, an
organization with a strong integrative
physician base, step up and advocate
for inclusive team care—and prioritize
engagement in the interprofessional
education and practice movement.
Together, we need to advocate for
whole-person and whole-practice
research models and get involved
in the weeds of transforming the
research funding processes to
support new real-world models.
“
“
John Weeks
Executive Director
Academic Consortium
for Complementary and
Alternative Health Care
Seattle, WA
and other subjects that
are poorly addressed in
much of existing health
care training. These
educational offerings
also serve the continuing
education needs of those
who have been certified
by the ABIHM to maintain
their credentials and
others who need to seek
CME credits.
26
Serving as a platform for all healthcare providers who recognize that health is more than the
absence of disease and is closely intertwined with the health of our communities and the planet,
the Academy supports its varied constituents through six areas of focus:
Membership
Establish a community of healthcare
providers, health seekers and
aligned organizations that share the
vision, mission and goals resulting in
breakthrough collaboratives that
create wellness, sustainability and
healing practices in all settings.
Four levels of membership will serve
the needs of varied constituents:
(1) health providers, including
medical, osteopathic, chiropractic
and naturopathic physicians; nurses;
acupuncturists; certified nurse
midwives and direct entry midwives;
physician assistants; nurse practitioners;
homeopaths; massage therapists;
and other licensed and certified
health providers; (2) associations
and institutions such as professional
associations, integrative clinics,
healthcare systems or hospitals
and educational institutions; (3) an
international commission that will serve
members outside the United States; and
(4) consumers or the general public.
Existing AHMA members and those who
join the Academy before December 31,
2015 are charter members with access to
expanded benefits. The Academy board
oversees the review of credentials to
confirm membership eligibility levels
and benefits.
AREAS OF FOCUS
16. Advocacy
Champion health creation globally in
national and international public policy,
develop global roadmaps and shared
strategic visions and advocate for full
patient choice in selecting the qualified
health practitioners and disciplines of
their choice. The Academy advocacy
initiatives are a natural outgrowth of the
holistic perspective underpinning our
education and certification programs.
Through institutional and legislative
advocacy, we aim to shift the healthcare
paradigm to refocus on prevention,
accessibility and wellness. The Academy
is linking arms with the Integrative
Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC)
as we take an active stance together
in policy discussions on issues such as
practitioners’ and consumers’ healthcare
rights. We are gathering a strong
community of integrative practitioners
and will ensure that our voices are
heard and respected by legislators.
The Academy’s advocacy work also
addresses planetary health and social
justice, including food justice, reflecting
the fact that integrative holistic medicine
treats the whole person—body, mind
and spirit—and recognizing that an
individual is part of his or her community.
28
Leadership
Train the current and next generation
of healthcare leaders to advance the
fields of integrative holistic health and
medicine. The Academy is committed
to creating a new leadership college
that will shepherd a global cadre of
transformational leaders who are
equipped to become agents of change
in this ever-changing healthcare
landscape. We are creating a network of
these leaders and continue to support
building their capacity through ongoing
mentoring, peer-to-peer learning and
lifelong education opportunities.
Research
Review, aggregate and conduct
practice-based research efforts to
continue building the evidence base
for this new integrated approach to
health and health care and for the
educational programs that facilitate
its mastery by all health professions.
The Academy will support high-quality
research to improve the reliability
and value of medical research that
promotes transparency and accuracy
in the reporting of research studies in
integrative health and medicine. This
research will range from case reports
and observational studies to controlled
clinical trials, systematic reviews and
clinical practice guidelines. We support
the publication of these results in
medical journals. The Academy will
create a platform that supports the
global community of stakeholders and
their need for evidence on which they
can make informed decisions.
Certification
Establish and evaluate educational standards and dynamic
training models for certification, from leaders among all
interested parties to programs across all disciplines. The
Academy will offer certification in integrative holistic care
for a broad range of health professions including medical,
osteopathic, chiropractic and naturopathic physicians;
nurses; acupuncturists; certified nurse midwives and direct
entry midwives; physician assistants; nurse practitioners;
homeopaths; and other licensed health providers. Using
the standards we developed in 2000 and the experience
gained in certifying nearly 3,000 physicians, we are
creating certification programs that will synthesize the
knowledge, skills and abilities for these providers. We
are building a cadre of certified professionals who can
work independently, in group practices, or in hospitals
or other institutions. The certification offers the much
needed credibility and endorsement of a trusted and
well-established entity such as the Academy. At the core
of the certification process is a culture of interdisciplinary
collaboration and a holistic approach to the patients we are
serving. The certification process will involve self-care and
community initiatives that will have a transformative impact
on the participants and those they serve.
AREAS OF FOCUS
17. 30
Underserved
Populations
Patients
CaregiversMulti-Specialty
Clinics
Students
Insurers
Consumers
HospitalsThe Planet Policy
Makers
Researchers
Corporations
and
Organizations
Military
and
Health
Organizations
Members
VeteransPractitioners
Human
Resources
Managers
WE ARE ALL STAKEHOLDERS
As a multidisciplinary, global organization, the
Academy is rallying together a community of like-
minded healthcare providers committed to advancing
the knowledge and practice of integrative and holistic
care. It is uniquely positioned to bring its clout to
bear and offer significant contributions to a variety
of stakeholders.
WHO WILL
BENEFIT from
the AIHM
We embrace the Academy’s
international vision and outreach.
A global collaboration in medical
education, research, innovation,
publication and political issues
is essential for the practice and
further development of holistic and
integrative medicine.
Establishing a forum to share ideas,
successful concepts and case
examples of integrative health care,
individualized and system-oriented
medicine, outcome improvement,
patients’ competence and medical
education is crucial to the
advancement of our field.
“
“
Gunver Kienle, Dr. med.
Institute for Applied Epistemology
and Medical Methodology at the
University of Witten/Herdecke
Freiburg, Germany
18. Pamela Snider, ND
Founder and Executive Editor,
Foundations of Naturopathic
Medicine Project
Rob Wyse
Managing Director,
Capital Content
Ellen Stiefler, Esq.
CEO,
Transmedia Multiverse, LLC
Emeritus:
Wendy Warner, MD, ABIHM
Founder and Director,
Medicine in Balance
John Weeks
Executive Director,
Academic Consortium for
Complementary & Alternative
Health Care (ACCAHC)
Executive Director:
Nancy Sudak, MD, ABIHM
Leonard Wisneski, MD, FACP
Clinical Professor of Medicine,
George Washington University
Medical Center
Co-Executive Director:
Steve Cadwell
32
Last updated
October 2014
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President:
Mimi Guarneri,
MD, FACC, ABIHM
Founder & Medical Director,
Guarneri Integrative Health
at Pacific Pearl
Treasurer:
F. Nicholas Jacobs, FACHE
International Director,
Sunstone Consulting, LLC
Chair:
Daniel Friedland, MD, ABIHM
Founder & CEO,
SuperSmartHealth
Russell Faust,
MD, FAAP, ABIHM
Managing Partner,
WindrivenGroup
Jennifer Blair, LAc, MaOM
Penny George Institute for
Health and Healing
David Riley, MD
Founder,
Integrative Medicine
Institute, LLC
Vice President:
Daniel Asimus,
MD, MSEd, ABIHM
Founder and Medical Director,
Life Fitness Center
Sanford Levy, MD, ABIHM
Clinical Associate
Professor of Medicine,
SUNY at Buffalo
Secretary:
Scott Shannon, MD, ABIHM
Founder and Director,
Wholeness Center
Molly Roberts,
MD, MS, ABIHM
Integrative Holistic Physician,
Institute for Health & Healing
19. CONNECT
Physician
Assistant
Pediatrician
Osteopath Resident
Student
Psychiatrist
Nutritionist Health
Coach
Nurse
Chiropractor
Craniosacral
Therapist
Naturopathic
Physician
Internist Life Coach
Medical
Doctor
Homeopath
Massage
Therapist
Surgeon
Music
Therapist
Family
Doctor
Acupuncturist
Psychologist
Reiki
Master Educator Dietician
Yoga
Instructor
Neurologist
Addiction
Counselor
Energy
Medicine
Provider
Healthcare
Administrator
Nurse
Practitioner
Art
Therapist
CONNECTION and
COLLABORATION
The AIHM connects with a
wide range of healthcare
professionals, including
naturopathic doctors, nurses,
acupuncturists, chiropractors, medical
doctors, nutritionists and many more.
Our goal is to empower leaders who
together will help shift the current
healthcare paradigm to one that is about
the whole person and the planet.
34
When I connected with the AIHM community, I
found an organization transcending the divisions
and silos between healing disciplines including,
MDs, DCs, DOs, NDs, NPs, and RNs. At AIHM, I am
part of a truly integrated community that honors
all professions. We trust each other and share our
resources. We are creating a new way—one of
equity, respect and healing.
The Academy’s strong commitment to ensuring
wider public accessibility to integrative medicine
through its advocacy and policy work, while at
the same time developing affordable educational
programs for all healthcare practitioners is a
true demonstration of social equity. The further
committment to support efforts that bring low-
cost integrative options into the community health
setting are particularly important to improve
affordability and accessibility of integrative health for
all people on this planet. I am honored to be a part
of this truly remarkable organization.
Co-Founder,
Natural Doctors International (NDI)
AIHM Director of Education
Experience true interdisciplinary
collaboration at the Academy
Tabatha Parker, ND
20. CERTIFY
AIHM Certification supports licensed
medical professionals including CNMs,
DCs, DOs, LAcs, MDs, NDs, NPs, PAs,
RNs and others. Having AIHM behind your
name means that you have demonstrated
a level of expertise in Integrative Medicine
that your peers and patients can trust.
Learn more at aihm.org.
ACT
The AIHM’s advocacy activities aim to
empower practitioners and consumers.
Please learn about the issues and get
involved at aihm.org.
SPREAD THE WORD
We need everyone’s voice represented
in the movement to transform health
care. Please contribute by reaching out
to your peers and personal contacts via
social media to inform them of the AIHM
and our initiatives. Our efforts will be
powered by our collective energies.
SUPPORT
The Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
corporation. By investing in us, our
partners help us actualize our mission,
expand training opportunities and
support critical research initiatives.
36
JOIN
Become a member and join your
community of practitioners, health
seekers or organizations. Benefits include
exclusive access to journal resources,
networking opportunities, discounts on
outstanding educational opportunities,
practice resources like legal forms and
marketing tools and inclusion in our
“find a provider” database.
VOLUNTEER
We love our member volunteers! We
are seeking your support for conference
planning, media outreach and setting
up local chapters. If you are interested
in taking a leadership position, please
contact us at info@aihm.org.
GET INVOLVED
LEARN
Deepen your understanding of the
science and art behind the healing power
of integrative holistic medicine. Access
introductory and advanced courses online
or join us for trainings held throughout the
year. Learn more at aihm.org.
CONNECT
Our global community is online, too! Sign
up for our email newsletter for important
developments and resources. Connect
with us and your peers via social media.
21. Integrative Healthcare Policy
Consortium (IHPC)
The Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium
advocates for an integrative healthcare system with
equal access to the full range of health-oriented,
person-centered, regulated healthcare professionals.
ihpc.org
Integrative Medicine Consortium (IMC)
A collaborating group of national physician
organizations dedicated to promoting Integrative
Medicine as the standard of care in medicine. By
coming together with fellowship and cooperation, the
IMC creates larger and more sustainable initiatives than
any individual organization could achieve on its own.
integrativemedicineconsortium.org
Integrative Medicine for the
Underserved (IM4US)
Integrative Medicine for the Underserved is a
collaborative, multidisciplinary group of people
committed to affordable, accessible integrative
health care for all.
im4us.org
38
Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine
Co-founded by AIHM President, Mimi Guarneri, MD,
a healthcare system that believes there are many paths to healing and
that holistic health is a cohesive balance of mind, body and soul.
scripps.org/services/integrative-medicine
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System is the largest, most
complex healthcare system within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
It is one component of the VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network
(VISN22) offering services to veterans residing in Southern California
and Southern Nevada.
losangeles.va.gov
The Westreich Foundation
The Westreich Foundation, of which Ruth Westreich is the President,
has a focus on optimum health and wellness, education and literacy.
In the areas of wellness and prevention, The Westreich Foundation
generously supports integrative medicine and palliative medicine
nationally and locally.
thewestreichfoundation.org
Donald & Ruth P. Taylor
Foundation
(Taylor Family Foundation)
Don and Ruth Taylor of Calgary, Alberta, are
committed to projects to transform medicine from
an institution-based service that reacts to sickness
with mechanical fixes and pharmaceuticals to a
system of early interventions, social support and
prevention that promotes optimal health.
Academic Consortium for Complementary
& Alternative Health Care (ACCAHC)
The mission of ACCAHC is to enhance the health
of individuals and communities by creating
and sustaining a network of global educational
organizations and agencies, which will promote
mutual understanding, collaborative activities and
interdisciplinary healthcare education.
accahc.org
American Board of Holistic
Medicine Foundation
With an express purpose of health education, the
ABHM foundation supports students and residents to
access training and certification in integrative,
holistic medicine.
Atlantic Health System
A recognized leader in quality health care and advanced medical
technology.
atlantichealth.org/atlantic
CARE Group
CARE guidelines provide a framework that supports transparency
and accuracy in the publication of case reports and the reporting of
information from patient encounters.
care-statement.org
Commons Health Care Network
The Commons Health Network is advancing a network of
place-based, integrative health creation models.
commonshealth.org
Foundations of Naturopathic Medicine Project
The vision of naturopathic medicine and of the Foundations of
Naturopathic Medicine Project is to advance the health of individuals,
communities, and support a healthy environment, through innovation
in scientific research and clinical practice, based on investigating and
understanding the nature of the healing process.
foundationsproject.com
THANK YOU We are grateful to our friends and collaborators.
22. 40
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Institute Web site. Published October 2011. http://www.samueliinstitute.org/library/
ourresearch/ohe/cam_survey_2010_oct6.pdf. Accessed July 8, 2014
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McKinsey Quarterly. Published November 2007
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Medicine: A Review ofthe Medical and Corporate Literature. The Bravewell Collaborative
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19. Mowbray S. You Really Can’t Eat Just One, and Here’s the Reason. New York Times.
March 12, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/18/books/salt-sugar-fat-by-michaelmoss.
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Accountable Physician Practices Web site. Published April 14, 2011. Updated January 31,
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Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/
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