FACULTY SCHOLARS PROGRAM IN INTEGRATIVE HEALTHCARE
Description and Application Process
Overview
Northwestern Medicine Osher Center for Integrative Medicine (OCIM) is offering the
Faculty Scholars Program (FSP) – a faculty development program in integrative
healthcare. This year-long, interdisciplinary program will provide selected faculty with
an opportunity to explore the theoretical principles, clinical practices, and evidence
related to complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies.
The purpose of the Faculty Scholars Program is to enhance the NM faculty resources
that can be devoted to teaching, clinical service and research in the emerging field of
integrative healthcare. Participants in the program will be expected to advance
knowledge in integrative health in their respective schools, colleges, and departments.
Objectives
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Develop knowledge in complementary, alternative and integrative healthcare
research, teaching and practice.
Facilitate opportunities for professional growth and collaboration across
disciplines and departments at Northwestern Medicine.
Create a critical, inquiry-driven, and open perspective regarding new paradigms
of healthcare.
Promote innovative teaching practices for delivering integrative healthcare
content into academic departments and affiliated clinical services.
Advance the quality and quantity of scientific research in integrative health.
Program Structure
Community practitioners and OCIM faculty teach in the Faculty Scholars Program (FSP).
Each monthly session highlights complementary, alternative, and integrative approaches
to particular health problems and issues. All program topics focus on understanding
biomedical and psychosocial processes within the context of clinical applications.
Didactic presentations, experiential practice, narrative reflective exercises and
discussion form the teaching approaches.
Topics in the 2015-2016 FSP program include:
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Context of Integrative Healthcare
Mind-Body Medicine
Background Information on Nutrition, Research Methods & Education Practices
Systems of Traditional Medicine: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Integrative Approaches to Cardiovascular Health
Integrative Approaches to Chronic Pain
Integrative Approaches to Mental Health
Integrative Approaches to Cancer
Leadership and Systems Change
Project Presentations & Closing Session
Guiding Principles that define the teaching and learning framework for this program
include:
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Presentation and discussion of evidence-based research
Focus on patient and provider perspectives
Demonstration of CAM practices
Emphasis on experiential learning and reflection
Cross-disciplinary content exploration
Program Requirements
Faculty Scholars are expected to attend 11 full-day sessions throughout the course of
the academic calendar year. These sessions are typically scheduled on the third Friday
of the month. Participating faculty receive a binder of material that contains resources
and information.
Between monthly sessions, scholars are expected to complete assigned readings and to
work on designing an individual curriculum, research or clinical service application
project of their own passion related to integrative health. Scholars will be mentored on
these projects by integrative medicine program faculty.
FSP projects can consist of one of the following:
1. An educational module/course complete with learning resources, activities,
research evidence, etc.
2. A specific educational application in the curriculum of the school or department
in which the candidate works.
3. A clinical service or research proposal that can be submitted for internal or
external funding.
4. A pilot research project to empirically examine educational, clinical or science
applications to integrative health issues.
Tuition
A $1,500 tuition fee is required for participation in this year long program. Program
payment may be made by personal check or through departmental account transfer
within 4 weeks of notification of acceptance. We are sorry that we will not be able to
offer any tuition refunds once Scholars are accepted and agree to participate for the
academic year.
Application Process
The FSP accepts eight to twelve faculty from a mix of academic departments, schools,
and colleges. Applications to the program include submission of 5 documents:
o Application Cover Sheet (see attached, includes transmittal information)
o Curriculum vitae, including current educational role, responsibility and activities
o Proposed project description (1-2 pages). Describe a project of interest, with the
specific expected product. (The project will be developed over the year with
assistance from a faculty member.)
o Statement of interest in integrative healthcare (1-2 pages)
o Letter of approval/support from Dean, Departmental Chair or Division Chief
indicating ability and availability to commit to a year-long program.