Is Dr. Weil's the best certification?

drolmareiki · Oct 27, 2011

Maybe healthcare isn't for you. It sounds like you have some real concerns in your post. Probably over 20 of them. I'd work through your feelings in a more structured way and figure out what are fears versus reality, versus your ideal career. There are many ways to go, but the key to being a holistic anything, is self-care. When we are clear and aligned and taking really good care of ourselves, we can receive much more info from our environment.

Great book by Nannette Hucknall - Karma your destiny and your career. She is available for career coaching and gives some exercises to do every night before bed for 30 days. That could help with the clarity piece.

newtinmpls, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2011

I'm confused by the title of this thread. What the heck is "Dr. Weil" certifying you for? I thought that the American Holistic Nurses Certification Corporation was the only holistic credentialing entity in the US. At least that's what the American Holistic Nurses Association website is telling me.

Granted, it's a LOT of work and reading, but it's in the hundreds of dollars, not thousands.

drolmareiki · Oct 29, 2011

Dr. Weil has a residency program for MDs and NPs in complementary medicine or rather functional medicine approaches. It is through the University of Arizona. Its totally not related to the holistic nurses certification/curricula, etc... Sorry for the confusion. I just joined a little while ago...

Here's a recent press release on the latest developments and focus and goals:

The University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine Earns 'Center of Excellence' Designation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 12, 2008

TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Arizona recently conferred Center of Excellence status on the College of Medicine's Program in Integrative Medicine - a move that reaffirms the positive impact integrative medicine has had on health-care system transformation.

Now known as the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine (AzCIM), the program underwent an intensive evaluation process and earned unanimous endorsements from UA health sciences program directors and college deans. The new designation formally recognizes the center's achievements in the field over the past 14 years, and its status as the world leader in integrative medical education.

Founded in 1994 by internationally renowned author and integrative medicine pioneer Andrew Weil, MD, the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine joins nine other Centers of Excellence at the UA College of Medicine.

"Having our work recognized in this way is among our greatest accomplishments to date," Dr. Weil said. "The Center of Excellence designation formally recognizes us as an innovator in educating the next generation of physicians and health-care professionals. Our challenge now is to remain at the forefront of innovation so as to make integrative medicine available to everyone, regardless of economic or geographic limitation."

In formally approving the designation, UA President Robert N. Shelton said, "This formal designation acknowledges that the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine is a respected and significant voice within the University, and indeed throughout the global health-care community.

"What began as a small, pioneering program has now inspired the development of scores of similar programs across the country, another manifestation of the University's innovation and leadership in the health sciences arena."

Since its founding, the center has created five integrative medicine fellowships, received more than $7 million in federal funding and graduated nearly 300 integrative medicine fellows. Many of these fellows are now academic leaders in other prestigious centers, including The Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, Duke University, Tufts University, The University of Wisconsin, and the University of Maryland.

The Center of Excellence designation will enhance the center's ability to court top-tier faculty and inspire a new era of program growth - led by the center's most ambitious program to date: the Integrative Medicine in Residency (IMR). The center's integrative medicine curriculum soon will be incorporated into standard three-year family medicine residency programs across the nation. Residents will learn to incorporate integrative medicine concepts into their practices, including patient-centered care techniques that facilitate lifestyle change.

Through funding raised from both public and private sources, an IMR pilot program will be launched in July at eight family medicine residency programs nationwide, including the UA; Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City; Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, N.C.; Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine; Maine-Dartmouth, Augusta, Maine; University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.; Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minn.; and the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.

"This will be the first program in the nation to create a required curriculum in integrative medicine for physicians during residency," said Victoria Maizes, MD, executive director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. "Over the next 10 years, development of IMR into the national model for residency education is a major goal for the center. We will gradually move beyond primary care into subspecialty training."

Dr. Shelton added, "Through the center's leadership in education and research, the role that integrative medicine plays in health-care transformation has been revealed in exciting new ways. I celebrate the center's roots right here in Tucson, and I am eager to see its future unfold as a Center of Excellence."

For more information about the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, please visit the Web site: http://www.integrativemedicine.arizona.edu, or call (520) 626-6417 .

The mission of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine is to lead the transformation of health care by creating, educating and actively supporting a community of professionals who embody the philosophy and practice of integrative medicine. The center defines integrative medicine as healing-oriented medicine that takes into account the whole person (body, mind and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative.

drolmareiki · Oct 29, 2011

become part of a vibrant community of health professionals who are leading the transformation of healthcare by making integrative medicine a part of their practices!

designed for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, the fellowship in integrative medicine at the arizona center for integrative medicine is a 1,000 hour, two-year distance learning program. created by andrew weil, md in 2000, the fellowship in integrative medicine has achieved international recognition as the leading integrative medical education program in the world.

why the fellowship is right for you

participating in the fellowship re-energizes, restructures and reframes your perspective of medicine. it teaches a new way of caring for patients, with emphasis on the individual, not simply the disease - and on prevention, not just treatment. through the fellowship, you will be able to continue your medical practice while studying, and apply what you learn immediately.

our fellows work in multiple care models, including primary care, consultative practice, clinical setting, and im-specific and community clinics for the underserved. im fellows have applied integrative techniques to more than 35 medical specialties, ranging from family practice to cardiology, oncology, pediatrics, ob-gyn, and rheumatology.

what you will learn

healthcare is often symptom-focused and reactive, rather than prevention-focused and proactive. patients and physicians rarely discuss nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle change, and instead focus mainly on diagnosis and treatment of disease. many clinicians feel unprepared to discuss the safe and effective use of dietary supplements or herbal medicines, or how to help patients incorporate relaxation or mind-body practices into their lives. the amount of information available in the fields of conventional, complementary and alternative medicine is growing at an exponential rate - making it difficult for even the most highly motivated practitioner to sort through the evidence and put into practice. the fellowship in integrative medicine provides you with a structured and highly interactive educational experience, allowing you to gain the knowledge and skills you need to effectively practice integrative medicine.

our multimedia curriculum consists of:

web-based modules with case studies

online dialogues with faculty and colleagues

podcasts and streaming video

peer-reviewed content

experiential exercises

the fellowship curriculum is divided into eight quarters, typically nine to 10 weeks long, created by nationally recognized experts and faculty from a variety of disciplines, modalities and philosophies.

you will learn:

nutritional health

the latest nutritional approaches and dietary recommendations for general health, as well as specific conditions such as cancer and diabetes

botanicals and dietary supplements

research-based uses, how to identify a quality product, supplement-drug interactions, and use in specific patient populations

mind-body medicine

ways in which emotional, mental, social and behavioral factors affect health and how to teach patients meditation and other mind-body techniques

complementary and alternative practices

uses, benefits and recommendations for traditional chinese medicine, ayurveda, chiropractic and homeopathy

integrative approaches

to women's health, pediatrics, mental health, gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular disease, cancer and much more.

residential weeks

create and maintain a sense of community with your fellowship class by meeting in tucson, arizona for three, week-long sessions during your two years of study. these residential weeks offer you the opportunity to connect with your classmates, establish relationships with faculty and directors, and receive hands-on training. you will return home feeling invigorated and inspired to incorporate the techniques you have learned into your practice!

during your residential week training you will:

apply manual medicine techniques

develop an understanding of energy and mind-body medicine

taste and prepare botanical remedies

experience traditional chinese medicine

practice alongside leaders in the field of integrative medicine

alumni network

the fellowship has created a strong international community of more than 400 alumni with whom you can share experiences, draw support, and participate in continuing educational opportunities. our alumni hail from all over the world - 45 u.s. states, canada, japan, korea, israel, united arab emirates, brazil, thailand, the u.s. virgin islands and puerto rico. they have also begun integrative practices and lead im programs at prestigious institutions, such as beth israel, chapel hill and university of california, san francisco.

newtinmpls, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2011

I admit that part of my hesitancy is that Dr. Weil really really rubs me the wrong way. However, if that's a fellowship you like, go for it. I'm going to be doing a year and a half of additional clinicals after my psych DNP becasue I want family practice as well. This appears to be similar (though more expensive).

Dian

drolmareiki · Oct 31, 2011

Hi Dian,

I'm really interested in where you are doing your additional clinicals and more about the path you've chosen. I'm always interested in "less expensive"!!! There are many ways to skin a cat after all!

newtinmpls, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

What it boiled down to is I'm in the Psych/mental health track, but close examination of how our facility uses psych NP's isn't quite in line with the scope of practice - so I asked my grad school advisor how hard would it be to get FNP on top of the psych, and she said a year and a half of clinicals (I was expecting about 2 years of classes/clinicals so this is great) and still only one DNP project. Yippie!

dian

goofeegirl · Oct 26, 2012

I currently work in a sort of integrative health where we use all natural products and utilize chiropractic adjustments. Now I'm interested in the Arizona school's program! I've met Dr. Weil and listened to a presentation of his in Austin, TX and am a complete fan of his.