Centers for Integrative Health - Fund for the Future
Together we can make a difference to support true health and well-being for people and the planet. We envision a world where:
- All available healing options are part of health care
- Food is treated as medicine, prescribed equally or more often than medications
- Mental and physical health rehabilitation programs integrate healthy lifestyle practices such as exercise, nutrition and mind-body disciplines with conventional treatments
- We focus on the discovery of cutting-edge scientific applications that connect with ancient healing wisdom concepts
Help elevate integrative healing for all by making a gift of any size to support the mission of the Centers for Integrative Health. Our goal is bold: that every employee and person who has engaged with our work makes a contribution, no matter the size. We aspire to 100% of every member of our community giving this year: our employees, staff, medical professionals and healing practitioners, and you.
History and Future of the UC San Diego Centers for Integrative Health
Since 2011, we at the UC San Diego Centers for Integrative Health have hosted robust research, holistic clinical care, and transformative education programs, and have championed new standards for health care. We have grown from a micro-granted pilot program, to a five-Center, multi-million dollar enterprise. Our reach spans across more than 12 clinical sites in San Diego, across all five statewide University of California campuses with hospitals/health systems, and internationally with our mindfulness and integrative medicine training programs. We have reached more than 100,000 patients, with 25,000 patient visits per year and growing. We reach tens of thousands of participants in our educational programs across learner levels, from medical students to a myriad of other health professionals. Your support impacts thousands of lives each year, as well as elevating the field of integrative health across the nation and around the world.
We introduced the first acupuncturists, naturopathic doctors, osteopathic doctors, integrative medicine physicians, integrative nutritionists, massage therapists, and board-certified health and wellness coaches to the University. We have conducted groundbreaking research that will translate into new standards for care in fields such as rheumatoid arthritis, women’s health, ophthalmology, psychosis, and more.
Our next frontier in the coming year is to build a new space to become an international nexus for true health care transformation. Our purpose is to bring together our diverse group of practitioners and researchers into one hub and drive new and innovative strategies that will give everyone the opportunity to thrive. The COVID-19 pandemic was disruptive, and our world has become increasingly more chaotic and isolated. There has never been a more critical time to bring people together in a truly healing environment, and to foster much-needed sense of community around health care transformation from multidimensional perspectives.
Health care can be different. Our new Center will become a beacon for how things can be done. Integrating the most cutting-edge medical treatments that UC San Diego is known for pioneering, with movement, mindfulness, food as medicine, acupuncture, osteopathy, and more into personal healing journeys for mental and physical health is not only feasible and cost-effective, but is the future of healthcare.