Introduction by Vice Chancellor Steve Goldstein
In recognition of January as Integrative Health Month, this installment of our Healthcare Workforce Pathways newsletter explores the transformative impact of integrative health across the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences and UCI Health. Shaista Malik, MD, PhD, MPH, and her colleagues at the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute are pioneering the implementation of whole-person health practices in academic health systems nationwide based on initiatives developed in our schools and health system.
From nutrition and behavioral health to other evidence-informed treatments, Samueli Institute practitioners are improving the well-being of individuals at UCI Health. One example is based on a recent Quality Improvement chart review of over 5,000 patients receiving acupuncture. When asked to rate their pain intensity on a scale from 0 to 10, those with a pain rating of 4 or greater before acupuncture had an average reduction of 1.9 after one treatment, with 43% reporting a decrease by 2 or more units. For reference, a reduction of 2 units is equivalent to the decrease attributed to medications, such as opioids.
As we continue to lead the charge in integrative health, we are not just changing healthcare practice; we are revolutionizing the way we educate and prepare the next generation of professionals to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care. Please explore how these initiatives are shaping the future of UC Irvine Health Affairs and our mission to Discover, Teach, Heal in the content below and on the Samueli Institute’s website.
Leading the Charge in Whole-Person Healthcare
Featuring: Bernadette Boden-Albala, MPH, DrPH, founding dean, Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health; Jan Hirsch, BS Pharm, PhD, founding dean, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences; Mark Lazenby, PhD, APRN, dean, Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing; Shaista Malik, MD, PhD, MPH, associate vice chancellor, Integrative Health; founding executive director, Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute; Michael J. Stamos, MD, dean, School of Medicine; Anne Marie Watkins, DNP, MSHCA, RN, senior vice president and chief nursing executive, UCI Health
Integrative health is a cornerstone of our mission to Discover, Teach and Heal. As Shaista Malik, MD, PhD, MPH, founding executive director of the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, says: “Integrative health is woven into the fabric of our college and healthcare system, driven by a collaborative spirit that empowers faculty and staff. Together, we inspire and support each other to advance integrative health, leveraging our collective resources and leadership to make a meaningful impact.”
The Samueli Institute drives innovation and excellence in integrative healthcare through diverse initiatives. The Samueli Institute’s Pilot Studies Program awarded grants to six groundbreaking research projects to various UC Irvine faculty in 2024, exploring areas such as phage therapy, nutritional supplementation and anxiety treatment. These studies aim to expand the boundaries of integrative healthcare and generate new insights into the mechanistic basis of integrative therapies. Additionally, the Samueli Scholars award program provides crucial seed grant funding to ensure UC Irvine faculty continue their innovative work in integrative health. Projects include research on natural products and botanicals, the effectiveness of culinary medicine, and acupuncture’s role in managing pain. In education, the Samueli Institute’s Integrative & Functional Medicine Fellowship has welcomed its first cohort of 24 fellows. This program equips physicians with comprehensive precision medicine knowledge through a flexible online learning structure and immersive in-person retreats. The Samueli Institute’s clinical volume has also seen remarkable growth, increasing from 13,184 visits in FY 2019-20 to an impressive 99,004 in FY 2023-24, which included ambulatory visits, inpatient acupuncture treatments and integrative nursing interventions. This growth is accompanied by high patient satisfaction, with the Samueli Institute receiving a 90.9% net promoter score for FY 2023-24, significantly above the national average of 84.3 for ambulatory clinics.
School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Under the leadership of Founding Dean Jan Hirsch, BS Pharm, PhD, the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, in partnership with the Samueli Institute, is at the forefront of integrative health innovation. For example, the Robert A. Mah Molecular Innovation Center initiative has a particular focus on developing natural product inspired molecules which are more easily adapted to medicinal chemistry needed to advance molecules to medicines in areas such as non-opioid pain management, cancer treatment and infectious diseases. Other areas of integrative health research range from examining acupuncture and Chinese herbs to reduce pain and patient use of analgesics, to traditional medical plants which may be helpful in managing Type 2 Diabetes. Hirsch empowers the expanding field of Integrative Pharmacy Practice, in which pharmacists serve as the medication expert for patients and healthcare teams by advising on benefits and risks of all medications – prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements. Additionally, integrative health concepts are present in all four years of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum including unique experiential rotations at the Samueli Institute that include the Integrative Health Pharmacy and collaboration with other Samueli Institute clinicians.
Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health
Founding Dean Bernadette Boden-Albala, MPH, DrPH, at the Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health is dedicated to integrative health in many ways. The school is expanding its faculty in nutritional science and health behavior, focusing on a whole-person approach that integrates lifestyle, diet and behavioral health. A new concentration in biobehavioral mechanisms within its doctoral programs equips future public health practitioners and researchers with tools to tackle complex health challenges. Exploring biomarkers aims to enhance mind-body health interventions, reduce inflammation and promote overall well-being; for example, researchers are examining the role of mind-body connections in health outcomes for cancer patients.
Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing
Dean Mark Lazenby, PhD, APRN, believes integrative health is bringing nursing back to its roots. The Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing curriculum includes integrative health cards, evidence-based spiritual assessment tools and comprehensive training in whole-person care. In partnership with the Samueli Institute’s Inpatient Integrative Nursing program, the school has introduced innovative “Badge Buddies” worn behind nurses’ and nursing students’ badges, featuring QR codes linking to video resources on integrative health techniques. These badges, along with specialized training in clinical massage and aromatherapy, equip nurses at the UCI Health medical center with practical tools for patient care. By focusing on social determinants of health and utilizing precision data science, the school enhances patient-reported outcomes. Initiatives also address caregiver stress and support traumatized youth in Orange County. As the nursing school incorporates integrative health across disciplines, it too remains committed to empowering professionals to deliver whole-person, patient-centered care.
School of Medicine
In collaboration with the Samueli Institute, Dean Michael J. Stamos, MD, is leading the School of Medicine’s focus on integrative health through its mission-based HEAL-IM (Health Education to Advance Leaders in Integrative Medicine) program. This initiative has generated significant student interest, with 35 students vying for a spot in the cohort of 12. The school also hosts integrative health faculty experts across various fields, supported by four Susan and Henry Samueli endowed chairs. Furthermore, generous support from the Samueli Institute enhances faculty and resident wellness programs, underscoring the school’s dedication to advancing whole-person care and well-being.
UCI Health
Anne Marie Watkins, DNP, MSHCA, RN, champions integrative health’s integral role in nursing practice at UCI Health. Aromatherapy methods have effectively reduced anxiety, nausea and pain, with plans to expand these practices across UCI Health hospitals. Aromatherapy cards in patient rooms provide easy access to soothing techniques, while QR codes link patients to guided wellness practices, supporting continued benefits at home and reducing readmissions. Nurses and clinicians themselves benefit from integrative health practices like breathwork and relaxation, empowering them to deliver exceptional patient care. Watkins stresses the importance of interprofessional education and team-based care in creating new opportunities for integrative health.
The Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is also embracing integrative health approaches. The new state-of-the-art facility in Irvine is designed to provide patient-centered care that treats the whole person, integrating advanced cancer treatments with supportive services and a healing environment. This includes spacious infusion bays with views of the serene San Joaquin Marsh Reserve, a quiet terrace offering a soothing atmosphere for patients and their loved ones, and a cafe bathed in natural light. Additionally, the cancer center and Samueli Institute are partnering together to create an Integrative Oncology program that will be launched later this year.
Collectively, these initiatives across the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences and UCI Health, made possible by Malik’s leadership and her colleagues at the Samueli Institute, are setting the standard for preparing a future healthcare workforce adept in whole-person, team-based precision care. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, we are empowering our learners to incorporate integrative health practices that enhance patient care and community well-being. As we continue to lead the charge in integrative health, we recognize the pivotal role of the Samueli Institute in shaping the future of healthcare and improving lives through comprehensive, compassionate care.
