MD Integrative Medicine Curriculum

A Systemic Integrative Approach

Medical Schools traditionally structure Modern Medicine programs according to a three-stage cycle in the prevention and healing of the human physiology – Physiology, which includes the normal state – Pathology, the abnormal state – and Pharmacology, the treatment stage. In our integrative curriculum. The unfoldment of the courses in each system develops according to those states.

Our M.D. in Integrative Medicine program defines Integrative Medicine as a Patient-Centered Health Approach that uses Modern Medicine jointly with evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Natural medicines. Our approach to natural medicine is mainly based on Maharishi AyurVeda as explained below.

UMLAC’s Curriculum is a systemic integrative approach   including an integration of the Modern Medicine and the Maharishi AyurVeda approach to health on two levels, the level of content and the level of teaching.

Integration of the Content

The integration of the content of the curriculum is based on a systemic curriculum of both, Modern Medicine and Maharishi AyurVeda. The systemic approach to the curriculum is based on the eight major organ systems of the human physiology.

Integration of the Teaching

In order to achieve full integration, the curriculum is also taught in an integrative manner by distinguishing three typical sessions when teaching each organ system:

1. Modern Medicine sessions
2. Maharishi AyurVeda sessions
3. Integrative sessions to integrate both approaches

The nature and content of the three distinctive sessions will be discussed in the following paragraphs.

1 . Modern Medicine Sessions

The sessions in this component offer training for competencies in the physiology, pathology, assessment and management of health disorders from the perspective of Modern Medicine, meeting the requirements for Medical Doctor programs of the Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) of the USA

2 . Maharishi AyurVeda Sessions

The sessions in this component offer parallel to modern medicine training for competencies in the physiology, pathology, assessment and management of health disorders from the perspective of Maharishi AyurVeda and with introductions to other major systems of natural medicine.

3 . Integrative Sessions

The Integration sessions are weekly group discussions where the students in small groups work on a comprehensive clinical case including for each week questions/assignments based on the corresponding topics discussed during that week’s lectures in both approaches. The integrative clinical cases have an important role, they serve to prepare the student to get into the habit to consider both approaches in order to determine which approach or combination of approaches is best for the patient in a particular situation.

The integrative clinical case are tutored by M.D.’s with practical experience in both systems, Modern Medicine as well as AyurVeda.

The Systemic Integrative Courses

The courses in UMLAC’s integrative medicine curriculum are basically of the following categories:

• Science and Technology of Consciousness
• Basic Concepts of Integrative Medicine
• Systemic Integrative Medicine
• English
• Review USMLE

The practical aspect of the program is offered in courses related to:

• Integration Project and Cases
• Integrative Medicine Clinicals

The topics in each semester are the following:

• Semester I
  • Science and Technology of Consciousness 1
  • Basic Concepts Integrative Medicine 1
  • Basic Concepts Integrative Medicine 2
• Semester II
  • Clinical Internship – Panchakarma
  • Musculoskeletal and Articular systems
  • Cardiovascular and Urogenital Systems
  • Science and Technology of Consciousness 2
• Semester III
  • Digestive System
  • Pulmonary (Respiratory) System and ENT
• Semester IV
  • Endocrine and Reproductive Systems
  • Immune and Hematology Systems
  • Science and Technology of Consciousness 3
• Semester V
  • Nervous and Integumentary Systems (Skin)
  • USMLE Review and Training

Assessment

All courses are evaluated through the following assessments.

• Quizzes (weekly)
• Mid-term Exam
• Comprehensive Final Exam
• Comprehensive Group Case Studies/Projects
• Pulse logs
• Reflective review of Maharishi Videos

At the end of each module, a full week will be reserved, free from lectures, for the Comprehensive Exams and presentation and defense of the Comprehensive Group Project/Case Studies.