The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine
The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Washington was established in July 2018, with the generous support of The Bernard Osher Foundation. We seek to transform healthcare in the region by integrating traditional and complementary wellness approaches into patient care.
Patient Care Education ResearchExplore Osher
What We Do
We seek to nurture new and transformational integrative models of care that are patient-centered, acknowledge the role of lifestyle as a major determinant of health, and respect the healing approaches of diverse cultures, while emphasizing patient empowerment and focusing on prevention and whole-person healing.
What is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative medicine brings together conventional and complementary practices in a coordinated manner to promote health, illness prevention and healthy living. It emphasizes a holistic, patient-focused approach to health care and wellness, treating the whole person. The UW Osher Center emphasizes that the practitioner and patient are partners in the healing process, and all factors that influence health, wellness, and disease are taken into consideration.
How does Integrative Medicine differ from Complementary Medicine?
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health more than 30% of Americans use approaches to health care that are outside of conventional Western medical practice. When these practices are used in conjunction with conventional medicine, they are considered “complementary.” Often people using a complementary approach do not share this information with their primary care provider, keeping the Western and complementary providers and practices separate.
Integrative health care brings together conventional and complementary healthcare in an intentional, coordinated manner. Because of the open, wholistic approach and open communication between practitioner and patient integrative medicine supports both parties working together to achieve the patient’s health care goals.
News & Events
Integrative Medicine in the Time of COVID 19 Webinar – Feb. 10, 2021
Join UWFM’s Lucille Marchand and Justin Kappel for a webinar presentation on Integrative Medicine in the Time of COVID 19 on FEBRUARY 10, 2021, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Integrative medicine is very focused on the person and what eachunique person needs for their own health and well-being. While the lastyear has offered many challenges, [...]
Read more
Intro to Integrative Health Webinar – Feb. 24, 2021
Join UW School of Nursing’s “Intro to Integrative Health” Webinar on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 from 12:00 PM –4:00PM. The Intro to Integrative Health is a forum for Nurses and Advanced Practice Nurses to explore the various ways integrative medicine can be used in nursing practice. Whether you are familiar with Integrative Health modalities,or are [...]
Read more
Introduction to Mindfulness: Practical and Scientific Underpinnings – Dec 3-17
Irakli Soulakvelidze, MD, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine; Affiliate Member, Osher Center for Integrative Medicine will offer an introduction to mindfulness course through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Dr. Soulakvelidze specializes in treating all kinds of chronic pain and is particularly interested in spinal and neuropathic pain and complex regional pain syndrome. His [...]
Read moreOther News & Events