Family Medicine Residency Program's Integrative Medicine Track

The Department of Family Medicine offers a track within its residency program that is designed to offer additional education and training in the diagnosis and treatment of primary care patients using the tools and philosophies of integrative medicine.  Our distinctive core faculty and teaching clinic create opportunities to provide integrative health services for underserved patients.

The curriculum for this special training track is taught in a longitudinal fashion over the course of the three-year program, with various educational elements integrated into the standard family medicine residency curriculum. At the core of the program is a web-based series of award-winning teaching modules, part of the Integrative Medicine in Residency program made accessible to our residents in collaboration with University of Arizona's Center for Integrative Medicine (ACIM).

Educational information from this online program is complemented by a variety of on-site interactive and experiential learning activities. This track addresses a number of key elements of holistic care that are often overlooked in traditional medical school curricula, including nutrition, mind-body medicine, the evidence-based use of herbal medicine and supplements, acupuncture, a focus on patient-centered communication, self-care and the importance of a healing environment.  

Please refer to our Integrative Medicine Program home page to learn about the many integrative resources we offer.

The web-based curriculum from the ACIM has already been successfully piloted at a number of residency programs across the country, but what makes the UCI Family Medicine Residency program unique is our focus on and commitment to bringing integrative medicine resources to our underserved Latino patient community, a population traditionally unable to access these valuable resources.

Residents completing the integrative medicine track will receive a certificate from the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.  The online and live trainings lay a solid foundation for pursuing American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM) certification.

Two-page summary of Integrative Medicine Residency Track

Elements of Integrative Medicine Practice Patient-centered care that focuses on healing the whole person, and takes into account all factors that influence health, wellness and disease, including mind,body and spirit in the context of community. Educate and empower people to be active participants in their own care, and to take responsibility for their own health and wellness. Integrate the best of Western scientific medicine with a broader understanding of the nature of illness, healing and wellness to facilitate the body’s innate healing response. Encourage healing partnerships between the provider and patient, and support the individualization of care. Make use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches and evidence-based modalities to achieve optimal health and healing — a philosophy that neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative medicine uncritically Focus on the use of natural, effective, less-invasive interventions whenever possible Restore the focus of medicine towards prevention, wellness and healing Train practitioners to be models of health and healing, committed to the process of self-exploration and self-development

How do I apply for the integrative medicine residency track?

Students interested in this track should follow all the usual residency applications procedures. There is no separate match application for this track.

When you arrange your interview, simply indicate that you have an interest in learning more about the IM residency track. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the track during your interview.

You can tell us at that time if you’d like to be considered for acceptance into the track.