GW's Integrative Medicine Program Receives Elite Accreditation

After a three-year process, George Washington University’s Master of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS) in Integrative Medicine has finally been accredited by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM) and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), giving graduates the chance to receive two lifestyle medicine certifications.

According to a June 3 press release from George Washington School of Medicine & Health Sciences, physician graduates from GW’s Integrative Medicine (INTM) fellowship program are now eligible to take the lifestyle medicine certification exam administered by the ABLM. 

Additionally, health professionals who complete the INTM 6201 Foundations of Integrative Medicine course can qualify for the ACLM certification exam with just 30 hours of supplementary training.

According to the university, the program is 100% online and takes 30 months to complete, depending on the amount of transferred credits.

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Rise in Integrative Medicine

The program provides a pathway for clinical professionals to be certified in an increasingly important field.

A survey conducted by the Ardmore Institute of Health found that many family physicians recognize the importance of lifestyle medicine and incorporate many of its principles into their practice. 

Out of the 447 family physicians surveyed, 73% of respondents reported that they or other physicians in their practice incorporate lifestyle interventions into their patient care.

The survey also indicated that in addition to common lifestyle medicine elements such as nutrition, physical activity, and stress management, a significant number of clinicians incorporated more cutting-edge interventions as well.

For example, 47% of surveyed physicians reported incorporating sleep management, and 39.4% focused on relationship health and well-being.​

These findings suggest that lifestyle medicine is increasingly being recognized and applied by healthcare providers.

About ABLM and ACLM

The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM) and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) are two key organizations dedicated to the field of lifestyle medicine, with the goal of promoting the prevention, treatment, and reversal of chronic diseases through lifestyle changes.

The ABLM, established in 2015, is responsible for setting and maintaining standards for the assessment and credentialing of physicians in lifestyle medicine.

The certification process includes examinations that test a physician's understanding of lifestyle medicine principles, as well as their applications in clinical practice.

The ACLM, founded earlier in 2004, promotes the field of lifestyle medicine for a broad range of health professionals, including physicians, nurses, dietitians, and other healthcare providers.

ACLM also offers various educational resources, courses, and conferences to help health professionals integrate lifestyle medicine into their practice.

Additionally, ACLM has collaborated with various health systems and organizations to train and certify clinicians in lifestyle medicine. For instance, a partnership with New York City has provided significant funding to offer lifestyle medicine training to healthcare professionals across the city.

The organization reports that lifestyle medicine is becoming increasingly integrated into clinical practice, with over 10,000 health professionals – including physicians, nurses, dietitians, and other clinicians – becoming certified in lifestyle medicine through ACLM. 

This number is expected to grow as more practitioners recognize the benefits of incorporating lifestyle interventions into their care plans to prevent and treat chronic diseases.

Both organizations tout the importance of nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, substance use reduction, and healthy relationships for achieving overall health, and advocate for evidence-based approaches to these areas to address the root causes of chronic diseases rather than just treating symptoms.

George Washington MSHS IM Curriculum Review

These organizations’ recognition of GW’s integrative medicine program comes after an extensive curriculum review, making GW's MSHS program the first degree-granting program to earn this acknowledgment from the ABLM for physicians. 

The program now includes an educational pathway designed to prepare physicians for the Lifestyle Medicine certification exam. 

The pathway encompasses 100 hours of didactic education, practical application of principles through practicum requirements, and completion of a 30-hour online course, such as Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine.

The program’s 36-credit curriculum, also accredited by the American Board of Integrative Medicine, covers essential aspects of health such as nutrition science, physical activity, restorative sleep, and more.

In addition, GW’s Integrative Medicine MSHS program curriculum equips students to create comprehensive, patient-centered care plans using integrative medicine core competencies, and includes advanced techniques and methods, such as genomics and metabolomics, while applying clinical research practices to develop evidence-based care patterns.

“GW is the first program to go through this new Educational Equivalency Pathway certification process for physicians,” said Dr. Brenda Rea, an ABLM Board Member and lifestyle medicine intensivist at Loma Linda University Health. 

Importantly, the accreditation status allows physician graduates of the INTM fellowship to meet all equivalency requirements during their training, qualifying them to take the ABLM certification exam upon graduation.

Dr. Leigh A. Frame, executive director of the Office of Integrative Medicine and Health at GW, said the accreditation process took three years.

“The ABLM and ACLM could see our Master of Science in Health Sciences in integrative medicine is very much on the leading edge of what’s being done in medicine, and yet is firmly evidence-based,” Frame asserted.

Frame, whose work is focused on integrating nutrition and immunity through clinical and translational research, has a diverse background in biomedical research and program oversight, including work with the NINDS Parkinson's Disease Biomarkers Program.

At GW, Dr. Frame is developing an Integrative Medicine research program, directing graduate education, and is a co-founder of the Resiliency & Well-being Center. Her research interests include the microbiome's role in health, the impact of malnutrition in obesity, vitamin D as an immune-modulatory hormone, research ethics, and social media.¹

According to Frame, lifestyle medicine is not a substitute for conventional medicine, but an extra tool to be utilized by clinicians.

"Lifestyle medicine perfectly complements traditional medicine training, providing knowledge and skills to address the root causes of chronic disease,” she said.

Frame also anticipates the recognition by the ABLM and ACLM to motivate more physicians and health professionals to enroll in GW’s integrative medicine program, due to the potential for dual board certifications. 

“For physicians, when you’re thinking about getting a master’s and you already have a doctorate, it’s not really going to add that much in terms of the credentials, but adding two additional board certifications is another story,” added Frame.

What is a Master of Science in Health Sciences?

A Master of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS) is a graduate degree designed for individuals seeking advanced knowledge and skills in various aspects of health science. 

This degree often caters to professionals aiming to enhance their expertise in health-related fields, prepare for leadership roles, or pursue careers in research, education, and specialized clinical practices. Some key aspects of an MSHS include:

Focus and Curriculum

MSHS programs typically include a multidisciplinary curriculum that covers areas such as health policy, epidemiology, biostatistics, health administration, clinical research, and specific health science disciplines (e.g., integrative medicine, public health, global health).²

Many programs offer specializations or concentrations, allowing students to tailor their studies to their career interests. Specializations might include healthcare management, clinical research, public health, integrative medicine, and more.

Core Components

Foundational courses are required to provide a broad understanding of health sciences, covering topics like anatomy, physiology, health systems, health policy, and healthcare ethics.

Programs tend to place more emphasis on research design, biostatistics, data analysis, and evidence-based practice to prepare students for conducting and analyzing health research.

Many programs incorporate practicum experiences, internships, or capstone projects to provide hands-on experience in real-world health settings.

Depending on the specialization, students may take advanced courses in specific areas such as nutrition, integrative medicine, health informatics, or epidemiology.

Career Opportunities

Graduates can pursue leadership roles in healthcare organizations, hospitals, public health agencies, and non-profits.

The MSHS also prepares students for careers in clinical research, academic research, and teaching positions in higher education.

Some specializations, such as integrative medicine, equip students with advanced clinical skills to enhance their practice as healthcare providers.

Graduates can work in health policy development, health administration, and program management, influencing healthcare delivery and policy.

Schools that offer MSHS programs

Several other well-regarded schools besides George Washington University offer Master of Science degrees in Health Science, such as Thomas Jefferson University, Georgetown University, and the University of Arizona.

The MS in Integrative Health Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University is a 30-credit program that can be completed in one year full-time or part-time. The curriculum includes advanced practice certificates in Mind-Body Medicine, Integrative Nutrition, and Integrative Health Education & Leadership​.³

The M.S. in Integrative Medicine & Health Sciences at Georgetown University is a 30-credit program that can be completed full-time or part-time in 11+ months. It includes hands-on practicum experiences and focuses on integrating biomedical sciences with complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) modalities​.³

At the University of Arizona, the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine offers a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, an Integrative Health & Lifestyle program, and other integrative health initiatives​.³

Conclusion

In conclusion, the acknowledgement of GW’s MSHS in Integrative Medicine program by the ABLM and ACLM is a significant accomplishment for the university and the integrative medicine sector as a whole.

Clinicians and educational leaders believe the accreditation will inspire more healthcare professionals to pursue this dual certification, thereby hopefully elevating the standard of patient care and broadening the adoption of integrative and lifestyle medicine in daily practice. 

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Key Takeaways

• George Washington University's Master of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS) in Integrative Medicine program has received accreditation from the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM) and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), enhancing its credibility and value.
• Graduates of GW’s Integrative Medicine fellowship program are now eligible to take the lifestyle medicine certification exam by the ABLM, while health professionals completing the INTM 6201 course can qualify for the ACLM certification exam with 30 additional training hours.
• GW’s program is recognized for its comprehensive and evidence-based curriculum, covering essential health areas such as nutrition science, physical activity, restorative sleep, and more, aligning with the core competencies of lifestyle medicine.
• Recent data indicates a significant number of family physicians are incorporating lifestyle medicine principles into their practice, with many recognizing its importance for improving patient outcomes.
• The recognition by ABLM and ACLM is expected to inspire more healthcare professionals to engage in lifestyle medicine education, potentially leading to dual board certifications and advancing the integration of lifestyle medicine into clinical practice.