Osher Center for Integrative Health
January 2022
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The new year has always been a perfect time for change. It gives us a structured season for self-reflection with a proactive focus on new new opportunities to do and be better in the future.
Here at Osher, this not only applies to us as individuals, but also as an organization. As the world has changed in fundamental ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our relationships with what health means in the real world have changed. In this time of masking, we have witnessed an unmasking of health disparities. It's as if the covering of our mouth and nose led to our eyes opening to the work that needs to be done to reach more people, sooner, with care that focuses on salutogenesis, the factors that support human health and flourishing. We are committed to a shift that aligns with our mission to promote well-being for all. For this reason, the seven Osher Centers have unanimously supported the change of our program names from the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine to the Osher Center for Integrative Health.
By emphasizing health rather than medicine, we can advance health equity; that is, the attainment of the highest level of health for all people. While a name change can feel small – it is looking ahead to where the Osher Collaborative strives to be and where we feel the field should go – inclusive of interprofessional diversity, focused on health and wellness in an increasingly dangerous global landscape, and aligned with the values of health equity.
We invite you, in this new year, to partner with the Osher Center for Integrative Health as a patient, colleague, or supporter. To learn more please visit our website. We look forward to supporting your health.
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Osher Highlight
Endowment Launch
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The Osher leadership role is one of service. Service to ensuring our Center’s work can open the way for generations of others to expand their experience of health and well-being.
With the receipt of our first gift from one of our council members, we have officially launched the campaign for an Endowed Professorship in Integrative Medicine. This endowment will ensure a secure legacy for our program.
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Terri Dillon, Associate Dean for Development, is helping to spearhead the giving campaign.
Associate Dean Dillon has been with Northwestern University since 2011 after working for the American Cancer Society. Her leadership at the university and attentiveness to donors has produced invaluable stability for the school of medicine and we are honored to have her on board.
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Research and Education News
A Look Into Osher's Grand Rounds Series
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The goal of our grand rounds series is to advance awareness of evidence-based integrative medicine in clinical care, education and research. On Thursday, December 2, 2021, we resumed our grand round Osher Director series, featuring Dr. Peter Wayne.
Dr. Wayne is the Bernard Osher Associate Professor of Medicine in the Field of Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies, Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Director for the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, jointly based at HMS and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The primary focus of his research is evaluating how complementary and integrative therapies clinically impact aging and chronic health conditions, and understanding the physiological and psychological mechanisms underlying observed therapeutic effects. He has more than 40 years of training experience in Tai Chi and Qigong, and is an internationally recognized teacher of these practices. Recently, he was featured in Forbes Health, sharing his expertise in regards to the benefits of Tai Chi for Seniors.
Dr. Wayne spent an hour with our Osher community in December, illustrating the scientific and emotional benefits of Tai Chi. To watch his virtual lecture on "Tai Chi for Whole Person Health", click here.
Tune in this week to learn from our next featured speaker, Dr. Iman Majd (Interim Director, University of Washington), Thursday, January 6, 2022 at noon CST. He will be addressing constitutional eating: the traditional Chinese medicine approach to healthy eating. To find out more information or to join us for our upcoming talks by leaders in the field, please register here.
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News You Can Use
Selected Integrative Medicine Research Developments
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If you have noticed significant changes in your mood and behavior whenever the seasons change, you may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression.
Tip: Science supports diverse approaches to support your mood during the darker days of winter: Light Therapy, Psychotherapy, Vitamin D, and Antidepressant supplements or medications are some of the options.
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By studying how cells from healthy normal weight and overweight participants handle carbohydrate overload in real time, researchers found clues about what triggers metabolic distress, according to new research published in the American Journal of Physiology- Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Tip: Excess insulin seems to impact our cells' antioxidant capacity. Avoiding or significantly limiting the following foods can help moderate insulin resistance and metabolic distress.
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Although caloric restriction (CR) and a ketogenic diet (KD) are often promoted as strategies to limit tumor progression by lowering blood glucose and insulin levels, this study found that only CR inhibits the growth of select tumor allografts in mice, suggesting that other mechanisms contribute to tumor growth inhibition.
Tip: Nutrition is important to support both your recovery and your body’s ability to fight cancer. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer, work with a nutrition specialist to guide what makes the most sense in your individual case. For valuable resources, check out our UCSF Osher’s resource page here.
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According to a new study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry, high stress levels accelerated age markers and physiological changes, including insulin resistance. The study also showed that subjects who received high scores on two of the survey’s measures of psychological resilience, emotion regulation and self-control, had decreased levels of accelerated aging and insulin resistance.
Tip: Acceleration of aging due to stress can be managed by strengthening emotion regulation and self-control. Meditation, exercise, good nutrition and counseling can all aid in promoting longevity.
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Osher in the News
Recent Media Highlights
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Read: Dr. Helene Moore gives us the low down on why we feel happier and healthier in the summer. Read it, here.
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Discover: UCSF Osher Associate, Dr. Jennifer Felder, discusses how digital therapy for prenatal insomnia may prevent postpartum depression. Check it out, here.
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Engage: Read the interview with Dr. Melinda Ring and Dr. Robert Roundtree on Maximizing Impact in Integrative Medicine, here.
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Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at Northwestern |
The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and the Department of Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University seek a postdoctoral research fellow beginning in July 2022.
Click here for more info.
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Wellbeing Events and Monthly Recipe
See How You Can Take Part!
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Education Opportunities
Join Dr. Melinda Ring and Keynote Speaker, Dr. Andrew Weil, in New York City at the IHS, February 17-19, 2022! Learn more about the upcoming session and register with this custom code, SAVE4IHS, to SAVE 15% on a Standard Conference Pass, here.
The International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health will take place at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, Arizona May 23-26, 2022. Osher researcher Dr. David Victorson is the program co-chair. We anticipate many superb presentations by faculty from across the Osher Collaborative. Registration now open.
Northwestern Medicine offers a wide range of classes, events and support groups throughout the year - in your local community - to help you live a healthier, happier and more informed life.
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Food As Medicine
In order to stave off illness, it is important to stay hydrated and load up on certain nutrients like the ones found in these soup recipes. Your immune system needs nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc, to keep you healthy during the coldest months of the year where colds and flus are prevalent.
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Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University | Website
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