Integral Studies

Welcome to the department of integral studies at AOMA. This department is one of five and its focus is the enhancement of personal, interpersonal and transpersonal skills and abilities. The department serves this focus and its students in three ways. At the professional level through the development of self and patients through mind-body practices, at the program level through the cultivation of skill in the clinical management of patients, and at the level of the community through the creation of professional relationships and networks. 

The department of integral studies is led by Yuxia Qiu.

At the professional level, integral studies involve the cultivation of interpersonal skills. This is accomplished by coursework that includes body-mind centered practices such as qigong, taichi and Asian bodywork therapy as well as the study of clinical patient communications. At this level, the intent of integral studies is to foster the self-care skills of practitioners while creating partnership and patient-centered models of care. The competencies achieved support the health and well-being of both practitioner and patient.
 
At the program level, integral studies provides an integrative perspective that brings together the foundations of Oriental medicine, case and practice management, clinical communication and ethics. By connecting the lessons of the classroom to clinical practice, integral studies enables students and graduates to practice safe, conscientious and effective care. The competencies acquired through this coursework are essential to the achievement of competencies in all other components of the program.

At the community level, integral studies prepares practitioners to be successful in relating to the communities they serve. Coursework includes instruction in basic business practices and billing, report writing and presentation skills. The competencies achieved are central to the development of systems-based care practices and the construction of a provider network that links the practitioner to other health care professionals.

Department of Integral Studies Mission Statement:
The Department of Integral Studies connects interdepartmentally by training learners in the core values and behaviors of Oriental medicine, the fundamentals and diagnostics of Oriental medicine, the integration of Oriental medicine and western medicine, the systems of health care in the US as well as the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to be successful in clinical practice.