The first meeting of The Educational Center for Integrative Healing and Wellness was September 1997. The goal was to assess the level of interest in integrating health care in our community.

We currently have about 50-members. All clinical members are admitted via a professional credentialing process. Our goal is to educate professionals and the lay-public in ways to improve wellness and healing through an integrative model. In the fall of 1998, we offered an eight-week lecture series to the public covering such topics as Ayurvedic Medicine; Mind-Body Relaxation; Acupuncture; T’aiChi; Integrative approach to medical and emotional responses to illness; Chiropractic; Naturopathy; and aspects of traditional and herbal pharmacy. The lecture series was very well attended. Many people requested another series as soon as possible.

To educate ourselves in various healing strategies we hold monthly meetings which include review of professional literature and research results. We created an innovative learning method we call Grand Rounds whereby a group member invites a person in their care to meet with the whole group, tell us their story, respond to our questions and hear our thoughts. This way we all learn more about healing methods that are, or are not, successful.

As a not-for-profit, educational organization, our plans for 1999 include a fund-raising lecture-dinner in May to introduce community leaders to our mission. Further, we will offer a weekend conference on integrative care to local physicians. Later we will offer lectures for the lay public on other topics requested by people attending the 1998 series.

Dr. Bernie Segal, an internationally known healer and Connecticut resident, having learned of our work, has offered his strong support. According to him, we are the only group in Connecticut creating an integrative model at this level.