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Summary
of Development
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.
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