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Integrative Health and Medicine

Dr. Mimi GuarneriIn medical school, we are trained to practice the “pill for every ill” approach, and that’s how I was trained as a cardiologist—to make a diagnosis and then prescribe an appropriate pharmaceutical therapy or surgery. This approach makes perfect sense in acute care, such as when a patient is having a heart attack or stroke and you need to act quickly. But with any chronic disease or the types of issues I see every day, whether it’s diabetes, hypertension, psoriasis, eczema, or depression, Western medicine seeks to name it, blame, tame it—without getting to the underlying cause.

My whole journey as an integrative medicine practitioner has been focused on health creation, to answer the question: How do we create health? One of the key steps, which is not really taught in medical school, is to understand the root cause of disease so that we can put in place a program that goes beyond pharmaceuticals to slow down or even reverse the disease process.

An Integrative Approach to Disease Prevention

In the early part of my medical career, treatment largely consisted of pharmaceuticals, surgery, and maybe some physical therapy. Patients would complain about stressful life events, financial stress, depression, or bodyweight issues, and all we had to dispense was medications. So, I began to look for other options for my patients. In the 1990s, I conducted research with Dr. Dean Ornish in which we asked a fundamental question: Can we reverse coronary disease through lifestyle changes? Study participants practiced yoga and meditation or maintained vegetarian diets or an exercise regimen, and the results were eye-opening. We realized that not only is disease preventable, but it’s reversible. This set me on the journey of seeking to understand the root cause of illnesses—to treat the whole person and empower people to take charge of their health.

In health care today, we dispense pharmaceuticals too liberally. For example, in treating depressed patients, instead of trying to figure out why the person is depressed—did the patient’s dog die? is the patient not getting enough sun? is the patient isolated?—we give different depressed patients the same therapy—an antidepressant. Nine out of 10 times, we as doctors are just not looking deeply enough.

Integrative medicine emphasizes root causes. Here’s an easy way for my patients to understand an integrative approach to health: I ask, “If you have a tree, and it’s not doing well, what do you do?” Naturally, answers involve fixing the soil, fertilizing the tree, or increasing watering and sun exposure. I have my patients label the branches of the tree—high blood pressure, diabetes, whatever health condition they’re dealing with. Western medicine would be inclined to dispense a drug for every disease or branch of this tree, but integrative medicine looks at the soil, at the roots. So, an integrative approach to treatment focuses on micro- and macro-nutrition, sleep, stress, exercise, community, and lifestyle.

Whereas conventional medicine prescribes medicines for chronic conditions, integrative medicine focuses on disease prevention. I believe what’s good for the heart is good for the brain. On a philosophical level, love is the greatest healer. How you connect with others makes a difference to your health. I believe that when people are lonely, depressed, angry, or stressed, they don’t always make the best health choices, but if they are happy, joyful, and have a purpose in life—things that we don’t talk about in medical school—making healthy decisions will come naturally.

Mimi Guarneri, MD, is a board-certified physician in cardiovascular disease, internal medicine, and integrative holistic medicine, and a founding board member of the American Board of Integrative Medicine® (ABOIM®), which is governed by the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS).  

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Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

On October 18, 2007, President George W. Bush released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21), calling on our nation, among other initiatives, to “collectively support and facilitate the establishment of a discipline of disaster health”. It is a great testament to the wisdom and foresight of the American Board of Physician Specialties that it immediately set to work and created, within the short span of only one year, an educational blueprint and set of certification examinations, both written and oral, for a new subspecialty of disaster medicine—and it is why I chose to be part this vital initiative and this wonderful organization. This is but one of the many innovative programs initiated by the American Board of Physician Specialties over the years, and why I am proud to support its work on behalf of our nation’s public health.

Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
When the American Board of Physician Specialties offered to host the American Board of Integrative Medicine, ABPS became a landmark organization working to move medicine into the twenty first century. Certifying physicians who have completed rigorous academic training in Integrative Medicine ensures that the field of Integrative Medicine will continue to develop academically, clinically, and professionally. The leadership of ABPS continues to impress me - they are diligent in constantly innovating to provide certifications for physicians who want to advance their careers and their areas of expertise. I am honored to be a part of this organization.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD
Integrative Medicine
There are many ways board certification advances a physician career. ABPS Board examination verifies your accuracy, precision, and reflects your mastery of your residency training verifying your expertise. ABPS Board certification demonstrates your level of expertise beyond your practice experience, primary education degrees, and training which are necessary for insurance reimbursement and practice privilege requirements. Attaining your ABPS Board Certification will clarify your purpose, secure your practice growth, and expand into leadership positions. Board certification can serve as an indication of a physician’s commitment to medicine, beyond the minimal standards and competency of training, their measurement to quality of care, and attaining an award for excellence.

Chris Kunis MD
Internal Medicine
When I think historically, advancement in medicine and patient safety and care has been driven by the diversity of people and scientific thought. That’s what I found at the ABPS and more. For over 60 years that is just who we are. I found a physician certifying body that provides a choice and voice to all physicians ensuring that patients are always placed first.

Jerry Allison, MD
Emergency Medicine
When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

Richard Paula, MD
Administrative Medicine
The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

Loren Jay Chassels, DO
Internal Medicine
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