Integrative Psychiatry Virtual Elective

Noshene Ranjbar, MD Associate Professor Department of Psychiatry

Thank you for your interest in an Integrative Psychiatry Virtual Elective!

The University of Arizona Psychiatry Department in collaboration with the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (AWCIM) have created a virtual Integrative Psychiatry Elective offered worldwide to medical school graduates, residents, and fellows.

The primary goal of the Integrative Psychiatry curriculum is to introduce the learner to the field of evidence-based integrative medicine as it relates to mental health. A second essential goal of our Integrative Psychiatry curriculum is to raise awareness about the importance of physician health, wellbeing, and self-awareness. Finally, our Integrative Psychiatry curriculum has the goal of teaching trainees how to incorporate their emerging knowledge of integrative medicine into the clinical setting.

Examples of approaches discussed include mind-body medicine, nutrition, gut-brain connection, sleep health, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, botanicals, broad spectrum micronutrients, and use of nutraceuticals.  

  • Pre-requisites: The candidate must have completed medical school (U.S. or abroad) or be enrolled in a psychiatry residency or fellowship program.
  • Length of Virtual Observership: The time commitment is typically 1 year and can be tailored to learner needs and availability. Shorter or longer length electives may be considered upon request.
  • Course Description (opens a PDF). 
  • Not Eligible: Any residency graduate who is board eligible/certified.

For resident/fellows, the program includes:

  • 1-year access to the Integrative Medicine Residency (IMR) Core online curriculum  hosted by AWCIM. The on-line curriculum consists of 85 hours of evidence- based modules on Integrative Medicine topics. Upon program completion, the learner will receive a Certificate of Completion.
  • Participants can choose to participate in these options activities:  
    • Once participants complete the IMR-Core, they can access the IMR-Advanced curriculum, which contains an additional 85 hours of online material.
    • Didactic sessions (pre-recorded and live)
    • Case conferences (3 times per month) and seminars
    • Departmental Grand  Rounds presentations
    • Annual resident leadership conference sponsored by AWCIM
    • Opportunity to attend 5-day professional training in Mind-Body Medicine (www.cmbm.org).

Cost: $3,000

Requirements to apply for all Observers:

  • Letter of interest (1-2 pages)
  • Application
  • 1 letter of recommendation from faculty

To apply: Download the application and send to:

Calli Ferguson
Program Coordinator, Integrative Psychiatry Program
University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson
Email: callenaferguson@arizona.edu