ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the distinguishing features important for a high-quality medical education in which the art and heart of medicine are valued. It provides a snapshot of the history of integrative health policy and research in the United States. In the early 1990s, Congress instructed the National Institutes of Health to establish an office to “investigate and validate” complementary and alternative therapies. The chapter focuses on advancing medical education curriculum reform. There are a number of organizations and thought leaders who are part of the big picture discussion on advancing medical education curriculum. The life work of a physician involves constant study, cultivation of a reverence for humanity, a thirst to seek self-knowledge, and a dedication to the patients for whom he/she is responsible. We each need to possess a sense of responsibility to the own community and preferably also to the global community.
