Integrative health is an exciting and expanding field of health and wellness that utilizes a holistic approach to patient care, personal empowerment, well-being, and community health. And while many integrative healthcare practices rely on ancient global philosophies, we know that integrative health is increasingly found in mainstream environments, including hospitals, other comprehensive healthcare systems, companies, non-profit and community-based organizations, and government agencies.
An integrative health career can be a great way to serve others while also honoring your own commitment to human and even planetary wellness. Keep reading to learn more about careers in integrative health and whether this track is right for you.
What is Integrative Health?
Integrative health is commonly defined as the coordinated use of multiple health approaches in health care, and it also describes a holistic perspective of what it is to be healthy. At MUIH, we promote integrative health as a holistic approach to health and well-being. We consider the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual domains of health and wellness. We also consider a range of contributing factors including the environment, personal behaviors, and genetics. Our educational and clinical practices are grounded in a whole-person and relationship-centered perspective that supports collaboration between the patient and the healthcare team. We aim to empower individuals to become informed, take personal responsibility, tap into their inner resilience, and choose the best options for themselves. We use approaches that are evidence-informed and tailored to each individual.
Some of the growing careers in integrative health and wellness available today include:
- Acupuncture
- Ayurvedic wellness
- Health and wellness coaching
- Health promotion
- Herbal medicine
- Yoga therapy
- Nutrition
- Corporate and workplace wellness
- Cannabis science
Like other leaders in the integrative health field, we at MUIH believe that integrative health is not meant to be utilized in a vacuum. Likewise, integrative services are not mutually exclusive to more conventional medical approaches. Both integrative health and conventional medicine can work wonderfully together in order to enhance patient care, community well-being, and quality of life.
Who Should Work in Integrative Health?
Integrative health is a growing field, and the demand for integrative healthcare providers is expanding rapidly. And because there are so many ways to practice integrative health—and so many opportunities to serve patients, clients, and communities —this field is open to anyone who has a genuine interest in health and wellness.
If you have a natural interest in holistic practices, love working with others, and enjoy helping people develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between their mind, body, spirit, and lifestyle, then a career in integrative health is an excellent option for you—either as a way to augment your current healthcare career or as a way to pivot into a brand new profession!
Things to Consider When Pursuing a Career in Integrative Health
The career outlook for integrative health practitioners is promising. But first, it’s important to make sure you feel confident that it’s the right choice for you.
Before investing in a career in integrative health, be sure to consider questions such as:
- What area of study do I want to practice in?
- Why do I want to pursue a career in integrative health?
- What career opportunities exist for me in my chosen area of study?
- What kind of population or populations would I love to serve?
- Where do I see myself practicing?
- How much money and time am I willing and able to invest in my education?
- Which program is the best fit option for me?
- Do I already have any of the prerequisites or prior experiences needed for acceptance into an accredited graduate program?
- What does work/life balance mean to me, and how can my career in integrative health honor that?
Choose an Area of Study
The first thing to consider is choosing an area of study. Integrative health is an all-encompassing term that includes acupuncture, Ayurvedic wellness, health and wellness coaching, health promotion, herbal medicine, nutrition, cannabis science, yoga therapy, and more. You truly have so many options! In many cases, integrative health practitioners are even able to incorporate two or more specialties into their professional practice. This holistic and comprehensive approach helps them serve their patients, clients, and communities even more effectively.
MUIH offers a diverse array of integrative health programs to choose from and help you hone your skills and narrow down your career focus.
Choose the Right Program
Once you’ve chosen an area of study to pursue, it is important to research different colleges and universities and programs and find your best fit. Here are a few questions to consider as you research and narrow down your program options:
- What sort of accreditations does the institution offer?
- What prerequisites are required prior to acceptance?
- What are the anticipated program fees and schedules?
- Does the institution have any collaborative relationships with other healthcare systems, hospitals, or institutions?
- Does the institution provide any guidance or assistance when it comes to post-graduate employment opportunities?
Talking to existing and former students is a great way to get real-time insights into the quality of the institution, faculty, and programs.
Conclusion
Integrative health is an expanding field of health and wellness that offers providers and patients, clients, and communities a growing number of exciting opportunities. If you’re interested in exploring graduate studies toward a career as an integrative health professional, contact Maryland University of Integrative Health today to learn more about our classes and programs.
Integrative Health Programs at MUIH
Learn more about our degrees in Integrative Health. These programs provide foundational knowledge of a range of integrative health approaches, the evidence-informed efficacy of such practices, and how complementary health approaches can be integrated with conventional medical approaches. They are designed for health care and related professionals who wish to gain a foundational understanding of the field or incorporate it into their organization. Talk to our Career Services Center to determine how you can pursue your career goals!