Mission, Vision, and Values
Our mission is to advance whole-person integrative health through education, clinical care, research, and policy.
Mission, Vision, and ValuesVermont’s small size, close collaborations between academic, state, and other organizations, and progressive nature present a unique opportunity to realize change and demonstrate progress in shifting the paradigm toward integrative health, particularly for rural areas.
Osher Center for Integrative Health at ¶¶Òõ̽̽ is a central hub that connects clinicians, researchers, and educators, fosters innovation, and moves policy forward toward a more equitable, whole-health approach. Situated in the office of Provost and Senior Vice President Patricia Prelock, it has university-wide and ¶¶Òõ̽̽MC leadership support. This positioning is unique and demonstrates the University’s commitment to a truly interprofessional approach to integrative health.
In October 2022, the Bernard Osher Foundation recognized ¶¶Òõ̽̽'s tremendous work and excellence in the field and established the Osher Center for Integrative Health at ¶¶Òõ̽̽, one of 11 Osher Centers for Integrative Health across the United States and Europe. Helmed by Director Jon Porter, MD and Associate Director Cara Feldman-Hunt, MA, NBC-HWC, the Osher Center's mission-driven work is transforming healthcare in our region.
Mission Impact
Recent work includes: a pilot program for Medicaid coverage of the Comprehensive Pain Program, free farm shares for ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Cancer Center patients, and enhanced music therapy at the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Children's Hospital.
As part of the Osher Collaborative, we actively connect and share resources and materials with experts working in a variety of clinical, research, education, or policy-related efforts in integrative health across the institution and around the region. We encourage our members to serve as expert academic resources for our colleagues in the use of evidence-based integrative health within our healthcare system.
- Top 10% of Nursing Programs (U.S. News 2024 Rankings)
- 54% medical school admit rate for Honors College Scholars
- 92% report being engaged in research, an internship, or other high impact practice
History of Integrative Health at ¶¶Òõ̽̽
2005
The Program in Integrative Health (PIH) at ¶¶Òõ̽̽'s Larner College of Medicine​ was established as a response to Vermont's growing interest and demand for complementary and integrative medicine. The program was led by now .
2006
PIH joined other academic health centers in the nationally recognized .
2011
The PIH and the Laura Mann Center (LMC), a local non-profit promoting the benefits of Integrative Health in Vermont, formed a collaboration to develop the Integrative Healthcare Lecture Series (now the Endowed Laura Mann Integrative Healthcare Lecture Series) and the Integrative Practitioner Network.
2015
¶¶Òõ̽̽ Integrative Health formed at the Academic Health Sciences.
Members of the PIH, senior leadership from ¶¶Òõ̽̽ College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS), Larner College of Medicine (LCOM), ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Medical Center (¶¶Òõ̽̽MC) and the Laura Mann Center (LMC) agreed to collaborate and develop ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Integrative Health. The Laura Mann Center closed and moved their programs to ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Integrative Health.
2017
Integrative Therapies at ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Cancer Center​ begin.
2018
Comprehensive Pain Program opened​ IH Certificate launched​ 1st Integrative Pain Management Conference​.
2019
1st cohort​ of Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching begins.
2022
Osher Center for Integrative Health at University of Vermont established.
2023
2024
- Comprehensive Pain Program Medicaid pilot program begins
- "Farm Shares for Health" project offers CSAs to ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Cancer Center patients
- Planetary Health Summit and launch of ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Planetary Health Initiative aligns University-wide efforts
- 12th cohort of Health & Wellness Coaching Program students begins. Our students have a 100% pass rate on the NBHWC exam.