With the tremendous public interest in complementary & alternative medicine (CAM), we anticipate the need for scientists and physicians trained to understand the basic principles of both Western biomedicine and CAM modalities, and the need for CAM professionals to be better grounded in basic biomedical sciences. This three semester MS program is designed to meet those needs.

The curriculum, which can be completed in two semesters plus the summer, includes the following courses, presented by faculty of the Georgetown University School of Medicine:

Fall Semester Courses

Survey of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (PBIO-600, 4 credits; fall): Students will be introduced to three of the domains of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM):  Alternative Medical Systems (herbal medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy and naturopathy); Mind-Body Medicine (techniques designed to facilitate the mind’s capacity to affect the physical body’s functions in health and illness); and, Manipulative Techniques (osteopathy and chiropractic).  This course is designed for graduate students in biomedical disciplines, and will present theory and principles of CAM practices, and train students to critically evaluate evidence of the efficacy and safety of these practices as well as understand their contraindications. Instructor: Hakima Amri and staff

Conventional & Alternative Medicine in the USA History of Conflicts and Commonalities (PBIO-536; 3 credits; fall, Abbreviated Title: History of Compl & Alternative Med): What is considered alternative medicine depends on prevailing mores. This course will provide an historical and sociological perspective of the changing relationships between alternative and conventional medicine in the United States over time. Instructor: Adriane Fugh-Berman

Mind-Body Skills (PBIO-520, 1 credit; fall): This course utilizes experiential learning modalities to promote self-awareness, stress management and self-care. Enrollment requires permission of the instructor. Instructor: Nancy Harazduk. Graded P/F.

Cell and Molecular Physiology (PBIO-534, 4 credits; fall): Cell and Molecular Physiology (CMP) is a four-credit, graduate school class taken during the fall semester. CMP covers many topics relevant to cellular physiology, such as cell signaling, glycolysis, and stresses metabolism. CMP is a lecture-style class that generally meets twice a week for two hours at a time. Instructor: Thomas Sherman

Introduction to Biostatistics (BIST-501, 3 credits; fall): This is a basic biostatistics course that covers fundamental theory and application of basic biostatistics.  Instructor: Christopher Loffredo and staff

Critical Readings in Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine (PBIO-604, 1 credit, times 2 semesters; total of 2 credits: This course is aimed at introducing students to research and critical thinking in CAM. Instructors: Adriane Fugh-Berman and Thomas Sherman

Seminars in Physiology, Biophysics and Integrative Medicine (PBIO 703-01; 0 credits): All students will be required to attend this seminar series on a regular basis during each semester of enrollment. Graded P/F.

Spring Semester Courses

Fundamentals of Physiology (PBIO 501, 5 credits; spring): This graduate course covers the major areas of human physiology, including neurophysiology, cardiovascular physiology, endocrinology, gastrointestinal physiology, renal physiology and respiratory physiology. It is team taught by the faculty of the Department of Physiology & Biophysics. Course Directors: Jagmeet Kanwall and Joanna Kitlinska and staff

Herbal Medicine and Nutritional Supplements (3 credits; spring): This course is taught by Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman, M.D., an author and internationally recognized expert in the area of herbal medicine and supplements, as well as women’s health and CAM. Major categories of herbal medicine and supplements will be considered, as well as specific herbs and supplements in use today. Instructor: Adriane Fugh-Berman

Mind-Body Medicine and Physiology (2 credits; spring): Mind-Body Medicine and the closely related field of biofeedback are areas of CAM for which there is a significant scientific literature. This course will explore major areas of interest in Mind-Body Medicine. Instructor: Michael Lumpkin

Human Nutrition and Health (PBIO-529, 2 credits; spring): This course will emphasize the relationship between diet and human health, and the concept of “food as medicine”. Instructor: Thomas Sherman

Critical Readings in Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine (PBIO-604, 1 credit, times 2 semesters; total of 2 credits: This course is aimed at introducing students to research and critical thinking in CAM. Instructors: Adriane Fugh-Berman and Thomas Sherman

Seminars in Physiology, Biophysics and Integrative Medicine (PBIO 703-01; 0 credits): All students will be required to attend this seminar series on a regular basis during each semester of enrollment. Graded P/F.

Summer Semester Course

Complementary & Alternative Medicine Field Practicum (2 credits): Students will participate in an approved, CAM-related internship or practicum, ordinarily 6 weeks in duration.

Elective Courses (to fulfill the 30 credit requirement for the MS degree) include:

Alternative and Complementary Medicine, the Legal Issues (LAWJ-065-05; fall). This course meets on the Law School campus on Wednesday from 5:45-7:45 PM. Instructor: Sherman Cohn and staff.

Bioethics of Clinical Practice and Research in Complementary & Alternative Medicine (PBIO 539-01, 1 credit; spring). CAM is increasingly used both in concert with mainstream approaches, and as a ‘stand-alone’ intervention. Although assuming a progressive position in the current hierarchy of medical practices, CAM disciplines remain somewhat fractionated in philosophy, practice ideologies, ethos and ethics. This gives rise to questions of what treatments should be used, how should they be used, and in whom should they be used? Basic ethical approaches will be presented that allow the student to understand how these perspectives could contribute to the right and good conduct of patient care and research.  Evidence-based research models will be presented and evaluated in light of their relative appropriateness to CAM outcomes and mechanisms. The ethical obligations to conduct effective research will be discussed with particular emphasis upon how such research fulfills epistemologic, humanitarian and social dimensions of medicine. Instructor: James Giordino.

Western Practice of Eastern Medicine (PBIO-540, 1 credit, spring). This course is an overview of Western medical research studies and ancient Eastern philosophical concepts that verify the importance of the link between mind, body, and spirit in health and healing. Studies will be presented on the science of acupuncture, yoga and meditation that address the mechanisms by which these modalities improve health and promote healing. There will also be an experiential component including the Eastern practice of yoga and meditation. Instructors: Leonard Wisneski and Julie Staples.

Complementary & Alternative Medicine Literature Research (2 credits): Students will perform a library research project in a specific topic related to CAM, under the mentorship of a faculty member. Staff

Research Techniques Tutorial (PBIO-909, 3 credits; fall, spring, summer): Students anticipating further graduate education in a research-oriented field, or a career involving research, will enroll in a summer tutorial in which they will participate in a research project related to CAM, in a GUMC laboratory. The student will be instructed in research techniques under the supervision of a faculty member. Staff

Biomedical Career Pathways (PBIO-602, 1 credit; fall). This is a seminar and workshop style course that acquaints students with career options in the biomedical sciences and emphasizes survival skills necessary for students pursuing those fields. Instructor: Adam Myers and staff

Physiology Research (PBIO 907; 2 credits; fall, spring, summer). Under the tutelage of a faculty member, students perform literature searches, read scientific literature, and write a critical review of current interest in a topic relevant to human physiology. Staff.

Biomedical Ethics (NURS 518; 1 credit). This course challenges students to reflect on influences significant in our moral formation as individuals and the ways in which we conceive and practice moral commitments, and explores the elements of moral agency in medicine and nursing, how health care professions have conceived and expressed their morality as professions, and a methodological approach to considering, informing, explaining and justifying our moral decisions and actions. Instructor; Sr. Carol Taylor